Forum: Author Hangout

For Generous Offers 2 Mike and "his ladies" recover from jet lag in Sydney Australia. They do a few tourist things for a few days and board their cruise ship. I want the details I write about to be accurate. Timeframe is mid November.

FROM THE STORY

We spent four days in and around Sydney based at the InterContinental Double Bay. It was nothing but luxury. Needless to say, we recovered from jet lag in style.

I bought opera house tickets for a performance consisting of Korngold's Violin Concerto and Mahler's Fifth Symphony. I insisted that my ladies were going to get a bit of culture. For the concert, they rented really nice dresses. Although they enjoyed the symphony, I think they liked, even more, the running around necessary to rent their dresses.

They insisted I join them on the outside tower walk. It was SCARY WAY HIGH up. Nice view, although the glass floor tiles also gave an unusual view straight down. We were unable to plunge to our deaths because of the harness we were required to wear, not that anyone wanted to.

We took the guided zoo tour. "Oh how cute." was the unison response to the koala exhibit. I wanted to see the snakes. That pavilion elicited a rather more negative response.

END STORY SNIP

Are the details accurate?

A lot would depend on the age of the characters in your story, what a younger (25-35) person would be interested in seeing/doing would be different to an older (50 upwards) group while middle aged (35-50) would cross-over.
A tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens near the Opera House would be a nice walk with great views of the Harbour, also close to the Art Gallery of N.S.W.
If heights aren't a problem the Harbour Bridge Climb where you get to walk across the top of the bridge's arch. If you do this, a tour of The Rocks would be almost compulsory (Virtually the oldest part of Sydney and is under the bridge near the southern bridge pylons).
Dining in the revolving restaurant at the top of Sydney Tower for a 360 degree view of the city - during the day for the view, night for the lights.
If visiting Manly Beach, getting there via the Manly Ferry (Departs from Circular Quay - a short walk from the Opera House) would get you a good look at the Harbour, though you probably wouldn't want to swim at the beach - the water temperature still a bit on the cold side in November - unless you plan it for a stinking hot day (70 degrees - water cold, 95-100 - who cares, just cool me down).
Darling Harbour, a bit touristy but near Chinatown, Sydney Aquarium and the Maritime Museum and just a short tram ride to Star City Casino.
Just a walk through the city looking at some of the historical buildings such as the QVB, Galleries or older Government Buildings.
As Ernest said, Katoomba/3 Sisters would be an all day trip but fantastic views and lots of colourful bird-life, some of which you can feed should you be so inclined.
This barely scratches the surface, but then again you are only giving yourself 4 days, if you decide to use any of these, check their web sites, they all have some great photo's to make your life easier and your story more accurate.
Hope this is of help.

ztd

sydney.com

They still do the walk up the pylon of the harbour bridge. Again a walk through the rocks to get there. Lots of stairs to climb. A museum inside that explains how and why the bridge was built. View from top about 80% of that of bride climb (I have done both). If they are energetic continue walking across the harbour bridge on the pedestrian walkway with views to opera house. (Not the same asbridge climb which goes over the arches and gives views both ways.

Jet boat tour of the harbour and get wet from the spray.

Lots of seaside / harbour side walks which are spectacular.

Many live performances depending on when (often an Andrew Lloyd Weber, dream lover, miss Saigon, les miserable etc etc).

If going to the zoo take the ferry from circular quay to Taronga zoo for the short version of the manly ferry ride - much nicer than city traffic.

My MC, Mike, is a 65yo retired software engineer. His two ladies (read: sluts) are 19. Mike rents space to them at his home. He is more than happy to tolerate their behavior. [Insert grin here]

The second story, like the first, is modern day. Left unsaid in the brief list of Sydney activities is the 2 or 3 times daily X-rated exercise sessions involving Mike doing his best to please both ladies as he does at home.

My thinking in listing the activities is the Symphony and Snake pavilion for Mike and the Koalas and tower walk for the ladies.

Mostly the post here was to avoid a mistake like saying July in San Francisco was uniformly hot all month. Among much else, San Francisco weather is never uniform.

Are my details about the tower walk correct? I checked dress rental and an actual Symphony performance. Every zoo on any size has guided tours. Koalas are a given and Australia has some interesting snakes.

My MC, Mike, is a 65yo retired software engineer. His two ladies (read: sluts) are 19. Mike rents space to them at his home. He is more than happy to tolerate their behavior. [Insert grin here]

The second story, like the first, is modern day. Left unsaid in the brief list of Sydney activities is the 2 or 3 times daily X-rated exercise sessions involving Mike doing his best to please both ladies as he does at home.

My thinking in listing the activities is the Symphony and Snake pavilion for Mike and the Koalas and tower walk for the ladies.

Mostly the post here was to avoid a mistake like saying July in San Francisco was uniformly hot all month. Among much else, San Francisco weather is never uniform.

Are my details about the tower walk correct? I checked dress rental and an actual Symphony performance. Every zoo on any size has guided tours. Koalas are a given and Australia has some interesting snakes.

Sorry thought you were also looking for other things to occupy the days. Never been on the tower walk so do not know. Other details ok. I would mention ferry trip to Taronga zoo to add colour.

Key Sydney activities:

Ferry from Circular Quay to Watson's Bay, lunch at Doyles. Watson's Bay pub is good, too.

Others have mentioned the Rocks, Botanic Gardens & Mrs Macquaries Chair.

Sydney (Centrepoint) Tower - great views.

Bridge Climb if you are fit and not scared of heights

Lady Jane Beach for nude sunbathing Or Obelisk Bay

Bondi Beach - bit passe. Manly is better (go via Ferry)