Things to do in

Sydney

Overlooking magnificent Sydney Harbour, Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay and offers amazing wildlife experiences with stunning harbor views. Nestled on the shores of the world's most beautiful harbor, Taronga Zoo is surrounded by lush bushland of Bradley's Head National Park, popular for early morning walks. Ferries depart from Circular Quay every 30 minutes. The Zoo has many popular trails to explore including the Australian Walkabout, Kids' Trail, Reptile World, African Safari, Big Cats' Trail, Rainforest Trail, Seal Walk, Seals for the Wild, and the iconic must-see Free Flight Birds presentations. Zoo entry includes limited keeper talks, presentations, and access to the Sky Safari cable car. The many exhibits in Taronga Zoo can be reached by footpaths, ramps, lifts and escalators. 90% of Taronga Zoo is fully accessible. Strollers can be hired from the Visitor Information Desk in the main entrance at a small fee and manual wheelchairs can be rented for free and should be booked in advance.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy a choice of over 30 freshly-prepared dishes from a range of cuisines at Sydney Tower's famous rotating restaurant. Enjoy the spectacular 360-degree views of the city that make Sydney Tower Buffet a unique dining experience for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant slowly rotates, allowing you to see the city from all sides while you eat.  Choose from a huge range of menu items, including the following: • A variety of dips, cheeses and condiments • A selection of hot and cold seafood • A large selection of salads, e.g. Greek salad, seafood salad, Asian salad, watermelon salad, and many more Sample menu: Seafood  Sydney rock oysters, fresh lemon (gf, df) Tiger prawns, cocktail sauce (gf, df) Black mussels, harissa & capsicum (gf, df) Antipasto Shaved plain mortadella (gf, df) Grilled zucchini, lemon olive oil (v, gf, df) Eggplant caponata (v, gf, df) Hommus (v, gf, df) Rosemary focaccia (v, df) Salads Dutch cream potato (v, gf, df) Chickpea & tomato (v, gf, df) Watermelon, feta, mint dressing (v, gf) Mains Baked barramundi, fennel, pink pepper slaw (gf, df) Tempura fish bites, tartare sauce Steak cut chips Lemon & thyme roast potatoes (v, gf) Stir-fried seafood Hokkien noodles (df) Truffled cauliflower, tarragon pangrattato (v) Grilled kangaroo, native thyme & red bean salsa (gf, df) Greek-style grilled chicken thigh, lemon & oregano (gf, df) Casarecce pasta, Italian sausage & rocket (df) Tofu & eggplant basil stir fry (v, df) Marrakesh-style lamb korma osso buco, raisin (gf) Cumin steamed rice (v, gf, df) Desserts Salted caramel & chocolate tart Khanom chan, thai steamed coconut & pandan slice (v, gf, df) Persian love cake, lemon icing, pistachio Black forest gateau Red velvet cake, raspberry glaze Mango panna cotta (v, gf, df) Cheese selection (v, gf) Lavosh (v) Apple & raisin chutney (v, gf, df) Dry fruit (v, gf, df) v = vegetarian, gf = gluten-free, df = dairy-free. Menu subject to change. This is a sample menu only and may be subject to change due to food seasonality and availability.

The SCG Guided Walking Tour is fascinating journey behind the scenes of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the SCG Museum. The precinct is Sydney’s home of sport where international sporting heroes play cricket, rugby union, rugby league, football/soccer, and Australian Football League (AFL). Her entertaining stories of players, spectators and events as you take in the sporting architecture and ambience of the SCG. Venture behind the scenes of the Sydney Cricket Ground and see the field of play, the player’s dressing rooms, the historic members reserve, the media centre, the Walk of Honour, and the SCG Museum. With exclusive entry to the SCG Museum, you can see sporting treasures such as prized bats, balls and other cricket memorabilia: rugby league, football and AFL sporting treasures: and various featured temporary museum exhibits.

