Christmas around Adelaide/Melbourne. New Year in Sydney

jac

Hi everyone,

I'm off to Australia with my husband and children (9 & 11) this Christmas for a family wedding in Adelaide. Can anyone suggest somewhere to stay for Christmas & Boxing days around Adelaide or Melbourne - near a beach would be nice for an authentic Aussie Xmas, but I don't want anything really expensive.

Also - can anyone recommend somewhere to stay in Sydney for New Year's Eve. We'd like somewhere that is close enough to walk to a good vantage point for the fireworks (as I don't suppose we'd be able to get a taxi).

Any other recommendations of places to visit/stay around Adelaide/Melbourne/Sydney would be great as well!

Thanks in advance.

richardw

jac wrote: »

stay in Sydney for New Year's Eve. We'd like somewhere that is close enough to walk to a good vantage point for the fireworks (as I don't suppose we'd be able to get a taxi).

Check what they say about the Sullivan's Hotel in Sydney on www.tripadvisor.com

We went to Mrs McQuarries thingy but you have to get there about 12noon, yes we waited nearly 12 hours, or there is another spot in King's Cross that is not quite as good. The fireworks are great BTW.

vivatifosi

I grew up in Melbourne and Christmas there is really good fun.

My favourite part of Christmas was going to see the Christmas lights at the Boulevard in Ivanhoe. This is a residential area where the locals really get to it to out do each other for the best display. Something uniquely antipodean (we'd never be able to do this in our weather).

On Christmas day we'd open our presents, have lunch together, then meet the extended family on the beach at St Kilda to play with our bikes/skates/toys/kites whatever. We'd also have a coolbox with us with snacks and drinks.

In recent years the Circle Line Tram (a free tram that rides around the city centre) has been staffed by Elves giving out free chocolates.

Other things to do in Melbourne that I loved as a kid: Healesville Animal Sanctuary, The Puffing Billy Train and seeing the Penguins on Philip Island. Having recently been back, they are quite good fun for grown-ups too. My OH loved the guided tour of the "G", Melbourne's main sport stadium. We went to the Olympic site in Sydney too, but as a tour experience this beat it hands down.

In Sydney, if you are visiting a beach IMHO Manly is much nicer than Bondi. The Harbour Bridge is a must, as is the Opera House and I love the "bucket on a stick", Sydney's tallest tower. The view from the top is breathtaking. Worth doing daytime and twilight/night for the contrast.

I'd pick Melbourne over Adelaide any day, but I am hugely biased. Have a great trip wherever it takes you.

Party_Animal

We were there Xmas 2006 for the cricket. We stayed in St Kilda, very nice. The main thing with Sydney is to book up early as it get's very busy, and you need to get down to the harbour early so the children can see.

lozkate

Take warm clothes for Melbourne, on Christmas Day 2006 it was 14 degrees with hail and torrential rain!

Twopints

vivatifosi wrote: »

In Sydney, if you are visiting a beach IMHO Manly is much nicer than Bondi. The Harbour Bridge is a must, as is the Opera House and I love the "bucket on a stick", Sydney's tallest tower. The view from the top is breathtaking. Worth doing daytime and twilight/night for the contrast.

Just back from 2 weeks on "business" in Sydney and agree with all of the above! The Northern beaches such as Manly (North Steyne, South Steyne, Dee Why, Shelly Bay etc) are fantastic and easy to get to by ferry.