Some of you may remember me posting up before before about me and my girl coming to Oz for december, well theres only 4 weeks until we hit your east coast and i am almost p*ssing myself with excitement! I hope to take in some drag meets on the way ad get my petrol head fix.
So come on i want to hear some must see sites weather its car related or just for taking in the view! List them here 馃榾
Cheers guys,
Rob.
Desert Moose 路
Well in Sydney about 5pm they close the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the kangaroo's can cross over..........:P
dragbug 路
Which city's are you actually going to ?
XXX-1.8T 路
Desert Moose wrote:Well in Sydney about 5pm they close the Sydney Harbour Bridge so the kangaroo's can cross over..........:P
thats gold!!!
Desert Moose 路
And be careful walking under tree's as the (koala) drop bears may attack.
also don't go swimming after lunch..................LoL
London Bugger 路
dragbug wrote:Which city's are you actually going to ?
Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.
barls 路
dont forget the hoop snakes 馃槈馃槈馃槈
penguin 路
How are you planning on travelling? that affects what you will see between the cities. Remember its a bloody long way from Bris to Cairns (I think it may be close to the distance from Bris to Melb, but am not sure).
My suggestions..................
Sydney: Touristy things - Bondi (very New Zealandish), Coogee (lots of drinking), the Rocks (our version of historical), can walk over/climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (with your exchange rate the price probably isn't too bad), got to go on the ferry to Manly and just flake out on the beach over there.
Bris: Southbank is good to visit and see the markets, don't swim in the water there though (Unless you have no regard for bacteria and other things), can reach either the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast easily from here.
Cairns: Go up to the falls up Kuranda way, the markets up there are a wee bit touristy, but not too bad last time I was there. Bungy jumping in the hinterlands behind the town, not bad, good view 馃檪 or head up a bit towards the cape (You won't get far as it hopefully will be very very wet there) and go on a boat trip to see some Crocs (No swimming........... unless of course you are a member or reserve for the English Rugby Team)
Anyone else got any hints??????????
vw54 路
How long are you staying for ???
London Bugger 路
Well the holiday so far is 5 nights in sydney to do what we want nothing planned. then get a flight up to Bris, got 5 nights with a hire car, no accommidation booked so was gonna go down the gold coast and down to Byron bay as we've heard thats spot on???
Then we pick up a contiki tour bus from Brisbane and do an 11 night tour up to Cairns, taking in Fraser island, 2 nights on a sail boat on the whit sundays, cape trib etc etc. sort of feel its a cop out doing a organised tour thing but thought what with being clueless poms on our first trip to oz, it would be good to get a guided tour as we might find more out?!?!?!
We have 1 night in Cairns to do what we like before flying out to Auckland for a 1 night stop over and then on to Fiji for 7 nights.
So its mainly stuff to do around Sydney and Brisbane that we will be able to do, as I think the tour will be full on up from Bris to Cairns.
Rob.
London Bugger 路
penguin wrote:Bris: Southbank is good to visit and see the markets, don't swim in the water there though (Unless you have no regard for bacteria and other things), can reach either the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast easily from here.
Whats the water not to swim in at southbank the Sea or is it a river?
Why is it so dodgy?
Rob.
BenettonVW 路
penguin wrote:(I think it may be close to the distance from Bris to Melb, but am not sure).
Correct. Further from Brisbane to Cairns than Brisbane to Melbourne.
dodge 路
Southbank is right on the Brisbane river but it also has beaches there for ppl to swim in but as penguin says its fairly unhygenic.
Put it this way.... all the little kids who haven't been toilet trained just love going in there 馃槈 get my point?? :P
penguin 路
Its got a sort of an onshore beach,/pool thingy. http://www.south-bank.net.au/
Even though its chlorinated, I wouldn't swim there, I've seen what goes in there and bathes......... not impressed. 馃檨
The contiki isn't a cop out, good way to get to the places and not drive. Not sure how much driving you have done in long distance terms, but even driving hard, Bris to Cairns is about two days driving. Thats not stopping to see anything along the way. Fraser Island is great.
When you drive from Bris, I'd head south mostly as you will be north for the Contiki tour. and even though its really touristy, Sea World is a good day or so stuffing about, especially if you want to see some reasonable sized sharks 馃檪 (there are a lot bigger ones about, but this is just handy)
Cheers
eirecooled 路
Sounds like a full on tour you have planned there.
Do not forget to get vaccinated against stone fish,fly blight,western taipans,redbacks,blue ringed octapuses,great white sharks,dingoes,funnel webs,sea stingers, scorpions,tassie devils, sun stroke,cold beer,and hsv drivers. Just use lots of local lingo,cobber,mate,drongo. Soon as you hope off your flight jump in a cab/taxi a say "Struth mate I'm as dry as a dead dingoes dongo, lets fang it over to the nearest waterhole for a soothing tube of piss,my shout. Thanks cobber!"
Enjoy your holiday in our wide brown land. :thumb
DoNkEy 路
lol...southbank
i call it the pee pool for the people for a reason.
vw54 路
Correct. Further from Brisbane to Cairns than Brisbane to Melbourne.
Yep i would have to agree with that
its a FAR... kin long way
So do u want to see some VW stuf while in Sydney
Whats the exact dates again ??? Do u want to get on the piss ???
ByronBug 路
:sandrine
Driving around Australia is quite different to your side of the world where you can drive across Holland & Germany in 24hrs or so.
Here its not like that.
The miles between states here is so far...it takes days & days...to get to across.
A contiki tour is a great idea for your first time over as you get the main tourist places to visit.
Hope you have a great time....had a friend come here to Brisbane from London on the weekend...he couldn't get over how hot & sunny (blue skies) we have here.
He loves it here....a little too hot for him but loves it anyway.
Have fun guys
Judy 馃檪
London Bugger 路
dodge wrote:Southbank is right on the Brisbane river but it also has beaches there for ppl to swim in but as penguin says its fairly unhygenic.
Put it this way.... all the little kids who haven't been toilet trained just love going in there 馃槈 get my point?? :P
I think i am gonna be sick!
London Bugger 路
penguin wrote:Its got a sort of an onshore beach,/pool thingy. http://www.south-bank.net.au/
Even though its chlorinated, I wouldn't swim there, I've seen what goes in there and bathes......... not impressed. 馃檨
The contiki isn't a cop out, good way to get to the places and not drive. Not sure how much driving you have done in long distance terms, but even driving hard, Bris to Cairns is about two days driving. Thats not stopping to see anything along the way. Fraser Island is great.
When you drive from Bris, I'd head south mostly as you will be north for the Contiki tour. and even though its really touristy, Sea World is a good day or so stuffing about, especially if you want to see some reasonable sized sharks 馃檪 (there are a lot bigger ones about, but this is just handy)
Cheers
Sea world sounds a god idea especially as my missus is into all that shes doing a wildlife course at uni and loves all the marine stuff!
We planned to go south with the hire car from Brisbane so any other stuff to do that way would be great! Any recommendations for places to stay the night that way?
London Bugger 路
eirecooled wrote:Sounds like a full on tour you have planned there.
Do not forget to get vaccinated against stone fish,fly blight,western taipans,redbacks,blue ringed octapuses,great white sharks,dingoes,funnel webs,sea stingers, scorpions,tassie devils, sun stroke,cold beer,and hsv drivers. Just use lots of local lingo,cobber,mate,drongo. Soon as you hope off your flight jump in a cab/taxi a say "Struth mate I'm as dry as a dead dingoes dongo, lets fang it over to the nearest waterhole for a soothing tube of piss,my shout. Thanks cobber!"
