Im going to Oz for the first time for a conference in October and will have a spare day to hang around Sydney before heading up the coast to see a friend in Brisbane before heading back to Bangers. I can't spend any more time there, work beckons and its not really a holiday (maybe do that next year though).

So to all those familiar with the place, what should I do with my precious day in Sydney?

Im going to Oz for the first time for a conference in October and will have a spare day to hang around Sydney before heading up the coast to see a friend in Brisbane before heading back to Bangers. I can't spend any more time there, work beckons and its not really a holiday (maybe do that next year though).

So to all those familiar with the place, what should I do with my precious day in Sydney?

That's easy - grab a flight to Melbourne which is culturally, epicurean, and socially superior to Sydney

Ok ok - enough interstate rivalry.

You have two choices on how to spend the day:

1) stay within the city region.

Get a red bus ticket "city explorer" - good for the day and follow the route getting of at each stop. There are free maps with a guide notes for the route. Have lunch at Watson Bay either at Doyles which is great or at the Watson Bay Hotel. Food is predominantly seafood. It is fresh, tastes great and rightfully internationally famous. Avoid doing something like a steak which can be done anywhere in Oz. After lunch head for Bondi - it is a cliche but you will need to take a photo next to the sign saying "Bondi Beach" just as a momento. In my opinon there are better beaches some of them are even in Sydney. The other advantage of going to Bondi is that 90% of the population is from New Zealand saving you the wasted time of actually visiting the land of the long white cloud and nation of nervous sheep.

Walk across the Harbour bridge - there are also guided climbing tours of the bridge where you will get to the very top which has a spectacular view across Sydney Harbour.

Check out the Harbour environs including the Opera House. fyi the design concept of the Opera House came from a discarded orange peel even though they now claim it came from the idea of a series of sales. Sydneysiders like to use the Opera House as a claim that they are a cultured group. Melbournites claim that the only culture in Sydney comes in small plastic tubs marked Yoghurt.

Around the harbour under the bridge is the Rocks area - have a drink in one or more of the trendy pubs that abound there. They are a bit pricey and use non standard glass sizes but worth the experience.

Back in the city area you should climb the Sydney tower - every year they hold a vertical marathon where people run up the stairwell but it is much easier to use the elevator provided. The tower has an observation deck and two levels of restaurant. One restaurant is "semi buffet style/fixed menu" and the other is ah la carte. They revolve around the tower and at night if it is clear offer a spectacular view of the city. During a thunderstorm at night it is fabulous but tends to scare the bejeesus out of half of the patrons. One amusing thing to do there is to watch the guests who wander off to get some food from the buffet or take a relief spell in the bathroom and discover that their table has moved. I have watched an indignant American (sorry guys but he really was) abuse the heck out of a very confused Japanese couple for "stealing his table" only to discover that it had moved about 15% away. He was gently lead to his table and forgot to apologise to the Japanese who sat through the whole thing with a totally uncomprehending look on his face. His wife on the other side of the table spent the entire time clutching the seat in case she was flung across the room or the whole floor fell off the tower.

After dinner try around King Street in any of the bars and pubs there. Interesting mix of yuppies and puppies there. You can do well if you are dressed like you are a success.

Option 2 - move out of the city and go up to the Hunter Valley for red wine and cheese tasting. Or take a day drip up to the Blue Mountains. The moutainsa aren't actually blue but the gum trees give of eucalyptus vapour which refracts the light giving it a blue tinge. The mountains will not impress anyone from Colorado where they would be known as the blue hills but in the old days they formed a serious barrier against anyone leaving Sydney and crossing into the interior. Melbournites say it was a plot by God to keep the Sydneysiders trapped within the confines of the city.

