Another great "stumbled upon this by accident" story!…read more I had a loose itinerary for this trip, and just wanted a nice area to walk around. There was plenty to see and plenty of shopping and restaurants in the area. I mostly just wanted a place to walk around, and this was perfect!

Darling Harbour was a charming area nearby my Vrbo. I wish I'd spent more time in the area, as…read morethere were a number of restaurants I'd have like to visit, but I didn't have enough time. It was a lovely space to walk through, so if you're in Sydney, I recommend going by!

This historic compound with original barracks give visitors insight into the development of Sydney…read more Dating back to the 1800s starting as a penal colony and its future immigrants. it also balances it with perspectives from the aboriginal culture and voices of Irish Immigrants. Since it is an original structure, it can be crowded if you're in the same room with school groups. However, you could always meet me under to one of the other rooms. Free audio guide, which is essential to the experience.

Even if you're not into museums or a history person, I highly recommend checking this museum out…read more Wonderful interactive tour keeps you interested throughout the 3 floors. Gives you a brief understanding of the history of the colonization of Australia. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours, dry from the rain or cool off from the summer heat.

"Mrs Macquarie's Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie's Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into…read morethe shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales." - Wikipedia Located near the Royal Botanic Gardens, this is a great landmark to view the Syndey Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I recommend jogging around the whole gardens and taking a break at/around Mrs Macquarie's Chair to take in the air and scenery.

Great views of Sydney Harbour from this location…read more If you're walking and don't know what you're looking for you can miss it. The monument is an unmarked and simple concrete seat, but it plainly says Mrs Macquarie's Road... on it. Easy place to sit and relax, maybe not the best views on the peninsula, but it's peaceful enough. Plenty of flora around, the sounds of the harbour and water are evident. You are within a quarter mile of the Botanical Gardens on one side and Art Gallery of NSW on the other.

This is the large harbor area around the opera house…read more There is plenty of sightseeing and shopping in the area. There's a tram that drops off in the area, so navigating the city is pretty easy. There is a shopping center around this area, and plenty of shops/street market around the corner. I also went upstairs to the bike trail and got lost in a beautiful garden area around some sort of government building. Definitely a great day trip!

Circular Quay is a bustling, iconic waterfront precinct located on Sydney Cove between the Sydney…read moreOpera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It serves as a major transport hub--offering ferry, train, and light rail services--and is a primary tourist destination for dining, culture, and harbor views. A cruise ship terminal is also here. During our recent several days visiting Sydney, Gayle and I caught a Tram here (twice), took the Ferry to Manly (and back), and took Ferry in from Watson Bay. It was also the jumping off point to our tour of the Opera House and the Rocks. The other cool thing we did was reading the brass plaques recognizing 60 important characters of Australian literature featured in the Sydney writers walk.