Enjoy your holiday in our wide brown land. :thumb
LMFAO
Cheers for the advise cobber!
London Bugger 路
vw54 wrote:
Correct. Further from Brisbane to Cairns than Brisbane to Melbourne.
Yep i would have to agree with that
its a FAR... kin long way
So do u want to see some VW stuf while in Sydney
Whats the exact dates again ??? Do u want to get on the piss ???
Do bears sh*t in the woods. I'd love to see some VeeDub stuff whilst there 馃榾 already draggin the missus along to the street series drags at willow bank on Dec 4th 馃榾 And anything else to wet my petrol head appetite would be good.
We'll be in sydney from the 28th of November till the 2nd of December.
London Bugger 路
ByronBug wrote::sandrine
Driving around Australia is quite different to your side of the world where you can drive across Holland & Germany in 24hrs or so.
Here its not like that.
The miles between states here is so far...it takes days & days...to get to across.
A contiki tour is a great idea for your first time over as you get the main tourist places to visit.
Hope you have a great time....had a friend come here to Brisbane from London on the weekend...he couldn't get over how hot & sunny (blue skies) we have here.
He loves it here....a little too hot for him but loves it anyway.
Have fun guys
Judy 馃檪
Yeah I know you guys got one huge country compared to our nats testicle of an island. I think were only planning driving a little way south from Bris to Byron bay and take in anything on the way.
I am worried that i'll like it so much i wont want to come home and will have to work out how to get me a permanent visa 馃槈
Rob.
Oasis 路
It's bloody hot most of the time. Go to Byron and spend most of your time there to start with. It's one of the most beautiful places in NSW/Aust/The World, and only about 1 1/2 to 2 hours south of Brisbane. Have a beer at the Beach Hotel and watch the sun go down. Walk up to the lighthouse.. anyone will tell you how to get there. You can see it from the beach to your right facing the ocean. Drive inland to Nimbin and Mullumbimby (hippy towns). You can stay at the Beach Hotel but there are cheaper places nearby. Byron is always packed around Christmas time so try and book something on the net if you can.
For your wife, from Cairns go to Port Douglas and further north to the Daintree Rainforest. One of the oldest and unspoilt forests in the world. Go and spoil it... You can stay at a place near Port Douglas called Silky Oaks.. a beautiful eco tourist type resort in a rainforest. At least have lunch there if you can. Go Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef. Catch a boat from Port Douglas. she'll never forget it, nor will you.
In Fiji go to one of the small islands off the mainland like Treasure island, or Beachcomber island, or Mana island. Beachcomber is the cheapest and most young couple oriented. Treasure Isl is good if you have kids. Mana is the best of both worlds but more expensive. You get there by boat from the town of Lautoka. i've been there 7 or 8 times for the reef snorkelling. you must go snorkelling in Fiji. Go out on a boat and jump out with a group. It's the most fun. If you arrive late at night in Fiji, walk (i mean literally walk) out of the airport to the Skylodge hotel, literally across the road from the airport road entrance. Cheap and close for a night till you can get a boat off the mainland.
If for some reason you are staying on the mainland, go inland in a 4WD from Sigatoka (pronounced SINGatoka). That way you'll see some beautiful tropical jungle, natural springs, and small villages. they've stopped eating other humans for weeks now :P
I crossed the Sigatoka river on a horse bareback. it was wild! If I think of anything else I'll let you know.
London Bugger 路
Thanks Oasis,
We are staying on the main island in Fiji for just two nights at the Club Fiji resort, then we are off for a futher 5 nights on Plantation island or Malolo lailai as its know by the locals. We can't wait!!!
Rob.
Oasis 路
I've been to both. You'll love it. Bill
London Bugger 路
Oasis wrote:I've been to both. You'll love it. Bill
Excellent any tips for those 2 places then?
jenz58 路
Do you have your LP East Coast Australia guide...it has all the things to see and do on this side of Oz....
Your missus should do an introductory scuba dive on the sailing cruise your doing in the Whitesundays..... it's brilliant there and will be less crowded than Cairns for diving.....the reef's stunning there...only cost about $70 to do and they come to your boat....
Sydney...get a Daytripper Pass which gets you on and off buses, trains and ferries all day around Sydney.....definitely do the Harbour .... the ferry to Watson's Bay is excellent...easy walk to look at the Heads (opening to the harbour spectacular) ...good food n pub...and a nice walk around a point to a sweet bathing beach if the weather is nice ...again great views and very chilled....Maybe a trip out to the Blue Mountains... Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge if your budget can cope...Bondi Beach is a Sydney icon...there rather than Manly...d zoo maybe...Oxford St Paddington...shopping and cafe culture...
Kirra Beach is a really nice spot to stop for a night on the boarder of NSW and Qld...beautiful beach....near the Twead River in Twead Heads/Coolangatta...great seafood cafe there on river....It's away from the crowds of Surfer's Paradise and places like that....
Visit Nimbin.....it's was our hippy haven years ago...but maybe a bit touristy now....great country side and not far from Byron....worth the drive...
Interested in National Parks? Lamington NP on the NSW Qld boarder is amazing on the O'Reilly side....an has an old historic guest house there...It's a rainforest and the bird life is something....views are to die for across the range especially if an electric storm is coming...wow...
OK my 2 bobs worth 馃檪
ColumBUS 路
i cant believe none have you have pointed out the two greatest locations to visit in nsw
number 1)
Club Fish - well its not really a club, more like my house, but hey if you wanted to drop in a forum party would be held!
number 2)
NIMBIN - might get in trouble explaining why Nimbin is such a wonderful place, but trust me... go there, stay there, live there until the end of your day and/or australian visa.
Daniel
byronbus 路
Byron isnt that nice, too busy and the sharks, watch them they are huge. Dont surf either, the sea lice are bad that time of year, they crawl into every crevice they can find...Gold Coast is nice though...
Nimbin is a terrible place (being serious now) not worth the visit unless you have absolutley nothing to do. It has a real evil feel about it, its no longer a hippy town, but a haven for drug f#$%& bums and people from the cities trying to buy cheap drugs and stuffing up our north coast culture...nothing a huge bush fire and a month long law enforcement operation couldnt fix...Nimbin is a disgrace, dont encourage tourists there, its just a freak parade of stuffed up lives and ruined families
byronbus 路
Oh and Byron is pretty nice, just dont stay too long and congest our town
London Bugger 路
byronbus wrote:Oh and Byron is pretty nice, just dont stay too long and congest our town
Don't worry we wont have time to stay too long! So as a Local have you any tips for things to see/do in Byron?
Cheers,
Rob.
London Bugger 路
byronbus wrote:Byron isnt that nice, too busy and the sharks, watch them they are huge. Dont surf either, the sea lice are bad that time of year, they crawl into every crevice they can find...Gold Coast is nice though...
Nimbin is a terrible place (being serious now) not worth the visit unless you have absolutley nothing to do. It has a real evil feel about it, its no longer a hippy town, but a haven for drug f#$%& bums and people from the cities trying to buy cheap drugs and stuffing up our north coast culture...nothing a huge bush fire and a month long law enforcement operation couldnt fix...Nimbin is a disgrace, dont encourage tourists there, its just a freak parade of stuffed up lives and ruined families
Nimbin sounds like London lol full of twats sticking stuff up there noses!
