Sydney 2022 24hrs

PLANT

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Jan 23, 2005
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So I've been to Sydney multiple times over the years. I was actually part owner of the airport 😜 for 10 years. I've done walks over bridge to Kirabilly, opera House and the park, Bondi, Sculpture walk, Heads walk, Manly Ferry and walked around there, Darling Harbor, Star....
I'm there end of May for 24hrs+ to kill.
I'm not into museums, zoos.... so what's worth seeing.... other than the lights show at night?
Any local recommendations... please list all to consider. I'll be public transport.
 
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Take ferry to Watson’s bay and have lunch at Doyle’s. ( Or the pub if you can’t get a booking at Doyle’s.)
 
If the weather is nice you could spend a morning on coughatoo Island
https://www.coughatooisland.gov.au/en/see-and-do/visit/

Taste of Manly is on: Taste of Manly

As you mentioned Vivid will be on, lots of free light exhibits around circular quay, the rocks, martin place. Although I have found it quiet repetitive past few years (i.e. if you go over to Taronga Zoo the animal lanterns while nice asre the same every year). Best Viewed on a weeknight (M-W) as once the weekend comes around its chockers with families who use prams/strollers as battering rams through the crowds.

Plenty of different farmers markets - if this is your think can post links.

Sea kayaking on the harbour? Stand-Up Paddleboarding at Balmorral? Sea Plane flight up to Palm Beach for lunch?

Walking tour and pub crawl in the rocks. Go to a concert? Go to the footy (there would be both NRL, ARU and AFL games on).

If you are a Lego Masters fan then Brickman has an exhibit: Jurassic World by Brickman | 5 March - 29 May 2022, Australian Museum, Sydney

If you like theatre then: An American in Paris, Mary Poppins or Moulin Rouge are on - although I would not recommend any of these shows, there were better choices earlier in the year.

coughtail festival is on so lots of bars are having promos.

You didnt say how late in May - Comedy festival is on until 22nd.
 
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Take ferry to Watson’s bay and have lunch at Doyle’s. ( Or the pub if you can’t get a booking at Doyle’s.)

Nooooo! How could you say such a thing! :) :(. Well, the pub might be OK ...

@PLANT sounds like you like a good walk. If a nice day, take a train to Cronulla then very short walk to the Cornulla ferry terminal, catch it to Bundeena and walk along the coast of the Royal National Park. Good, mainly level track along the cliffs/shore down to Marley Beach.

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Nooooo! How could you say such a thing! :) :(. Well, the pub might be OK ...
What’s the problem with Doyle’s? (Acutally, last time we were there we couldn’t get in so we had takeaway from the pub and sat in park.)
 
There are quite a few different walks in the Royal National Park where you can start from the Bundeena Ferry or Waterfall Station: 15 Best Walks in Royal National Park | Sydney Uncovered

And the usual Sydney Coastal Walks some of which you have already done: 15 Great Coastal Walks in Sydney | Sydney Uncovered

What’s the problem with Doyle’s?
Ive always preferred the Watson's Bay Hotel over Doyles (on the wharf or their takeaway at the back). There are much better takeaway Fish n Chips and fine dining elsewhere. But the ferry ride is nice, you can see the GAP and then walk to Bondi for dessert.
 
What’s the problem with Doyle’s? (Acutally, last time we were there we couldn’t get in so we had takeaway from the pub and sat in park.)

Last time I was there I got a soggy flounder swimming (although it was dead) in butter and a couple of equally soggy new potatoes in an environment of pure pack-in-the-tourist. Sniff. I was living in Sydney at the time 🤣 never went back.

Preferred Le Kiosk at Shelley (Manly) beach, but its long gone.
 
I 2nd Watson’s Bay Hotel beer garden (for lunch) over Doyle’s! If seafood is your thing, light rail to the Fish Markets for a fresh seafood lunch from “cheap and cheerful“ to oysters, lobster or whatever!

Probably too late to get a reservation but a lunch table at Quay! But plenty of other options around Circular Quay, Barangaroo, Woolloomooloo.
 
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Public transport tickets:
Are there still paper tickets?
Do you have to buy a card?
Is there an app and is it cheaper than card or ticket?
Cheapest way to use public transport?
 
Do you have to buy a card?
Is there an app and is it cheaper than card or ticket?
Cheapest way to use public transport?
Opal card fares:

If your American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card shows the contactless payment symbol
contactless-symbol.png
, you can use it to pay for your travel.
You will be charged an Adult Opal fare and receive the same Opal benefits, including:
  • $2 discount for every transfer between modes as part of one journey
  • Fares capped daily, weekly and on weekends
  • 30% discount on metro/train, bus and light rail fares outside peak times

App:
 
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Opal card is cheapest. Opal works on all modes of public transport (train/bus/ferry/light rail....). Opal cards are actually free but they come with a minimum pre-charge of $10 hence the cost is at least $10. The Opal coverage is suburban plus north and south is Newcastle to Nowra. To the west it is out to Lithgow. For you the biggest benefit will be there is a day cap for Opal of $16.30 (Airport access fee of $9.23 each way is additional). So Opal will cost $16.30, plus station access fees if you use the airport stations. If you buy the Opal card at the airport station the minimum load is $35 so you will get two station access fees and another $16.54 which will be only 54 cents over your day cap.
 
There are Opal retailers at the airport other than the stations themselves (International and Domestic). Several available in T2 and one in T3.

 
Reiterating what AIRwin wrote - use your own contactless cc and get all the benefits of using an opal card, such as daily capped charges.
Yes, you don’t need an Opal card for a short visit (I still use one but only because it’s registered and I get an itemised statement).

Just make sure you use the same CC/DC to tap on/off all trains, trams, buses and most ferries to get the discounts and/or caps.

The Opal app is handy for trip planning but the Google map app and similar all work well with real-time updates for most services.
 

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