Sydney attractions

bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 14:02
Last edited 20/08/2015 - 14:34

Wife and I going to Sydney next weekend for 6 days and so far have narrowed down a list of places we want to visit. Note I have only listed the places that cost money to get in, I won't bore you with all the other free attractions we want to see.

Taronga Zoo - $46 normal price
Sydney Tower Eye (skywalk) $50 if we buy online, $70 at the gate
LG IMAX $33 for a 60 min film
Opera House tour - $37
Sea Life aquarium $28

Prices are pp, total $194.
We can also buy a 5 attraction pass in advance for $149 and get similar benefits, I think except the skywalk only gets you 50% off the gate price.

Anyone know if once we arrive in Sydney we are likely to get any sort of better deals in flyers from the tourist information centre, is this 5 attraction pass a reasonable deal or are we better off just planning our trip and buying tickets online the day beforehand etc?

Any other discounts that locals may know of that I have missed / can't see online?
I've only been to Sydney once before and that was for a business trip, so I didn't get much time to do anything apart from walk around circular quay, jump on the ferry down to Manly and walk across the bridge.

Any tips would be appreciated on how we can maximise savings, thanks!

edit: a workmate has given us 2x Opal cards with $20 each on them, we plan to use public transport as much as possible as we won't be renting a car. Staying in Chinatown if that helps, 500-600m walk from central train station.

Travel

Comments

  • DealzEddy123 on 20/08/2015 - 14:16

    can usually get IMAX tix from gumtree. probably a bit late to claim em using credit card points.

    Public transport is $2.50 all day on Sundays (train bus ferry)

    • Neoika on 20/08/2015 - 21:36
      +1

      IMAX tix is available on Groupon now for $15 each pass,no restriction.

      Grab an Opal card at any retailer ASAP,minimum initial balance is $20 for adults.

  • DealzEddy123 on 20/08/2015 - 14:23
    +1

    they skytower walk is OK if you're into that kind thing. but for $100, personally I'd rather buy a couple drinks at altitude bar in the Shangrila hotel.

    It's a different view (more of the harbour rather than 360 of CBD), but it's still nice, and for $100, you can get at least 5 drinks between you.

    if you do go, go on a weekday, before 5pm. (to avoid the local tourist / after work crowds)

  • Davo1111 on 20/08/2015 - 14:27
    +3

    Manley

    Manly ;)

    this is quite useful.

    As for deals, any "offers" you find on tourist stuff you'll be able to find online.

    Just FYI the aquarium will be the biggest disappointment. Save your $56 and go anywhere else… The last time i went i got a discount through some caparks deal (it was on ozbargain), and i felt ripped, even with the discount.

    • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 14:44

      That link is brilliant, I didn't even think to check /r/sydney

      Cheers!

  • DealzEddy123 on 20/08/2015 - 14:36

    walk the botanical gardens, next to the opera house. nice walk, and it's free

    • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 14:37

      Yep that is on the list for sure, have heard lots of good things about it.

  • spackbace on 20/08/2015 - 14:43
    +1

    Any of those on Coke Rewards? :)

  • spackbace on 20/08/2015 - 14:56
    +3

    https://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/special-offers/renew-no…

    $70 for the Entertainment Book. Get the digital version and have access to it asap.

    Just a quick look has:
    Taronga - 25% off ($23 saving)
    Sydney Tower Eye - B1G1F ($70 saving, $30 saving off pre-purchased price)
    Imax - B1G1F ($33 saving)
    Sea Life - B1G1F ($28 saving)

    That and a few dinners should more than cover the cost :)

    Edit Worked it out to a minimum $114 saving (for 2 people) just off those places :)

    Adding the Opera House tour, those prices work out to $278 for 2 people from what I can work out :)

    • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 15:18

      Excellent, thanks for the ideas.

    • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 15:44

      I did the sums and it's a no brainer to buy an entertainment book membership, so I just did. My company sent out a referral code the other day with share of the profits going to a local charity, so I bit the bullet and whipped out the cc.

      I'm sure it will come in super useful with the GPS locator whenever we are out and about and want to find a bite to eat, it will pay itself off in no time. Even though we're only in Sydney for 6 days it will still save us way more than $70.