DubCrazy 路
fella..........
scrap the visa's u have and get a year one and trust me you will need that much time. There is sooooooooo many places to see over here its unreal, i came over here for a year to start and hardly got out of QLD, 4 years later and i am still finding places that blow my mind away.
What part of london are you both from? SW lad myself
steff..............................
ancientbugger 路
Come to Noosa and don't forget the Marmite. Elephant & Castle's where I'm from , come here and you'll see why I'll never go back!!!
Bazza
Canni. 路
hope you have a good trip 馃檪 watch out for the dropbears!
jenz58 路
n the hoop snakes :beer
London Bugger 路
DubCrazy wrote:fella..........
scrap the visa's u have and get a year one and trust me you will need that much time. There is sooooooooo many places to see over here its unreal, i came over here for a year to start and hardly got out of QLD, 4 years later and i am still finding places that blow my mind away.
What part of london are you both from? SW lad myself
steff..............................
Yeah we know that, reckon you could easily spend a lifetime in Oz and not see everything you want! Me and my girl are gonna see how we like it and if its as good as we think its gonna be then who knows we may someday be outta England and living else where 馃榾
I am from SE London, Lewisham.
London Bugger 路
ancientbugger wrote:Come to Noosa and don't forget the Marmite. Elephant & Castle's where I'm from , come here and you'll see why I'll never go back!!!
Bazza
I think we take in Noosa on our Contiki tour, there's a lovely beach there right??
They must have marmite in Oz surely?? What about HP brown sauce ??!?!?!?!
Dont blame you not wanting to come back, especially to Elephant and Castle its grim!
Rob.
jenz58 路
Yep we have Marmite...but Vegemite is better.....
...n we do have HP sauce but .... is that like Worcestershire
Sauce....or like a cross with it n BBQ sauce or something? Yes it's here... but you've gotta have tomato sauce on everything over here...it's d done thing....
Meat pie n tomato sauce...you gotta have one ...it's an Aussie tradition....
We do have square sponge cake cut into blocks dipping in chocolate and rolled in descicated coconut...Lamingtons....yummy...
....n we have nice cold beer..... :beer
ByronBug 路
:sandrine
Ring me when you get to Byron, I will show you around if you want.
Let me know & I will u2u you my ph details:
Judy
pod 路
and we have pork pies as well:thumb
but not as good as in old blighty(mum tells me this) being a aussie with pommie parents
London Bugger 路
Ewwwwwwwww I hate pork pies, theres something about meat and jelly that makes me feel ill!
HP Brown sauce is a sort of bbq and worcestershire sauce combo yeah, and its lovely especially on sausage and bacon butties! Not a big fan of Tomato sauce! As for meat pie that sounds good to me, over here in london we have a tradition called pie, mash and liquer its bloody handsome!
I hear you aussies do good fish and chips?!
Btw we have cold beer here too now, only just mind! lol we got those Fosters taps that ice up on the outside now! see were only a few centuries behind!
Rob.
London Bugger 路
ByronBug wrote::sandrine
Ring me when you get to Byron, I will show you around if you want.
Let me know & I will u2u you my ph details:
Judy
Cool if you dont mind u2u me your number, would be good to meet up with a few locals and not be so touristy!
Cheers,
Rob.
penguin 路
London Bugger wrote:[
I think we take in Noosa on our Contiki tour, there's a lovely beach there right??
They must have marmite in Oz surely?? What about HP brown sauce ??!?!?!?!
Ummmm, not sure which beach you are talking about, do you mean the 70 odd mile one on the way to Fraser Island that is a gazetted highway, or Rainbow Beach, or.......
Theres lots and LOTS of beaches all the way around the country. Gawd, even Sydney has a few that aren't too bad!!!(tic u sthnrs)
As for Marmite and brown sauce, well I know I have seen marmite out here, but it maybe made slightly different like Guiness tastes slightly diff in Dublin and London. Just different place, maybe slightly diff ingredients.
Brown sauce though...... not sure, but why would you want it, whats your fav food? please do not say mushy peas!! The food here is great, and there is bugger all worry about mad cow, heavy metals (cept if you are really into certain seafood from certain areas?!?!), foot and mouth and so on.
With your exchange rate, you could probably weat seafood every night and still have enough dosh left over to get hammered as well!!
(if you want to that is, I in no way pressure people into the excessive use of alcohol to forget things, enjoy activites or generally feel like crap the day afterwards lol)
[Edited on 27-10-2004 by penguin]
ancientbugger 路
Jenz trust me you cannot even mention Vegemite in the same breath as Marmite they're as different as chalk and cheese (Marmite being that much more superior) Oh God why did you have to mention pie mash it's all coming back to me now, but don't try to describe it as I know people in Oz without London backgrounds would not think much of it.By the way do they still have the picture of Westminster on the label of HP sauce (see HP-Houses of Parliament)? While in Noosa give us a shout and I'll give you a run up the beach in the buggy as that's what buggies are for!
Bazza
London Bugger 路
penguin wrote:[
Ummmm, not sure which beach you are talking about, do you mean the 70 odd mile one on the way to Fraser Island that is a gazetted highway, or Rainbow Beach, or.......
Theres lots and LOTS of beaches all the way around the country. Gawd, even Sydney has a few that aren't too bad!!!(tic u sthnrs)
As for Marmite and brown sauce, well I know I have seen marmite out here, but it maybe made slightly different like Guiness tastes slightly diff in Dublin and London. Just different place, maybe slightly diff ingredients.
Brown sauce though...... not sure, but why would you want it, whats your fav food? please do not say mushy peas!! The food here is great, and there is bugger all worry about mad cow, heavy metals (cept if you are really into certain seafood from certain areas?!?!), foot and mouth and so on.
With your exchange rate, you could probably weat seafood every night and still have enough dosh left over to get hammered as well!!
(if you want to that is, I in no way pressure people into the excessive use of alcohol to forget things, enjoy activites or generally feel like crap the day afterwards lol)
[Edited on 27-10-2004 by penguin]
Ah so theres not much sea side there then. Oh well lol
I am into all sorts of food, love spicey stuff, the hotter the better. It isnt spicey unless it makes you cry and your nose run!
The problem will be my girl friend, she is a veggie, well a veggie that eats fish coz thats not real meat lol! But i am sure there be loads of seafood and chips for her!
Rob.
London Bugger 路
ancientbugger wrote:Jenz trust me you cannot even mention Vegemite in the same breath as Marmite they're as different as chalk and cheese (Marmite being that much more superior) Oh God why did you have to mention pie mash it's all coming back to me now, but don't try to describe it as I know people in Oz without London backgrounds would not think much of it.By the way do they still have the picture of Westminster on the label of HP sauce (see HP-Houses of Parliament)? While in Noosa give us a shout and I'll give you a run up the beach in the buggy as that's what buggies are for!
Bazza
God Pie and mash is good, its a shame that theres fewer and fewer pie and mash shops about now, i supppose its an old fashioned english meal, what with london having such a huge population of ethnics theres more curry houses and stuff not that i mind as i love curry too, just would hate to see all the pie and mash shops gone 馃檨
Yeah HP sauce still has the westminster picture on it 馃榾
But i am still undecided at which brown sauce rules the roost, is it HP or Daddys!!??
So what other traditional Aussie stuff is there??
