First Two Days in Oz
Our first day in Sydney, Australia was a whirlwind of activity. Our room features a gorgeous view of Sydney Harbour, including the Harbour Bridge and the famous Opera House. We've done the BridgeClimb in past visits and have had fun this trip watching the steady stream of climbers crest the bridge summit. But with the city beckoning beyond our window, we couldn't linger in our hotel room long (as tempting as it was to stay and enjoy the view all day!), and so headed out to see the sights. We began with an exploration of the Circular Quay, watching the street performers (most memorable were the female contortionist and the didgeridoo player), sizing up the plethora of restaurants and cafes, and checking out the ferry schedules/fares along the way. After clamoring up the steps and around the plazas of the Opera House complex, we wandered through the Royal Botanic Gardens, enjoying the variety and beauty of plants we found there. We made a quick tour through the Central Business District (CBD), before heading down to the Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour. The Aquarium offers a number of treats, but our favorites were the twin seal and shark exhibits with underwater tubes that that take you through the tanks so that you are surrounded by the aquatic creatures. We were also impressed with the glorious Great Barrier Reef display.
Day 2 features a ferry ride to Taronga Zoo. We rode the Sky Safari cable car from the ferry landing to the main zoo entrance -- we definitely recommend that you choose this option over the bus, for the magnificent Harbour views along the way. The highlights of this zoo are the native Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabys, wombats, billbys, emus, dingos, and platypuses. They, along with a number of other "marquee" animals, such as lions, tigers, snow leopards, giraffes, and bears, are in enclosures that provide both close views for humans, and comfort for the animals. Volunteers were on hand with a corn snake named "Alabama" and a blue-tongued lizard for children to meet, touch and learn about. Unique photographic opportunities are available for those wishing to pay an additional fee for an extra-close encounter with koalas, kangaroos and other Aussie friends.
The remainder of our day was spent in the pleasant suburban home of a friend, enjoying an Aussie barbeque. A lot has been said about the special lifestyle that Sydneysiders have -- combining the sophisticated culture, cuisine and nightlife of an internationally-renowned city with the passion (and climate) for a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports. Having seen how this unique blend works, we have to say that Sydneysiders are truly fortunate!
Day 2 features a ferry ride to Taronga Zoo. We rode the Sky Safari cable car from the ferry landing to the main zoo entrance -- we definitely recommend that you choose this option over the bus, for the magnificent Harbour views along the way. The highlights of this zoo are the native Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabys, wombats, billbys, emus, dingos, and platypuses. They, along with a number of other "marquee" animals, such as lions, tigers, snow leopards, giraffes, and bears, are in enclosures that provide both close views for humans, and comfort for the animals. Volunteers were on hand with a corn snake named "Alabama" and a blue-tongued lizard for children to meet, touch and learn about. Unique photographic opportunities are available for those wishing to pay an additional fee for an extra-close encounter with koalas, kangaroos and other Aussie friends.
The remainder of our day was spent in the pleasant suburban home of a friend, enjoying an Aussie barbeque. A lot has been said about the special lifestyle that Sydneysiders have -- combining the sophisticated culture, cuisine and nightlife of an internationally-renowned city with the passion (and climate) for a wide variety of outdoor activities and sports. Having seen how this unique blend works, we have to say that Sydneysiders are truly fortunate!
posted by Insider Travel Guides at 4:07 PM
1 Comments:
I absolutely agree that Sydney is the best place on the planetJ ah…I wish I could live there… and the hotels are quite good there. I stayed at one named Crowne Plaza and it was really nice. Especially I liked the cuisine.
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