If I could give it 6 stars I would. We booked the tour to…read moresee the Blue Mountains through the Viator app. It was super easy and straightforward. The app immediately sent us two vouchers annd confirmation of our bookings. The tour started at 7:50 am and we took a ferry back and arrived at Circular Quay in the city by 5:45 pm. More about the ferry ride back later. The tour included: 1. Three Sisters Lookout Point 2.Tram and cable rides at Scenic World and a short hike on the Scenic Walkway 3.Lunch at Loaves and Dishes Cafe 4.Entrance into Featherdale Wildlife Refuge. On the day of the tour, the bus picked us up at our hotel the Hilton Sydney. They make a number of pick ups from other hotels. If your hotel is not on the list then you have to meet them at one of the designated hotels. A tour coordinator approached us to get our names. She checked us in on her list and gave us an envelope with tickets for the forthcoming destinations. The bus was a big comfortable climate control vehicle. Our driver/historian/entertainer was magnificent !! He only mentioned his name once at the beginning of the tour and I didn't catch it. In any case, he was terrifically knowledgable about the history of Sydney and the Blue Mountains. He was funny and kept us entertained throughout the whole day. In addition, he clearly instructed us on how to navigate through the different destinations with keen details. His instructions were extremely spot on and helpful. There was a lot of time designated for each destination. We never felt rushed. i On the way back many people opted to book a ferry ride back on the river cruise. We didn't buy that option but the bus driver told us that we still could pay for the ferry ride at the dock. We chose to do that thinking that the bus would run into Sydney rush hour traffic. I highly recommend that you take the ferry ride option. It was a beautiful, peaceful ride back to the city center and only took 30 minutes. We're not sure how long the bus took but surely it wasn't as scenic. In addition, the b So to get on the ferry, we had to purchase tickets. At the dock, there was a vending like machine where you can buy a ticket to get on the ferry. It was $8.50 AUD/person. The ferry made a few stops along the way to pick up other passengers. We thoroughly enjoyed every facet of the tour. It takes you to gorgeous areas of our Sydney trip that we wouldn't have otherwise been able to see on our own. The operators were extremely professional and well informed. It was worth every penny of the approximately $98/person for two people. Viator had a special 10% discount if we purchased on the mobile app. Also follow my food adventure on IG @tazebudshawaii Happy Travels !

Ashleigh was the best tour guide EVER! We are visiting from Los Angeles and wanted to see the three…read moresisters at the Blue Mountains. This trip gave us that and more. The Featherdale wildlife park gave us a great up close kangaroo/koala experience, as well as a chance to see some of Australia's bird and reptile species. Lunch in Luera was delicious, and the town was adorable. Following that was the trip to the Blue Mountains, and finally a nice ferry ride home. Ashleigh's knowledge combined with her engaging personality made the whole experience that much more inviting! Great job!

I hunted and hunted for a day trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains. I don't remember why I…read moresettled on this company but I'm glad I did. Of course the day I planned this tour, it was overcast in Sydney but raining as we drove out into the country side. Oh and foggy and just blah. I had brought a raincoat and was somewhat prepared for the weather but the views were poor. BUT despite the weather, Hayden made our tour. We stopped at a shop so folks who needed to buy a poncho could and also so folks could take a toilet break. And since the weather was uncooperative, Hayden drove us to a small park at the end of a neighborhood to see the Aboriginal markings. We learned about tribal traditions, and about his background on both sides of his family. His knowledge of the area, plants, and critters made everything fun. We drove to Blue Mountain National Park and saw the Three Sisters even though they were trying to hide in the fog. We continued on to Scenic World which was much less touristy than I feared. Great time and highly recommended, no matter the weather.

It's always a gift to travel with someone from the area. Cameron, our guide, was not only from the…read moreBlue Mountains, we even went to his hometown. He was jovial and sweet, keeping everyone on the tour engaged and laughing. He knew the history of the area as well as the smaller less travelled but no less interesting sites to visit. The Blue Mountains are lovely and a must-see for any trip to Sydney. The tour was punctual as far as beginning and ending. My only complaint was that for someone like me with health issues, I it was a very long, tiring day. I wish there had been a shorter version available.

