| The easiest
and cheapest way to do this is to simply walk across it. It takes about
twenty minutes each way.
You can also
climb to the top of the southeast pylon. Inside the Pylon Lookout, a vertical
museum detailing the history of the bridge breaks up your climb to the
top. The views make the climb worthwhile – you’ll find yourself looking
straight down at the Opera House, greatly diminished by your height.
A completely different perspective of the bridge is your other reward,
as you stare straight onto the upward slope of the bridge. You can climb
the bridge itself, but this is fairly expensive and takes around three
hours of hard work. And you can’t even bring your camera.
East of
the Opera House lies another of Sydney’s jewels – the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Sprawling green lawns, flower beds, abundant bird life and plants from
the
South Pacific make the gardens a unique and relaxing place. Take your
time as you stroll along, and don’t ignore the signs spotted around the
gardens; they explain much of the plant life.
Don’t be alarmed
if you notice any of the gardens’ slightly scary winged residents. Thousands
of grey headed flying foxes, otherwise known as bats, live here. You’ll
undoubtedly notice multitudes of them sleeping in the tree tops, with the
occasional few swooping around for a look-see.
These flying
foxes have a 1.5 meter wing span and can grow up to 1 kg. They are rather
frightening looking, but fascinating at the same time. They won’t come
near you, and once I got used to their presence, I found myself straining
on my tiptoes for a better look at one of the many bats hanging upside
down, sound asleep, unaware of the gawking tourists. It’s hard to imagine
so many bats living in the centre of the biggest city on the continent.
Just west of
the harbor lies one of Sydney’s most likeable areas; The Rocks.
Cobbled lanes lined with gift shops, jewelry stores, overflowing pubs and
delicious smelling eateries make up the majority of this oldest section
of Sydney. On weekends, the Rocks Markets on George Street is the
perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs or gifts. The items you find here
are pricier than you’d expect to find at a street market, but you’re paying
for genuine quality. Stands sell everything from traditional Aboriginal
didgeridoos and boomerangs, to homemade fudge, photo albums and soap. Jewelry
and photos are also plentiful.
After dark,
head for the Sydney Observatory. Located on a hilltop in The
Rocks, it provides more great views of the bridge. If you want to participate
in one of the nightly star gazing experiences, make sure to book ahead.
Inside, you’ll take a journey through the history of astronomy while you
wait for the night sky to darken. An astronomer will guide you through
a model of the night sky, projected onto the underside of a huge umbrella-like
dome for authenticity. He points out various constellations and reveals
the story behind them.
The highlight
of the night is gazing at stars through a high powered telescope sheltered
by a huge dome on top of the observatory. Have a close encounter with Venus
and see if you can pick out craters on the moon. Children and
adults both benefit from this out of world experience.
Sydney’s
CBD, or Central Business District, bustles with the perpetual movement
of a city constantly in action. George Street and Pitt Street run perpendicular
to the harbor and are the two main streets of interest to tourists.
On George Street, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is an entire city block
of high class stores in a Byzantine style building.
The Pitt Street
Mall, including the Strand Arcade, is a shopper’s paradise, and the
Sydney Tower is accessible from here. It’s definitely worth your time
to head up to the top. Before ascending, Oz Trek, a virtual tour of Australia,
takes you on a rapid exploration of Australia. Fly over Uluru, splash down
into the Great Barrier Reef and bounce with kangaroos. Just make sure you
hold on – the seats move in time with what you are seeing!
From the
top of the Tower, on a clear day, you can see the whole city, and all the
way out to the Blue Mountains. The only disappointment here is the
Opera House – the view is partially blocked. Guides walk around pointing
out various locations, and explain the sights and history of the city in
more detail. Make sure you stop and listen for awhile; you’ll learn things
about Sydney you never knew.
Afterwards,
wander
down George Street and have a look at the exquisite Town Hall. From
here, follow Park Street and make your way to Hyde Park; a respite from
the commotion of the CBD. It’s hard to believe the city is only a few blocks
away. Bring a blanket and spread it out on the grass like so many others
do.