Picture it. I'm on a tour of an historical home - Australia's OLDEST surviving homestead no less -…read moreand there's a kid putting his little sticky fingers all over every object he sees. It brings a tear to my history-lovin' eye. Because, for me, history has never just been words printed in a dusty old book by an equally dusty member of the academic elite. History SHOULD BE a multisensory experience for everyone of all ages. At good ol' Lizzie Farm...that's possible. For this, comrades, is a "museum without barriers." The house itself is, of course, the real Mccoy but everything in it is replica whilst remaining true to the period. So there is no stern lady pulling a cat's bum expression when you have a tinkle of the ol' ivories in the living room, throw on a lady's bonnet in the foyer, scale one of those insanely high beds they used to sleep on, pick up the chamber pot beneath, sit in the living room and read a newspaper from back in the day, or examine Elizabeth Macarthur's personal letters in her darling little letter-writing room. It is so well done, a few times I forgot everything was replica and stopped myself mid-touch only to remember that this action was both acceptable and actively encouraged by the guides! From the main area of the house you move into the sandstone courtyard area and look upon the female convicts' quarters. To the right is a beautiful big tree in the main courtyard area (could it be more serene here???? ) and to the left you can head off to the colonial kitchen with its entrance step worn down by countless shoes over the centuries and where you'll find a peep hole into the cellar beneath! (They think it was possibly for spying on the cons in case they were slacking off but also was good for ventilation). I want this kitchen. Heck! I want this house. They don't make 'em like they used' t' could! In that charming kitchen, the guide informed us, the wee'uns can make scones as part of the "Colonial Kids" program they also offer at the site. For the same program, the cellar below is closed off and darkened and is thereby transformed into the hull of a prison ship. The guide demonstrated this for us briefly and you could really appreciate how it would help children to imagine what it was like to be a convict being transported across the seas for the difficult months-long voyage. Even if you have been here before, go again! Not only is it a beautiful place to wile away a few hours,* it is also a place that changes over time as new historical research uncovers more information about the ways the original inhabitants used these rooms. Chances are, then, that the room you viewed once may now tell a different story to the one you heard previously. Our guide informed us that tours for large groups can also be tailored; e.g. if a girls' school visits they might like a feminist history angle so the tour will focus on Elizabeth Macarthur. You also have multiple options regarding how you interact with the site. There are guided tours, which are extremely engaging and informative and you are free to spend as much time as you like roaming around the site inspecting the rooms and objects at the conclusion of the guided tour. Or, if you've taken the tour before, you can opt for a self-guided tour from the get-go. The interactivity of the site is heightened by the optional iPad experience. Borrow one from the visitors' centre and click on a room in the house as you stand or sit in it and watch a short video clip with supplementary information about the room's history. They've thought of everything! The guided tour of Lizzie Farm is only 1 hour long approximately, but I bet you'll find it hard to pry yourself away from here after just one hour! I recommend you do this tour then walk (or drive) around the corner to John Macarthur's "Hambledon Cottage." Just don't think you can put your sticky fingers on the stuff at Hambledon Cottage...(it ain't replica) or there shall be cat's bum expressions aplenty. * Review originally written and posted 2 March 2013.

As I came up the hill through the little reserve, I started thinking strategically. If I was a…read morecolonial capitalist I'd pick that spot to make visible my wealth too. Defensible. Elizabeth Farm is the Macarthur's (wool industry guru) bungalow built in 1793, a stop on the Harris Farm Heritage Walk. Already stymied by calendrical difficulties at Hambledon Cottage, I found the situation worse here. Cue self-induced thwack to the head mark two. Ouch. It's only open Friday to Sunday, except January and school holidays when it's open all day. Still, got a good peek round the outside, including what must be one of the first long veradahs in Australian architecture (borrowed from India, I know). The grounds and green and lush and there were quite a few gardeners around keeping everything so. Had a giggle at the 'Eliz Farm' wheelie bin out the front too. Maybe it was the repeated blows to the head. Will update anon.

