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Australia – New South Wales, May 2014
by claire
In May I was extremely fortunate to travel down to Australia courtesy of Travel 2 and Destination New South Wales, it was a whistle stop visit but we managed to experience many of the amazing sights that new South Wales has to offer:
We travelled from Heathrow via Dubai with Qantas landing in Sydney early on the Wednesday morning, after passing through immigration extremely swiftly we were taken to our hotel base for the first 3 nights – Park Royal Darling Harbour.
After a quick change and breakfast we walked the very short distance to darling harbour where we were met by an iVenture Card team member for an overview of the iVenture Card.
The iVenture Card Attractions Pass is an all-inclusive pass that gets you entry into Sydney’s must-see attractions for one fixed low cost. It includes free entry into attractions, museums, cruises, wildlife parks, tours and so much more. There are three passes available to help you see Sydney and save. Options include all-inclusive transport for added convenience. Collection points are located in Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.
Using the iVenture Card we travelled over to Taronga Zoo Wharf on the Sydney Harbour Eco Hopper.
At Taronga Zoo we did the Nura Diya Tour, meaning “this country or camp” takes you on a journey thrugh Taronga led by an Aboriginal guide who shares stories of their cultural history with Australian wildlife and the land. We left Taronga zoo at midday and took the Eco Hopper to Circular Quay.
Lunch was taken at the Opera Kitchen at Circular Quay, the waterside tables offer some of the best Sydney Harbour views and is set on the lower concourse of the Sydney Opera House, after lunch we had a tour of the world famous Opera House – I expected it to be 1 huge theatre but was surprised inside to see 2 completely separate buildings with numerous theatres in each. After the tour, again using our iVenture Card we took the Eco Hopper back to Darling Harbour and went to Madame Tussauds Sydney. Dinner that evening was early as by this time we were all flagging but we have a fantastic array of pizzas at Cyren Bar Grill in Darling Harbour.
Day 2 was an early start for breakfast as we had a day trip to the Blue Mountains – we left the hotel at 07.30 for the tour organised by AEA Luxury Tours Australia.
The Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour is a journey into the heart of a unique World Heritage Region. The Blue Mountains is one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Tour highlights include – early entry at Featherdale Wildlife Park, complete circle loop of the Blue Mountains, short walks to explore the remote region with stunning views, lunch at a local golf club and a visit to Mr Tomah Botanic Gardens. Our tour ended back at the Park Royal Hotel at 16.00.
I would highly recommend spending a night or 2 in the Blue Mountains if time allows – we are able to suggest several hotel options.
That evening we went to the Sydney Lyric Theatre to watch Strictly Ballroom, The Musical.
Day 3 was a more leisurely start we left the hotel at 09.30 and transferred by bus to Bronte, where we had a beautiful coastal walk to Bondi. There is a longer 6 km walk from Cooggee to Bondi which takes approximately 2 hours at a steady pace. We then had a site inspection of the Adina Apartments which is a fantastic central base for couples or families alike. We had a fish & chip lunch at the Bucket List Bondi. In the afternoon we were given surfing lessons on Bondi Beach by Let’s Go Surfing – needless to say I wiped out!!!!!
Back at the hotel we had time to change before a quick transfer to Circular Quay to commence a Vivid smart light walk.
Vivid Sydney is a unique annual event of light, music and ideas, featuring many of the world’s most important creative industry forums, a mesmerising free public exhibition of outdoor lighting sculptures and installations, a cutting-edge contemporary music program and the spectacular illumination of Sydney’s iconic architecture, including the sails of Sydney opera House.
Day 4 we checked out of the park Royal Darling Harbour and travelled with Mount ‘N Beach Safaris North towards Port Stephens, en-route we went to Anna Bay for a sand boarding experience with Sand Dune Safaris, guests are taken in Hummer 4WD across the magnificent Stockton Sand Dunes and surrounding area. We had an oyster lunch before boarding the Spirit of Port Stephens for an afternoon whale watching cruise, we were so lucky to find whales, dolphins & sea lions that kept us entertained a sea for 2-3 hours. Our home for the night was Oaks Pacific Blue Resort, Nelson Bay.
Day 5 was a wonderful day enjoying the sights and tastes of Hunter Valley, we stopped at several vineyards including Petersons, Tempus II and Hunter Valley Resort, where we had lunch which was a food a wine matching meal and then beer tasting – surprisingly I do remember it!!
We were then taken to our night’s accommodation – Chateau Elan at the Vintage which is one of Australia’s premier spa destinations with a complex of one and two bedroom Spa Villas built around a championship golf course. Our meal that evening was a wine matching dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.
Day 6 started with a very early alarm call and we checked out of the Chateau Elan at 05.00.
We had the most amazing experience of an early morning Balloon flight over Hunter Valley courtesy of Balloons Aloft. The flight lasted approximately 60 minutes but the memories will last a lifetime – one minute we were thousands of feet high peering down on the landscape below and the next moment we were brushing through tree tops watching the kangaroos hop around and boxing with each other. Once the flight landed we all had to help pack up the balloon and basket and load it back on the truck, but then we were rewarded with a gourmet champagne breakfast.
After breakfast we headed back into the bus for the journey south back down to Sydney, time for 40 winks. We arrived back in Sydney at lunchtime, we had a quick snack at The Glenmore Hotel located in the Rocks, Sydney we then walked over the road and checked in for ‘The Bridge Climb’! We were booked in for the Express Climb, which means you still do the same climb which takes you to the summit of the bridge, but it is a slightly quicker pace with fewer photo stops. The Express Climb take about 90 minutes in total with the Bridge Climb taking just over 2 hours. All climbs are available at dawn, day, twilight and night.
Our final night was spent at the QT Sydney, the boutique Sydney hotel has been carefully crafted within the historic Gowings and State Theatre Buildings. The building retains many of the original distinctive features with a blend of Gothic, Art Deco and Italianate influenced architecture. The evening finished with a hosted dinner at Gowings bar and Grill.
Day 7 our final morning in Australia, we were taken on a private motor yacht cruise around Sydney
Harbour, taking in many of the sights we had visited plus many more. The private Yachts can be chartered for the short sightseeing trips from Sea Sydney Cruises, and they supply you with tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer and snacks. Cruises last approximately 2 hours.
The cruise moored back at Circular Quay where we just had time for a bit of souvenir shopping and lunch before catching our bus back to Sydney Airport for our flight home.
We flew back from Sydney with Qantas again via Dubai landing back early Wednesday Morning.
For more information on any of the places I stayed or activities I experience contact me and I will be happy to give more information.