I was given a First Class ticket on arrival for my 1700 departure. I was greeted at the entry and I…read morewas surprised that there were no queues to get in. Organisation was excellent and the staff very friendly. First up was the souvenir photo on the bow of the Titanic. A great momento to take home. The exhibition was very well thought out from the design phase until it's fate and had a very different approach from other Titanic Exhibitions I have been to. Yes, it's true that the other exhibitions had more relics from the actual ocean floor and more costumes from James Cameron's 1997 movie, but hey this exhibition was done with heaps of fascinating facts and showed what it was really like onboard the great White Star liner. The human stories of the passengers made this exhibition different from previous displays. The highlight of the exhibition is the Grand Staircase. I was able to get some great photos but was disappointed that I was told I wasn't allowed to take my own photo on the stairs. Instead I had to use the photographer provided - then pay for the picture later (if I wished). After an hour or so, I did notice more people crowding the display areas. This was still not overcrowded as suggested by some other reviews. The temperature inside the areas started to rise uncomfortably- but that must have been because of the huge boiler and engine room furnaces stoked with coal! By the time I reached the Promenade Deck, I was relieved of the heat and welcomed the icy iceberg which beckoned me to touch. Wow that really showed what the poor passengers endured minus a few degrees of freezing point before dying from hyperthermia in the freezing Atlantic Ocean. The final display room showing a manned submersible filming over Titanic's gloomy remains is always fascinating viewing. Time to go - only because the staff were saying that it was closing time. I was so engrossed in everything that that three hours went very quickly. A great exhibition that is highly recommended to see.

Let's say that gaining entry can be a bit difficult. Somehow I first ended up in a food court…read morebefore I found some elevator hidden in a corner that got me to the entrance for the actual Eye Tower. I stood in line for the kiosk to purchase a ticket, but the folks in front of me had some difficulties with it and so an attendant came to help guide them through the process. Apparently I look old and confused because when it was my turn he just ask me how many and type of visit and before I knew it he handed me a senior discount ticket. Wasn't sure if I should be glad or insulted. I made my way up to the top on a rickety small elevator and arrived safely.. had my doubts there for a minute. Once you step out of the elevator the world opens up again. The view is spectacular and you can walk around the entire perimeter and view 360 degrees of Sydney. And may I say the city is huge. I delighted in seeing an actual working mailbox there which is marked the highest mailbox in Sydney, well yeah... Of course I bought the picture package, because who doesn't need silly commemorative pictures of oneself with Koalas, in a kangaroo pouch or atop of a map of Australia. Also I must say that the gift shop here was able to fill all my souvenir needs easily. It is extensive and reasonably priced too.

We visited the Sydney Tower Eye tonight from 7-8pm, hoping to catch sunset (7:41pm), but…read moreunfortunately it was a big disappointment. The interactive touch screens were confusing and not very helpful, and the binocular viewers were basically useless. The biggest issue, though, was the dirty windows, and tons of lights in the background which made it difficult to take any decent photos. You can barely see the Harbour Bridge or Opera House as they are obstructed. After doing the Sydney BridgeClimb, this experience felt like a complete waste of money in comparison. There were tables available to sit at, but both staff and guests seemed unwilling to clean them, which added to the overall lackluster experience.

Free museum, We checked our bags and took the elevator up to four and worked our way down. Lots of…read morecolorful interesting modern art in all different mediums. Free hourly tours were offered. The rooftop cafe had a harbor view. We easily spent :90 exploring the contemporary works by local artists. Our cruise ship was delayed because of strong winds coming to port. We checked our luggage at the ship and came to the museum rather than sitting at the port. Fascinating the knowledgeable docents made our visit more meaningful. Delightful!

Darling harbour is definitely attractive and one of the best vantage points is at the Cape Bowling…read moreGreen lighthouse located at the end of Maritime Museum in Darling harbour. The long winding staircases that lead to magnificent views is a must see for any tourist or local. The lighthouse is now converted into a museum and the guide offers deep history and information about the lighthouse. You can stay up there for a while as it surprisingly uncrowded. It's as if no one is interested in the lighthouse and I'm hoping this review will change that. The submarine nearby is definitely stealing the light! The white lighthouse is in mint condition or has been very well restored. I loved how the guides communicate from down to someone up informing them about your visit and journey upwards. It's as if they are preparing for your visit and ready to welcome you. Even though I was the only tourist up there, the guide highlighted all the features of the lighthouse and how it works and the history and physics behind it. Even if you're not interested in all that, it's worth getting up there just for the view.

Chilling in Darling Harbour, nice Restaurants, very nice waterfront and a fantastic fireworks on…read moreSaturday two weeks ago. Sydney rocks! But because it is Winter and humid and a little bit cold I am looking foreward to spent some weeks in Germany in July to enjoy European Summer!