Regardless of your airline, ticket class, or membership, refresh before your outgoing flight in the kitted-out Plaza Premium Lounge or SkyTeam Lounge at Sydney Airport (SYD). See the inspiration from the Australian landscape and way of life in the decor and atmosphere of these exclusive lounges. Kick back in Plaza Premium Lounge’s comfortable seating area with views of the runway and casual dining areas. Enjoy all-inclusive entry to the Aero Bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, barista coffee, made-to-order bar snacks, and freshly-prepared local and international dishes. Relax in 784 square meters of pure luxury at the SkyTeam Exclusive Lounge. Find everything you need to unwind with hot showers, snacks, and international news channels. Normally reserved for business-class travelers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members, now you can feel like a VIP too.

Experience the ravishing romance of Madame Butterfly in a bold new production by Australia’s most famous choreographer, Graeme Murphy. Enchanted by the beauty of Japan, the American naval officer Pinkerton takes a young geisha for his wife. The innocent Madame Butterfly falls helplessly, hopelessly in love. But every ship must return to its shore, and Pinkerton returns home, leaving his bride behind. Butterfly waits patiently for her husband to return, and when he comes at last, both lovers have a surprise in store. This long-awaited reimagining uses the same incredible technology that wowed audiences in Aida, where towering flexible LED screens form a dynamic backdrop filled with moving images. Puccini’s sumptuous score includes the hit aria ‘Un bel di’. See it if you like a good tearjerker, Miss Saigon, stunning sets and costumes

Join a walking tour to explore the halls and foyer spaces of the Sydney Opera House with your entrance ticket. Learn what makes this building a World Heritage-listed masterpiece from your guide. You might catch a rehearsal in action or the crew working on a set. Discover the stories, history, and magic of the Sydney Opera House as you follow your guide underneath the sails and into the UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece. Explore some of the 1,000 rooms, 300 corridors, and hundreds of tales and secrets.  Step inside the inspired theatres where more than 1800 performances come to life each year and learn how the Danish architect Jorn Utzon's groundbreaking design and vision for world-class performing art came into existence.

Skip the big queue and enjoy faster entry by going straight to the prepaid voucher queue. Then stand on the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck, 820 feet (250 meters) above the street, and be rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views as far as 48 miles (80 kilometers) into the distance. Then, discover a new dimension to Sydney with a 4D cinema experience. Nestled at the highest point of the city, the Observation Deck offers the ultimate view of Sydney’s beaches and neighborhoods, with vistas as far as the Blue Mountains. Offering both day and night viewing slots, state-of-the-art multilingual touchscreens provide an interactive introduction to some of the city’s famous landmarks, and the high-powered binoculars give you an even closer look. Then, uncover a new dimension to Sydney with the brand new 4D cinema experience. See what makes Sydney work, through a new perspective of spectacular footage that transports you across Sydney Harbour and coastline, and takes you to iconic landmarks and events.

Experience the most fun way to travel to Taronga Zoo and save money with a return ticket on the rocket ferry Circular Quay. Once inside the zoo, take in as many of the exhibits as you like at your own pace. Explore 10 themed areas, including Wild Australia, Wild Asia and the Great Southern Oceans. Hear talks by the zookeepers and go to interactive shows, such as the free bird show and free seal show. See native Australian animals, including koala and platypus, along with creatures from around the world such as Asian elephants, lions and giraffe. Grab some lunch at one of the many cafés, or take your own picnic and find a nice spot in the shade. Once you've had your animal fix for the day, head back to the dock and get some amazing views of Sydney on the cruise back to Circular Quay.

Relish an evening at the Sydney Opera House, and watch a fabulous production of La Traviata, a must-see if you love Moulin Rouge, Pretty Woman, and My Fair Lady. This successful production by Elijah Moshinsky features lush party scenes in Paris and beautiful autumn afternoons in the countryside. Gaze at lavish sets and exquisite costumes combined with Verdi’s famous score and enjoy the perfect way to experience opera for the first time, or the chance to revisit a favorite with an exciting new cast. There's plenty of love to go around in this story of amorous encounters and elegant romance.

Experience a first-class dining experience aboard one of Sydney's premier vessels, the MV Sydney 2000 or John Cadman II, as you sail around a dazzling night sky or a mesmerizing Sydney Harbour during sunset (summer). Enjoy the enchanting backdrop of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and savor the scrumptious choices of an a la carte meal of a Contemporary Australian menu and 5-star service. Once you have indulged in the fantastic cuisine on offer, enjoy live music on Saturday and Sunday nights. See stunning Sydney Harbour by night aboard your premium dining experience.