There are other out of the city tours available but if you only have the one day then I think you can pack a lot more by walking and bussing around the city itself. Sydney is a vibrant city filled with interesting places and people. If/when you go back to the city you will have more time to do a harbour crossing on the ferry to Manly and walk around there. Don't consider having a cigarette there because it is banned in all parks/restaurants/coffee shops/golf courses/schools/government buildings etc. In the rest of the city you can light up in anyone of the litterally thousands of alfresco cafes but all pubs and clubs are now smoke free except in certain areas eg gaming rooms.

Late at night head down to Harry's cafe de wheels for a pie with tomato sauce and mashed peas. Despite the claim otherwise it neither invented the dish nor was it the first such cafe in Australia. However it is famous and another photo opportunity.

If you have any other questions feel free to send me a message either in the forum or by PM and I will try to answer it.

btw it is perfectly acceptable in Australia to say "g'day mate to anyone irrespective of whether that person is male or female however anyone who says it but isn't Australia sounds like an idiot"

CB

Yes, don't miss the harbour and Opera House area. It is touristy, but most nice.

I agree with Crow Boy apart from the Bondi beach bit - highly overrated! I think you should jump on a ferry to Manly. A nice scenic 30 minute journey each way, and while Manly beach is still a bit on the touristy side it still beats Bondi beach hands down.

Im going to Oz for the first time for a conference in October and will have a spare day to hang around Sydney before heading up the coast to see a friend in Brisbane before heading back to Bangers. I can't spend any more time there, work beckons and its not really a holiday (maybe do that next year though).

So to all those familiar with the place, what should I do with my precious day in Sydney?

That's easy - grab a flight to Melbourne which is culturally, epicurean, and socially superior to Sydney

I soooooh concur!

Im going to Oz for the first time for a conference in October and will have a spare day to hang around Sydney before heading up the coast to see a friend in Brisbane before heading back to Bangers. I can't spend any more time there, work beckons and its not really a holiday (maybe do that next year though).

So to all those familiar with the place, what should I do with my precious day in Sydney?

That's easy - grab a flight to Melbourne which is culturally, epicurean, and socially superior to Sydney

I soooooh concur!

As spot the Melbournite The line from quiksilva was just too good an opportunity to miss. I was sent up to Sydney for 3 months to "help out up there" and it took 12 years to be transferred back south. For the first four years I was still under the head count for Melbourne.

Actually as a city it is a great place to visit but to live there ...............er well not really. I much prefer Melbourne and indeed the whole of Victoria.

Old Melbourne saying "the two best things to come out of Sydney are the Hume and Princes Highways"

CB

I agree with Crow Boy apart from the Bondi beach bit - highly overrated! I think you should jump on a ferry to Manly. A nice scenic 30 minute journey each way, and while Manly beach is still a bit on the touristy side it still beats Bondi beach hands down.

As a beach Manly is much nicer than Bondi but Bondi is an icon and as such makes for a good place to visit. I agree that a ferry trip across the harbour to Manly is a create thing to do but if he only has the one day it would take him in the opposite side of the harbour to the rest of the things to do. In my opinion I prefer Clovelly, Bronte, and Maroubra to Bondi but as a limited time visitor it would not be my suggestion that he go there.

One of the guys who used to work for me was nicknamed Bondi - as with many such nicknames it was not explained to the victim. After months of him speculating on the reason for it 'an icon' 'well known' 'well liked' it was explained to him that we called him Bondi because "he was a long way from Manly"

CB

Lots of good suggestions there; some rather dependent on good weather, though. If wet there's an excellent gallery (NSW Art Gallery) and many small private galleries and a number of museums. Also a zoo and aquarium.

Sydney has some excellent restaurants. The oysters are renowned. Two places that appear on "world's best" type lists are Tetsuya and Rockpool (just google).

Do take the ferry .