At the corner
of Park Street and College Street sits the Australian Museum. Various
temporary exhibitions take up most of the first floor, and although they’re
not always Australia related, they are usually worth a look. Recent exhibitions
include Ancient Egypt and Super Croc.
The permanent
exhibitions include Dreamtime, a display detailing Aboriginal history.
On Sundays, indigenous performances take place throughout the day. Dancers
dressed in traditional Aboriginal attire, including white face paint, perform
customary dances while a didgeridoo player provides background music. The
Australian wildlife gallery is a real treat, with stuffed animals and
birds from all over the country. A truly dazzling collection of gemstones,
minerals and crystals is also on display. It’s enough to make any woman
drool!
After you’ve
had your fill of the museum, head back out onto Park Street. It eventually
turns into William Street, which leads directly to Kings Cross. The
huge, flashing neon Coca Cola sign, a Sydney icon, signals your arrival
in this seedy district. Darlinghurst Street is where you want to be
– if you’re looking for one of the many strip joints and sex shops, or
prostitutes and drugs.
That said,
there are also many trendy restaurants here and endless backpackers. A
few good nightclubs, like Moulin Rouge, and pubs packed with travelers,
make Kings Cross a good place for a big night out. This is definitely the
cheapest place to access the internet – some places charge only $3 per
hour, a real bargain in Sydney.
If you find
the Rocks Market too expensive, head to Chinatown and visit Paddy’s
Markets. The indoor market is one of Sydney’s biggest and busiest, and
it’s a must see. You’ll find plenty of Australiana here, from cheap t-shirts,
koala teddy bears and plastic road signs, to can openers made out of kangaroo
scrotum. If you’re looking for a fake Louis Vuitton handbag or Von Dutch
t-shirts and hats, you’re in the right place. Quality takes a side seat
here to inexpensive clothing designed to imitate high fashion.
You can find
almost anything you need here – wigs, mobile phones, socks and underwear
galore and all kinds of footwear. And don’t leave out the fruit and vegetable
section– the best mangoes I ever sunk my teeth into came from Paddy’s
Markets. You don’t pay a fortune for fresh produce here, so stock up.
The markets
are open Thursday to Sunday, but avoid the weekends if you can. You’ll
spend more time fighting the crowds than you will actually shopping. Before
you leave Chinatown, grab a bite to eat. The food choices here are superb,
from simple noodle shops to full restaurants serving yum cha and five course
meals.
Many tourists
make the mistake of not leaving the CBD and general tourist areas. We stayed
in North Sydney, across the bridge and opposite the Opera House. Vibe,
a funky, modern hotel located right across from Milson’s Point train station,
has great views of the city – from “the other direction”. Additionally,
it has its own restaurant and buffet breakfast. It’s close enough to the
city to be convenient, but just far enough away to escape the crowds and
late night noise. Besides, every time you take the train to the hotel –
you get to ride across the Harbor Bridge.
If you still
haven’t had your fill of shopping, heading to Oxford Street in Paddington.
A popular market takes place here every weekend and has plenty to offer.
Souvenirs aren’t really sold here, but you can find fossils of Australian
creatures, gemstones, fresh flowers and handicrafts. Handmade jewelry is
everywhere – from cheap bangles to quality pieces. One stand allows you
to put any saying onto a t-shirt, or you can choose from one of their entertaining
slogans.
The rest
of Oxford Street is packed with plenty of designer shops, concept stores
and Australian chain stores such as Sportsgirl and Cotton On. Cafes, pubs,
salons and restaurants make their usual appearance. Last but not least,
Oxford Street is also known for its nightlife – clubs and bars line the
busy street. Your only dilemma is which bar to choose – and how long
to stay out!
The following
is a list of articles that Dawnelle has written for the magazine:
To contact Dawnelle
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