Things to do in SydneyFeatherdale Wildlife Park
Of my favourite things to do in Sydney, the Featherdale Wildlife Park is near the top of the list. And, from what I’ve heard, there are few travelers that disagree. This attraction is perfect for the senior traveler but is a favourite for every age. Featherdale Wildlife Park is in the suburb of Doonside, about 40 minutes drive from Sydney. More than 2000 native animals such as kangaroos, wombats, emus, koalas, birds and reptiles in a bush setting are inhabitants of the park. The attraction of Featherdale Wildife Park is ability to get “close and personal” with the animals. Perhaps the best way to describe Featherdale is to offer this review from a fellow traveler. "On my list of things to do in Sydney, Featherdale made it to the top. I spent a lot of time in & around Sydney, taking all the tours available, but by far the most memorable, exciting and uniquely Australian experience was Featherdale. It is the only way to truly get to know the animals of Australia. I petted a wombat (now officially my favourite mammal), hung out by the Kangaroos as long as I wanted, saw gorgeous birds, snuggled up next to a Koala and stared-down a (caged)Tasmanian Devil. I got close enough that it felt like I walked among the animals. There's was nothing zoo-like about it.
Initially, I balked at the time it would take to get to there & back from Sydney. Thankfully, my friends insisted. Hey, I flew 13+ hours to get to the other side of the planet, why blink at a 45 min train ride? The trains & stations are very, very nice. Plus, you get the experience of being a local and seeing what things outside the city are like. It has been 8 years since my trip, but I've still got the souvenir stuffed toy Wombat, from Featherdale, sitting on the dresser in my bedroom. I'm 43 now, and, I don't even like stuffed animals; I guess the place really made an impression. For your things to do in Sydney, Featherdale Wildlife Park is a must.
The Sydney ExplorerThe Sydney Explorer is a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus that visits the major attractions of Sydney. It departs the Circular Quay in Sydney approximately every 20 minutes throughout the day. For things to do in Sydney, The Sydney Explorer is probably the best bang for the buck, as you can hop on & off during your 1 day pass any number of times. If you miss a bus, no worries, just catch the next. This allows you to spend more time at locations that interest you, and budget your time accordingly throughout the day.
Along the daily route are 26 or so stops. Such places include Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, New South Wales Art Gallery, Mrs Macquaries Point, Queen Victoria Building, Chinatown, Kings Cross, Sydney Fish Market and more. To expand your list of things to do in Sydney, there is also the “blue bus”, Bondi Explorer which visits the most popular beaches and waterside communities in Sydney. Both The Sydney Explorer and Bondi Explorer are operated by the State Transit Authority. So, after they have completed their daily route, you can use your Explorer ticket on any government bus to a destination on the Sydney Explorer route if you missed getting on the last Sydney Explorer bus. The Explorer Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus is one of the best values for things to do in Sydney.
UPDATE Ownership change: From Sunday, 28 November 2010, State Transit will no longer operate the Sydney and Bondi Explorer hop-on hop-off tourist bus services. Both Explorer services have been sold to CitySightseeing Pty Ltd. More information.
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The Explorer bus and bus-stops are prominently marked red and easy to spot.