quote:

Originally posted by mid life traveller:
Now to get back to the original topic, if you have 4 days in Sydney, what are the don't miss other than the opera house?
In New Zealand what is the best sound to go to to appreciate the beauty of the south Island?
In Melbourne, what else besides the conservatory?
We will skip Green Island, a little too touristy now.
How is Cooperpeddie (sp) for visiting? Is it worth going to?

MLT,

In Sydney, I would suggest,

1. a day trip to the Blue Mountains,
2. a Ferry ride across Sydney harbour to Manly, then walk to the main beach and have fish & chips on the beach. (sheer bliss), there is also a market at the wharf in Manly.
3. Take a walk around Darling Harbour and maybe see the Chinese gardens.
4. Do a tour of the Rocks, also make sure your friends visit the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, it is a shopping centre, beautiful architecture.
5. Tagonga Park Zoo (a must)

MLT......you might like to have a look at this website.


I am an ex Sydney girl.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: John N,

Hi MLT

I have just got back from 4 days in Sydney. This time we went to the Blue Mountains because I have not been there before..... The Blue Mountains were everything I had thought they would be; just beautiful and HUGE.

In a word....STUNNING.

I have seen both Milford and Doubtful sound on the South Island of New Zealand. My favourite was Milford. I thought the scenery a little more spectacular. Doubtful is more remote and we saw it on a cold and cloudy day. This influenced our impression, I am sure.

Melbourne, like Sydney, has lots to offer. Do you like the ocean, art or something else? There is a wonderful art/garden in the Dandenongs. I have forgotten its' name. Maybe one of the Melbourne board memebers can help out. The art gallery in melbourne is also very good. Some great examples of Australian art hang there.


Coober Pedy is famous for opal mining and underground housing. It is so hot there that many of the homes are formed underground...fascinating place. However, how long will your friend be here in Australia? Coober Pedy is pretty remote and would take a bit of travel juggling to get there....

Now for Melbourne,

1. The Colonial Tram Car Restaurant one evening, extremely essential to book ahead, they have two sittings, the first costing $66 per person the later sitting is more expensive. This is also an optional that Trafalgar offers.

2. Do a walking tour around the City, Melbourne is a beautiful city.

3. If your friends are in Melbourne on a Sunday, then I would suggest going to the Southbank markets near the Arts centre. St Kilda also have markets on a Sunday morning on the forshore, it is just a short tram ride to St Kilda from Melbourne City Centre. These are great places to pick up inexpensive souvenirs.

4. Visit Acland Street at St Kilda for continental cakes and coffee, there is a whole street full of cake and coffee shops. Yummmmmm

MLT....if you Google "Melbourne sightseeing" this comes up with an abundance of things to do.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Missie,

MLT

Coober Pedy is in outback South Australia, it is nowhere near Sydney or Melbourne, take a look at this website it will explain everything.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: John N,

Another suggestion for Sydney:

Sail on the harbour on a tail ship under sail, fantastic!!!!!!

Cheers
Spooky

quote:

Originally posted by spooky walnut:
Another suggestion for Sydney:

Sail on the harbour on a tail ship under sail, fantastic!!!!!!

Cheers
Spooky

Oh Spooky, I could not agree more, I did that many years ago on Boxing Day, I remember getting burnt to a cinder. A southerly buster blew up the coast, a bit scary.

MLT,

Take the ferry to Manly (as Missie suggests), but then come back & have lunch at Doyles, a wonderful fish restaurant & a Sydney icon.

Take a Harbour Bridge climb, spectacular views & so few visitors have done it. BTW it is very safe.

The "cake shop" street in inner Melbourne's suburb St Kilda is Acland St (not Auckland - maybe our NZ cousins wouldn't mind that?).

quote:

Originally posted by australena:
The "cake shop" street in inner Melbourne's suburb St Kilda is Acland St (not Auckland - maybe our NZ cousins wouldn't mind that?).

I don't think the tram can travel on water to NZ I corrected my post. Thank you

With all the yummy cakes there, the cafes, restaurants and boutiques, I am sure they wouldn't mind floating the whole of Acland St across to NZ!

quote:

Originally posted by mid life traveller:
....In Melbourne, what else besides the conservatory?....

The Conservatory is a restaurant, so yes there is plenty more here than just one restaurant
As an example of what to do in Melbourne over a few days, there is the itinerary of a TT Melbourne Mini stays. TT Melbourne Mini stays
It gives enough free time in between attractions which are included, so other things can be slotted in according to the time of the year and the interests of the travellers.
Eg Melbourne ZOO visit, Healesville native fauna sanctuary excursion, MCG excursion, cruise on the Yarra, a bus excursion to the Dandenongs or the Great Ocean Road, visit to the observatory on top of Rialto building for best views of Melbourne from above, visit to Victoria Market (souvenirs), the already mentioned Southbank, Victorian Arts centre, Melbourne Tramcar restaurant, Acland street and St Kilda foreshore..... For more inspiration please see
Experience Melbourne.

The William Ricket Sanctuary is the art gallery/gardens I was thinking of for your friend Mid Life Traveller. It is a garden with over 90 sculptures in it.

It has that "different" quality to it that might be interesting for your friend. If they like "different", Monsalvat in Eltham is also interesting as it is a working arts centre.

quote:

Originally posted by Penny1:
The William Ricket Sanctuary is the art gallery/gardens I was thinking of for your friend Mid Life Traveller. It is a garden with over 90 sculptures in it.

It has that "different" quality to it that might be interesting for your friend. If they like "different", Monsalvat in Eltham is also interesting as it is a working arts centre.

The Dandenongs are a beautfiul place to visit.

I saw a show one time about Coober Pedy, it looked so amazing. It's one of the places I'd love to see if/when I get to Australia. I think (but I could be wrong) that the traveler took a train that stopped there overnight. It was a Lonely Planet episode.

Shannon

The Lonely Planet episodes are terrific aren't they.

If you visit Coober Pedy, be sure to make the visit in June or July.