What a great way to get advice and guidance for your travels to Sydney...the friendly folks at this…read moredesk are helpful and knowledgeable about everything from arranging a shuttle to take you from the airport to your hotel, to restaurant ideas and fun activities in the city. Different maps are also available, which definitely come in handy in the very walkable city.

Given that 24% of international travellers arrive in Australia without having booked accommodation…read moreand even more have not pre-arranged transport or are looking for help with attractions, tours and restaurant bookings, Sydney International Airport's latest offering, a free on-site, concierge service. Travel Concierge is a complimentary service staffed by trained concierge to assist travellers with every aspect of their trip from accommodation and transport to wining and dining and special events. The creation of Travel Concierge Sydney Airport provides a landmark for its premium travel services to arriving and departing passengers and visitors alike, enhancing Sydney International Airport's vision to provide excellence in customer service and facilities. The team of 25 professional concierges are on-site during airport operating hours, seven days a week and service a customer base throughout Australia and the world. They provide advice and book all types of accommodation from backpackers to luxury hotels and excel at developing entire travel itineraries. There's also a bank of eight self-help computers on site for those that want to browse the options themselves and an option for those not at the airport to register online at www.gnconcierge.com. They also offer 24 hour support from anywhere in the world with their toll free phone booking service 1300 40 20 60. Products and services offered include accommodation (three, four and five star hotels, budget, backpackers) bookings, flight bookings, shuttle bus tickets, hire car and limousine services, event ticket sales, attraction and tour sales, restaurant bookings, international calling card sales and travel and airport information.

When you take first class (and probably business) United from Sydney, you have two options bc NZ…read moreand Singapore Airlines (SQ) both are part of Star Alliance. Do NOT go to the SQ lounge- it is soooo worn down and tiny. It's in desperate need of a face lift but bc it's the first lounge you see, you'll often see people just walk into that one. Sure, SQ lounge in Singapore was amazing but don't expect even an ounce of that luxury here. I'm glad I ventured out and moved over to the Koru lounge bc holy cow it's about 20 times nicer, with better food, drink stations, cleaner, and seating is much much nicer.

Amazing fresh food with a short order chef. Stylish coffee made to order by an excellent barista…read moreand then cocktails after!!! ( try the kiwi fruit martini for a decadent nz twist). Best koru lounge experience.

I booked the twilight bridge climb and I am still not quite sure what possessed me. Let me explain,…read moreI am in my mid sixties, fat, out of shape and deadly afraid oof heights. It didn't look so bad on pictures, but once I saw the bridge in person and in particular how tiny the climbers looked on top of the bridge, that was the moment fear set in. And it got worse during the preparations. You don't just walk in and climb on up there. You need to have instructions, pass a breathalyzer test, change into a special suit, get a radio, headphones, attach your glasses, hat, jacket and whatnot all to your suit and step into a heavy harness. By that time you'll start to sweat because this suit is like a plastic bag and hold in the heat. You also get to practice a climb up some ladders... oh yay. As a scaredy cat in regards of heights, I was placed up front so our guide could keep an eye on me. Good thing too. The rest of my group consisted of 20-30 year old athletic types... great. So you step on out of the building onto a catwalk and get hooked onto the safety line. This already made me regret things as I looked down onto the street below. Then our guide starts to run, yes run on this narrow catwalk... aaarggghhh... I did finally catch up with her but only because she was waiting for our group. Surprise, let's climb up 4 ladders with 25 steps each back to back... man I was huffing and puffing. Thank goodness you get to wait until everybody is up. Then you climb and climb and climb on up the stairs. I did my best and did keep up, but I was really trying hard. I gave it my all. At about 3/4 of the way, my legs were turning into jello, almost to the summit I thought I was going to throw up, but luckily we stopped to take pictures as a group and then as individuals. I recovered during this little rest. We had climbed up during daylight, by the time we reached the summit the sun was setting and the the view was spectacular. Unforgettable. Recovered due to the short rest and with the promise of no further climbing, but rather descending from here on, I was feeling much better. Thirsty, drenched in sweat and wishing I had used the restroom before the climb, but otherwise ok. Well now we had to cross from one side of the bridge to the other... at the summit, over several lanes of traffic and railroad tracks, and you can see straight down... for me, the scariest part. Then finally the descent. By now it was getting quite dark and we needed to turn on our lamps. The descent was much quicker than the climb of course and I was eager to get out of this hot suit, get a drink of water and use the rest room... no such luck. Now one has to painstakingly unbuckle all the equipment from the suit. Eventually you get to change back into your regular clothes. And just when you think you are done, you have to stand in line for the photo purchases. I had prepaid for the pictures, but still had to wait because the staff will pick out the pictures that feature you and put those with the group and scenery pictures. I do have to say our guide took fabulous pictures and they were worth the wait. Yes, I know I don't describe this adventure as a wonderful experience, it was quite strenuous, but also exciting and the view alone is absolutely worth it. Also the staff was very encouraging and if you have fear or physical concerns let them know so they can help you along the way.

