15

There is some seriously dangerous advice in this post.

• You CANNOT catch the Manly Ferry to Darling Harbour.
• I would NOT walk to the Quarantine station on an 8 hour lay over.
• I would NOT waste a single minute on Paddy's Market on a 1 week trip to Sydney, let alone a day.

The single best thing to do in Sydney is the Manly ferry. This costs about $15 and takes 90 minutes return. Getting off in manly and walking down to the beach will add at least an hour to this. Attempting to fit in the Quarantine station will seriously risk you mssing the flight.

It is free to walk to and around the Opera House and into the Botanic gardens, and this is a great walk.

It is also free to walk around the Rocks, up onto the Bridge and across it. If you purchase a day pass for the ferries or public transport you could catch the Manly ferry, walk across the Bridge, catch a ferry back and then maybe head to Darling Harbour.

16

Fret not, Harry. All of the above has been addressed in other posts. Contributors include, if you check the links, the estimable Hamer Radshaw.

17

So just to make sure you understand.

Your flight lands at 7am (may be delayed or early. Who knows at this time). Is it an international flight? If so you might take up to 1 hour to clear customs. Everybody else on your plane has the same idea to stand up and run to customs so don't bet on it. You will be EXHAUSTED after a night flight. Are you getting a connecting flight? Are your bags checked through or do you have to collect bags and carry them around until checkin for your next flight opens? (4 hours before your flight). If that is the case what will you do with your bags all day?

Good - organise your visa in advance. Also handy hint - write out your itenary and download chapers of lonely planet guide to Sydney and highlight places you want to go so when customs question you you are ready with your day's plan - you need to prove to them you are not a drug smuggler - Sydney is the worst for holding up people on suspicion of drugs. And also, I shouldn't have to mention this but don't carry drugs.

So 8am-8.20am shower. 8.20-8.30am catch train into city and do your thing. Now if you have a connecting flight that is international you have to be at the airport 2 hours before your flight. So you need to leave the city at the latest 2.30pm to get back by 3pm. If it is domestic still best to get there 1 hour before.

So realistically you might have 6 hours in Sydney. Keep all this in mind.

18

one other little thing that is kinda cool and quick and in circular quay. On the non-water side of the train line, where all the busses and taxis stop there is customs house. It is a library on the ground floor and has a cool, and massive, 3D model of all of Sydney CBD built under the glass floor. You can walk around on it and it kinda gives you a cool birds eye view of the city. Will help you get your bearings of the layout of Sydney and is fun to look at. Only takes 5 mins and it is free.

On the top floor of customs house is a very swanky restaurant with great food, a 5th floor view of circular quay, great drinks selection and most likely a very large bill.

check it out here

19

Great! Thanks for the help!!

20

@ellief It is an International flight from LAX (which is a connecting flight for me, I'm not from LA, California), and the flight to AUS itself is a connecting flight as well since I am taking another flight to my final destination a little after 6. The bags should be checked the whole way until the final destination, so no worries there!

Wow, I didn't know Sydney was so bad about that hopefully they don't think I'm suspicious looking! haha but no worries there I wont bring anything of the sort!

21

Soo turns out it's going to rain in Sydney on the 11th (scattered hopefully)... hope all of my hard work planning isn't completely ruined : ( I guess I'll skip the beach if it does. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips about what to do if it rains/what's still open/what's not open??

22

just an update b/c you all have been so helpful!

It was perfect weather for my 9 hour run around!
took the ferry around the opera house and under the bridge, walked around the city (quite fast) went to Bondi beach by bus and did some shopping in Circular Quay I believe area? I don't even remember! that's all I really had time for! It was real nice though!!

cheers!