But on a more serious note I second the idea you aren’t going to have time to do much more than see Sydney. However, if you are determined to go wider afield, I wouldn’t be doing either Brisbane or Melbourne, I’d follow the suggestion upthread and do Cairns. Brisbane and Melbourne have their own character but in the end they are Australian cities, just like Sydney is an Australian city. With two days in Cairns you can get a taste of reef, crocodile and rainforest, if you hurry. Which will at least be a little more different than just seeing city.
Well, as it seems that you want to get amongst the locals, I’d have a look at this place. It only has 7 or 8 rooms or something, and if one of you took the upstairs room on the right (where the balcony is) the balcony is pretty much yours. (You can step out your window onto it.)
Price wise, it’s pretty good (breakfast’s included) and it’s clean and homey. The furnishings are fugly, and it is an old timber-floored house (not particularly sound proof or anything) but it might fit the bill for what you’re wanting. The manager’s a moody bitch, but easy to avoid. Buses into the city are about every 15 mins or so and it takes less than 10 mins to get to Railway Square.
Those photos of the water are bullshit - you can’t see that from the guest house - but Glebe is only 10 mins from the city by bus, and the Point (i.e. the water photos) is only a 5 min walk from where you’d be (potentially) staying. There are plenty of local pubs, restaurants and cafes - all within walking distance. (Until you get legless.)
It’s also only about a 10-15 min walk to the Sydney Fish Markets.
Avoid the Aquarium, it’s a complete tourist trap. Even if you’re a zoo/aquarium fan, it’s not worth the ridiculous price.
Avoid Darling Harbour altogether, I reckon.
It’s almost time for the trip, and we are very excited! A couple more questions have come up during our planning.
We’re looking into the gay area, thanks for that info, and want to find a place that is mellow instead of a rave type. Any suggestions?
Also, we’re hoping for recommendations for drinks and food we should try. A kangaroo steak was already mentioned. Any other advice? What about alcoholic drinks? We visited Ireland and drank Guinness and Bulmers. Anything that is a good staple for Australia?
Thanks again everyone.
I’ve never had better lamb anywhere than I have in Australia - if you like it at all, that’s the place to try it!
Native foods like kangaroo are the stereotypical things you must try but, meh, to me they are about as quintessentially Australian as eating some sort of native wild food would be in the US.
There are dozens of Australian beers but I’m not sure there are any that are the quintessential “must try”'s although various parochial types will try to tell you that whatever they drink in their part of the nation is the national beer. To me, wine is probably more of a big deal and I don’t know how much Aust. wine you get where you are from.
Foodwise, what “modern Australian cuisine” might be depends what restauranteur is trying to sell his restaurant from moment to moment, but they tell me Asian/European blended influences are Our Thing and there’s probably some truth in that.
Where abouts are you going besides Sydney? It’s hard to be more specific without that.
Dark & Stormy: Bundaberg Rum and Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
Diamantina cocktail: (Though you might be pushin’ shit uphill to get on in Sydney)
500ml Bundaberg Rum
500ml Condensed Milk
1 Emu egg. (Or a dozen chook eggs.)
Beat the egg(s). Add the milk. Pour in the rum.
Drink, fall down.
Wherever you have your kangaroo steak, make sure it’s just seared and rare in the middle. Overcooked, it tastes like crap.
Consider a day trip to Lithgow (about 90 mins from Sydney) and go to Secret Creek Cafe for your native foods experience.
And if you’re really lucky (or adventurous), crocodile gets a taste of you!
(But beware: The tour operators will charge you double for that!)
Be sure to ask your doctor about pills to take to keep the blood from rushing to your head due to being upside down Down Under. You’ll probably only have to take them for about a week until you get adjusted.
Find a bakery (or convenience store) and have a meat pie with tomato sauce and wash it down with an ice coffee in a carton. Bliss.
In Aus, the standard beer is VB. Victoria Bitter. Needs to be cold. Don’t touch four X, it’s called XXXX because Queenslanders can’t spell “shit” and anything Tooheys is like having sex on Bondi Beach, fucking near water. (Except Tooheys Old which is mothers milk)
Vegemite - just don’t make the mistake every Seppo does and spread it as thick as peanut butter. Probably the best piece of advice I ever got from an Aussie was if you can’t see the bread through the Vegemite you have too much on.
Second the meat pie, and the VB. Also a sausage roll and pastie.
Along with your “native” “food” meal throw in some emu and barramundi. I can’t recommend croc, unless you like gelatinous chicken.
Fries with sour cream and sweet chili sauce. A snag battered and deep fried (can’t remember what that’s called).
Tim Tams and Cherry Ripe. Cordial and Squash. Fairy Bread.
If you have the time and the money for a side trip, go see Hill End. Incredibly beautiful country (during the summer) and a ton of history.
We aren’t sure where we’ll have a chance to visit aside from Sydney. We probably won’t actually figure that out as a group until we get there, so any recommendations for things nearby are useful and will be taken into consideration!
Thanks again!