Sydney Holiday Tips and Information Please

omy on 10/12/2024 - 12:56
Last edited 12/12/2024 - 12:33

Hi,

I am planning to go to Sydney from Melbourne first time with my 15 year old. It is going to be my first visit so I am looking for all kind of tips and information to make this holiday a wonderful experience.

Mainly I am wanting to know which area to stay so that it is more accessible and I dont have to spend much on Uber to travel. Must visit places and must do things.

Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

Thank you all.

Travel New South Wales Sydney

Comments

  • Seraphin7 on 10/12/2024 - 13:04
    +3

    Mainly I am wanting to know which area to stay so that it is more accessible

    What do you want to access?

    Sydney is actually a very big place. The city itself is obviously central to many things (and obviously has the most public transport connections), but depending on what you actually want to do/are interested in then you may be better off elsewhere.

    • omy on 10/12/2024 - 13:08

      main famous attractions

      • jv on 10/12/2024 - 14:43
        +1

        If you have a lot of Testosterone, try Manly beach…

      • Seraphin7 on 10/12/2024 - 17:56

        Go with the city then … walk to Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Sydney Tower, etc. … ferry from the city to Manly, Watson's Bay, Zoo, etc. … bus to Bondi, etc. … train to wherever else you might want to go.

        For the "main famous attractions" that are specifically "in Sydney" you're never going to be more than about 10km from the CBD.

        • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:39

          Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

          I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

          Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

          Thank you all.

      • brad1-8tsi on 10/12/2024 - 22:12

        main famous attractions

        There are attractions everywhere of all different types. Do u mean museums, theatre, general sightseeing, beaches, bushwalking, sports?

        You don't say whether u have a car or not. I'd suggest somewhere in/near the CBD (despite the cost) or at least somewhere within 7km of the CBD and close to public transport.

  • kerfuffle on 10/12/2024 - 13:17
    +3

    City would be best but also expensive to stay in (compared to Melbourne city).

    I highly recommend you do a Sydney Opera House tour and the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly.

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:39
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

  • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2024 - 13:31
    +2

    Hard to say with 15 year old kid. The Zoo is really good and the ferry ride across is enjoyable. There are things like Vivid but accomodation might be more expensive then.

    https://www.vividsydney.com/

    • jv on 10/12/2024 - 14:15
      -1

      The Zoo is really good

      The zoo is terrible… Some of the animal cages are tiny and cruel.

      • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2024 - 14:20
        -1

        Some of the poachers in Africa are worse.

  • jv on 10/12/2024 - 14:14
    -1

    This is a nice place to stay…

    Only a 5 min walk to the ferry.

    • Seraphin7 on 10/12/2024 - 17:57

      Tough to get a booking.

      • jv on 11/12/2024 - 09:18

        There will be a vacancy next year.

  • foursaken on 10/12/2024 - 14:26
    +1

    You haven't really provided much information, so I'd agree - stay in the city. Bridgeclimb, Opera House, the Rocks, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour are all in the city (city means south of the harbour, not North). Tons to do.

    • jv on 10/12/2024 - 14:40
      -2

      city means south of the harbour, not North

      Luna Park is North

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:39
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

      • try2bhelpful on 12/12/2024 - 13:58
        +1

        Use the aggregate sites for checking what hotel you want then join the hotel’s loyalty scheme and book direct. See if hotels give you a discount for multiple nights or perks like room upgrades for members. The worthwhile amenities can depend on the time of year. A pool is good in Summer and a Spa is good in winter. When we travel I prefer a hotel room with a fridge and then buy a bottle of wine. To save a little money I also tend to take plastic bowls and spoons with me then buy milk, muesli and yoghurt to create my own breakfast. If you want to get fancy get cold meats, cheeses, etc.

        Have fun with the trip.

        • omy on 12/12/2024 - 14:09
          +1

          Thank you , this is so helpful.

      • foursaken on 12/12/2024 - 15:30
        +3

        Honestly skip Bondi, it's not worth it. It's way out in the Eastern suburbs, and might be iconic, but really its just another beach, and you're already going to Manly.

        Try and book Bridge Climb instead. Totally worth doing and you can see the layout of Sydney from up there.

        • omy on 12/12/2024 - 17:03

          oh ok! Thank you.

