A weekend in Jo'burg, followed by a weekend in Sydney...

[schmalex]

Please recommend me something to do in both places!!

I leave next Friday evening on a solo 15 day business trip to Johannesburg, on to Sydney & finally wrapping up in Wellington & Auckland before returning back to Blighty.

As luck would have it, I have a clear weekend in Jo'burg next weekend & a clear weekend in Sydney the following. Unfortunately, I have only got Friday night in Auckland at the end of the trip, so already planned a few beers in a bar there with an old friend who moved there years ago.

I turn to PH to recommend me something to do in Jo'burg & Sydney as I have never been to either place.

[v15ben]

Sydney - some bits off the normal tourist trail a bit:

Fish and Chips in Watsons Bay - take the ferry from outside the Opera House
Harry's Cafe de Wheels Pie Wagon - world famous
Manly Beach
Walk from Coogee to Bondi beach via the coast path
Pancakes on the Rocks
Go to the end of the railway line at Waterfall station and go for a hike back to Heathcote station - very quiet and spectacular locations! - About an hour on the train from Central.
On a PH theme, go to this place: www.classicthrottleshop.com - get off the train first station just off the Harbour Bridge (north shore) - some amazing classic metal in there!

Jo'Burg - erm, well, I didn't used to live there so pass

Edited by v15ben on Thursday 15th July 20:38

[Neil_Sc]

The african market at the mall of rosebank on a Sunday is worth a look.

I stayed at the Melrose Arch not too long ago on a business trip and had a cracking steak at the meat company restaurant over the road, couldn't quite manage the 750g t-bone, but the 500g rib was spot on!

[harry010]

Rosebank Market is v good as said..

Drinks at the Polo Bar of the Westcliff Hotel, one of the only nice views of Jozi. The Aparthied museum is good for an hour or so, if you did want to go shopping head for Sandton. Stay out of the downtown/Hillbrow area.

I used to live there and I'm struggling a bit to be honest, it's not the most exciting place in the world, unless you can find any rugby to go and watch at Ellis Park.

[Jackleman]

If you are in Sydney and are up for something a bit different, try the bridge climb! My family bought it for me as a Christmas present and I went up the day before NYE with all the dudes loading all the explosives.

A sunset drink at the Opera Bar which is on the lower level at the Sydney Opera House is nice.

I would also recomend a visit to the Hunter Valley for some wine tasting and smelly cheese, there are special buses that run from Sydney I believe.

Manly is a nice spot also.

[Kudos]

Day trip out to Sun City followed by Safari around the park beside it? Well worth going to see a bit of wildlife, beats lying in a bar all day.

Soweto worth a trip too.

Where you staying in J'burg?

[whoami]

Kudos said:

Day trip out to Sun City

Sorry to disagree but Sun City is a total st hole.

[Kudos]

whoami said:

Kudos said:

Day trip out to Sun City

Sorry to disagree but Sun City is a total st hole.

You're right, it is - but it's still worth a look. The national park is next door

[schmalex]

To be fair, I'm actually staying in Pretoria at the Centurion Lakeside. I saw something on the web about a Cheetah sanctuary not too far from there, so am toying with the idea of spending a half a day there, as I really enjoyed seeing the Cheetah's when we did a safari in the Mara.

Is Jo'burg really as dangerous as I have been advised? (my customer there was very scathing of the place).

I am loving the Sydney suggestions. I'll have a car there, as I have to drive to Canberra one day, so may take a trip to Manley, followed by sundowners at the Opera House & dinner somewhere on the waterfront one of the days.

[hyperblue]

Sydney - Get down to the harbour, see the Opera House, bridge etc, take a ferry to anywhere and you'll get to see more of the bay, it's beautiful.

Jo'Burg - The area around Rosebank Mall is good, also had a great steak in Nelson Mandela square in Sandton, place is called the Butcher Shop and and an amazing wine selection too. Definitely stay out of Hillbrow

Edited by hyperblue on Thursday 15th July 22:09

[Puggit]

The park next to Sun City is Pilanesberg. Most day trips out from Gauteng will include a little time in Sun City (The lagoon is well worth a look!). Just ask your hotel to organise.

I'd never been on safari, and for the £60 day trip price, it was well worth it.


The centre of Joburg (called the CBD) is a particularly unappetising prospect - avoid unless it's strictly necessary to visit. Feel free to stick to the more affluent suburbs in the North, like Sandton (good malls and restaurants).

[Stephanie Plum]

Sandton is ok (just), but given the option, I'd take a cheap flight down to Cape Town and spend the weekend there. It's what I always did when working in Pretoria a few years ago.

[Puggit]

If you're going to eat in Parktown, then I've never had a better steak in my life (and I've eaten a lot of steak in SA!)

http://www.dining-out.co.za/member_details-MemberI...



I broadly agree with the Cape Town sentiments - I always tried to have my weekends there instead of Joburg!

[schmalex]

Update on Jo'burg.

My customer is holding a BBQ for us at his house on Saturday night and then taking me microliting over one of the local Game Reserves on Sunday (weather permitting). Sounds like it'll be a good weekend all round!!

[Beardy10]

You won't need a cr to go to Manly...it's a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. Oh yeah.....the weather in Sydney is not as good as you would think...it rains there quite a bit. Much more so than it does in Queensland for example.

[Mobile Chicane]

The Taronga Zoo in Sydney is a 'must see'.

The best view of the Opera House and bridge are from that side of the harbour, plus the chairlift over the African enclosures, plus the 'Backyard to Bush' exhibit will blow you away. For the latter you pass through a double gateway, after which wallabies and all manner of birds are running / flying freely all around you

Totally agree with the comments about fish and chips (from Doyle's) at Watson's Bay and Harry's Café de Wheels too. Harry's (at Woolloomooloo Wharf) is a good spot to see the flying foxes taking off from the Botanic Gardens at sunset. Oh, and while you're there - have a cocktail at the 'W' hotel.