Meet me down by the jetty landing

Where the pontoons bump and sway

All the others reading, standing

As the Manly ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay

Hear the captain blow his whistle

So long you've been away

I miss our early morning wrestle

Not a very happy way to start the day

She don't like that kind of behaviour

She don't like that kind of behaviour

Throw down your guns

Don't be so reckless

Throw down your guns

Like Scott in the Antarctic

Base camp so far away

Russian subs beneath the Arctic

Burke and Wills and camels

Initials on the tree

She don't like that kind of behaviour

She don't like that kind of behaviour

Throw down your guns

Don't you be so reckless

Throw down your guns

Sydney's nice, certainly the best city in Australia. Do Harbor stuff, you can get the ferry all the way up the river to Parramatta for the price of a bus fare.

But... watch out for barbers!

It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town,

He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down.

He loitered here, he loitered there, till he was like to drop,

Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber's shop.

"'Ere! shave my beard and whiskers off, I'll be a man of mark,

I'll go and do the Sydney toff up home in Ironbark."

The barber man was small and flash, as barbers mostly are,

He wore a strike-your-fancy sash, he smoked a huge cigar;

He was a humorist of note and keen at repartee,

He laid the odds and kept a "tote", whatever that may be,

And when he saw our friend arrive, he whispered, "Here's a lark!

Just watch me catch him all alive, this man from Ironbark."

There were some gilded youths that sat along the barber's wall.

Their eyes were dull, their heads were flat, they had no brains at all;

To them the barber passed the wink, his dexter eyelid shut,

"I'll make this bloomin' yokel think his bloomin' throat is cut."

And as he soaped and rubbed it in he made a rude remark:

"I s'pose the flats is pretty green up there in Ironbark."

A grunt was all reply he got; he shaved the bushman's chin,

Then made the water boiling hot and dipped the razor in.

He raised his hand, his brow grew black, he paused awhile to gloat,

Then slashed the red-hot razor-back across his victim's throat:

Upon the newly-shaven skin it made a livid mark -

No doubt it fairly took him in - the man from Ironbark.

He fetched a wild up-country yell might wake the dead to hear,

And though his throat, he knew full well, was cut from ear to ear,

He struggled gamely to his feet, and faced the murd'rous foe:

"You've done for me! you dog, I'm beat! one hit before I go!

I only wish I had a knife, you blessed murdering shark!

But you'll remember all your life the man from Ironbark."

He lifted up his hairy paw, with one tremendous clout

He landed on the barber's jaw, and knocked the barber out.

He set to work with nail and tooth, he made the place a wreck;

He grabbed the nearest gilded youth, and tried to break his neck.

And all the while his throat he held to save his vital spark,

And "Murder! Bloody murder!" yelled the man from Ironbark.

A peeler man who heard the din came in to see the show;

He tried to run the bushman in, but he refused to go.

And when at last the barber spoke, and said "'Twas all in fun—

'Twas just a little harmless joke, a trifle overdone."

"A joke!" he cried, "By George, that's fine; a lively sort of lark;

I'd like to catch that murdering swine some night in Ironbark."

And now while round the shearing floor the list'ning shearers gape,

He tells the story o'er and o'er, and brags of his escape.

"Them barber chaps what keeps a tote, By George, I've had enough,

One tried to cut my bloomin' throat, but thank the Lord it's tough."

And whether he's believed or no, there's one thing to remark,

That flowing beards are all the go way up in Ironbark.

The Bulletin, 17 December 1892.

Grab a Sheila, a few cases of 4X and try to make the time go as quickly as possible.

Sydney's nice, certainly the best city in Australia. Do Harbor stuff, you can get the ferry all the way up the river to Parramatta for the price of a bus fare.

Well actually it is a river cat and not a ferry but yes what you say is correct. Before the 2000 Olympics the river trip up to Parramatta was a scenic tour of dumps, swamps, and ugly factories. Now there are multimillion dollar houses all along the river. Certainly revived the area and a took a river at serious ecological risk back to being in good health. Drop a cigarette butt in the river and be prepared to hand over AU$200 as the fine. Oh and the council inspectors and police are hot on it unlike in Thailand were even the cops flick their cigarette butts into the street.

