Darling Harbour – what a blast!
I have my partner to thank for our stay in Sydney’s Darling Harbour earlier this year. I probably would have opted for Circular Quay. He insisted – as they do; having stayed there on a boys’ weekend a couple of years ago. Booking a hotel as a last-minute option after spending two days at Olympic Park treated to country rock star Keith Urban’s Sydney concerts, I was pleasantly surprised to nab a harbour view room at the Ibis. Guess being a member helps!
Despite the blustery day, we caught a ferry from Olympic Park – cheaper than a glass of wine and less than half the price of the taxi ride from the hotel to the ferry pad. A tip, however, if you’re heading Sydney side any time soon: Don’t trust a Russian taxi driver. He might have jumped the queue, when the other foreigner wouldn’t get off his phone and instead tried to flag us and our luggage across the road, but our suspicions rose when he hadn’t heard of the ferry terminal! I had to get a map from the hotel and give him instructions! And he still charged us 18 bucks!.
Feeling fairly charitable though – still riding the buzz of seeing Keith close up and personal – we even tipped him. But back to the ferry. It felt like a tour. The trip down the Parramatta River is a scenic delight and thoroughly enjoyable.
Darling Harbour arrived too soon – yet not soon enough, when a girl needs a wee break. The lure of Bungalow 8’s tropical ambience was significant and memorable. I was grateful for the friendly and free use of the bathroom. He was grateful for a spot of girl gazing. Hot pants are a major lure – but the team collect an A for marketing – wooing us without our knowing, really. Not wanting to pee and run, we bought a drink, saw the menu lying around and stayed for lunch. Smart girls. Try it next time you’re there. I recommend the crispy squid salad. You could stay closer to home and check out the Auckland version of this tiki bar – but why miss out on Darling Harbour on a Saturday night.
Like the catchphrase says – expect everything; even fireworks. The harbour view from the hotel didn’t even prepare us . We had played tourist during the day – as you do, buying a day pass on the monorail, which passed right by our hotel’s patio walkway. I’m keeping the ticket as a memoir. As it turns out, the monorail is closing on June 30 – 25 years after ferrying tourists and passengers around the canopy of Darling Harbour. What a waste. It’s brilliant. Can’t imagine why on earth the powers that be want to shut it down. But dismantle it they are – all in the name of progress and further development around Darling Harbour. Using it to flick around the loop and stop off at the likes of Paddy’s Market is just the ticket. China town is there to check out too. There’s Sea Life Aquarium, Sydney Eye Tower and Wild Life Sydney. For a spot of history and culture, there’s the Australian National Maritime and Powerhouse museums to immerse yourself in. It’s quite weird seeing the replica of Cook’s Endeavour docked in Darling though. Somehow it seems to belong here more than over the ditch – Cook’s history here and all.
There are galleries for more culture, the IMAX cinema and theatres, not to mention a splurge of shops, restaurants and bars to tax the credit card, feast on delectable Australian seafood and generally lap up the buzz that is Darling Harbour.
The fireworks were a total surprise. Having done no research prior, I was blissfully unaware of the fireworks. Strolling down to the harbour in the evening for a meal, it became increasingly apparent something was about to happen. And it does – every Saturday night – seriously! Who pays for it – Lord knows. But if every one of the 60 or so restaurants and bars dib in, I imagine the return would be tenfold. What a blast!
You have to hand it to the Aussies. Party time every Saturday night doesn’t get any better. Pity, my camera was in the hotel room! But go to www.darlingharbour.com to check the video out – and you’ll get the idea.