Accommodation: Where to stay in Sydney?
Hotel in Sydney: Pensione Hotel Sydney, Haymarket
631-635 George Street, Haymarket, NSW, 2000 Australia
Hotel in Katoomba/Blue Mountains: Metropole Katoomba
Gang Gang St & Lurline St, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia
Saturday
-2:30 at TownHall – Join the Free Walking Tour (until Circular Quay)
-Vivid at Martin Place, The Rocks
Sunday
-9:30 – 10:30 mass at St. Peter Church
-11:00 – 12 :30 – Paddy's Market
-10:30 mass at St Benedict's/drop by
-01:00 – 2:00 – Central Market
-2:30 – 5:00 Contemporary Museum
-The Rock Foodies Market
-6:00 – Vivid at The Rocks
Monday
-[Glebe/Camperdown] University of Sydney
-The Ground of Alexandria
-Grocery at Townhall/QVB
Tuesday
-Hyde Park (Optional: Australian Museum)
-St Mary's Cathedral/Archibald Fountain
-10:30 Free Tour – History/Llibrary / Shakespear Room open on Tuesdays
-(Optional: Art Gallery of NSW)
-(Optional: 10:30 or 1pm Botanic Garden)
-Mrs Macquarie Chair/Street / Opera House side/Bridge view
-The Rocks
Wednesday
-Blue Mountain / Train: Sydney Central Station > Katoomba (2hrs; 6:21)
-Bus: Katoomba > Scenic World (B686-9:30 – 9:45)
-Trip: Scenic World – open 9a-5p
-Bus: Scenic World > Katoomba
Thursday
-Blue Mountain / Jenolan Cave
-QVP / Grocery Shopping
Friday
-Dinner with Friends - Wollstonecraft
-(Optional: [Ultimo/Pyrmont] The Powerhouse Museum)-
Night Out - Darlinghurst
Saturday
-Departure (Keep 3-4 hours lead time prior to your flight schedule)
When is the best time to go to Sydney?
In case you have seen seat sales for their Summer season (December - February), try to refrain your vacation. There are days that can hit 40 degrees Celsius.
Winter (June - August) coldness is still tolerable in the city area, but not when you have for an overnight break in the mountains which can drop to negative degrees Celsius.
How's the weather?
Are you wondering what will the weather be on your travel? How's the range of temperature, will it rain? Are you gearing up for the hot or cold weather?
Visit the historical temperature and precipitation record on:
http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-947670.html
Travel Date: June 6-13, 2015
In case you are visiting Katoomba or Jenolan Caves, prepare for a negative temperature during this time.
Confused on what card to use during your stay in Sydney?
It's a fight between MyMultiPass and Opal card.
MyMultiPass-1-2-3-Day has different area coverage on unlimited travel on bus, train, railway and ferry. Read: http://www.transportnsw.info/tickets/multi-travel
For a 7 day stay, it is recommended to get MyMulti3 for $65 aud.
But, what I did is to purchase Opal Card, I'm not using the ferry anyway. I had a total top-up of $40 aud for a week stay. Know the benefits of Opal:
-Travel all day on Sunday with Opal for no more than $2.50.
-Enjoy travel all day for no more than $15 per day for Adult
-Take 8 paid journeys from Monday-Sunday with an Opal card and enjoy free travel for the rest of the week
-A 30% off-peak discount on full price Opal fares applies to all train journeys
Read more on: https://www.opal.com.au/en/fares-and-benefits/
You can visit the Opal website, and see when will you start getting the free travel.
Transportation
Route 555 - is a free CBD Shuttle: Circular Quay (Elizabeth St) to Central (George St) to Circular Quay
Mon- Fri 9:30a to 3:30p (Thu until 9pm)
Weekends 9:30 to 6pm
Visit the historical temperature and precipitation record on:
http://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-947670.html
Travel Date: June 6-13, 2015
In case you are visiting Katoomba or Jenolan Caves, prepare for a negative temperature during this time.
Confused on what card to use during your stay in Sydney?
It's a fight between MyMultiPass and Opal card.
MyMultiPass-1-2-3-Day has different area coverage on unlimited travel on bus, train, railway and ferry. Read: http://www.transportnsw.info/tickets/multi-travel
For a 7 day stay, it is recommended to get MyMulti3 for $65 aud.
But, what I did is to purchase Opal Card, I'm not using the ferry anyway. I had a total top-up of $40 aud for a week stay. Know the benefits of Opal:
-Travel all day on Sunday with Opal for no more than $2.50.
-Enjoy travel all day for no more than $15 per day for Adult
-Take 8 paid journeys from Monday-Sunday with an Opal card and enjoy free travel for the rest of the week
-A 30% off-peak discount on full price Opal fares applies to all train journeys
Read more on: https://www.opal.com.au/en/fares-and-benefits/
You can visit the Opal website, and see when will you start getting the free travel.
Transportation
Route 555 - is a free CBD Shuttle: Circular Quay (Elizabeth St) to Central (George St) to Circular Quay
Mon- Fri 9:30a to 3:30p (Thu until 9pm)
Weekends 9:30 to 6pm
Tips on Katoomba:
- Trains going to Katoomba follows off-peak discounts, be mindful of the schedule.
- First and last carriage are considered quiet carriage (so consider any noise you are making)
- There are also washroom inside the carriages.
- Backrests are movable, so you can change upon the trains direction
- If carrying luggage, stay in the ground level carriage. But for the better view, take the upper level seats.
- There are no signages inside the train as to where is the next stop, so you can either make an alarm for your arrival. Or of course, watch the signages from the outside as which station you are in. Better if you can grab a list of the stops.
- Katoomba Station, Platform 1 is going back to Sydney. There is a small waiting area if it is getting cold outside.
Travel Adaptor
Expenses:
Air Fare (Cebu Pacific)
Peek-a-BOOK Piso Sale for 7,060 php Base Fare RT (plus: 15k baggage RT: 1800, Aus Tx: 2164.25, other fees: 2938)
Total for 2 pax RT: 28224.50 (bought: Oct 2014, travel date: Jun 2015)
Air Fare (Cebu Pacific)
Peek-a-BOOK Piso Sale for 7,060 php Base Fare RT (plus: 15k baggage RT: 1800, Aus Tx: 2164.25, other fees: 2938)
Total for 2 pax RT: 28224.50 (bought: Oct 2014, travel date: Jun 2015)
Price: Discounted - Upon comparing the official website, agoda and expedia, the lowest price for 1 shoebox room for 7 nights (P25,567.53) is in expedia (with 10k php hot deal discount).
Price: With the few days left before our stay, we got our room for an overnight stay at 3427 php.
For the returning gifts, I would suggest shirts from Paddy's market. From dry market, enjoy unique flavors of Cadbury (marvelous creations), Lindt and Twinings.
Expense Report: The Budget Travel Guide in Sydney for 8 days
For the returning gifts, I would suggest shirts from Paddy's market. From dry market, enjoy unique flavors of Cadbury (marvelous creations), Lindt and Twinings.
Video Summary
Date Visited: June 2015