CB

Visit of Hope to Sydney Cove, near Botany Bay

WHERE Sydney Cove her lucid bosom swells,

And with wide arms the indignant storm repels;

High on a rock amid the troubled air

Hope stood sublime, and waved her golden hair;

Calmed with her rosy smile the tossing deep,

And with sweet accents charmed the winds to sleep;

To each wild plain she stretched her snowy hand,

High-waving wood, and sea-encircled strand.

"Hear me," she cried, "ye rising realms! record

Time's opening scenes, and Truth's prophetic word.

There shall broad streets their stately walls extend,

The circus widen, and the crescent bend;

There, rayed from cities o'er the cultured land,

Shall bright canals, and solid roads expand.

There the proud arch, colossus-like, bestride

Yon glittering streams, and bound the chasing tide;

Embellished villas crown the landscape-scene,

Farms wave with gold, and orchards blush between.

There shall tall spires, and dome-capped towers ascend,

And piers and quays their massy structures blend;

While with each breeze approaching vessels glide,

And northern treasures dance on every tide!"

Then ceased the nymph -- tumultuous echoes roar,

And Joy's loud voice was heard from shore to shore --

Her graceful steps descending pressed the plain,

And Peace, and Art, and Labour, joined her train.

Erasmus Darwin

Thanks guys, the harbour and bus tour sounds perfect, I pretty much have the evening covered as I know the owners of a few bars in Sydney so can be assured of more than a few XXXX's, but thankfully Im not too worried about the smoking fines as I haven't had a smoke for 4 months!

Grab a Sheila, a few cases of 4X and try to make the time go as quickly as possible.

You'll have to head up to Queensland to drink XXXX (aka cat's piss).

I haven't got any poetry for you, but the site, sydney.com.au, gives a pretty good idea of how to spend a day or two in the old town.

I recommend going to the top of Sydney Tower for a 360 degree view of Sydney (use the high speed lift, don't climb it as CB suggested ), take the monorail to Darling Harbour for lunch (Watsons too far away for one day), then a ferry to circular quay and walk around to the opera house. Take photos of said OH and the Bridge (not enough time to walk across or climb it), take Manly ferry for harbour views and walk to beach through shopping precinct.

In the evening go to China Town to eat and drink and later go to Kings Cross to observe the sights.

Forgot to mention the historic Rocks area for a walking tour and if you have to shop, the Queen Victoria Building and Paddy's Market are worth investigating.

Thanks guys, the harbour and bus tour sounds perfect, I pretty much have the evening covered as I know the owners of a few bars in Sydney so can be assured of more than a few XXXX's, but thankfully Im not too worried about the smoking fines as I haven't had a smoke for 4 months!

Quiksilva just for your information re beer in Australia. It is fairly regional and XXXX (pronounced "4 Eks") is from Castlemaine in Brisbane (Queensland). The local beer in Sydney is Tooheys. The only real national beers are both from Melbourne and are VB (pronounced VeeBee) and Carlton Draught. XXXX is available in Sydney but mainly in cans and 375ml bottles. VB is available in cans, bottles (large and small), draught in Kegs, buckets, wheelbarrows and by the truckload. I suggest you start off with Toohey's New which is in my opinion a basic beer and then try a couple of others to see what you like. Be aware that asking for a "New" with a bunch of VB drinkers in Melbourne is likely to get you laughed out of the bar but asking for a VB in Sydney with New drinkers may get a bit of ribbing from the Sydney boys unless you have got very lost and heading out to the Western Suburbs where it may get a lot more serious. Mind you VB still sells a heck of a lot of beer out there.

CB

Sydney has some excellent restaurants.

I found some excellent restaurants in my short time in Sydney and they were low to medium priced ones!

Thanks guys, the harbour and bus tour sounds perfect, I pretty much have the evening covered as I know the owners of a few bars in Sydney so can be assured of more than a few XXXX's, but thankfully Im not too worried about the smoking fines as I haven't had a smoke for 4 months!