Rob.
jenz58 路
Meat pie n Fosters beer.....VB n meat pie....prawn on BBQ....cold xxxx....kangaroo steak...kangaroo sausage.... emu sausages...possum pie......meat pie...beer....pavlova (a big family size meringue covered in cream and fruit salad...or cream and what ever)....James Boags......Cascade....Peach Melba (don't ask me what it is...I think it's peaches n cream or somethin)
...the great Aussie BBQ is the best....I've got two sons who have lived in the UK and the BBQ's are not the same....if there's a home in Oz without a BBQ then they are so unAustralian ......the BBQ is in our genetic makeup...the YBBQ chromosome....proven cos the guys are the ones who cook the barbie...it's male territory big time....a beer in the hand is essential to be able to tend to the BBQ properly...and preferable an all male support team to tell you when to turn the prawn.....
London Bugger 路
jenz58 wrote:Meat pie n Fosters beer.....VB n meat pie....prawn on BBQ....cold xxxx....kangaroo steak...kangaroo sausage.... emu sausages...possum pie......meat pie...beer....pavlova (a big family size meringue covered in cream and fruit salad...or cream and what ever)....James Boags......Cascade....Peach Melba (don't ask me what it is...I think it's peaches n cream or somethin)
...the great Aussie BBQ is the best....I've got two sons who have lived in the UK and the BBQ's are not the same....if there's a home in Oz without a BBQ then they are so unAustralian ......the BBQ is in our genetic makeup...the YBBQ chromosome....proven cos the guys are the ones who cook the barbie...it's male territory big time....a beer in the hand is essential to be able to tend to the BBQ properly...and preferable an all male support team to tell you when to turn the prawn.....
I love BBQ's so should be right at home! What is exactly in your meat pie? Meat pie over here is a bit of everything eyes and all lol. VB? Victoria Brown??
I have eaten Roo before to and Ostrich i think thats what you call Emu? That big ugly bird! Loved em both.
I didnt realise you guys ate possum lol. What the hell is/are James Boags and Cascades?
Oh also isnt Oz the land of the fruit smoothies?
Rob.
penguin 路
Yeha
BBQs are everwhere but we don't BBQ prawns (thats just an Add campaign we shoved at the Yanks) Red Meat... lots of it, sausages and even lately I have seen fish!!!, and I am sure you'll have a few on the Contiki tour. Meat pie ingredients..... not sure, depends where you buy them from I guess, the small bakeries are always the best. Umm, Ostrich is from Africa, Emu is a different bird, same sort of thing though. Croc and Roo taste good but 馃檪
Boags and Cascade = :beer
just are diffrent brands.
Cascade = Tasmanian, XXXX = Queensland, Tooheys = NSW, Boags = ???, Coopers = South Aust, Victoria bitter = Absolute Bats p#@@!!!!!!!!!!
They are available all over, but thats where they came from way back.
As for fruit smoothies, a good way to start a recovery the day after or on a really hot afternoon.
Penguin
[Edited on 28-10-2004 by penguin]
squizy 路
Hope you have a blast down here. Try some James Squires too - a lovely drop. Chocolatey and malty all in one.
When in Sydney there is a pie place called Harry's Cafe D'wheels...which is now located down near Garden Island [navy base] just near Woolloomooloo. They do great pie and mushy pea floaters. It's a bit of an institution. People could call it a little pase now, but it's still a place worthy of a visit.
Also grab a beer from one of the places near the Opera House. You can sit and watch the City / Ferry's / Harbour Bridge whilst the sun is setting across the harbour.
Also need to practice some Australian place names like Woolloomooloo [which translated means funny Aussie named suburb to confuse tourists 馃檪]. Wagga Wagga, Woy Woy, Wangi Wangi, Kirribilli.
If you are hiring a car in Sydney [even for one or two days], the Blue Mountains is a must, and also take a day trip over the harbour bridge and head to the northern beaches. Follow the road along the coast and check the Sydney Coastline. Head up to Palm Peach and take in the sights of "Summer Bay". LMAO. Ok...seriously...Palm Beach is a nice beach place to go.
There is also a beautiful walk from Mosman Bay to Cremorne. You can get the Ferry across to Mosman Bay, then just ask some directions for the walk - it is well signposted. It follows the foreshore of the harbour and passes some beautiful historical Sydney homes. Homes that not many people on this forum could afford [ok - I speak for myself only]. Then hop back on the Ferry at Cremorne Point across back to Circular Quay [the City].
I hope you have a great time!
Squiz....
jenz58 路
OK this is my favourite place to eat when in Sydney...The Sydney Cove Oyster Bar....I always go there before heading back to the airport to fly home...it caps a Sydney stay off so nicely.....food is excellent.....Sydney oysters are a must...but lots of other great food on the menu...the service is excellent...and staff always friendly
The position is to die for with tables right on the water at Circular Quay/Sydney Cove....you can chill and watch the ferries come and go...and look across to the bridge....it's great late afternoon to watch the sunset and the city start to light up.....
You don't have to have a full on meal...just drinks are fine...it's not cheap but it is so worth doing......dress is casual...
Takeaway Fish n Chips in the park over at Watson's Bay a good one to do as well....or the Sydney Fish Market another must if your into seafood n atmosphere, it's open 7 days a week..OK I'm a seafood junkie...
....there's some good pubs in the area as well for the beer:beer
Hmmmmm....anyone would think we live to eat over here.....maybe we do.... 馃榾
Do lots of walking to burn the calories...Sydneys a great city to walk around anyway....walk from the Opera House...through the Botanical Gardens to get to Wooloomooloo...or down from Kings Cross/Elizabeth Bay area
Grock 路
When your in brisbane you should head out to MT Tambourine thats a nice spot, and you have to go to mt Coottha to get a view of the city. If your heading down to the coast on your way to byron dont stop at surface paradise cos its crap... keep driving and stop at burleigh heads or coolangatta, they are heaps better. If you do get time to go north at all head to montville, there are some great views and places there too. And you should go to ole steves zoo one day and go to the glass house mountains.
I think it is 1999 km from brisbane to Cains and 1000 from brisbane to Sydney almost exactly so...
The whitsundays is fantastic, went there a couple of weekends ago and didn;t want to come home. Had a friend from england who went on a sleep over boat thing called Anaconda 2 or 3 and said it was great. I went on the kookubara day trip and that was great!
Have fun
London Bugger 路
Excellent thanks for all the ideas guys! Much appreciated keep them coming if you think of any more. I am so excited about this trip!
So whats the best beer to be drinking?
Rob.
Oasis 路
AH Beer..... Now you're talking. To many good Aussie beers to choose from. Go to The Lord Nelson Hotel in the rocks and try their home made beers, especially "three sheets". If you go to the Royal Oak hotel in Balmain they have another local small brewery Sydney beer called Sharers. It's a bloody ripper.They have St Arnau's too on tap. At the James Squire bar/restaurant at the King St wharf at Darling harbour they have one of their own beers called the" Governor's pleasure" (I Think). It's fantastic too. If you're not especially after Aussie beer, go to the Heritage Beer Cafe in Harrington St in the rocks in Sydney. It has all the beautiful Belgian beers in one place. Around the corner is the Louwenbrau Keller (tastes like cat's piss if you ask me).
