Tips for Oz and San Francisco please

[djfiesta]

Sorry totally forgot central markets. Great to spend sime time there on a friday evening and then walk out the southern exits straight onto Gouger street to grab a nice meal.

Central markets have pretty much the only camera store well stocked with rangefinder equip too, so always cool to take a peek. Lucia's is great for lunch if you can find the time (and a table). Adelaide's first pizza/pasta place.

If you would like I'd be keen to meet up when you're in Adelaide!

 

[OurManInTangier]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'm off out the door for work now but I'll send some PM's when I get back later.

Regarding Perth, it's where I fly into but it looks like the client wants me a little further south in a place called Margaret River. I'll have to wait and see what the full details are when they come through.

BTW - The Coast Road is the reason I'm getting the campervan from Adelaide to Sydney...and of course I'll go through Melbourne ( I have to, it's the home of Neighbours and thats as English as a curry😉😀)

 

[alan davus]

Any trip to Adelaide that does not include a visit to the Central Markets is a trip wasted.

Lucia's is an old coffee shop inside and you have to hover around to wait for a table, the coffee is worth the wait.

You've got it in one Tarzak......... If driving from Adelaide to Sydney I'd go through Broken Hill. From there visit Mootwingee Nat. Park to the north and Mungo Nat. Park to the south. The Great Ocean Road is nice but it could be any where in the world. The Outback could only be in Australia. And by the way, don't waste your time going to Glenelg in Adelaide, it's been ruined by the developers.

 

[lynnb]

In Sydney plan on having a few drinks at the Opera Bar at the Sydney Opera House around sunset. Just to the east of the Opera House through the Royal Botanic Gardens is the lookout at Mrs Macquarie's Chair (try Google maps) for good backlit sunset shots of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Book a Bridge Climb www.bridgeclimb.com (no cameras permitted on climb, but the best views of Sydney). The historic centre of Sydney is The Rocks (opp Opera House), there are markets on Sunday mornings. Catch the Manly Ferry from the city to Manly and walk to Fairy Bower, stop at a cafe and enjoy the views. From Manly go to North Head to see the city from the harbour entrance cliff tops at 200'.
For something different tour Barrenjoey Lighthouse (on the northern beaches) on Sundays - stunning views, historic building. Stop at the Newport Arms Hotel at Newport for lunch in the beer garden overlooking Pittwater, or at one of the beachside restaurants and cafes at Dee Why Beach.
Be careful around Chinatown/Haymarket late at night - not safe, some muggings/stabbings reported.
Bondi Beach is iconic and the nightclub precinct is Kings Cross.
For driving in Sydney/Melbourne you will need an e-toll account for the toll roads. Beware of variable speed limits, radar speed cameras, unmarked patrol cars and savage traffic infringement fines. Driving with blood alcohol over 0.05 is a criminal offence.

 

[OurManInTangier]

For driving in Sydney/Melbourne you will need an e-toll account for the toll roads. Beware of variable speed limits, radar speed cameras, unmarked patrol cars and savage traffic infringement fines. Driving with blood alcohol over 0.05 is a criminal offence.

Thanks for this info! The traffic regs, toll road info and parking are always worth knowing about when driving in a foreign country, I'll look into these a little better later.

Tarzak & djfiesta, I'll be sure to try and take a sniff round the Central Markets and stop in at Lucia's thanks - its the little tit-bits like this that help you find interesting places and places that help give a town or city its particular character...very much what I'd like to try and find. I'm in Adelaide literally overnight which is a shame but the only realistic way to get things done in the time I have - djfiesta, thanks for the offer...maybe I can PM you when I know what's happening?

I may be travelling to Perth from Brisbane to stay with a mate I haven't seen for years for a week or so at the end of July work permitting ... if so I'll be tracking you down Simon! 🙂

If you find me I'll have a cold one waiting for you🙂 beer that is, not reception😉

let us locals know when you come into town

RayPA & Jamie

I'm scheduled to start work on the 17th August in SF, I think I'm staying on Union Sq but these are with the client at the moment. I'm also due to spend 2 or 3 days in Yosemite for the same people - I know time is tight on this one as opposed to the Oz leg where I even get to squeeze in a quick holiday, however I should be able to get on the net at some point. I know more about beer than gear though😉

I live in Perth.... I might be available for some sort of meet-up

It doesn't look like I'll actually be in Perth other than flying in and flying out, I believe the plan is for me to stay in a place called Margaret River. I may yet find I'm in Perth for a few hours or so ( especially with my luck for having flights delayed🙄) if so I'll get on the net and see if anyone wants to show a Pom around.

Thanks to you all for your ideas, insight and kind offers

 

[ChrisN]

I last visited Margaret River in 1980, and have fond memories of a night in the local pub. I hear it's changed a bit since then - all boutique wineries. (They make some fine wines around Margaret River.)

Are you visiting Canberra at all?

 

[Tarzak]

Margaret River, how droll.
Some fantastic wine is made there. beautiful beaches. good surf.
Sun sets over the ocean (a bit weird for us East coasters).

 

[Tarzak]

adelaidecentralmarket.com.au
for opening hours and info.

Alan's avatar is a fine drop; Coopers Stout. Possibly a bit sweet but I like it. Very strong and will sneak up on you.

 

[Tarzak]

If driving from Adelaide to Sydney I'd go through Broken Hill. .

Sorry, thread highjack:
Alan,
I'm driving from almost Sydney to Lake Eyre in July hoping to go via Broken Hill. Which way do you go from Broken Hill to Sydney?

 

[jmilkins]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'm off out the door for work now but I'll send some PM's when I get back later.

Regarding Perth, it's where I fly into but it looks like the client wants me a little further south in a place called Margaret River. I'll have to wait and see what the full details are when they come through.

