Down Under Answers
Australia
Culture & Heritage
Sydney—The Locals’ Pick
3 nights Sydney from $815.00 per person based on double occupancy
Experience the Sydney the locals live and breathe!
- 3 nights Harbour Rocks Hotel, Sydney
- Bondi Surf Experience
- Sydney Harbour in Style - 4 hour lunch cruise
- The Rocks Pub Tour
- Roundtrip seat-in-coach transfers Airport-Harbour Rocks Hotel
ITINERARY
Hang Ten with a surfing lesson at famous Bondi Beach, experience Sydney Harbour aboard an intimate luxury motor cruiser, and drink with the locals during a Pub tour of the historic Rocks precinct.
DAY 1
Arrive in Sydney and be transferred to your home for three nights, the Harbour Rocks Hotel. This intimate boutique hotel hides from the hustle and bustle of lively Sydney, steeped in the atmosphere and history of the famous Rocks precinct. Enjoy the remainder of today at your leisure to discover Sydney.
DAY 2
Bondi Beach is an Australian icon, world-renowned as the most popular beach in Australia. Just 4 miles from Sydney’s business district, it’s as great a sandy beach you’ll find within an international city and offers a wealth of activity: trendy and open-air restaurants, urban-style shops, the famous Sunday markets, wide-open park greens for picnicking or relaxing and festive beach-vibe bars. Its people are a true melting pot of diversity—from surfing bums to drum-playing bohemians to families, actors, models, overseas visitors and more. All of them flock to Bondi for the beach or to stroll the vibrant sidewalks of Campbell Parade (Bondi’s main street).
The mile-long beach is bookended by beautiful headlands that form its protected cove and which, to the south, offer a cliff walk with sweeping views to nearby Tamarama, Bronte and Coogee beaches. For the local crowd, Bondi is the perfect beach, providing them with adventure, a great stress release and a fantastic outdoor lifestyle.
What better place to learn to surf than on this world-famous beach? A dedicated, fully-qualified staff can help you catch the wave of your dreams, whether it’s your first time setting foot in the ocean or you’re a surf fanatic looking to ride the big one. This popular beginner course teaches you how to safely get out and up onto your first wave. Here you’ll be taught in a small group setting of 6 students or less, so you get plenty of hands-on help. To build up your knowledge and confidence, you will first start out on the beach and learn how to recognize surf conditions and practice your surfing technique before you get into the water. Then it’s into the ocean, where you start off in broken waves the white foam created after the waves run their course. You’ll be amazed at how easy, safe and enjoyable it can be to learn to surf.
Once you have perfected the art of surfing, the rest of the day is yours at leisure. Why not spend the afternoon strolling around Bondi, eating at local seaside cafes and shopping in local boutiques?
DAY 3
You will be collected from your city hotel this morning and transferred to Darling Harbour. Departing from Darling Harbour, cruise the waters passing under the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and past The Opera House and Circular Quay, and see the Rocks, Farm Cove and Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair. See the traditionally wealthy suburbs of Sydney, spectacular private homes and the national parks of Clarke and Shark Islands. Continue on past Watson’s Bay and the famous beachside restaurant Doyles, before crossing the Harbour entrance to a lovely quiet beach surrounded by natural bushland. Enjoy lunch on the beach and the chance to cast a fishing line or have a swim. An array of seasonal seafood, cold cuts, salads, pasta, and bread with a glass of premium Australian wine or beer will be served. Here relaxation takes over and you’ll find it’s almost impossible to leave.
After this relaxing lunchtime, continue the cruise and leisurely explore some of the secret areas of the harbor before arriving back at Darling Harbour at approximately 3:00pm, where on arrival you make your way at leisure back to your hotel, replete from a sensational day on Sydney’s famous and spectacular harbor!
The day isn’t over yet! Join one of the historic Rocks Pub Tours and get to know about the larrikins, sailors and whalers whose legends live on today. Hear about the Green Bans of the ‘70s that saved the pubs from demolition and share in the gossip and who’s who of the famous personalities that have visited these historic pubs.
Lively and well-informed guides will lead you through the charming alleys and lanes of a forgotten Sydney and introduce you to some of Sydney’s favourite watering holes.
Meet the locals, try a brew and enjoy the rollicking tales of colonial Sydney as well as a few new ones! And after all that fun, enjoy a hearty pub meal. There are special meal offers for all Rocks Pub Tour guests. Each tour features entertaining commentary by a qualified guide, a visit to three pubs in The Rocks (and a drink at each). You will receive a discount dining card should you wish to extend your experience in The Rocks by dining at one of the participating pubs at the conclusion of your tour. It runs from 5.00pm 6.45pm.
After the tour’s conclusion you may wish to stay out socializing with the locals, or wander back to your hotel - the choice is yours.
DAY 4
Depart Sydney by transferring to the airport for your onward flight, continuing your cultural immersion!