The more common Aussie beers that are really good are James Boags, Cascade, James Squire (varieties are India Pale Ale, Porters, Amber Ale), Coopers, Little Creatures, Mountain Goat, plus a hundred others.... i advise you to try them all in your two days here, but drink in moderation....
vanderaj 路
That'd be Cascade's Autumn Amber special edition. It's literally the best beer in the world in its category (World Beer Cup 2004). I am also very partial to Boag's. Their various brews have won gold medals at an international beer competition in 2003 as well. But I don't drink them because of the pretty labels, it's because they're great beers. Just stay away from:
XXXX - it's Australian for piss
VB - urgh except if you're thirsty or if they're free
Fosters - hard to find here anyway. Most Fosters drunk here are actually Crownies and Cascade (which are both Fosters' brands).
When you're up in Cairns ... remember one thing - get the hell out of there as quickly as you can. It's a shithole infested by rednecks, except for the people who own VW's up there. Which is a shame as they live in one of the nicest places on this planet, period. Port Douglas is the place to go - more central to the touristy things you'd like to do anyway. I have done the snorkelling trip to the Great Barrier Reef about 10 times now, and it's worth every cent. Take the all day cruise on the big catamaran or ship - the lunches are extraordinary.
Don't forget to go to Kuranda and the hinterland - it's just beautiful up there. I can recommend staying in the rainforest, too. It's a bit hot and wet when you're due to be there, but that's okay as you can wear bathers all day and no one will care. It's about 5 - 10C cooler in the rainforest, so take some light clothes with you in case it gets down to 25C or so.
Sydney, now where's to start. Make sure you stop at the Krispy Kreme at the airport. If you like spicy foods, Newtown, and to a lesser extent Oxford St and the Darlinghurst region have plenty of reasonably priced eateries.
If you're driving in Sydney (which I don't recommend unless you have patience or no deadlines), make sure you get to the 3 sisters up in the Blue Mountains, and check out Leura. There's a B&B up there called Bygone Beauties which has about 1000 teapots. They do a high tea which has a special surprise which as poms you'll cringe at, cos I sure did. However, the food and pressed cucumber sandwiches are everything you'd expect. On the way back, get off at Penrith and go to the Krispy Kreme and stock up and get the hell out of there before the lads at Panthers decide you look too pasty for Australians.
Things that I've found worth taking rellos on:
Opera house tour
AMP tower viewing deck (cheesy)
Ferry rides to / from Manly (longer than to Watson's Bay, and a bit of Ocean current just before the end). Although Watson's Bay has Doyle's - one of the finer fish restaurants around.
Powerhouse museum
Museum of Contemporary Art (it's at Circular Quay, easy)
lunch at the Rocks
Dinner at the Belgian Beer Cafe ... I just like the beers
After dinner boozing at the Establishment's atrium or heading down to the Basement when they're actually doing live jazz for once
There's a nice restaurant in the old Customs Building, but it's pricey. Views are good though.
Things I hear are great, but I daren't do cos I'm too fat: Harbour Bridge climb (it's expensive though).
If you're stuck for things to do in Sydney, just go north earlier, or make a side detour to Canberra. I like Canberra, but I am a museum type of dude, so I'm biased.
If you want to shop like locals, get the train from the city to Chatswood (about bugger all for a return fare). It's much cheaper than the city and you can literally get everything there. Chatswood is also one of the closest 24 hour medical centres, too, if you need a GP late at night.
Sydney's roads are fairly congested and the buses take no prisoners. I'm sure you'll cope with off peak traffic loads, but if you can avoid hiring a car until you want to go somewhere outside of the metro area, do so. Cabs by english standards are cheap. From the airport to the city is $20-$25 (about 8 to 10 pounds). When there's two of you off the back end of a 24 hour flight, you will want to do this as it's $11 each single ticket (ie $22 for the two of you) by train + you have to schlepp your stuff from one of the many stations to your hotel.
I've stayed in nearly every hotel in Sydney. If you'd like a recommendation, I prefer the Wentworth and the Sir Stamford at Circular Quay is something else. Use http://www.wotif.com to get cheap rates. If you're after very central, I like Blacket. FWIW, Joanna Lees stayed there whilst I was there a few years ago during one of my extended stays. Very comfy if starkly grey and purple.
Andrew
London Bugger 路
We defo want to do the Blue Mountains. Is there other ways tio get there without hiring a car? How far are they from the City?
Whats these Guys at Panthers??
Will we get much hostility in places coz of being tourists? I know that tourist can get a rough time here sometimes but thats mainly because they dont speak English, and as we assume everyone should speak English lol.
Cairns rednecks? I thought Cairns would be ok as it was a bigger town?
So what are the places we should avoid and take care in?
Cheers,
Rob.
Oasis 路
Panthers is a football team and their club at Penrith is called Panthers. It's was a bit of a joke...
You'll generally get the opposite of hostility in Australia. Extreme helpfulness is the norm. Very little to worry about. Read Bill Bryson's book on Australia if you haven't already. It's called "Down Under" I think.
There are still plenty of rednecks around though, usually in the bush, but in Sydney too. No different to walking down a seedy or working class part of London. You don't feel safe everywhere unfortunately.
penguin 路
To get to the Blue Mtns without driving... Catch the train 馃檪 There are stations all through the villages up there, but you may only want to get out in Leura and Katoomba, otherwise it'll take for ever to get anywhere. The 3 Sisters are in Katoomba, Leura is just a very nice little village the stop before then from the city. When I say village, thats what they call themselves, its not like your villages etc okay.
Panthers - Penrith Panthers are a Rugby league football team, they have a very large club house/hotel/gaming complex in Penrith out in the western suburbs. There are a lot of ... well.... some may describe them as not so well educated people out there that drive about in boy racers (ricers/doof doof mobiles etc) and generally act like di*#s. I lived out there for three years and I can say that nothing happened to me and I dislike them as much as the next guy.
For all the going on about rednecks that has been on the forum lately, I think you have been mislead by pi##taking. Yes some of us will say that there are rednecks, but they aren't as bad as we make them out to be. Just depends on how sensitive you are to them, or if you do somethign that is really obvious in front of them. I can say that in all my travels I have only had one problem and that was when I was riding a pushbike in Darwin and I had some local idiot think that his old kingswood was better than riding a bike and cut me off at a left hand turn. I've lived in Brisbane, Darwin, Woomera, Canberra, Sydney, Mackay, Holbrook (country NSW) with serious time in places like Dalby (country QLD) Melb, Cairns, Rockhampton, Adelaide.
Nowhere is that bad, and Crocodile Dundee is fantasy as much as some of the boys would like to make you think otherwise when you are out west.
I agree with oasis, read Bill Brysons book, I gave it to an exGF in Edinburgh (after I read it first) and thought it would be great for her before she came out for a visit. Sure its got a little pi#@taking or literary licence in itas well, but generally its pretty good.
Just dont get aggravated by 'bloody poms' or 'whinging pom' comments and take them in the spirit that they are given.
Right then, thats my war and peace for the day!!
penguin 路
Bugger, forgot.
With the beers you will have to figure out which are bitters and which are lagers etc. The majority of the ones that the guys have described are not bitters if thats your fav. No one really drinks Fosters - However I can tell you that the Fosters you get in UK is not the same as what they serve up here. So if you like it there, don't buy a jug here till you have tasted a small one. Which brings me to the next point.
Of course, the name of the beer is one thing, then name of the container is the other.
You also have to know which beer is available in the particular part of Australia you are ordering in.
