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Summary of our 6 weeks on the mainland!
OUR TRIP: 5 days on site: 28 December 2019 to 2 January 2020
WHERE? Capital of New South Wales
TIME ZONE: +10h in winter, +8h in summer
CURRENCY: Australian Dollar (AUD): €1 = AUD1.6 in January 2020.
VISA: A visa, free of charge, can be requested on the Australian immigration website. We had forgotten to do this but luckily it is possible to do it at the company counter. Allow 30 to 45 minutes extra for check-in.
TEL/INTERNET: Internet in hotels, restaurants, etc. You can also opt for the Free package at 19.99€/month to have 25GB of data during your stay
POWER: type I, two plugs inclined, provide an adapter and a power strip
WHY GO THERE? For the Harbour Bridge, one of the most famous bridges in the world, its shell-shaped Opera House, its New Year's Eve fireworks
ACCESSIBILITY : Find all our addresses on our map Mapstr !
To put it mildly, Sydney is not the capital of Australia but Canberra. Nevertheless, it is the most visited city in this country/continent. In addition to the bridge spanning the bay like a giant, its Opera House with its unique architecture has made it famous.
We spend 5 days there, the time for us to discover the main districts and to spend an incredible New Year's Eve!
Discover in our article a non-exhaustive list of the must-sees as well as the bars & restaurants that caught our attention. But that's not all! We also tell you how to organise an unforgettable New Year's Eve. The idea has been on our minds since we started planning our world tour. After making the list of countries, it was more than obvious that we couldn't do it anywhere else but Sydney! Who hasn't seen the images of the Harbour Bridge surrounded by hundreds of fireworks?
Let's go!
Darling Harbour
To make the most of the city, we stayed at the Sofitel Darling Harbour, right on the water. The docks of Harbourside offers a plethora of restaurants and bars around Cockle Bay. We were lucky enough to arrive on a Saturday and witnessed a fireworks display right outside the hotel! All year round (except in winter), a fireworks display is held every Saturday at 9pm for the enjoyment of young and old.
To finish the discovery of the district, we continue in the direction of Darling Square along the Tumbalong Park. It is usually crowded at the end of the day by the locals who cool off around the many pools and water jets.
Whether you come here for a trip to the library, to the shops or to eat after a day of walking through the city, you're sure to find something to suit you.
Exhausted by jet lag and our first day, we let ourselves be carried away by the advice of our hotel and rushed to the dim sum restaurant Lilong by Taste of Shanghai!
Sofitel Darling Harbour: One word: Perfect! Accessibility: 4,5/5
Darling SquareFood Court: We liked Lilong by Taste of Shanghai for its dim sum. Accessibility: 5/5
The Rocks
It is one of the oldest districts of the city and it concentrates the major part of the local breweries. We took advantage of our visit to do a tasting at the Endeavour Tap Rooms, a great discovery! If you have the opportunity, try the Glamarama Summer Ale and Paddo Pale from the Sydney Brewery, definitely our favourites.
Lucky again to have arrived on a weekend, a market takes place in the cobbled streets at the foot of the Harbour Bridge every weekend.
One of the city's main attractions is the Harbour Bridge. It has spanned Sydney Harbour since 1932 and the New Year's Eve celebrations have been held there for some years.
Slip under the pillars at Dawes Point and discover one of the best views of the Opera House between the trees. You'll also catch a glimpse of tourists walking on the bridge... The experience is not accessible, but from the looks of it, it must be worth the trip!
Somewhat put off by not seeing it all, we look for a way to remedy this and nothing better than a ferry ride. Head to the Barangaroo ferry terminal and hop on one of the F3 or F4 boats. They both run under the bridge to Circular Quay! You'll have plenty of time to see it from every angle.
Endeavour Tap Rooms (insert link: ): A tasting tray and some sides: the perfect match! Accessibility: 1/5 (only the terrace is "accessible")
Ferry trip: One-way ticket $7.60 per person. Accessibility: 5/5
Bridge Climb: Climb to the top of the Harbour Bridge! Accessibility: 0/5
CBD
Circular Quay is the ideal starting point to discover this district and nothing better than to walk along the quays and find yourself at the foot of theSydney Opera House. Referred to as a sailboat by some and a shell by others, no less than a million ceramic tiles make up the roof of this architectural feat. If you have the opportunity, go and see the Great Hall, we had the chance to see it but we'll tell you about it later.
Continue your escapade by entering the lush Royal Botanical Gardens. This huge park gives you the opportunity to learn about endemic tropical plants through different sections such as the Palmeraie or the reconstituted tropical forest.
When the call of the city becomes too strong, exit the park via Art Gallery Road. You can't miss it, with the spires of St Mary's Cathedral looming at the end. Cross Hyde Park and if you feel like it, climb to the top of the Sydney Tower for a 360-degree view of the city. Finally, two late 19th-century buildings face each other on Druitt St: theTown Hall and the Queen Victoria Building, the city's former markets turned shopping centre.
Sydney Opera House: Visit one of the world's most famous opera houses ($42 per person). Accessibility 5/5
Royal Botanic Gardens: A haven of greenery! Accessibility: 3/5 (all paths are passable but the slopes are sometimes steep!)
St Mary's Cathedral: Sydney's largest church. Accessibility: 5/5
Sydney Tower: Climb 250m above the city. Ticket $23 per person, 30% off for PRM and one free companion. Accessibility: 5/5
Chinatown, Haymarket & Newton
These three areas are less crowded than the previous ones and are therefore perfect for starting the day.
