Any advice for tourists to Australia and New Zealand?

[Dreamer]

Well I don't wanna make all you Pommies feel bad but I will be spending the festive holidays in Australia and New Zealand

The first 10 days will be spent in New Zealand Starting in Aukland and then getting the transcenic railway and Ferrry to Christchurch.

We will be spending Christmas in Sydney and are probably gonna be staying in the Darling Harbour/city centre region.I know Sydney has a great celebration at New year but we will only be spending Christmas there before flying to Brisbane for a couple of days then on to Cairns for New Year. After that it's off to Perth for 6 days

So as you can see we will be busy and doing a lot of travelling.
we have yet to book somewhere to stay in Sydney for Christmas We don't want a hotel that is too posh and we want somewhere that is handy for the bridge, opera house, bars and restaurants. If it had nice views that would be a plus, a pool would be nice too but not essential!
Hotels that we were thinking of are the Hilton, sofitel,capitol square and even the travellodge!

We only have the one hotel booked in Aukland and the rest of the accommodation has still to be booked so any advice would be appreciated on where to stay or things that are a "must do" like the Sydney bridge walk or snorkelling in the great barrier reef.

We are a married middle aged couple so no late night clubbing or stuff like that please.

Advice form resident Australians or New Zealanders would be welcome and you DK'rs who know me please try and keep the jokes to a minimum as I do actually want some decent advice

[caveman_nige]

Don't wear sheepskin..... ::

[rvfbill]

UGG boots

Buy as many pairs as you can and send them home to your selves, sell them when you return and you should make enough to pay for you holiday.
Genuine ones have a big G in the middle of UGG.
Oh and try EVERYTHING and have a great time.

Bill

[opsmonkey]

make sure you strectch your legs every half hour on the flight, to aviod DVT.. or fly BA / Quantas 1st class

on a more serious note.. i was dissapointed with the opera house.. was a right rust bucket from the outside when i visited in 98

[bootyfillah]

watch out for snakes

[Dreamer]

Well thanks for the advice guys I will be travelling light as doing a whole load of travelling round NZ and Auz

Nobody has told me to watch out for the spiders yet

thought you had to check the loo before sitting down when in the outback?

[mikeecristo]

Sounds like a cracking plan

[Walkinmyshadow]

opsmonkey is right about the opera house.. disappointing..in fact Sydney in its self is disappointing FULL of arrogant ar$eholes, get out of asap after seeing the bridge, op house, bondi etc, gold coast is a bit of a tourist trap as well, give me perth (my fav) or Melbourne any day, New Zealand is a different kettle of fish, stunning scenery and really down to earth people especially on the south island, tho the north island has its good spots as well...above all enjoy

[ezmondo]

Catch the "rocket" from sydney harbour to darling harbour & back again later, dirt cheap & great views. Bridge walk is well worth doing if your fit enough. Surfers paradise is fab, when you see the beach for the first time you will love it. Hope you have a great time, i'm so jealous now !!!!