  • sumyungguy on 10/12/2024 - 14:59
    +1

    Will you consider sharing a price guide? Use of rideshare not public transit suggests middle class affluent.

  • stickingly on 10/12/2024 - 16:17
    +4

    The biggest waste of money is cathing ubers rather than trains and buses

    Last time we went to Sydney we stayed in Coogee Beach, which is a nice area, cheaper than the CBD and an easy bus ride into the CBD

    • jv on 10/12/2024 - 16:45
      -2

      we stayed in Coogee Beach

      Nice…

      Did you eat at the Coogee Bay Hotel?

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:40
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

  • dtc on 10/12/2024 - 17:36
    +1

    Good places to stay are on a rail line to central and are 15 min or so away - eg Bondi Junction (near a big shopping mall), Green Square, Randwick (light rail, lots of nice restaurants), Newtown (not a huge number of places to stay but cook area) (there are plenty of others eg even around ). A lot cheaper than staying in the CBD and you can get apartments (eg meriton) that offer more space or at least a small cooking area. Tap a credit/debit card on and off for travel, no need for a special travel card. You will find its almost as quick to get to somewhere like Central station or Circular Quay as it is from many of the CBD hotels.

  • Sweet3st on 10/12/2024 - 18:00
    +1

    The Spit to Manly walk is beautiful… walk round the harbour coastline with spectacular views… there are beaches along the way for a swim… catch a bus from CBD to Spit, walk to Manly, catch the ferry home. Consider Potts Point/Woolloomooloo or Kensington to stay.

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:40
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

  • angywoo on 10/12/2024 - 18:02

    Sydney cbd does not have a Kmart.

    I was shocked.

    • kerfuffle on 10/12/2024 - 22:12
      +1

      Broadway is only 2km out of the city and one bus stop past Central.

      • angywoo on 11/12/2024 - 11:57

        I will keep this in mind. As a first timer to Sydney it made things a bit tricky as I honestly thought there was bound to be a Kmart close by.

        • CrispyChrispy on 12/12/2024 - 11:34

          I guess there's a Big W right next to Town Hall if you really wanted something similar

          • angywoo on 12/12/2024 - 17:41

            @CrispyChrispy: It was tiny and didn't have much variety at all. It felt like it was the size of a corner deli.

  • JIMB0 on 10/12/2024 - 21:07
    +2

    Public transport is great. You can can ride the ferries all day long for a fixed price.

    • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2024 - 21:36
      +1

      Riding the ferries is great fun.

      • JIMB0 on 11/12/2024 - 05:18

        The one to Manly really gets rocking.

        • try2bhelpful on 11/12/2024 - 07:28
          +1

          Who needs to go to Luna Park :)

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:41
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

  • McEels on 11/12/2024 - 09:50
    +1

    Assume that "my 15 year old" is your child and not a partner? Cos there's different experiences if that's the case.

    Check out something like https://www.iventurecard.com/au/sydney/ which outlines the main attractions. There's also https://www.ragingwaterssydney.com.au/ if you are after a theme park.

    • omy on 12/12/2024 - 13:42
      -1

      Update: Thank you everyone for all the useful information. Based on the information given, I am planning to spend 3 days in sydney and stay near main attractions to save uber money ( either Hyatt or Shangri), and to cover Manly beach, Bondi beach, harbour bridge, opera house, sydney tower, Darling harbour etc. Please advise me would 3 days be enough. As I am planning to stay in luxury hotel, so would like to spend some time in hotel as well. I can extend it to 4 days as well, if it feels too tight. Also, I am planning to check in tuesday around 12 pm so that I have full evening to enjoy and checkout thursday 12 pm but can arrange flight in the night if I can utilise that time too.

      I am hoping I am making sense, Sorry, I dont travel much so I dont know most of the stuff.

      Any deals recommendations on bookings will be bonus :)

      Thank you all.

  • 2esc on 11/12/2024 - 10:33
    -3

    Want to make it a wonderful experience? Dont go! I went to Sydney for visit 25 years ago no intention of ever going back. I personally wouldnt go to either Melbourne or Sydney by choice.

    • JIMB0 on 11/12/2024 - 13:48
      +2

      Was it too many cars parked together or because people walk in both directions on the footpaths?

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