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Sydney tours and excursions

Sydney tours

Aerial tours

For aerial views of Sydney, Australia By Air offers a one-hour ‘Sydney Scenic Flight' in a twin-engine aircraft. Flights depart Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and include a complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off. The 90-minute ‘Sydney and Mountains Scenic Flight' includes all of the above plus a flight over the Blue Mountains.

Tel: +61 2 9982 9666.
Website: http://www.australiabyair.com.au

Boat tours

There is a plethora of harbour cruises available from a number of operators, many of them based at Circular Quay. Captain Cook Cruises offers the luxury 'MV Sydney 2000 Dinner Cruise', departing every evening and including an à la carte three-course meal.

And, if you’re looking to hire a boat between you and your friends, then Sydney Harbour Escapes offers a variety of different boats and packages to choose from.

Tel: +61 2 9206 1111; +61 2 9328 4748
Website: http://www.captaincook.com.au

Sydney excursions

Blue Mountains

A 90-minute drive west from the city, along the Great Western Freeway, the dramatic scenery of the Blue Mountains National Park is a major attraction for nature-lovers. The cool eucalyptus (gum tree) forests harbour numerous bush walks and radiate a blue haze that gives the area its name. The most famous attraction in this UNESCO World Heritage site is the Three Sisters - a rock formation named after an Aboriginal legend.

The easiest way for visitors to see the Blue Mountains is by car, although there are hourly trains to Katoomba, the main gateway for the mountains, from Central Station.

Tel: +61 1300 653 408
Website: http://www.visitbluemountains.com.au

Hunter Valley

One of Australia's premier wine-producing districts, beginning approximately 100km (62 miles) north of Sydney, ‘The Hunter' has more than 70 vineyards and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although busiest during the harvest months of March and April, most vineyards remain open to the public on a daily basis and offer a range of tours, restaurants and accommodation. Two of the more popular vineyards are Lindemans and Rothbury Estate. The latter is famous for its concerts throughout the Harvest Festival.

The Hunter Valley is a two-hour drive from Sydney. Alternatively, trains from Sydney run to the neighbouring city of Newcastle (journey time: approximately 3 hours).

Tel: +61 2 4990 0900.
Website: http://www.winecountry.com.au

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

City Highlight: Sydney

Hugh Jackman said, “If I’m a lush at anything, it’s food and drink.” He’s a Sydney boy, and his hometown makes the tastebuds of food lovers salivate.

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Featured Hotels

Cambridge Hotel

Close to the restaurant and shopping areas of Oxford and Crown Streets is this moderately priced hotel with 149 modern rooms and an on-site Italian restaurant. Adjacent to the hotel is an area that used to be a notorious no-go zone in the 1920s frequented by the city’s worst criminals.

Park Hyatt

Occupying a unique position on the water's edge of Sydney's Harbour, The Park Hyatt has a wide range of rooms to choose from all offering deluxe amenities including shoeshine, turndown, robes, gym access and 24-hour butler service. The hotel's restaurant, the Harbour Kitchen & Bar, offers incredible views of the harbour and opera house through floor-to-ceiling folding glass doors. This Sydney hotel also features a spa, fitness centre and rooftop swimming pool.

Four Seasons

The original luxe Sydney hotel the Four Seasons boasts one of the best views around. Located in the historic Rock’s area overlooking the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge the hotel’s 531 luxurious guestrooms and suites all feature a 42- inch LCD television iPod/MP3 player connectivity and wireless internet access. The spa is one of the best in the city and facilities include steam sauna and Sydney’s largest heated outdoor pool.

Ovolo Woolloomooloo

One of the most boldly conceived hotels in Sydney, Ovolo Woolloomooloo (formerly Taj BLUE Hotel) occupies the renovated interior of an old loading wharf, jutting out into the harbour at Woolloomooloo Bay. Retaining the original exterior and many of the interior beams, the refit is an ingenious exercise in industrial chic. Business travellers are well catered for with luxury meeting spaces with amenities such as AV equipment, TV screens, and other high tech features.

Kirketon Hotel

Situated in Darlinghurst, the Kirketon Hotel is an intimate, 40-room boutique hotel set amid the bustling restaurant and nightclub district. Home to an award-winning bar and the Fu Manchu Asian restaurant, this is a stylish property featuring gold tones, caramel hues, free internet access and plush rain-effect showers.

The Woolbrokers Hotel

In the heart of Darling Harbour, Woolbrokers Hotel is located near some of Sydney’s main attractions, including the Sydney Aquarium, Harbourside shopping complex, and Sydney Wildlife World. The heritage building has been redesigned with 27 rooms to accommodate groups, families, or solo travellers.

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