I chopped this from a website for ordering beer in Oz, but dropped the other states as you said you were only really visiting NSW and QLD. Also added in a few comments.
Order a beer in Queensland if you are buying for yourself:
Barman: Mate, are you right?
Queenslander: Pot of XXXX thanks mate
Barman (after getting money): Thanks mate
Queenslander (after getting beer): Thanks mate
or if you are shouting (buying the round):
Queenslander: G'day mate, jug of XXXX thanks
Barman (after getting money): Thanks mate
Queenslander (after getting beer): Thanks mate
Note the words are typically slurred together regardless of whether or not you are sober. Note also, that if you were lucky enough to be served by a barmaid, then you would typically, but not necessarily, drop the use of the word mate. (DONT CALL THEM DORIS!!!!!!!!!, we don't understand that one, its just not an Oz thing)
However in New South Wales:
Barman: Mate, are you right?
Queenslander: Pot of XXXX thanks mate
Barman (looking confused?): Sorry?
Queenslander (thinking and speaking slowly): Sorry, a schooner of New thanks
Barman: Are you from Queensland are you?
Barman (after receipt of money): Cheers
Queenslander (after receipt of beer and trying to fit in linguistically): Cheers
Also in order to speed up and simplify the process of ordering the nectar of the gods a little code for fast and accurate delivery based on the colours of the desired beer can (or tinnie) has been created:
Code Translation
Red Can - Can of Melbourne Bitter
Green Can - Can of Victoria Bitter
Blue Can - Can of Fosters
White Can - Can of Swan Light
Yellow Can - Can of Fourex
For glass sizes though, its all over the shop depoending on what state you are in, and sometimes what pub. To cater for those who don't think very well, a lot of oubs have started to accept terminology that 20 years ago would have raised the question of what language you were speaking???.
New South Wales and A.C.T. (Was pretty sure they have jugs, but left it out in case)
Pint 568ml 20 ounces
Schooner 425ml 15 ounces
Middy 285ml 10 ounces
Seven 200ml 7 ounces
Pony 140ml 5 ounces
Love this quote from the page I found :
In North Queensland we still use the nomenclature 'five', 'seven' or 'ten' for our sizes. Rarely, if ever would anyone order a pint [20 oz]. Maybe on a birthday or similar for a mate but never for oneself. If ordered it is referred to either as a 'pint' or, less often, a '20oz.' Guinness is usually ordered by the pint, always as a 'pint', or half pint, referred to as 'a half'. The 15 oz glass is kept by some pubs for tourists unfamiliar with correct behaviour.
he he he, have fun drinking :beer:beer:beer:beer:beer:beer:repuke:puke
vanderaj 路
You can get pints of anything in pretty much any bar I've been to. But it's better value to order a jug if you think you can get through it and don't have to drive.
As I drink the fancy crap, they're almost always in 375 ml bottles, called stubbies everywhere. I don't as a rule drink draft (ie tap) beer unless I'm at the Belgian Beer Cafe where they have drinkable stuff on tap.
Andrew
ancientbugger 路
Now just remember it's hot over here so you can leave all your jumpers and jackets at home in sunny(?) Lewisham plus your long trousers and that way you have a lot more room for Marmite! By the way is Super Accesories still open on the way to Catford. I remember buying a right tasty steering wheel from there, also Macdonalds in Catford was one of the first open in England (silly the things you remember). Also is Pursers stil in the Old Kent Road?
Bazza
London Bugger 路
ancientbugger wrote:Now just remember it's hot over here so you can leave all your jumpers and jackets at home in sunny(?) Lewisham plus your long trousers and that way you have a lot more room for Marmite! By the way is Super Accesories still open on the way to Catford. I remember buying a right tasty steering wheel from there, also Macdonalds in Catford was one of the first open in England (silly the things you remember). Also is Pursers stil in the Old Kent Road?
Bazza
LOL it will be hard to detach myself from my jumpers and my thermal underwear!
How cool does it get in the night over there in summer, also do you ever have any summer rain?
Never heard of super accessories, think that must have closed ages ago!
Macdonalds is still there along with another about 2 minutes walk away! we have hundres of the sh*tholes in london now!
Pursers is still in Old Kent road too!
So what will a despeate ex pat pay to get some marmite and hp sauce lol
Rob.
ancientbugger 路
I'll sell you my old thermal underwear I haven't used them in 16 years Honest guv,
ancientbugger 路
Seriously though I finish work most nights at around 11.15 and I drive home in the buggy or the beetle with the roof down in just a t-shirt (plus trousers of course!) Victoria and Tassie would probably not be this warm but up here or further north it's definitely t-shirt and shorts weather-even with my legs. If it rains and you're in the buggy so what you get wet but I'd rather not get the inside of the beetle wet if I can help it. Does it rain?! We can have more in one downpour than London has in a year but here you get it done and done with straight away no drizzle for months on end and miserable grey skies. All you born and bred Aussies I hope you realise how good you get things over here.
Bazza
London Bugger 路
Excellent I think i can handle that then living in shorts and tees all month!
Seriously if you will give us a blast up noosa in the buggy i'll bring you over some Marmite and HP 馃榾
Rob.
vanderaj 路
HP is available in every supermarket here. I don't see Marmite that often, so you may as well bring some 馃檪
I think the coldest you'll be is on the plane coming over. I felt cold on my last international flights, and I've got insultation up the wazzoo.
After living in Sydney for a couple of years, I think you might find one or two nights are a bit colder than you'd expect (maybe 15 C or so), but your hotel will be nice and insulated from all that. Brisbane types are in denial about cold nights during winter, but you'll be fine in December. Once you get to far north Queensland (Cairns et al), the wet season might start a bit early, but it should be warm.
Average temps during your stay: 18 C - 25 C ... it's somewhat humid, expect a few 30+ C days
Andrew
ancientbugger 路
You're on for the Marmite just give me a bell on 5449 1031 when you're up here in Queensland and we're off up the beach!
Bazza
Streetbuggy 路
Dude
Im in Oz now and have done the east coast from cairns down to melbourne.
There is so much to do on the east coast, make sure you get a lonly planet book of east coast or Australia. Theres so much to see and unfortunatly most of it costs money 馃檪. Im here for 3 1/2 months and ill go home broke.
Were in melbourne at the moment and were in sydney before, its not all sun sun sun. for most of the time it actually pissed down with rain, just make sure you pack for it 馃檪
You can get marmite here but its not the same, did spot some stuff called our mate in the same bottle as we get marmite in, oh and have also seen HP sauce in some of the supermarkets.
Byron bay is really nice we stayed there for 2 weeks, also been to Noosa. We surfed at both these places had a few lessons etc.
Nimbin well if you like that sort of thing its ok, hippy down where a blind eye is turned to the herb 馃槈 not my sort of place.
Ive managed to miss any VW things in the time ive been here.
If you want any tips etc about places your going email me and ill let you know if we went there.
Youll love it
si
eirecooled 路
please note that the Marmite contains animal extract (I think check label)so customs maybe taking you into the room with the rubber gloves. Make sure you get the guy/gal with the small hands! They get a bit upset about food coming in something about mad cows or something...................:P
vanderaj 路
Streetbuggy wrote:Dude
Im in Oz now and have done the east coast from cairns down to melbourne.
There is so much to do on the east coast, make sure you get a lonly planet book of east coast or Australia. Theres so much to see and unfortunatly most of it costs money 馃檪. Im here for 3 1/2 months and ill go home broke.
