Things to do in spring in Sydney, Australia

Sydney is a wonderful city to visit at any time of the year, but spring is a particularly good time because it is warm but not too hot, and spring is Sydney’s driest season. Since Sydney is in the Southern Hemisphere, spring is in September to the end of November.

Sydney harbour is arguably the most beautiful harbour in the world, and the cheapest way to see much of it is to take a ferry ride from Circular Quay to Manly. Manly is a fascinating beachside suburb to explore, with a number of beautiful scenic walks, a good beach, and a great aquarium to visit, but the ferry ride itself is a big attraction.

If you have the time and money, another great way to see the harbour is to take one of the many dinner, lunch or cocktail cruises. These are usually boarded from Circular Quay and are run by operators such as Captain Cook Cruises. Special cruises are also available that combine a cruise, dinner and a concert at the Opera House, and there are also overnight cruises that fully explore the harbour.

From Circular Quay a walk to the west will take you to the Harbour Bridge (and if you’re game you can even climb up it on one of two guided tours) and the nearby historical ‘Rocks’ area. This has many interesting buildings, museums and places to eat, and is the area where white settlement in Australia began. The entire district is really an outdoor museum with many attractions (including the Rocks Pub Tour).

To the east of Circular Quay is the Opera House, which is of course the most famous building in Sydney. It is getting old now, but is still a fantastic building to visit, and the architecture is still amazing. The view of the harbour is wonderful from the Opera House, and of course while you’re there make sure you get a ticket for a play, opera or concert. There are several Opera House tours, which are fascinating, but some are over-priced, especially the backstage tour.

The Royal Botanic gardens are an easy stroll from the Opera House, and spring is definitely the best time to visit here as all the blooms are out. There are guided walks and a trackless train, or just wander around and have a look yourself. Mrs Macquarie’s chair is the best place to take photos of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, and it’s free to visit.

After the botanic gardens, stroll back into town and take the monorail to Darling Harbour, which has numerous restaurants, and which also has one of the best aquariums in the world. There is often free outdoor entertainment there too. It’s a great place to hang out, especially in the mild spring weather.

Another great thing to do in Sydney in spring is to travel by train down to Cronulla in the south, across the bridge to North Sydney and beyond in the north, and to the Blue Mountains in the West. The Blue Mountains are particularly worth a visit, and preferably a stay of a day or two as there is so much to see and do.

A word of warning: Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world because of the high UV levels, and even in spring you need to do what the Aussies do, which is ’slip, slop, slap’ – slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. As the cancer council says, no sun tan is worth dying for.

All you Need to Know About Sydney Hotels

There is more than one reason to visit the city named Sydney. Considered as the oldest city of the country and the capital of New South Wales, Sydney has showcased all sorts of wonders including natural exquisiteness, architectural astonishments, tantalizing restaurants and exciting shopping hubs. Its vibrant lifestyle and exotic nightlife are another allure to its guests. Some must-see places in the city are Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, Sydney Mint, Chinatown, Sydney Town Hall, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Olympic Park, Luna Park and Australian museum. At the same time, Sydney is the home of a gamut of hotels, which are of different types as well as rates. The Hotels in Sudney have arranged an excellent accommodation for making everybody’s stay comfortable as well as luxurious.

While traveling to Sydney, you can choose any area to sojourn in. Most of the famous areas including Cbd & Hyde Park, Central Station, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Kings Cross, Potts Point etc. possess varieties of hotels meeting the needs of business travelers, luxury- loving tourists and budget- conscious vacationers. All these hotels are equipped with modern amenities, which ensure a soothing stay. So, it’s your choice! Choose a hotel as per your budget and make your Sydney vacation unforgettable.

Now the question is how you will get all details about Sydney Hotels. Interestingly, with the benediction of World Wide Web, most of these hotels have come up with their own websites offering online hotel reservation facility as well. Besides, you will get testimonials as well as reviews of these hotels on many websites, which will help you to opt for a better option. So, first do a bit research and then book a hotel in Sydney according to your requirement.

Five More Great Reasons to Visit Darling Harbour

From a run down docks area, Darling Harbour became Sydney’s spanking new harbourside leisure park following renovations for the Australian Bicentennial in 1988. It’s now one of Sydney’s most popular draws for its shopping, nightlife, dining, entertainment, and museum scenes. This is a second article on the highlights of Darling Harbour featuring five more reasons to visit this vibrant part of Sydney.

The first great reason is the Powerhouse Museum, a science-and-technology museum that promotes interactive learning via computer simulations, videos, demonstrations, lectures and an Array of varied activities. The museum features over 25 exhibitions including decorative Arts and design, Australian history and society, sciences, and Koori history and culture.

The name derives from the old power station on the shell of which the museum was built. It was a working power station until 1963. It was named as the site for the new museum in 1979 and it finally opened in 1988 as part of the Australian Bicentennial.

Next, a great reason to visit Darling Harbour is to relax or enjoy a performance at Tumbalong Park. This circle of green is near the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Other than being a pleasant oasis to stroll or sit on the grass, Tumbalong Park is the venue for frequent concerts and other performances including dance programs, acrobatics, martial arts exhibitions, and food fairs. Check the local tourist guides for what’s on.

In addition, Darling Harbour is a wonderful place for walks. There’s the Darling Harbour Footbridge which crosses Darling Harbour and features kiosks, vendors and offers tremendous views. Crossing the footbridge, you’ll see the Sydney Aquarium and see the city’s sleek and modern monorail swishing by.

Then there are a number of longer walks such as the Darling Harbour to Circular Quay walk. This offers insights into Sydney’s heritage as you walk from the Sydney Aquarium and along Sussex Street to Walsh Bay. Then make your way to Circular Quay along the waterfront under Harbour Bridge.

If you prefer a more organised walk, you can take Historical Walking Tour which is self-guided. It begins at Pyrmont Bridge and introduces you to the Pyrmont and Ultimo districts which played key roles in Sydney’s industrial and maritime past.

Another great reason to visit Darling Harbour is the area’s proximity to other enchanting areas of Sydney. Darling Harbour, for example, borders on Sydney’s Chinatown which is well worth a visit.

One of Chinatown’s main draws is the many restaurants in the Haymarket area, especially Dixon Street, a pedestrianised zone. In fact, Dixon Street and Chinatown are often used synonymously by Sydneysiders. This is a great area for morning Dim Sum with tea or to pick up a late-night bowl of rice porridge.

The mainstays of the Sydney Chinatown shopping scene are Paddy’s Market and the new Market City. Paddy’s is gloomy and authentic; Market City glitters with the ‘New Asia’ ambiance of Hong Kong and Singapore.

Finally, Darling Harbour is home to some of Sydney’s great hotels. Among the best of the Darling Harbour hotels are Four Points By Sheraton Darling Harbour Sydney and Oaks Goldsbrough Apartments Sydney.