Going out on a limb here to see if any of my fellow Hokies have traveled to/visited Sydney, Australia.
My friend (fellow Hokies as well) and I, 26/25 years old are going from December 25 to January 5 to experience New Years Eve since it is always rated at the top across the world and wanted to see if anybody had any suggestions of what to do, see, eat, drink, etc. Our schedule is pretty flexible and open but we do know what we want to do for the most part.... try different pubs/bars/restaurants, see the wild life, scuba diving, cliff dive, opera house, Sydney harbor, etc. but we are open to suggestions to those who have been there before. Open to NYE options too, we like to have a beer or 10 if that helps.
Basically trying to do/see things that you can't here in VA/the states.... Thank you in advance!
And yes, we are both looking forward to watching the Hokies game at 9:30 am on December 30th... Eggs, bacon, and bourbon are on tap!
Comments
Went to Melbourne and Sydney in 93/94 with the wife for the Christmas and New Years. Three of the funnest weeks ever. Aussies love "yanks" and will drink you under the table. Can't remember many details but the opera house had an informal Mozart concert that was really cool. Sydney has a great open air market where you can buy lots of original Aussie stuff.
Enjoy, you will love it.
Lived in Sydney for 2 years. Here's a good list:
Harbour Bridge Walk
Show at the Opera House
Sail on the Harbour
whale watching tours (not much scuba in sydney actually)
drinking at the Rocks
drinking downtown
Darling Harbour
drinking at Darling Harbour
Chinatown food courts
Kings Cross shows
drinking at Kings Cross
Bondi to Coogie Beach Cliff Walk at Sunrise (or any time)
Bondi Beach
Manly Beach
Taronga Zoo
Bushwalking in Blue Mountains
Luna Park (old time amusement park on harbour)
Eat thai, Indonesian and other Asia food
Watch a game of footy (rugby)
New Years fireworks show at the Quays looking at Harbour Bridge
Surfing
Get a Massage (happy or less happy variety)
That should get you started. What part of the city are you staying in?
Why am I not surprised?
Also plausible.
Well i told everyone but I was drinking most of the time so they may not have believed me
....hmmmm
staying in Surry Hills in some AirBnB apartment
Ah Surry Hills...
I refer you to my comments regarding the happier version of said massages.
Couldn't help but notice that drinking took up a proportionate amount of the list.
Walk around saying G'day Mate and Let's put another Shrimp on the Barbie. I heard they love that there!
I wish I could help. But I was only 11 when I was there and I don't remember a whole lot. I'd love to go back some day. I hope I can find this thread again when that time comes.
My wife and I went to Sydney in January and it was one of the best places we've ever visited; everyone was extremely friendly to us. As mentioned above, the Sydney Opera House is a must-see, either for a tour or an actual show. The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is pretty expensive but totally worth it. If you climb it at night, the tickets are cheaper. We did the night climb and the views/pictures were incredible. A couple of cool places to eat are the Australian Heritage Hotel (where you can eat a kangaroo pizza) and Harry's Cafe de Wheels. At Harry's, be sure to order the Tiger Pie; it's a meat pie topped off with mashed potatoes, peas and gravy...it is phenomenal.
Pro-tip: If your flight numbers for the trip home involve any of these numbers (4 8 15 16 23 42, but especially 8 15) I'd advise you to wait for the next plane.
Drink Fosters, wrestle crocodiles, and box kangaroos. I think that covers everything. Also say things like "go to the bush" and "skew it on the bar-b."
"put some shrimps on the barbie"
Don't say "i prefer Outback."
I bet SharkbaitHokie has some good swimming recommendations in that region of the world.
Please oh please oh please oh please go do some wine tastings for me. I'd like to live vicariously through you as you try some great Shiraz. If you're going to Kiwi-land I'd recommend the Pinot Grigio.
Mollydooker Shiraz is good. :--)
Day trips to Hunter Valley is an excellent way to drink shitloads of great wine
rent a car and drive up to the central coast (Terrigal is a great little beach town) and even up to Newcastle. just park and walk around. then head northwest towards Singleton and drive back south to Sydney through the mountains. i always find renting a car and just "getting lost" is a great way to see a lot in a little amount of time without too much planning or agendas.
Sydney is a GREAT walking city. Just walk around and get lost. A lot to see this time of year, and the weather should be perfect. Enjoy the trip!
Rented a car twice. One time drove north to Cairns drinking, snorkelling and scuba the whole way. And drove south to Adelaide the other time and drank my way through South Victoria wine country.
Both fantastic trips
If you find the time it might be worth taking a hike in the Blue Mountains. I remember that being really cool and I think it's near enough to Sydney to make a day trip of it
Rock the Maroon and Orange and yell Go Hokies! at anyone doing the same.
oh thats a given haha
For old time's sake, you gotta put on some Rocco's Modern Life on the flight down... and maybe a grab Vegemite sandwich.
Wow, they just don't make em like they used to.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions again.... Hopefully I have prepped my liver for this 10 day trip
I would recommend spending time in New Zealand as well. Went bungy jumping through AJ Hackett Bungy, it was the balls...if you're a giant dork like me, check out the LOTR sites
If you're spreading out to New Zealand, fly fishing for their gigantic rainbow trout in pristine mountain waters is supposed to be a world class experience.