Were in melbourne at the moment and were in sydney before, its not all sun sun sun. for most of the time it actually pissed down with rain, just make sure you pack for it 馃檪
[/quote]
How long are you here in Melbourne for?
Andrew
London Bugger 路
Streetbuggy wrote:Dude
Im in Oz now and have done the east coast from cairns down to melbourne.
There is so much to do on the east coast, make sure you get a lonly planet book of east coast or Australia. Theres so much to see and unfortunatly most of it costs money 馃檪. Im here for 3 1/2 months and ill go home broke.
Were in melbourne at the moment and were in sydney before, its not all sun sun sun. for most of the time it actually pissed down with rain, just make sure you pack for it 馃檪
You can get marmite here but its not the same, did spot some stuff called our mate in the same bottle as we get marmite in, oh and have also seen HP sauce in some of the supermarkets.
Byron bay is really nice we stayed there for 2 weeks, also been to Noosa. We surfed at both these places had a few lessons etc.
Nimbin well if you like that sort of thing its ok, hippy down where a blind eye is turned to the herb 馃槈 not my sort of place.
Ive managed to miss any VW things in the time ive been here.
If you want any tips etc about places your going email me and ill let you know if we went there.
Youll love it
si
Man i really wish we had longer i dont think we will get to do half the things we want only being a week here and a week there.
Just out of interest how much have you spent on a daily basis? I have the lonely plante book and a few others and one of the books says budget for $80 a day???
Any info, tips and must see will be good thanks!
Rob.
London Bugger 路
eirecooled wrote:please note that the Marmite contains animal extract (I think check label)so customs maybe taking you into the room with the rubber gloves. Make sure you get the guy/gal with the small hands! They get a bit upset about food coming in something about mad cows or something...................:P
Nah marmite is totally Veggie, its made from Yeast extract. I think its bovril that contains cow juice.
Rob.
vanderaj 路
London Bugger wrote:Man i really wish we had longer i dont think we will get to do half the things we want only being a week here and a week there.
Just out of interest how much have you spent on a daily basis? I have the lonely plante book and a few others and one of the books says budget for $80 a day???
Any info, tips and must see will be good thanks!
Rob.
$80 is cutting it fine. I travel abuot 3/4 of my time at the moment.
If you're staying in hotels, $15-$20 is the going rate for breakfast. Replace this with any nearby cafe for $7-8 for a far better and sustaining breakfast, or go to a supermarket, buy a packet of cereal, decent coffee, oj and milk and spend about $1-2 per person per day.
Lunch is usually around $5-10 mark, but again, supermarket is much cheaper but requires planning and a fridge. Don't buy random pies unless you're into Cut Me Own Throat Dibbler territory. Shakespear and a few others are okay, but as a general rule avoid pie warmers.
Night time, expect to pay around $10 - $30 at a half decent restaurant or $8-10 on Maccas, or less if you can sponge off mates.
You'll need incidental money, rental car money or transport money, and tourist trap money.
You can do it on $80 / day, but it'll be cutting it fine.
Andrew
London Bugger 路
We have most of our hotels/accommedation paid for. Just have 5 nights unaccounted as we have a hire car we are gonna just drive about. I think some of our stays inclde breakfast so will have to stock up then.
I have more than $80 to spend a day but was just wondering how much of a realistic figure that was. I was thinking of $100 a day so that way if i spend less i will have more for gifts and goodies 馃榾
VWFREAK 路
So when you get here will you still be Lobdon bugger or Aussie bugger. Just a thought, I'm really bored.lol
London Bugger 路
Hmmmmmmm
Good question maybe I will be pale skinned tourist bugger 馃榾
penguin 路
I guess it depends on how you eat etc.
If you est well, then it costs more etc. I reckon I can get away with $50 for food a day when I travel, but then I don't eat that much. so maybe thats not good advice. I reckon you will get the gist of it fairly quick and know where to eat and where not to.
Agrre with Andrew, pie warmers are about as safe as wandering through the shades with a gold necklace!! If you want to try a pie and can find one, try a bakery. Fuel is about $1 per litre, but if you shop at certain supermarkets, you can get the vouchers for 4c/litre off. Since its a hire car, feel free to use the cheap unleaded fuel 馃檪
penguin 路
or will you just be Bugger???????????
Streetbuggy 路
well im in melbourne till the 18th of nov.
As for budget i couldnt tell you daily. hostels are around 18-25 a night, the most costly thing id going out on the piss so i havent done it that much.
cooking your own food is best way to do it, some backpackers type places have good cheap food. Spent around 1000 uk pounds a month doing every thing we wanted to and all the tourist stuff
Dak-A-Tak 路
London Bugger,give me a email at home ( Peter Page- Dak-A-Tak) .We might take Rods ( 48IDA )bugout to the track on Dec 4.
London Bugger 路
Dak-A-Tak wrote:London Bugger,give me a email at home ( Peter Page- Dak-A-Tak) .We might take Rods ( 48IDA )bugout to the track on Dec 4.
Have sent you a U2U
Rob.
silver 路
London Bugger wrote:Hmmmmmmm
Good question maybe I will be pale skinned tourist bugger 馃榾
Maybe Lobster bugger, like most poms on hols in Oz, be careful with the sun tanning!
London Bugger 路
silver wrote:
London Bugger wrote:Hmmmmmmm
Good question maybe I will be pale skinned tourist bugger 馃榾
Maybe Lobster bugger, like most poms on hols in Oz, be careful with the sun tanning!
Well we got factor 60 lotion to start and then progress down to lower factors dont want to end up cooked!!!
Rob.
penguin 路
Hey
just a warning about up here. Even though it looks cloudy.... still put sunscreen on okay!!
Trust me on that, you will burn if it is just an overcast day.
If its raining, then thats different.
Good luck, must be almost upon you now???
Beerboy 路
I have been here about two weeks come from woking near london, oz is much better, you can get everything you want and a schoner is a better size than a pint, give me a shout if you want to hook up for a cold one. Not that i can find my way round well, but I am learning and I can find the pub.
penguin 路
Ummm
beerboy, one thing he may need to know.
Just where in Oz are you????????:duh
Dak-A-Tak 路
Hi Rob,you can give me a call on 0409004767 work phone,or email me on carorama@dodo.com.au about your ussie trip.
penguin 路
So are you here yet?????????????????
Beerboy 路
I am in Sydney any news
London Bugger 路
Nope not there yet!
Arrive in Sydney on the 28th at 8.30am! Not long now, god i can't wait!!!
Does anyone know what the weather is like up near the blue mountains at the moment?? We have booked a convertible to drive up there from syd on the monday 29th. I have looked on the web and all the websites i have seen give different forcasts!
Thanks,
Rob.
squizy 路
Well it's been chilly the last couple of days in Sydney. There is a High coming over which might bring some warmer weather later in the week / weekend - so your timing might be good.
I've just checked the site myself. Will be 30 degrees in Sydney on Friday, with Sat, Sun, and Mon all to be warmer. So....good news! Still take a jumper up the Blue Mountains anyway as it could be a little cooler up there. Watch the Police, speed camera's, and the dodgy 70km speed limit across the top.
Squiz....
penguin 路
Don't forget that chilly for us may be nothing for you.