I booked the twilight bridge climb and I am still not quite sure what possessed me. Let me explain,…read moreI am in my mid sixties, fat, out of shape and deadly afraid oof heights. It didn't look so bad on pictures, but once I saw the bridge in person and in particular how tiny the climbers looked on top of the bridge, that was the moment fear set in. And it got worse during the preparations. You don't just walk in and climb on up there. You need to have instructions, pass a breathalyzer test, change into a special suit, get a radio, headphones, attach your glasses, hat, jacket and whatnot all to your suit and step into a heavy harness. By that time you'll start to sweat because this suit is like a plastic bag and hold in the heat. You also get to practice a climb up some ladders... oh yay. As a scaredy cat in regards of heights, I was placed up front so our guide could keep an eye on me. Good thing too. The rest of my group consisted of 20-30 year old athletic types... great. So you step on out of the building onto a catwalk and get hooked onto the safety line. This already made me regret things as I looked down onto the street below. Then our guide starts to run, yes run on this narrow catwalk... aaarggghhh... I did finally catch up with her but only because she was waiting for our group. Surprise, let's climb up 4 ladders with 25 steps each back to back... man I was huffing and puffing. Thank goodness you get to wait until everybody is up. Then you climb and climb and climb on up the stairs. I did my best and did keep up, but I was really trying hard. I gave it my all. At about 3/4 of the way, my legs were turning into jello, almost to the summit I thought I was going to throw up, but luckily we stopped to take pictures as a group and then as individuals. I recovered during this little rest. We had climbed up during daylight, by the time we reached the summit the sun was setting and the the view was spectacular. Unforgettable. Recovered due to the short rest and with the promise of no further climbing, but rather descending from here on, I was feeling much better. Thirsty, drenched in sweat and wishing I had used the restroom before the climb, but otherwise ok. Well now we had to cross from one side of the bridge to the other... at the summit, over several lanes of traffic and railroad tracks, and you can see straight down... for me, the scariest part. Then finally the descent. By now it was getting quite dark and we needed to turn on our lamps. The descent was much quicker than the climb of course and I was eager to get out of this hot suit, get a drink of water and use the rest room... no such luck. Now one has to painstakingly unbuckle all the equipment from the suit. Eventually you get to change back into your regular clothes. And just when you think you are done, you have to stand in line for the photo purchases. I had prepaid for the pictures, but still had to wait because the staff will pick out the pictures that feature you and put those with the group and scenery pictures. I do have to say our guide took fabulous pictures and they were worth the wait. Yes, I know I don't describe this adventure as a wonderful experience, it was quite strenuous, but also exciting and the view alone is absolutely worth it. Also the staff was very encouraging and if you have fear or physical concerns let them know so they can help you along the way.

My family and I did the sunset bridge climb and it was a fantastic experience. First, I sincerely…read moreappreciate how seriously they take safety. They take you through a series of procedures to make sure that you are prepared to do the climb as well check all of your equipment and that you aren't bringing anything you shouldn't onto the bridge. The attitude is still very positive and the employees do an excellent job balancing checking safety with a jovial attitude and maintaining the excitement of the adventure. Our bridge guide was Rhys and I cannot say enough good things about him. He did an excellent job sharing the history and fun facts about the bridge and Sydney while taking very good care of our group. We bought our nine and 11 year old sons with us and he was incredible with them answering their many questions and encouraging their enthusiasm. I have wanted to do the bridge climb for several years now and this experience surpassed all expectations. Anticipation can oversell the actual experience, but not this time. Thanks to Rhys and crew, we had a great experience.

Looks are deceiving…read more...... At the south end of Hyde Park stands this stone monument, a beautiful blend of Gothic architecture and Art Deco style. But wander past the Pool of Reflection and up the stairs. Inside a feeling of serenity, and respect take over as you enter The Hall of Silence. Over the rotunda rail you look down upon the sculpture Sacrifice. It sets the entire tone. Off two sides are small alcoves, one with an eternal flame burning. Definitely wander downstairs. I didn't realize there was an entire larger museum beneath the memorial. Several rooms off the Hall of Service take you from World War I to more recent military actions. These rooms house a significant historical collection of approximately 7,000 objects that relay the personal stories of servicemen and servicewomen, and their families. The collection includes medals, badges, uniforms, field equipment, photographs, documents, manuscripts, framed works and books. There are also several screens that run news reels and other footage on a loop. I underestimated how much information was here. Allow almost two hours. Admission is free. Truly a must see.

This memorial commemorates WWI soldiers of the Australia & New Zealand Army Corp or ANZAC. The…read moreinterior dome is studded with 120,000 stars one for each New South Wales soldier who served. The sculpture Sacrifice by Hoff is inside. The Downstairs Hall of Service features names & information about the soldiers. Daily at 11AM there is a remembrance service and exhibition with stories & artifacts of those who fought.

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.