Quiksilva just for your information re beer in Australia. It is fairly regional and XXXX (pronounced "4 Eks") is from Castlemaine in Brisbane (Queensland). The local beer in Sydney is Tooheys. The only real national beers are both from Melbourne and are VB (pronounced VeeBee) and Carlton Draught. XXXX is available in Sydney but mainly in cans and 375ml bottles. VB is available in cans, bottles (large and small), draught in Kegs, buckets, wheelbarrows and by the truckload. I suggest you start off with Toohey's New which is in my opinion a basic beer and then try a couple of others to see what you like. Be aware that asking for a "New" with a bunch of VB drinkers in Melbourne is likely to get you laughed out of the bar but asking for a VB in Sydney with New drinkers may get a bit of ribbing from the Sydney boys unless you have got very lost and heading out to the Western Suburbs where it may get a lot more serious. Mind you VB still sells a heck of a lot of beer out there.

CB

Tooheys Old eh? The first time quaffed a glass of that I thought I'd taken a wrong turn and gone to the home of the Gods and was drinking the nectar they reserve for themselves.

Four X on the other hand is known as barbed wire by non-Queenslanders, possibly because of the label and possibly because of what it feels like if you're unfortunate to have a chunder on it.

Sydney has some excellent restaurants.

I found some excellent restaurants in my short time in Sydney and they were low to medium priced ones!

Sydney and, I'll reluctantly admit, Melbourne have some of the best ethnic restaurants in the world. After the Second World War more than a million Europeans arrived with all their marvelous foods. Then came the Asians... the Vietnamese, Thais, Chinese et al and added to the mix.

Actually, I can't work it out.... you Yanks had exactly the same opportunities and came up with Maccas and KFC.

Didn't you guys invent Chicken Treat?

I submit that New York City, San Francisco and New Orleans compare quite favorably with Sydney and Melbourne.

Didn't you guys invent Chicken Treat?

I submit that New York City, San Francisco and New Orleans compare quite favorably with Sydney and Melbourne.

General, I'd love to sample the food in those cities but I don't think my hemorrhoids would be up to the body cavity search at the airport.

Four X on the other hand is known as barbed wire by non-Queenslanders, possibly because of the label and possibly because of what it feels like if you're unfortunate to have a chunder on it.

Four X for people who can't spell beer

CB

Didn't you guys invent Chicken Treat?

I submit that New York City, San Francisco and New Orleans compare quite favorably with Sydney and Melbourne.

you are quite correct the food found in those US cities is excellent but I would say that the sheer diversity of food found in both Sydney and moreso in Melbourne exceeds it.

CB

In fact, you can find great little family-run places of all kinds even in the suburbs of Australia's bigger cities, and sometimes even in dusty little country towns. My feeling is that Australia does not require "assimilation" in the way the USA might.

Every small town has a Chinese restaurant, even in the middle of nowhere. Remember the menus in those places ? Always had banana fritters and ice-cream, for some reason, amongst other "classic" Chinese dishes .

In fact, you can find great little family-run places of all kinds even in the suburbs of Australia's bigger cities, and sometimes even in dusty little country towns. My feeling is that Australia does not require "assimilation" in the way the USA might.

Every small town has a Chinese restaurant, even in the middle of nowhere. Remember the menus in those places ? Always had banana fritters and ice-cream, for some reason, amongst other "classic" Chinese dishes .

And deep fried ice cream - you just know that its "traditional" Chinese cooking style

Maybe it was early attempts at "Fusion Cooking" style were traditional dishes are given a make over with a new twist to take into account the local ingredients.

CB

Maybe it was early attempts at "Fusion Cooking" style where traditional dishes are given a make over with a new twist to take into account the local ingredients.

Maybe Those tinned lychees were nasty, though.

The menus had an "Australian" section with steak & chips, bacon and eggs et al for the faint hearted, who could find nothing of interest amongst

CHICKEN

Chicken with Blackbean Sauce

Chicken with Oyster Sauce

Chicken with Cashews

Chicken with Broccoli

(& repeat, for beef & pork in place of chicken)

Usually, quite good cheap tucker .