3 months ago I used to live in Penrith (base of blue mtns) and I thought chilly was anything below 20 degrees celsius, so as Squiz has given. Check out the BOM site (Bureau of Met). Currently here is Bris (well, Ipswich anyway) its a nice warm high20's to 30 degree day. Sydney I think would probably be about 20 degrees or so. Not too cold to enjoy a cold beer but not warm enough to break into a big sweat when you trundle about the place.
Enjoy 馃檪
ancientbugger 路
Look forward to meeting you when you get up to Noosa, the weather here is beautiful as usual- don't bother with jumpers up here!
Bazza
squizy 路
So they must be here. They had a stinker in Sydney for that trip up the Blue Mountains!
Where are ya London Bugger?
Squiz....
London Bugger 路
Hello all,
sorry i havent touched base before but my feet havent touched the ground since Sydney. Its been non stop!!! I am in Airlie beach right now! Dropped off the coach tour as it was pants and was like being back at school, So got a hire car and me and my girlfriend have been going it alone. Sorry i didint hook up with people i was supposed to in noosa but we only had 2 nights there and after doing fraser and the likes we ran out of time! Wish we had more time, we have to get a flight out of cairns sunday morning! Its just gone so quick and we havent done half what we wanted to do!!!!
Havent been online at all and probably wont be o much if at all between now nd when i leave so if theres anyone or anything going on between airlie and cairns give me a shout on my mobile! +447989605204
Seen loads of cool cars, love the old fords and holdens you guy have here and the american style big rigs are cool!
I havent got burnt yet thank god, and have had some weather like home what with all that rain in the gold coast and brisbane 馃榾 Sydney was awesome one of the days we had the convertible it was 42degrees! its was hot all in all its been real good!
The only bad bit of the holiday was just a miute ago when we went into Vic Hislops shark show, that guy is a redneck asshole killing sharks as if they shouldnt be in the sea! numb nuts!
Anyway i will try my best to get online before i fly out of Cairns! And anyone who wants me to stop by give me a call 馃榾
cheers,
Rob.
penguin 路
Glad you have had some fun. Pity about the weather up here when you passed through. It got hot yesterday, but when you passed through last week was wet as!
Sydney's 42 would have been good fun for you pair.
As for Vic hislop.... some folk are a good arguement for euthenasia.............. mmmm. best leave that alone.
Airlie is brill, used to live not far from there. Cairns is a great place too.
squizy 路
Airlie and the Whitsunday's are great. Hope you're having a great time. I hear the scuba diving off Cairns is good at the moment.....if you like sharks.
Squiz....
ogtool 路
London Bugger wrote:Well the holiday so far is 5 nights in sydney to do what we want nothing planned. then get a flight up to Bris, got 5 nights with a hire car, no accommidation booked so was gonna go down the gold coast and down to Byron bay as we've heard thats spot on???
Sydney -
head up the Blue mountains for a day
do the bridge climb if you can
play dodge the giant rats in hyde park
spend a day wandering circular quay/the rocks/botanical gardens etc (some great markets in/around the rocks if you pick the right day)
head over to Bondi...after all, you are a pom 馃檪
If you're a music lover, go to Utopia (on George Street) best music shop we have to offer!
Brisbane -
Leave. ASAP.
: )
(not a fan of brissy).
Get down to the Gold Coast and check out the theme parks if that takes your fancy. Heading down to Byron Bay is a good idea. Theres a GREAT little Bed & Breakfast about an hour from Byron in this funky little town called Alstonville.
Stayed there once and its a really cool place to get away from it all.
Once your on the Kontiki tour, thats pretty much the end of your decision making.
Enjoy!
jenz58 路
Rob you weren't on an Oz Experience bus were u??? Yes a lot of people go for the Greyhound if travelling alone or they hire a car...unless you're into partying all the time (hmmmm hope I don't get sued)
I had a couple of young Brit boys staying with me...mum a best friend of mine .... they got onto Greyhound to get away from the Brits on Oz Experience!!! So funny to hear them complain when they got back to my place after months on the road lol
Sorta like Aussies trying to get away from Aussies in London or anywhere...hard when your on a plane with them though...BUGGAR...sorry drunk Aussies in confined spaces not good....hate Bazza wanna be's
Enjoy Airlie....are you doing a sail there????
So driving north? Do the Daintree before leaving Cairns if you can...so nice...
London Bugger 路
Back home in freezing cold England now, its only about 4 degrees here!!!!
God i am so mad for coming back!
Fiji was disappointing it was dirty and not the paradise i had imagined. The whitsundays and fraser island kick fiji's ass! Oz has all you could want and more! I so impressed. You guys have a beautiful country and I will be back!
I think i am going to try and move out there too! I am starting a new job soon with a company that has a presencein Oz and needs more staff in Queensland. So once i have my foot in the door i might approach them aboutgoing to Oz for them!
I know you guys probably don't appreciate all us poms coming over to live but i can't help it i love your country!
Rob.
jenz58 路
Great to hear you enjoyed our wonderful country so much 馃槑
Hey...you guys over there have to put up with the drunken Aussie invasion of London....the get away from the folks n party as hard as you can for the 12 months you are there thingy :beer
I have two over there right now 馃榾
Yes it is cold...my daughter have to go buy herself a coat the first day in London...she'd been backpacking so a coat would have got in the way ...as they do :duh
WABaja 路
I know you guys probably don't appreciate all us poms coming over to live but i can't help it i love your country!
Rob.
You know, If your Great, Great, Great Grandfather had knocked off a loaf of Bread, you'de probably have been born Here and holidaying over There, instead of the other way around...
Perhaps next time you can make it to the Other side of the Country, After all, West and Best do ryhme...馃槈
London Bugger 路
Dont worry I plan to see alot more of Oz before definately deciding. Got to do west coast and go back east to do Melbourne and Adelaide also it wouldn't be right to not visit Ayres Rock at some stage.
I
penguin 路
Glad you enjoyed it.
Just join the long line of other expats here 馃檪 but remember to really get to stay take out citizenship :P otherwise we get to call you a Pommie all the time 馃榾
squizy 路
Glad you had a great time. I know some parts of UK had a White Christmas, so some things we envy too. Don't worry about what people think, the more dubbers out here the better.
Fiji mainland is a bit "different", but the islands are where it's at. There are some rippers if you know which ones to go to.
Squiz....
rice_girl 路
Doh wished I saw this post earlier. Could have gotten you a discounted sailling trip in the whitsundays !! Did you end up doing one?
[Edited on 31/12/2004 by rice_girl]
London Bugger 路
We went to an off shore fiji islan but wasn't that impressed with it. It was caled Malolo Lailai. I think because Oz was everything we wanted and more it really impressed us, so we compared Fiji to Oz and in my opinion there is no comparison Oz wins!
London Bugger 路
rice_girl wrote:Doh wished I saw this post earlier. Could have gotten you a discounted sailling trip in the whitsundays !! Did you end up doing one?
[Edited on 31/12/2004 by rice_girl]
Doh, nevermind, I will have to remember this for next time and hold you to your word! Haha
We did a cool trip roundthe Whitsundays on a 500hp inflatable boat. It was awesome as the weather was a little rough and the boat was out of the water half the time 馃榾
Rob.
rice_girl 路
Ocean Rafting? Never had the chance to do that while I was up that way, ran out of time. A lady at our resort broke her ribs! Can get quite rough indeed!
London Bugger 路
Yeah Ocean rafting it was awesome! You do have to hold on real tight! If you are at the front you get a beating when the boad smacks down on the waves was real good though.