Start by visiting the Sydney Fish Market, if you like fish you won't be disappointed! This is the second largest fish market in the southern hemisphere after Tokyo. Each stall offers take-away and on-the-spot tasting. A must see!
When the weather is fine, take your finds to Wentworth Park, a short walk from the market, for an open-air tasting. If you feel like it, greyhound races are held there almost daily!
Continue your wanderings towards Sydney University where you can put yourself in the shoes of the students by walking through the many square courtyards like Harry Potter at Hogwarts! They have everything on the premises, including Victoria Park, where you might want to read or study for a mid-term.
As you leave the park, walk up Broadway towards Paddy's Market. Central Station will cross your path with its turn-of-the-century architecture. No less than 90 million people used the station's platforms last year!
Once past the station, you will come face to face with Paddy's Market. You will find absolutely everything here: souvenirs of all kinds, a fruit and vegetable market, a fish market and a food court! You won't be left out!
- Ho Jiak: a Malaysian that will make you hot! Accessibility: 3/5
- Sydney Fish Market: fresh fish all around you! Accessibility: 5/5
- Paddy's Market: Wide choice, try it all! Accessibility: 5/5
Sydney University: The campus is free to enter. Accessibility: 5/5
Greyhound Races at Wentworth Park: Full details on the website. Ticket: $6/person. Accessibility: 3/5
Bondi Beach
This beach is THE surf spot in Sydney!
Here, everyone walks around in a swimming costume, barefoot, with a cap on their golden hair and a surfboard or skateboard under their arm.
The waterfront is a concentration of fast food and surf shops as far as the eye can see and we didn't expect this! By a perpendicular street we escape from this rush and we fall under the charm of Gould St, much more quiet. We eat like kings at Drake Eatery before going back to stroll and lick the windows of the interior decoration shops. We won't give you the prices of the real estate shops, but you have to win the lottery to afford any house!
If you want to swim without the crowds, waves and potential sharks, there is a saltwater pool set amongst the rocks at Bondi Iceberg Club. The perfect setting to enjoy the place with all the benefits.
Alternatively, you can walk along the craggy rocks from Bondi to Coogee Beach via Bronte Beach. The walk is about 6 kilometres long and the views are well worth it!
For our readers in wheelchairs, if the waves catch your eye and you feel like it, go to the accessible changing rooms and approach the lifeguards who will give you the necessary equipment to access the water. Moreover, if you are alone, lockers are available to store your chair and your belongings.
From Darling Harbour, several options: Uber (about $30 for a 15min ride), bus (about 45min)
Drake Eatery: Away from the hustle and bustle of the seaside is a little gem that could be described as 'bistronomic', not to be missed! Accessibility: 5/5
Bondi Iceberg Club: famous seawater pool on the rocks ($9/person) Accessibility: 2/5
New Year's Eve on the other side of the world
As we said at the beginning, our arrival in Sydney at the end of 2019 is not a coincidence! Our goal: to spend an evening that will remain engraved in our memories!
The city is doing things very well with a dedicated website that is regularly updated with details of the programme, venues and transport provided.
Here is the programme for the evening:
- 8.30 pm: The excitement builds up gradually with the first light shows on the bridge pillars
- 9.15pm: A first firework display for the whole family so that the little ones can enjoy it without staying up too late...
- 21:45 : The boats in the bay light up in all colours
- Midnight: That's it! The long-awaited show begins!
There are many places to enjoy but it is a different matter to get to them. The waterfront is very cut up around the bridge and the opera house, so it's not easy to choose the right one. Here are the two we think are the best:
- Campbells Cove
- The pier in front of the opera house opens at noon
- Ticket $10/$20, dedicated PRM area
- Botanic Garden
- Because of its size, it is divided into several parts, each with a different view. Access to the only free area of the garden is raffled each year. Places are reserved for people with reduced mobility and their relatives. However, it is important to apply in advance: the last applications must be submitted before 16 November.
- Ticket from $350 outside the free zone, dedicated PRM zone
Of these three possibilities, we had chosen the free Botanic Garden area which offers a global view, but in parallel, we were also in contact with our hotel concierge for a completely different, even more unique option! With less than three weeks to go, we got tickets for the gala evening in the Grand Hall of the Opera House!
The show starts at 7.30pm but it is imperative that you arrive at 6pm. Traffic in the city is completely disrupted by a maze of barriers and checkpoints that can only be crossed if you have the right ticket. Don't worry, everything is signposted and if you have the slightest doubt, one of the many staff members present at each street corner will be able to direct you.
On the way, we passed by the botanical garden where people have been queuing since midday under the sun! Even if people with reduced mobility do not queue, we were relieved not to have chosen this option.
The opera staff took care of us and here we were, with a glass of champagne in hand, on the outside balcony facing the Harbour Bridge. We are not alone, but once again, people with reduced mobility are pampered with a reserved area so that their view is not obstructed.
The evening went wonderfully well and the interval was called so that everyone could attend the fireworks at 9.15pm. The evening ends with a throw of confetti in the whole room, the opera singers are in chorus, we are under the spell! However, there is one last thing to complete the evening, a half-hour wait in the cold will not discourage us and then it's here... The countdown appears on the pillars of the bridge, the crowd accompanies them with all its strength... A shiver runs through our body: 2020 here we are!
