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Great whites, aloof surfers, phenomenal seafood, cheap lobster tail, world class wines, cosmopolitan cities, a true cafe culture, and (to Justin’s delight) little penguins!

Sydney by Michael McDonough

We’re leaving for Sydney, Australia on Friday or Saturday night which probably has us landing on Monday the 24th and returning on Saturday the 6th, though, I am hoping to shift our schedule so we get an extra day or two.  Jet lag, I imagine, will be a bitch.

Thanks to helpful people on Yelp!, I got a big head start planning things to do/places to see/foods to try!  If I had a car reserved, domestic tickets purchased, and places to stay, we’d be all set.  At any rate, I’ve concocted the list below as a result of the lovely suggestions Yelpers have given me.  Justin and I also acquired a Fodor’s Australia guidebook today, so things may be added, if at all possible. :)

My rough trip outline, working with the number of days I have, is below:

• 2 days in Sydney
  Beaches: Bondi (most famous), Coogee and Manly  (start at Coogee then take the trail to Bondi, about 3.5 miles.  Enjoy the walk and stop for food & drinks along the way.  Get a drink at Icebergs, a surf & lifesaving clubhouse near Bondi.)
  Breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel
  Harbor tour: lunch at Doyle’s at Watsons Bay/Taronga Zoo/Aquarium/drink at the Opera
  Surry Hills (up and coming foody neighborhood to check out – maybe stay in this area)


Melbourne by Andrew Hux

• 1 day hiking + climbing in the Blue Mountains (climbing if I can find a guide) – overnight at B&B or camp
• 1 day driving/sightseeing southward – overnight camping or in car
• 1 day @ Phillip’s Island – overnight Melbourne
• 2 days in Melbourne
  Great Ocean Road
  great cafes with Italian coffee
• 1 or 2 days Yarra Valley wine tour – overnight in Yarra Valley?
• 2 days Alice Springs – an Oasis in the Outback (flight required)
• 1 day back to Sydney???
  (Paddington outdoor market if here on a Saturday)
• Depart for home

On the way from Sydney to Melbourbe, I’d like to possibly take the Snowy Mountain highway :) …unless it adds a ridiculous amount of time to the trip, and visit Canberra (the capital) if at all possible.

Also, I’d like to visit the Barossa Valley (if any way at all).  So yeah, not too much to ask for 2 weeks. haha

Foods to try in Australia (aside from the seafood and Asian food which I hear is great):
Pides – turkish pizzas – try one at the nearest kebab place
Laksa – thai coconut noodle soup
Aussie hamburger – same has here but we like ours with beetroot
Meat pies – savory pies