Review 900! I'm not…read morea huge thrill seeker, but multiple people encouraged me to do the BridgeClimb. I regret not climbing the O2 Arena in London a few years ago so I decided to seize this opportunity; I'm so happy that I did because it was one of the highlights of my trip! Tickets: Prices vary by day, time, and type. Additionally, the prices are dynamic and can change at any time. I bought a ticket through Trip Advisor with a discount code. I chose the Summit Climb and booked a twilight start time which is apparently the most popular time to book. Check In: Allow 10-15 minutes to check in. Since I booked through a third party, I wasn't able to fill out the paperwork ahead of time. The gentleman at the front desk was so nice and assisted me with the forms. The employee asked if I had eaten. They have a café if you need to fuel up before the climb. The employee also asked about medical history. I have asthma and couldn't find my inhaler so the employee gave me a single use inhaler to take with me. Pre Climb: After check in, we spent the first hour getting ready for the climb. The safety briefing was first and included a breathalyzer test. Everyone (including children) had to do the breathalyzer. If your BAC is over 0.05, you won't be able to climb. After the briefing, we changed into jump suits. They have changing rooms and lockers for your belongings. You can't bring cell phones or watches with you and even things like hair clips aren't allowed. If you have eye/sunglasses they will give you a lanyard so that you can wear them during the climb. We also received headphones and head lamps which came in handy after sunset. Once we suited up, we practiced climbing the ladders. The ladders were a little intimidating because they're quite steep, but having the opportunity to practice while wearing the harness eased my anxiety. Climb: Some sections of the base required stepping over and bending down below beams. There were quite a few stairs and a few sets of ladders. Staff members were posted throughout the bridge to provide assistance if needed. The climb leader took individual and group photos along the way and at the summit. The views of the Harbour were spectacular! Our climb leader was Shannon and she was wonderful! She was so personable, funny, and just an all around cool gal. She gave a lot of interesting fun facts about the bridge. We had a diverse group of both children and adults hailing from multiple countries. It was cool to meet people from all over the world. Shannon held on to the inhaler and would periodically check in with me to make sure I didn't need it. There were a few times when I had to stop to catch my breath, but luckily I didn't have to use it. Post Climb: Once the climb was over, we received a souvenir (baseball hat). We also had the opportunity to purchase photos. On my way out, I ran into the employee that checked me in. He addressed me by name and asked about my experience which was so nice! You don't have to be a dare devil to do the BridgeClimb. It was a little out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad that I did it! This was one of the pricier activities that I did in Sydney, but it was totally worth it! What a unique and amazing experience that I will never forget!

