The Life of Passepartout: August 2009

Sunday, 23 August 2009

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In & around Sydney

ANZAC Memorial / Hyde Park - Understated & often overlooked, worth a look inside & the park is an oasis of calm
Blue Mountains - Spend the weekend, be wary of the weather, dinner at Avalon Restaurant
Bondi - Look at the beach, cocktails at Icebergs, do the walk to Bronte
Botanical Gardens - Enjoy the flowers & the view, avoid the bat droppings!
Harbour Bridge - Do the walk over the top of the Bridge for just about the best views in Sydney
Hyde Park Barracks - provides good historical overview of Sydney (which tends to be repeated elsewhere)
Lowenbrau - interesting entertainment, great beer
Manly - Take the ferry, stroll down the corso, enjoy the beach, surf
Opera House - Do the tour (morning to avoid rehersals), enjoy the architecture, relish the views
Spit / Middle Harbour - Go on a kayak tour, appreciate the scenery, take in the wildlife & use up some energy!
Sydney Fish Market - View the auction, eat some great food or take a cookery class
Taronga Zoo - Plan on spending at least a 1/2 day here. Lots to see & great views too.

Books on Oz

Biography of a Nation - P. Knightley
Commonwealth of Thieves - T. Keneally
Damage Done - W. Fellows (interesting, if sometimes gruesome)
Down Under - B. Bryson (amusing, essential read)
Great Southern Land - F. Welsh (tricky to get into - one for the insomniacs)
Lonely Planet (V. good), Rough Guide (ok)
Manly Pursuits - R. Beard (next on my list)
Rabbit Proof Fence - D. Pilkington (enthralling - good movie too!)
Secret Country - J. Pilger
Short History of Australia - M. Clark (flowery writing, passes over important junctures, crams last 70 yrs into 40 pages)
Smithy - I Mackersey (biogrpahy of Charles Kingsford Smith - aviator)

Places I'd love to visit