      Thanks again for the idea, probably wouldn't have considered it without you doing the sums above :)

      • spackbace on 20/08/2015 - 15:46
        +1

        All good :) Will definitely pay for itself if you go out for dinner!

      • JoFord63 on 20/08/2015 - 20:46

        I was just about to offer you all the attractions vouchers from my Entertainment Book as I work close to Central/Chinatown/Haymarket … when I saw you'd already bought the book!

        Good on you! You really will get your money's worth.

        • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 21:46

          Thanks anyway, very kind of you. I'm sure with all the restaurants we'll make use of the extra value anyway :)

        • JoFord63 on 20/08/2015 - 22:31

          @bonezAU:
          TRANSPORT: Keep an eye out for the green and white shuttle buses - they are free.

          They are the same size as the other Sydney buses and they stop at the same bus stops e.g. Chinatown bus-stop is on George St near the corner of Goulburn St.

          GROCERIES: There is a Coles supermarket downstairs in the World Square complex. One entrance is on the corner of George St and Goulburn St, fairly close to where you'll be staying. There's also Paddie's Market in Chinatown for fresh fruit and veg, and cheap clothes and other goods.

          P.S. Don't throw away your Ent/Book when you leave Sydney as some vouchers (e.g. fast food, Chemist Warehouse) can be redeemed in other cities. Or you give them away on the dedicated OzBargain forum.

          P.S.S. Lucky you're visiting Sydney now as in October they will be closing George St (the main street that runs down the entire CBD from Central to Circular Quay) to start building a light rail system. NO buses, NO cars, NOTHING will be able to use George St for two years!

  • pjetson on 20/08/2015 - 15:04
    -1

    The biggest attraction Sydney has to offer is the flight home :-)

    • bonezAU on 20/08/2015 - 15:18
      +2

      I am flying with Tiger after all, so we'll see about that.

      • pjetson on 20/08/2015 - 15:25

        I was there for four days last week, and also flew Tiger…

  • [Deactivated] on 20/08/2015 - 17:26
    -1

    The shops at the rocks is always nice. Great food and drinking establishments. Circular Quay or Darling Harbour if you want a nice view at night.

    Avoid the CBD unless you want to be swamped by thousands of workers and asians.

    The Star Casino has a few good eating places inside and a Casino of course. :p

    • DealzEddy123 on 20/08/2015 - 22:21

      the star casino doesnt actually have good eating places. and has thousand of asians

      • [Deactivated] on 20/08/2015 - 23:23

        sorry expert of sydney. You may not like the Japanese food and the dessert places, but I do.

  • colinjames on 20/08/2015 - 17:54
    +1

    http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/sydneys-history/urb…
    Some of the walks have some good history in them
    Star City has a nice bar on the rooftop that is free to visit and has great views. The bridge walk was expensive but beautiful,.
    Don't forget the quarantine station from Manly, just catch the bus up.
    \
    The Blue Mountains is worth a train trip for lunch at the HydroMajestic or at Katoomba. Really needs a car to enjoy fully, that mate might come in handy.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/205625 for cheap Les Miserables tickets.

    Sydney Observatory or at least Observatory Hill at sunset is quite stunning.

    Decent music venues are about like the metro in the middle of town.
    Great food at Surry Hills.

    The Parramatta ferry is a nice trip up the harbour and you can get a nice lunch at the rowing club at Abbotsford.
    You can catch a ferry to Cockatoo Island for a nice picnic lunch in the middle of the harbour.

    groupon and those sites have cheap harbour dinner cruises that are quite nice

    A bus up to Palm Beach and ferry across to the Basin is a nice journey but will probably fill in most of the day.

  • Meho2026 on 21/08/2015 - 08:11

    Captain Cook Cruises have a deal on, a 24 hour hop on hop off ferry ticket plus entry to an attraction eg Taronga Zoo $53.50

    • Davo1111 on 21/08/2015 - 12:47

      That seems more attractive than zoo link if you have the time to take advantage of the ferry ticket.

  • 973728 on 21/08/2015 - 15:56
    +1

    I'm a big fan of the Chinese Garden of Friendship

    Cheap and very nice place to spend an hour or two:
    http://www.darlingharbour.com/things-to-do/chinese-garden-of…

    $6 per person

    • bonezAU on 21/08/2015 - 16:25

      Will check it out, it's only a 7 minute walk from our hotel from the looks. Ta

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