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

STAYING ACTIVE 151
Bicycles in The City, 722 George St. (near Central Station; & 02/9280
2229), rents mountain bikes from A$5 (US$3.25) per hour, or $25 ($16) per
day. You can rent in-line skates here, too, for the same daily rate with all protective
clothing. Note: Helmets are compulsory in Australia.
FITNESS CLUBS The City Gym, 107 Crown St., East Sydney (& 02/9360
6247), is a busy gym near Kings Cross. Drop-in visits are A$10 (US$6.50), and
it’s open daily 24 hours.
GOLF Sydney has over 90 golf courses and plenty of fine weather. The 18-hole
championship course at Moore Park Golf Club, at Cleveland Street and Anzac
Parade, Waterloo (& 02/9663 1064), is the nearest to the city. Visitors are welcome
every day except all day Friday and Sunday mornings. Greens fees are A$24
(US$16) Monday through Thursday, and A$27 (US$18) Saturday and Sunday.
One of my favorite courses is Long Reef Golf Club, Anzac Avenue, Colloroy
(& 02/9982 2943). This northern beach course is surrounded by the Tasman
Sea on three sides and has gorgeous views. Greens fees are A$25 (US$16) weekdays,
and A$35 (US$23) on weekends.
For general information on courses, call the New South Wales Golf Association
(& 02/9264 8433).
IN-LINE SKATING The best places to go in-line skating are along the beachside
promenades at Bondi and Manly beaches and in Centennial Park. Manly
Blades, 49 North Steyne (& 02/9976 3833), rents skates for A$12 (US$7.80) for
the first hour and A$6 (US$3.90) for each subsequent hour, or A$25 (US$16) per
day. Lessons are A$25 (US$16) including 1-hour skate rental and a half-hour lesson.
Bondi Boards & Blades, 148 Curlewis St., Bondi Beach (& 02/9365
6555), rents skates for A$11 (US$7.15) for the first hour, A$5.50 (US$3.60) for
each subsequent hour, and A$20 (US$13) for 24 hours. Ask about a free lesson.
Total Skate, 36 Oxford St., Paddington, near Centennial Park (& 02/9380
6356), rents skates for A$10 (US$6.50) for the first hour, A$5 (US$3.25) for subsequent
hours, and A$30 (US$20) for 24 hours. Ask about a free lesson.
JOGGING The Royal Botanic Gardens, Centennial Park, or any beach are
the best places to kick-start your body. You can also run across the Harbour
Bridge, though you’ll have to put up with the car fumes. Another popular spot
is along the sea cliffs from Bondi Beach to Bronte Beach.
PARASAILING If being strapped to a parachute 100m (328 ft.) above Sydney
Harbour while being towed by a speed boat is your idea of fun, contact Sydney
Harbour Parasailing and Scenic Tours (& 02/9977 6781). A regular flight will
see you in the air for 8 to 10 minutes at the end of a 100m (328-ft.) line. Flights
cost A$55 (US$36) per adult. Tandem rides (for children and adults) are also
available. The boat departs next to the Manly ferry wharf in Manly.
SCUBA DIVING Plenty of people learn to dive in Sydney before taking off
for the Barrier Reef. Don’t expect coral reefs, though. Pro Dive, 27 Alfreda St.,
Coogee (& 02/9665 6333), offers a 4-day learn-to-dive program costing A$345
(US$224). A day of diving for registered divers costs A$105 (US$68).
SURFING Bondi Beach and Tamarama are the best surf beaches on the
south side of Sydney Harbour, while Manly, Narrabeen, Bilgola, Colloroy,
Long Reef, and Palm beaches are the most popular on the north side. Most
beach suburbs have surf shops where you can rent a board. At Bondi Beach, the
Bondi Surf Co., 72 Campbell Parade (& 02/9365 0870), rents surfboards for
A$45 (US$29) for 4 hours or A$60 (US$39) all day. Body boards cost A$20