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HOTELS
- Four Seasons Sydney (always the 1st choice if we can afford it). It’s in the historical Rocks district.
- Park Hyatt Sydney has one of the best locations in the city, right across from the Opera House
- Shangri-La Hotel is at the Rocks and the harbor. Great location, great views $$$
- Establishment Hotel is a new boutique style with lots of amenities $$$
- Sebel Pier One Hotel has beautiful views and a little less expensive than the others in the list $$
DESTINATIONS
- Sydney online – where to go what to do
- The Rocks
- Opera House
- Circular Quay and Captain Bly’s statue
- Darling Harbor
- Sydney Toronga Zoo (and we don’t usually like zoos)
- Climb the Harbour Bridge
- Bondi Beach
- Take the ferry to Manly if you’re a surfer
- Botanical Gardens and Mrs McQuarie’s chair
- Sydney Tower
- Harbor Cruise (Jetty no.6 on the west side of Circular Quay)
- Art Gallery on the Domain
FOOD and RESTAURANTS
The food styles include lots of English, Asian, Indian influences with lots of meat pies, roast meats and fresh seafood along with pasta and pizza, but contemporary Australian cooking is everywhere. Bar-B-Cue (as in “throw another shrimp on the Barbie”) is a favorite. Eat Moreton Bay bugs – they’re kind of a cousin to Lobster only smaller, but just as sweet. One of the famous local staples is still Vegemite, a brown spread made from yeast extract. A popular desert, Lamingtons are square sponge cakes covered with chocolate and coconut. So is the Pavlova, a cream and fruit filled meringue shell for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. And, there are ANZAC cookies but no one is really sure if they came from Australia or New Zealand.
There are lots of beer labels in Australia, the largest are Fosters, Cooper and Lion, but this is the 4th largest wine exporting country in the world. The style ranges from light sweet whites to Shiraz (syrah) to big bold cabs. They are affordable and delicious. Like other large wine producing countries there are lots of wine tours as well.
- Rockpool Neil Perry’s restaurant is still top choice
- Sydney Fish Market – (in Pyrmont) Bank St, Sydney, 2009 · 2-9004-1100. closes at 4:30pm. It doesn’t get any fresher.
SHOPPING
- The Queen Victoria Building is a classic old colonial mall.
- Bunda Jewelers – We bought a piece from them back in 1999. Matt Bunda is a very creative artist
- The area is known for Opals. There are lots of places selling all kinds (for all prices). Go to a reputable shop
- You can also buy a didgeridoo or boomerang and at reputable shop. There are lots of them at Darling Harbor.