I know theres been a lot of ideas given already and you only have one day....sohae been trying to think of what "I" would do if I had only one day there

(is this your first time? Im assuming yes.... will it be on a weekend? and any idea what part of Sydney you will be staying in?)

the reason I ask this is cos Sydney has some really really nice beaches, and honestly I dont think you need to necessarily be in bondi (not that theres anything wrong with CB's suggestion...I just prefer places that has a different character to it.....)

For instance if you were in the north side of Sydney..I would suggest start out your day with a leisurely brunch at Bather's Pavillion in Balmoral beach. From there head south towards the city to the Rocks area, then onto the Opera House for a bit of a view. Before leaving the area make a stop at the New South Wales art gallery, and say hello to some of my favorite paintings for me. On the way out...stroll through the Domain, and once you get off at the other side you will be back on the street behind George Street (which is the main street running through CbD). hop on one of the buses that will take you to around the Darling Harbour area. I would get lunch here, then walk out either towards China town for a bit of a look if that interests you...alternatively after your late lunch Id head towards QVB (queen victoria building) on George Street..theres some shopping you can do here...or just have a coffee at one of the cafe on the basement level (nicer and less expensive than the one on the first floor!)

From here I would head to Paddington if you are interested in some boutique designer shopping (local designers).....onc there you MUST stop at the Chocolate Bar by the Bald Man (Max Brenner). It is really worth it by the time you are finished here, it should already be early evening...so on your way back towards city or wherever you will be heading for dinner...you can pass by the famous Oxford Street (I find this more interesting than King's Cross) .... but it being the gay street, you might feel otherwise. but honestly....Id say you will be perfectly ok....theres one particular famous Cabaret show in one of the bars ....I forget the name...but perhaps someone will help me....(you can choose to come back here if you were say dining in the surry hills area....not too far away)

anyhow.... for dinner....

a number of suggestions:

Head out to Surry Hills...theres a number of restuarants to choose from here...but highly recommended is the MG Garage. good food....and you get to admire cars while you dine! what more can a boy ask for!

the other option is to head out to Leichardt (Sydney's little italy) theres an array of restaurants and cafes to choose from here....and very pleasant setting. If you choose this option, then for drinks I suggest heading to newtown for some funky Sydney feel. theres also lots of restuarants in newtown, ranging from indonesian, african, and 2 of sydney's best thai restuarants!

yet another option for food is Glebe (but if you have only one night...Id opt for one of the earlier suggestions). You can however choose to stop by here for late night desserts ( a place called Badde Manors) or if you just fancy a Gelato, then on the corner of Glebe and Parramatta road is the Colours Cafe.

after that head to King Street Wharf for more drinks at one of the posh-ish bars.

by the way...if you are not near the northern suburb, then you can swap Balmain beach for Balmoral. to get to Balmain I suggest taking the ferry from Circular Quay (thats the main pier from where all the ferried leave, and is near opera house area)

my you will have a busy day sighhhhh Im jealous. have fun!!

by the way...there could be a jazz festival at Manly in October?

Back on the subject of eating in Sydney, Australian pub grub has improved dramatically in the last decade, even to the point where my sister, a very busy business woman who eats out regularly, complained to me last week that her local pubs were getting a bit TOO trendy.

In Sydney a couple of years back I had a steak at the pub in Bondi Junction, I can't recall the name but it's right there when you get of the tram, that would have held it's own anywhere in the world. A quality piece of meat cooked EXACTLY to my specifications.

..there could be a jazz festival at Manly in October?

The Manly Jazz festival starts on 29/9 and finishes on 1/10

I know theres been a lot of ideas given already and you only have one day....sohae been trying to think of what "I" would do if I had only one day there

(is this your first time? Im assuming yes.... will it be on a weekend? and any idea what part of Sydney you will be staying in?)

Some excellent suggestions there MiG - you really are an uptown girl aren't you

CB