Australia's largest and busiest international airport is located in Sydney, NSW. Many major…read morecarriers fly in and out of Terminal 1 while other domestic carriers utilize Terminal 2. Quantas Airlines domestic flights are operated out of Terminal 3. If your flights connect between each terminal, you would have to take a complimentary shuttle that runs about 15 minutes to each terminal. It is not possible to walk from one terminal to another terminal. Upon arrival into SYD, you will be walking through Immigration Hall. Use a self service kiosk to print your Passport Ticket. From there, make your way take your picture to clear Customs. You'll be met by an Immigration Officer who will take your ticket and guide you to a queue # depending on what goods/money/etc to declare or not. Everything moves very quickly as many International Carriers arrive all throughout the day and night. At Baggage Claim, you'd typically find Foreign Currency Exchange, which our USD is very strong right now! Departing SYD was just as seamless. From Check-in, you must clear Immigration, then security. Walk through aisles and lots of Duty Free Stores, eateries can be found either at check-in Lobby as well as departing gate. Free WiFi available, people movers, clean restroom facilities, and one of the jolliest people operating an airport to make your experience calm and stress-free. Travel tip. 3-1-1 TSA rules apply. Very strict and heightened security measures are in place when going through security. Bringing in many food items into Australia are prohibited so check the TravelSECURE Website before your flights.

I think this must be a very busy airport with some very high income clientele because they had a…read morelarge selection of very expensive luxury brand stores and kiosk everywhere in the main hall. As for lounges, I'm a bit split. I will say that because of the way there terminals are laid out. I think I can appreciate how their lounges are at centralized. One side of the airport has one set of lounges and the other side has their own. Anyways, my issues with the lounges at least the Qantas business lounge and the Amex Centurion lounge was that both were lacking. Where I'm split is, is that really their fault or the fault with those who run the lounge. On that same note, the lounges are part of the airport so it has to be a part of the rating. This is something that I probably shouldn't take issue with but as someone fairly new to international travel I had been looking forward to for a long time. This was also at Auckland Airport in New Zealand by the way, they do smart passport border control whatever they call it these days. You scan your passport, get scanned by a camera and you move through the gate. Efficient? Very. Disappointing? Well for me yes because I had been looking forward to passport stamps.

Gayle and I flew home from the Sydney International Terminal on United to LAX. This International…read moreAirport has the things you expect: multiple check-in-halls, security and immigration lines, duty free, lots of other shops, and the excitement of foreign travel. Yet, the old girl feels a little tired and certainly doesn't have the oomph that Gayle and I have experienced with Istanbul or Singapore. If and when we come back to Australia, it won't be through this airport. Why? The new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) is currently in its final testing and operational readiness phase, with passenger services scheduled to begin in October 2026.

Before traveling to Australia as foreign visitors with eligible passports, we applied for an…read moreelectronic tourist visa through the Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) about 4 months before we departed from Honolulu. We were granted an electronic visa for tourism within 72 hours of our application and excitedly awaited our upcoming travel this March. We were a bit apprehensive about finding our way through Sydney's International Terminal, but were quickly relieved by clear directional signs and quick, easy electronic passport screening. We were impressed with the modern, sleek yet friendly-looking facility, the multiple new electronic security kiosks designed to handle the large number of incoming visitors and returning residents, and the local artwork displays. I must say it took us around 15 minutes from the arrival gate to baggage claim, then to check in and pass through immigration, as we didn't have anything to declare. Once we exited immigration, we met with our driver, who was proudly showing a company placard with our names boldly printed. This was by far the best and most efficient arrival procedures and processing into a foreign country that we have ever encountered. We'd happily return.

Starting off my series of reviews from my recent trip to Australia with a review on a light rail…read morestation. The Star Light Rail Stop is a station on the Dulwich Hill Line of the Sydney Light Rail. If you are not familiar with The Star, it is a casino located in Pyrmont which is a suburb of Sydney. The light rail station is located underneath the casino and provides easy public transportation access to this entertainment complex. If you are trying to access this station, you need to go inside The Star. There are signs that direct you to the station which is downstairs. Sydney Light Rail runs 24 hours. But from midnight to 6 am, trains run only between Central Station and The Star. It does not continue onto Dulwich Hill. As for the station itself, it is darkly lit. It feels like you are sort of waiting in an underground parking lot. To pay for your fare using your Opal card, there are card readers at this station. Once you get onboard, there is a person that polices the train car to ensure that you have paid your fare by checking your Opal card. This station is pretty close to Sydney Fish Market which is a couple stops away. Though I would recommend getting off at the Wentworth Park stop which is actually closer than the Fish Market stop. If you like to gamble or enjoy the nightlife at The Star, this stop is very convenient as you can use it to reach Central Station and get to walking distance of the Sydney CBD at all hours of the day.