5 steps for the perfect Sydney Harbour Cruise
by flagship
Having run a charter company here in Sydney Harbour since 1982, I have assisted thousands of people in that time bring in the New Year watching fireworks on the harbour.
Here is my checklist of the top 5 things you should consider before booking any Sydney Harbour Cruise -- for New Years or any other time.
1. What does the package include? I.e food, drink, music, etc?
This is very important to know from the beginning. On some boats, only beer and wine will be included, spirits will be an extra charge. If you are on a cruise you believe to be fully inclusive, it should be just that.
2. Are there any extra charges?
In some cases, depending on the wharf there may be an additional charge for the use of the wharf. With the busy traffic on Sydney Harbour, time slots are at a premium, so at most, the vessel will have 15 minute to embark and 15 minutes to disembark passengers.
3. Is the vessel safe and clean with a professional crew?
The best way to ensure you are with a safe and reputable company is to ask for feedback from previous companies. Are they positive/favourable? Is the company in good standing in the industry and experienced? Do they have a functioning website and customer service team? Not all cruise companies are created equally.
4. Which wharf will the boat be picking you up from?
This is important to know for arranging transportation to the wharf. With strict wharf time slots, it is imperative everyone arrives on time and knowing the where and how of the pickup point will help with this. If taking taxis, they should be called well in advance or if driving checking to ensure there is sufficient parking is advised. 5. What time will you need to be there?
On NYE especially, this is very important due to the congestion on the roads. If you are on the City/Eastern Suburbs side and need to get to North Sydney for example, it will take a long time to get there.
Same also for after your cruise. If possible, I'd recommend driving to the pickup point and parking nearby as it is very hard to find a taxi after midnight. Most companies will charge for additional time spent at wharves and if someone misses the boat, their only option will be to use a water taxi to transfer.
Paying close attention to my top 5 tips will ensure a memorable and stress free Sydney Harbour Cruise. See you on the Harbour.
I stayed at a beautiful...
by PeterFusco
I stayed at a beautiful woman's house in Mosman, a wealthy suburb of Sydney. It's the only way to go unless you meet a gifted (in a variety of ways) flight attendant from San Diego named Diane and she invites you to stay with her at the hotel during her layover.
You have to eat Thai at any one of several great Thai restaurants in Sydney. You have to visit the Italian section of the city and sip huge cups of espresso at a place on the middle of the block in the heart of the section. I can't remember it's name, but that's ok, it's the only one there.
You have to visit the only Italian restaurant in Mosman (I think it's called La Trattoria) and tell them Peter Fusco from New York sent you. They will play 'New York, New York' by Frank Sinatra in that event. Make you feel right at home if you're a New Yorker. If they ask, 'who?' Just tell them, 'the guy who tipped you people so much of that play money you guys have in Australia.' (My Mosman hostess told me no one tips in Aussieland. I told her no one doesn't tip in New York.)
You have to visit the opera house, but I wouldn't attend the opera unless you are an afficionado. It is not very comfortable and the acoustics aren't that great.
Check out the Sydney zoo (from which I was ousted for trying to get a Wallaby to hop).
Go to the Bonaventure hotel in Mosman and drink Jack Daniels. They love that.
Have your shoes fixed by the old Korean guy whose shop is kitty corner from the Bonaventure.
Go to Old Town and check out the bars.
Check out Manly Beach. I think that's what it's called.
You have to go to the wine country. It's beautiful and the people are fantastic.
And you have to keep telling yourself that its not good to fall in love with an entire country so fast. A woman named Janice. She was a kind and decent hostess whom I will never forget.
Olympic Soccer
by alisonr
Of course everyone who was in Sydney during the Olympics would see this as their fondest memory. I also went to the Olympics in 2000, but not at Sydney! We went to the soccer in Adelaide. So if you would like to see some more photos of the match between Japan and USA, please see my Adelaide page travelouge!!
Fair winds
by iandsmith
There's another harbour about 2 hours north of Sydney. It's my home town actually.
This is an eyecatcher at night. This welcoming scupture aimed at seafaring folk casts its genial light every night across the waters of the harbour.
Not quite the Statue of LIberty but, we're only a small town by comparison and the French probably don't love us as much (especially since we started making wine seriously).
The statue sits at the eastern extremity of the suburb of Carrington but is visible all the way down the harbour.
It is entitled "Destiny" and is a reminder of the prows that used to grace the sailing ships that once were stacked three deep along the foreshore.
The flowing hair behind her represents the seven seas.
Smoking
by Ramonq
Smoking is slowly being ostracised in many establishments around Sydney. Restaurants, pubs have started banning cigarettes. Some still allow smoking areas although very limited.
You'll see many people smoking on the streets just outside an office building. This is because smoking is now banned in workplaces. If you're a smoker, expect to pay a lot of money for your favourite pasttime. Tobacco products are highly taxed here.
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Enjoying the spectator ferry
Dawn Princess at Circular Quay
Exterior of the Restaurant
Flourless Chocolate CAke
