Spectacular Sydney

SYDNEY--Saturday, March 13, 2010, and Sunday, March 14, 2010

Having spent four days in Sydney in March 2006, we wondered if the city would hold the same charm for us as it did then or if we would think, "Been there, done that." Our conclusion is that Sydney is fabulous! Many tour books include itineraries for staying in Sydney for one, three, five or seven days. We will comment on our suggestions for spending a weekend in Sydney if one has already toured the Sydney Opera House, participated in the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk, strolled through the Royal Botanic Gardens, walked through The Rocks and enjoyed the entertainment at Darling Harbour.

DAY 1: Saturday
Buy a day ticket for the Sydney Explorer Bus with it on and off stops, and recorded and live commentary. Get on the Red Bus at Stop 1 at Circular Quay and marvel at all the sites around the city of Sydney. Especially note Mrs. Macquaries's chair built by one of the early governors of the Sydney Colony for his wife so that she could look at the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and long for her beloved England; Hyde Park, which is named after its namesake in London; Queen Victoria Building with its beautiful way to shop; Chinatown where thousands celebrate Chinese New Year in February; Sydney Fish Market; the Chinese Gardens; and The Rocks. The entire circuit takes two hours.

Then transfer to the Bondi Explorer or the Blue Bus for another two-hour ride around the outskirts of Sydney for the incredible coastal views. Hop off at Watson's Bay and take the cliff edge walk to the Gap Park to enjoy the great coastal views across to North Head. Get on the bus again and hop off at Bondi Beach, Sydney's most famous beach where the sport of surfing was born. We were fortunate to see our very first surf board contest on the beach where surfing was discovered. A real party atmosphere! Pass the pool at the Iceberg Club where people swim with the ocean as a backdrop. Then follow the coastal path to the beautiful Bronte Beach and hop back on the Bondi Explorer Bus to pass Coogee Beach, the Royal Randwick Racecourse, Cricket Ground and Football Stadium, Oxford Street with it exotic boutiques, Sydney Tower and the Cenotaph, the memorial to all Australians who fought in wars in the United States. End your day shopping at The Rocks Weekend Market that is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with more than 200 stalls.

Day 2: Sunday
Buy a DayTripper past that allows you to travel all on the trains, buses and ferries. If it is Sunday, try to find a child so you can get the Family Funday pass for only $2.50. A woman offered us one of her sons, 4 and 10, as we were purchasing our tickets but the ticket taker refused to believe either boy was part of our family because he had overheard her generous offer. Take the ferry past Luna Park and get off at Darling Harbour for a trip to the Sydney Aquarium, an aquatic paradise that more than 12,000 marine animals call home. Do not feel bad if you do not see the platypus because we waited more than 10 minutes at the first exhibit and never saw it. Enjoy the penguins, seals, turtles, crocodiles, jellyfish and snakes. Get up close to the manatee's cousins, the dugongs, considered mermaids by the early pirates and sailors, in the Mermaid Lagoon. Walk under water in the Sea Aquarium with sharks and stingrays swimming over you. See Australia's largest Great Barrier Reef exhibit. We do not have much experience with large aquariums, having only been to the Baltimore Harbor Aquarium, but we voted this one the best we have experienced.

Spend several hours in the Australian National Maritime Museum to view Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids, the life of a 19-year-old New York boy who sailed from New York to Sydney in 1905, the history of water sports in Australia, life in the Royal Australian Army for both men and women, a replica of Captain Cook's ship Endeavor and the HMAS Onslow submarine. Then take the ferry back to Circular Quay and transfer to the Manly ferry for an experience you will never forget. After a 30-minute ferry ride with every other tourist in Sydney and all the families taking advantage of the Family Funday pass, walk from the terminal along The Cosco, the shop-lined pedestrian strip with its own arts and crafts market, to Manly Beach with its golden sands and rolling surf. Before you take the ferry back to Circular Quay, stock up on Australian wines. Now you know how we spent our weekend, how did you spend yours?

THOUGHTS on SYDNEY: Our ship docked at Circular Quay so we enjoyed the picture postcard view of the Sydney Opera House from our balcony. When we ate in the outside dining facility on Deck 9, we had a view of both the opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge with all the miniature-looking people climbing to the top. These views at night with the lights were breathtaking. It is a real plus to have two days in one city. While we loved Sydney, we were surprised at how much more expensive items were than when we visited four years ago. It has definitely become a world-class city with all the benefits and drawbacks.