BTW - The Coast Road is the reason I'm getting the campervan from Adelaide to Sydney...and of course I'll go through Melbourne ( I have to, it's the home of Neighbours and thats as English as a curry😉😀)

Well the Great Ocean Road is worth seeing before it disapears😉 http://www.theage.com.au/travel/travel-news/great-ocean-road-rock-formation-collapses-into-sea-20090611-c4iz.html
And if you really want, you can do a Neighbours tour😱

 

[OurManInTangier]

I might leave the Neighbours tour😀 Now if there was a Sullivans tour😉 now I'm just showing my age!

 

[35mmdelux]

A 45 min drive from S.F. gets you to the Berkeley. A walk thru the University of Calif at Berkeley and Telegraph Ave is of another world. Sip a latte at the Mediterrean Cafe (Telegraph Ave) and tell them Paul sent you. Makes the Haight look like Disneyland.

 

[fergus]

Thanks for this info! The traffic regs, toll road info and parking are always worth knowing about when driving in a foreign country, I'll look into these a little better later.

Most people have already given you good info.

Don't speed in Victoria, not even a little. They have very little leeway on their cameras (at least the ones just near the NSW border!). In NSW 10km over won't trigger most of them.

The Ocean Rd is scenic, but the outback is one-of-a-kind. Depends what you're into. Be aware 99.99% of rentals will have no insurance for non-paved surfaces. I think you should drive wherever you want but just be aware of the risk! I've seen several tourists write-off rental cars eg on the Barry Way from Vic up to Jindabyne, unpaved, no tow-trucks for 200km, etc...

Not sure if you've been here before or not, but distances are B-I-G here.

Hope you have a great trip. Nothing quite like seeing a new part of the world.

Cheers...
Fergus.

 

[35mmdelux]

Outback dont step on a snake as sometimes they blend with the environ.

 

[OurManInTangier]

The Ocean Rd is scenic, but the outback is one-of-a-kind. Depends what you're into. Be aware 99.99% of rentals will have no insurance for non-paved surfaces. I think you should drive wherever you want but just be aware of the risk! I've seen several tourists write-off rental cars eg on the Barry Way from Vic up to Jindabyne, unpaved, no tow-trucks for 200km, etc...

Not sure if you've been here before or not, but distances are B-I-G here.

I spent two weeks based in Darwin when I was seventeen whilst my sister lived in Cherating just north of Kuantan in Malaysia. I had as good a look round places like Kakadu, Katherine, Alice Springs and the Larapinta trail (tough going but quite something) as I could in the time. That two weeks also taught me quite how big ( and more importantly empty ) Oz can be....it also showed me how big crocs can get too😱

I won't get a huge chance to see all that much on this trip with work and then going onto SF, where I'll be even busier and have just five days to do the work and sneak in as much as possible. However I'll do what I can and the Coast Road is new to me so it should be a big hoot in my massive motorhome thing I've been sorted out with ( paved roads only....unless I get horribly lost and well within the speed limits.)

I must admit I'm also looking forward to going back to Singapore, I haven't been there since I was seventeen and first went when I was thirteen - my first BIG trip abroad and on my own - and it blew my mind. It's not the most exciting city I've ever been to but I guess as it was the first place I landed outside of Europe it has always been a little special to me. I bet its changed massively in the, er...just adding the years up, 18 years since I last went.

 

[Bingley]

Simon -- You've got some good suggestions above for SF. I'm a fan of shooting around the Ferry Building (including the market), up Mission St, and in the Haight. Yosemite in August will be pretty crowded w/ tourists, but it will still be impressive. Check out Glacier Point for some spectacular views and good shooting. +1 Ray's suggestion for a beer and gear if your schedule permits.

 

[bgb]

I remember Freo as being a lovely place to waste away the day ...

Perth is just another city but the river is nice ... and the parks on its banks, nice when it was my back yard 🙂

People are ok but if you go bush watch out for 'Drop Bears' they are a type of Koala but with claws and teeth and terrible breath. Kill a man in seconds and it's not a pleasant death.

 

[fuzzyflyingbunny]

Oz in August

Oz in August

I'm heading down to Australia probably around end of Aug for my annual leave. My itinerary at the moment is Sydney, Alice Springs (Uluru rock), and then Cairns. Yeah I know it's a little touristy but this has been my dream vacation since I did a geography project on Australia in grade school 😀.

I'd appreciate any recommendations and also what is the price of film and processing there. Should I just load up locally (Hong Kong, approx $35-50 HKD per roll = $5-8 AUD) or just bring bare minimum and buy there?

 

[fergus]

I'd appreciate any recommendations and also what is the price of film and processing there. Should I just load up locally (Hong Kong, approx $35-50 HKD per roll = $5-8 AUD) or just bring bare minimum and buy there?

Buy your film o/s and bring it in your pockets or carry-on bag.

35mm E6 can go for anything up to Au $30 per roll (yep!)... depends where and when but $20-$25 is 'normal'. Many of us get together for Freestyle and B&H orders, sharing the freight cost.

Processing? For E6 I pay $9.50 whether for 35mm or 120, that's mailing off to Melbourne. There's probably cheaper out there but I get consistently good results so I'm happy.

Cheers...
Fergus.

 

[Siluro]

Hi Simon

I live in Perth, although I am currently travelling (have just come from SF strangely enough) and will not be in town until December. Would offer to show you around otherwise!

Perth is a great place if you know where to look. As others have said, the CBD is pretty much soulless but there are great urban areas like Mt.Lawley, and Fremantle can be good as well. If you have any specific interests PM me. I can be particularly good with indie music info!

Margaret River is okay, however it has become over-run by corporate exec types with weekend homes in the last few years. Just for the record, my favourite winery there is Cullen on Old Caves Rd.

Have fun!