topic We are going to Sydney in Community Spirit

We are going to Sydney

daydream**believer — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:19:53 GMT

Going on a holiday to Sydney in a a couple of months.

I grew up there but havent been back for 15 years.

Hubbys only been a couple of times and its the first visit for the kids.

Will be staying in Manly (where i grew up). I am so excited to see it all again.

We will be driving over but hoping to not need to use the car once we get there. Cant wait to take the kids on a ferry and visit The Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Power House Museum etc.

Anyone live in Sydney who can give me a bit of an idea about how much ferry trips cost? Are there passes you can buy for families that cover ferry and bus rides?

Have been to the website but its very confusing

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:32:58 GMT

If you can walk to the ferry in Manly then all you will need are ferry tickets. Not cheap though. I think a return for adult to Manly is about $15.00.

If you are here on a Sunday you can buy this family pass thing which is really cheap - $2.50 per trip on any form of transport. But only good for Sundays.

If you are planning to do lots of different types of transport in one day there is a Multipass which gets you on all the different types of transport. But it is really expensive if you don't get full use of it.

Once you get off the wharf at Crircular Quay you can walk to everywhere in Sydney. The Powerhouse is the furthest but that is only a $10-15.00 cab trip.

So I thinik the only thing you really need is a ferry ticket. If you are staying a full week and plan to use the ferry every day then I suggest you get a weekly ferry ticket. Works out a little cheaper.

Hopefully I haven't confused you more.

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:38:55 GMT

There is also a free bus from Circular Quay to Central (close to the Powerhouse) which is the number 555 bus. Not sure of the route or the schedule as I have never managed to catch it and usually give up and hop in a cab.

But if you can figure that out (I am sure there is info at Circular Quay Tourist Info Centre) then this might be worthwhile.

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:43:09 GMT

One last thing - I just had a look on the website and realised that ferries had a Travel10 card. This is the way to go. You buy a ticket with 10 trips on it. The 10 trips can be taken any time. This will work out cheaper.

Everyone in the family will need to buy their own Travel10 ticket.

Re: We are going to Sydney

daydream**believer — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:48:11 GMT

Yep we are in easy walking distance from Manly ferry.

We will be arriving on a Monday and staying for a week and a half.

Im thinking we will need to make a few ferry trips.

Can we get a ferry from Manly to Taronga Zoo? or do we need to get to circular key first?

Hubby also wants to vist Fort Denison.

So our list of definite places to visit is:

The Opera House and Botanic Gardens

Power House Museum

Darling Harbour

Fort Denison

Taronga Zoo

Shelly Beach Manly

Sydney Bridge Pylon Lookout

Re: We are going to Sydney

daydream**believer — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:49:53 GMT

thanks so much Martini

I am so excited to go back and see where i grew up. Go and take the kids to the beaches i swam at as a kid (little Manly and Shelly Beach).

Hoping to go for a drive past mu old house and school as well

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 00:56:37 GMT

No I don't think you can catch the Manly ferries to Taronga. I think the ferries might be too big for the docks. But ask at Many.

At Circlar Quay they will have Zoo and Ferry Passes that you can buy that work out cheaper.

You can get to Fort Denison from Circular Quay. We went a couple of years ago and it was very expensive.

Another good island to see is Cockatoo Island. Old shipyards now open to the public. Kids will love it cause it has lots of old machinery and tunnels. Ferry from Circular Quay again.

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:01:57 GMT

Two more things that might be worth doing is the Sydney to Bondi Hop on Hop off bus. A bit expensive but it is one of those open air double decker touristy buses. A bit cheesy but I took my daughter when she was 11 and she still talks about it. The buses come and go at all the stops every 15mins so enough time to stop for a quick look, have an icecream etc. We are going to do it again in Summer even though we are from Sydney!

The other thing we did last year for my sons 14th birthday was buy him a ticket on a jet boat ride in Sydney Harbour. I went on with him and thought 15mins was going to be lame but it seemed to go forever and it was such a blast. This is the one: http://www.thunderjetboat.com.au/

Re: We are going to Sydney

icyfroth — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:06:20 GMT

You'll be surprised at all the building going on, Amy, if you haven't been here for 15 years!

Lots of buildings are being pulled down and new ones going up, a lot of buildings are being refurbished.

Sydney's skyline is dominated by large cranes.

I'm not sure about Manly haven't been there for ages.

