33 Sydney Tower

Previous known as AMP Tower and Centerpoint. Pay your fee, get in the lift and wander around the observation deck. The view is partially obscured by neighbouring high rise office blocks - but it's still pretty impressive.

Sky Tour (recently renamed OzTrek)

The Skytour is good particularly for the virtual reality tour at the end - particularly useful if you not seeing much else of Australia (could save you a fortune in flights!).

Sky Walk

One of Sydney's latest attractions. Comparable to the Harbour Bridge Climb only higher up, shorter duration, cheaper, less fuss and not so far to walk.

Links

41 Big Top - Circus Oz

Circus Oz, aptly named – perhaps a little different from what you might expect.
Circus Oz usually pitch their tent in Moore Park from December till early February.

42 Ghost Tours

Even after death no-one wants to leave Sydney:

The Rocks - Rocks Ghost Tour

45 Sydney Festival

The Sydney Festival has lost a little of its appeal as its become more commercial but the festival still offers a smorgasbord of events and activities some of which are still free! Scrutinise their website and pick out the stuff you're interested in. Sydney is a great place to be at any time of year but in summer it shines.

www.sydneyfestival.org.au

60 Powerhouse Museum

The Powerhouse is a science and design museum with interactive exhibits. The Powerhouse museum is family friendly, educational, interesting and potentially fun! Located in Darling Harbour and accessible by Monorail the Powerhouse Museum is another one of those excellent lousy weather must dos.

Check for a link to the Power House Museum Web site

63 Sydney Explorer Buses - Sydney sight seeing

What I like about the Explorer Buses is you can get on and off whenever you want – just wait until it’s stopped moving.. Take your iPOD / personal stereo in case you hate the commentary and get off when ever you find yourself somewhere you like the look of. If you find yourself getting off alot that's ok - there's always tomorrow.

Two options, Sydney City and Eastern Suburbs - check the bus companies Web site below for details including the route maps (right hand corner of their site(s)).

Sydney Explorer Buses Link

65 Harbour View Hotel - Sydney

The Harbour View Hotel is a pub with a Sydney Harbour view (unsurprisingly) but not from the ground floor – take the stairs, they are located on your left as you approach the pub. The Harbour View Hotel is on the pricey side if you lunch but very pleasant. Try the lamb shanks yum yum.

Nice bar with a veranda perched almost directly under the Harbour Bridge allows you to wave at the grey suits climbing up the bridge.
Harbour View Hotel Link- Sydney

67 Sydney Swans (Aussie Rules Football)

The Sydney Swans roost in the Sydney Football Stadium east of the city (but fairly close) and next door to Fox Studios. They occasionally fly around at Homebush. Ideally you'd be taken by a Sydney-sider who regards 'Aussie Rules' as 'aerial ping-pong' to get maximum enjoyment.

Try counting the rules. If you need more than one hand you've probably been duped into see the Roosters play Ruby League. Assuming it is the Sydney Swans / Aussie Rules you're watching keep an eye out for any off the ball action, boo the officials and 'barrack' for the Swannies 'Sidnee, Sidnee, Sidnee etc' If they get thrashed it's ok to leave at three quarter time (just follow the crowd). Nearest watering-hole is at Fox Studios - turn left on your way out.

The game should prove interesting, if not entertaining, for a couple of hours if you stay to the end. Australian Rules is, as the name suggests, uniquely Australian, just ask any Irishman.

The Sydney Swans

71 Hyde Park Barracks

Delve into Sydney's dark convict past at Sydney's Hyde Park Barracks. Nice cafe if you fancy lunch - ironic, given its history.
Click for link to Sydney's Hyde Park Barracks Web site

72 Monorail

The Sydney Monorail is much aligned but not by me. It doesn't take you to Sydney Opera House or Circular Quay but the Sydney Monorail does give you an 'eyeball' of a big chunk of the City without wearing out the shoe leather. Try to include it as part of a trip to an attraction. The Monorail will take you to Sydney Tower, Sydney Aquarium, Harbour Jet, Powerhouse Museum and Imax Theatre among others ports of call.
Metro Sydney Monorail

76 Imax Theatre

Located at Darling Harbour the Imax Theatre has the worlds largest screen (apparently) so don't sit too close to the front. The Imax shows some good 3D movies. If you haven't seen a 3D movie before, or not for a long time, well worth considering. Good wet, dull or stinking hot outside keep the kids happy activity. The movies usually last less than an hour.

Imax Theatre http://www.imax.com.au/home.asp

77 Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is nicely surrounded by parks (Botanical Gardens and Domain) yet close to the heart of Sydney town. For refreshment you could try the pleasantly situated cafe over the road or take a short stroll to Woolloomooloo Wharf’s restaurants and cafes. Check out the Gallery's website for all the latest.

Click for current exhibits at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

78 The Rocks

Visit the rocks for history, market, old buildings (that's around 200 years old) shops and pubs. Try the Lord Nelson at the ‘wrong end’ (toward Darlings Harbour – walk down Argyle Street) of the Rocks for a pint of the pubs own beer. The Rocks rocks towards the end of George Street home of the Mercantile ('The Merc’), Guinness, sweat and live music. The Fortune of War is also worth stopping at and, come to think of it, the Rocks does boast one or two decent public houses potentially worthy of your presence.

Click for more on the Rocks

79 Puppets at the Rocks

Excellent value as it’s free but now sadly only during school holidays. Ring before hand Phone: (+612) 9255 1788 to check but should be open 11am 12.30pm & 2pm Sat & Sun. The kids will love you for it and you may be quietly entertained yourself in a noisy ear splitting kinda way (he’s behind you!!!!!!!)
The Rocks Official Website Link - Argyle Street, The Rocks

84 Australian Museum

The Australian museum is an excellent museum located in Bridge Street in the city. The Botanical Gardens and Circular Quay are close by if you need to escape the glass towers that will surround you. The museum is endowed with a glass cafe to help it fit in with the surrounding architecture.

Link to the Australian Museum's nicely ‘done’ web site.

98 Markets

Links to market websites

If the idea of shopping doesn't thrill you I sympathise but you probably ought to buy somebody something and then there’s fish..

Paddy’s Market is the largest non fish market in the city. Open Thursday to Sunday in the Haymarket area in the heart of town. See Paddy's Market Web site for details.

The Rocks market

The Rocks market is more arts, craft and expensive. The Rocks market is smaller, easier to walk around and there are pubs close at hand to escape into.

Sydney Fish Markets

The Sydney Fish Markets is 'where the city meets the sea'....made me smile. Open 7am every day. See the Sydney Fish Markets (SFM) Web site for a detailed page on how to get there and more information about the 'largest market of its kind in the southern hemisphere'. Situated not far from the Madonna's Bra and easy to drive to..

Alternatively, visit Glebe Market for a second hand jacket (alternatively is a bit of a clue)

or more up-market market you could go to Paddington (Paddo) Market

You could also try Birkenhead Point for a less touristy, more factory outlet (a phrase meaning ‘shop’?) and pleasantly situated by the water. Catch the ferry (but only Monday to Friday)

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