First time and we had a blast. Great to meet all the Australian people and learn some history…read more Loved all the interaction side of it. So many pictures. So happy to have met Crodocile Dundee

My visit to Madame Tussauds in Sydney was the first time that I had visited a wax museum. Admission…read moreto the museum was included as part of the Sydney Attractions pass that I bought for $69 online which gives you admission to 5 different tourist attractions in Sydney. Given that the walk-up price for a single admission at Madame Tussauds is $40, this is a terrific deal if you want to visit this museum. The museum is located at Darling Harbour in the same building that houses two of the other pass attractions, Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and Wild Life Sydney Zoo. Since they are all in one place, it makes sense to visit all three in one visit if you can. Prior to visiting all three attractions I have to say that Madame Tussauds was the one that I was least interested in. I would rather view living creatures than waxworks. Madame Tussauds has a mix of waxworks. In the front are a number of historical figures that I didn't have any idea who they were as they seemed related to Australian history. This was the only room that this was the case. The rest of the rooms consisted of familiar entertainers, movie characters, political figures and sports stars. This includes figures for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in which it was announced in the news that the museum has separated in the display to mirror reality. You will also find quite a number of Aussies with waxworks here including Cate Blanchett, Kylie Minogue and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Though I didn't see a figure of Nicole Kidman here for some reason. As for the actual waxworks, I thought some were more realistic than others. For example, the Taylor Swift figure looks kind of demonic in the eyes area. But I really appreciated how detailed most of the the figures were as you looked them from head to toe. Of the five pass attractions, I spent the least amount of time here. Probably 30-45 minutes. The museum experience was a bit gimmicky as I avoided being pestered into buying professional photos here. If this attraction wasn't part of the pass that I got, I wouldn't have gone on my own. My recommendation about this spot is the same as that for the Sydney Tower Eye. Go if you bought a pass, but skip it if you are buying a single admission.

Putting aside the headache it is to try and drive to this area and find parking during this crazy…read moreevent, Vivid was pretty damn cool. We went on the Starship Sydney, which despite the amount of people on board, still had plenty of space for great views of all lights. I'm especially impressed how Sydney coordinates all the different displays, especially the bridge which baffles my mind. Overall, it was just an awesome experience for a reasonable price. And loved having a couple drinks during the cruise as well.

I cannot believe any of these reviews are less than 5 stars!…read moreWe stayed a week in Sydney and went out for Vivid almost every night. There was always something new to see. The city is lit with gorgeous lights. There is music and lots of different interactive experiences. The streets are full of children laughing and people looking up in awe. Yes, there are crowds and yes it may get a bit chilly but throw on a jumper and quit complaining! This is a FREE event! And one that brings together the community and gives people the opportunity to share in beautiful, magical experiences. I would recommend this to any and everyone. You can see what will be offered on the website but honestly, we were in Circular Quay and we saw and explored so much within walking distance. Plan ahead or have an adventure. Either way, you can't go wrong with this event!

I timed my visit to Sydney for this event in November 2014 and I did not regret one bit of it…read more The coastal walk was simply awesome and as we actually started walking from Coogee to Bondi, we should be tired by the time we got to Tamarama but we were not. I did not realize Tamarama was considered the end of the exhibition but I felt it did not matter much which side you started from. The 2 km stretch of exhibits between Bondi and Taramara was over very quickly as you marveled at the sculptures. Set against the clear blue sea with frothing waves (at some parts) and beautiful blue sky dotted with some clouds, it was just quite breathtaking. Just take your time and bask in the beauty all around the place. No rush, no hurry and you will not feel like you are being hemmed in by the crowd. Some parts can be more packed but as long as you are not in a rush, people do give way or move on after a while. We went on a Friday afternoon so maybe it was not that crowded compared to the weekend.

We happened to be in Sydney during the last weekend of Sculpture by the Sea. The captain of our…read moreplane recommended checking it out and I'm so glad we did. This is a large public modern art exhibit along the water. The exhibit is completely free and it's filled with creative works. The only downside is that it is extremely crowded. But can you really blame the crowds for wanting to enjoy beautiful interactive art at such a magnificent setting?

I am so glad to have caught a show inside the opera house! The acoustics were amazing…read more I watched the Sydney symphony orchestra perform Beethoven's Symphony No 5. It was so good! To enter, start from the left bottom of the stairs and follow the crowd. (Don't go up the stairs expecting to be seated, like I did.) Then you go through security with bag check. Once inside, backpacks must be deposited at the coat check. This is where the toilets and concessions are. Then you get your tickets scanned, one ticket per person. Then you should head to whichever door is written on your ticket. They start exactly on time, so be prepared to arrive early. I feel like this is a must-do whilst in Sydney. I highly recommend!

I would say this is the most recognized opera house in the world... easily. It is gorgeous,…read moreespecially when there are special occasions where it may be lit up in colorful displays. What really surprised me was that the exterior consists of small tiles... who knew. One drawback is that it is not easily accessible. Loads of stairs to climb and the distance from any transportation option to the entrance is huge. Once inside you will still be walking quite a distance and many many stairs. You will not be able to enter here without staff assistance if you are not walking perfectly well. The inside is as gorgeous as the outside, there are several bars and restaurants inside and out and serivce is great. I came here for my very first opera and even so I could only afford the 'cheap' seats, I must say that my view of the stage was great and the sound quality was excellent. A great help were the small screens on which the translation of the opera followed along. Sort of like closed captioning for the happenings on stage. Helped me tremendously as I tried to follow along, but do not understand a lick of Italian. What else can be said that hasn't been said a million times? Oh yeah, don't forget to visit Benny the seal who hangs out on some stairs in back of the building facing the water of course.