Re: We are going to Sydney

green.fields — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:06:50 GMT

When we have gone to Sydney we have always bought the weekly multipass, yes, a bit expensive but we still found it the cheapest and best way to go, we used it on the ferries, buses and trains. We got our value from it. An adult day pass is now $23.00, that is a lot, the weekly zone 3 pass is $63.00

Re: We are going to Sydney

i-need-a-martini — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:08:04 GMT

And while you are in Darling Harbour, go to the Maritime Museum. I went last week with my daughter and nephew and it was great (even though I have no interest in Maritime stuff).

Not sure how old your kids are but they have great programs for the kids and the shop is fantastic for souvenirs.

It is by far the best museum in Sydney. Plan to stop for lunch in the cafe - best fish and chips eating it while overlooking the submarine.

Re: We are going to Sydney

daydream**believer — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:09:34 GMT

ohh would love to go to Bondi. We all love the boys on Bondi Rescue

Re: We are going to Sydney

daydream**believer — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 01:10:37 GMT

adding all these tips to my list.

Thanks all.

gotta take kids to dentist now. bbl

Re: We are going to Sydney

mainecoon1 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:29:07 GMT

DDB

I tried to post websites for you but was not able to, here are a few suggestions google Sydney trains, Sydney buses and Sydney ferries, these websites are good to have for timetables and planning your trips.

We now have the Opal Card in Sydney for travel on all modes of transport, you can buy them in newsagents and top them up this will give you more flexibility as you just swipe your card and don't need to buy tickets as long as you have enough on money on the card, after 8 trips the rest of your travel is free, you will need a card for each person to find out more information google Opal Card for the website.

If you go into the Sydney Aquarium website you will see they have a 5 pass discount voucher if you are planning on visiting all the places this will save you money.

A few other places you might find interesting in Manly Aquarium right by the ferry port, the Rocks is great as well especially on weekends when the market is on, the quarantine station at North Heads but you will need to drive there or go into the city and get a ferry, Luna Park, there is a dinosaur exhibition at the Australia Museum until November, Hyde Park Barracks, and harbour cruises. If you want any more ideas you can google Sydney.com.au

If you google the place you want to go to a lot have online discount coupons if you want to save a bit of money, the sites will also tell you how to get to them .

If you pop into the Tourist information centre when you arrive they have books on things to do in Sydney with discount coupons and maps.

Believe it or not I don't work for tourism Sydney I just love my city and hope you have a really great time while you are here

Re: We are going to Sydney

mainecoon1 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 02:34:08 GMT

Sorry I forgot to mention that if you use the Opal card the most you will pay for transport a day is $15.00 that is for Adults not sure about kids but the website will explain it all.

Re: We are going to Sydney

lyndal1838 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 05:01:44 GMT

Mainecoon you forgot the Centrepoint Tower...it is the best view over Sydney and you can pick out places you are going to visit or have visited.

Re: We are going to Sydney

mainecoon1 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 06:04:58 GMT

Thanks Lyndal I love the Tower you can stand up there and on a clear day and see for miles.

It is part of the 5 attractions discount I suggested to DDB, the info is on the Sydney aquarium site it includes aquarium, wildlife park, Sydney tower, madam tusauds (sorry spelling) and something else I can't remember.

Re: We are going to Sydney

mainecoon1 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 06:15:26 GMT

I got that info a little bit wrong the 5 attractions are:

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium,

WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo,

Madame Tussauds Sydney,

Sydney Tower Eye

Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary

You can buy the coupon for $63 adults $36 child and $180 for family of 4 and you have 30 days to use it..

Re: We are going to Sydney

cherry*135 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 07:24:59 GMT

Marini- what about the new Opal cards for trains, buses and ferries? $40 required for an adult to buy one initially online only. They have a daily maximum, once you go over that not charged anymore. Sundays only $2.50 for whole day, no matter how many trips you take.

Re: We are going to Sydney

cherry*135 — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 07:29:44 GMT

You may want to have a read Amy, about the OPAL card (Electronic ticketing) for transport. From 1st Sept 14 types of paper tickets are being retired.

My daughter lives and works in Sydney CBD and has found the OPAL card cheaper than the paper ticket costs.

Travel all week for no more than $60

Travel anywhere on the Opal active network for no more than $60
Using your Opal card, you’ll never pay more than $60 a week when travelling on all modes of Opal enabled transport from Monday to Sunday excluding the airport station access fee

The Opal card is now available for use across:

All Sydney Trains services. View Opal enabled Sydney Trains lines or Opal enabled train stations
NSW TrainLink Intercity services. View Opal enabled NSW TrainLink Intercity services or Opal enabled train stations
All Sydney Ferries services. View Opal enabled Sydney Ferries services
Sydney Buses services are continuing to rollout Opal activation progressively. View Opal enabled bus routes

https://www.opal.com.au/en/fare-information/travel_all_week_for_no_more_than_60/