Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

134
CHAPTER 3 . SYDNEY
container vessels making their way to and from the wharves of Darling Harbour,
and hundreds of white-sailed yachts.
The greenery along the harbor’s edges is a surprising feature, and thanks to the
Sydney Harbour National Park, a haven for native trees and plants, and a feeding
and breeding ground for lorikeets and other nectar-eating bird life. In the center
of the harbor is a series of islands, the most impressive the tiny isle supporting
Fort Denison, which once housed convicts and acted as part of the city’s defense.
THE HARBOUR ON THE CHEAP The best way to see Sydney Harbour,
of course, is from the water. Several companies operate tourist craft for fare-paying
customers (see “Harbor Cruises & Organized Tours” later in this chapter),
but it’s easy enough just to hop on a regular passenger ferry (see “Getting
Around” earlier in this chapter). The best ferry excursions are over to the beachside
suburb of Manly (come back after dusk to see the lights ablaze around The
Rocks and Circular Quay); to Watsons Bay, where you can have lunch and wander
along the cliffs; to Darling Harbour, for all the area’s entertainment and the
fact that you travel right under the Harbour Bridge; and to Mosman Bay, just
for the ride and to see the grand houses that overlook exclusive harbor inlets.
FAST ACTION ON THE HARBOR A recent addition to the Sydney Harbour
scene is a 420-horsepower jet boat, which zooms about on three high-speed
waterway tours at speeds of up to 40 knots (about 74kmph/120 mph), with huge
240-degree turns with instant stops. Harbour Jet (& 1300/887 373 in Australia,
or 02/9212 3555; www.harbourjet.com) offers a 35-minute Jet Blast Adventure
costing A$50 (US$33) for adults, A$35 (US$23) for kids under 15, and A$135
(US$88) for a family of four. A 50-minute Sydney Harbour Adventure costs A$65
(US$42) for adults, A$45 (US$29) for kids, and A$175 (US$114) for a family; a
1-hour 20-minute Middle Harbour Adventure cruise costs A$90 (US$59) for
adults, A$60 (US$39) for kids, and A$240 (US$156) for a family. Rides are fast
and furious and pump with rock music. A 1-hour 15-minute Ultimate Scenic
Adventure, which goes through Sydney Heads and out to sea, and ends up at
Bondi, costs A$175 (US$114) for adults and A$160 (US$104) for kids. There’s
no family price. The boat leaves from the Convention Jetty, between the Convention
Centre and the Harbourside Shopping complex on the far side of Darling
Harbour. These trips don’t leave every day, so check beforehand.
Another option is Oz Jet Boat (& 02/9808 3700; wwwozjetboating.com),
which departs every hour from the Eastern Pontoon at Circular Quay (on the
walkway to the Opera House). These large red boats are a bit more powerful
than the blue Harbour Jet ones, but you might not notice the difference. This
company offers a 30-minute ride for A$45 (US$29) for adults, A$30 (US$20)
for kids, and A$130 (US$85) for a family; and a 1-hour trip out to Sydney
Heads on weekends for A$80 (US$52) for adults, A$50 (US$33) for children,
and A$240 (US$156) for a family.
SEA PLANE ESCAPE Sydney Harbour Sea Planes (& 02/8274 7777; www.
sydneyseaplanes.com.au) take off from Sydney Harbour, fly around and over it, fly
as far as Bondi (for A$110/US$72), or the Northern Beaches (for A$190/
US$124). You can even fly to Cottage Point on the Hawkesbury River and have
a nice boozy lunch before swooping back down again, all for A$335 (US$218).
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Moments One thing so few tourists do, but
which only takes an hour or so, is to walk across the Harbour Bridge. The bridge,
completed in 1932, is 1,150m (3,772 ft.) long and spans the 503m (1,650-ft.) distance
from the south shore to the north. It accommodates pedestrian walkways,