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jakbar
2005-08-08, 04:02 PM
I'm going to Australia (Sydney and Cairns) and New Zealand (North Island) in about two months. Is there anyone lurking in these forums (besides Futterman, whom I have already spoken to) who has been to either Australia or New Zealand recently and wouldn't mind me asking some questions?

In case it helps you determine whether you might be able to talk to me about the trip, I'm spending a few days in Sydney and a few days in Cairns before flying to Auckland to spend a week just driving around the North Island and staying at random bed and breakfasts. I plan to spend one day spotting at SYD, one day at CNS, and part of a day at AKL.

Please let me know if you're willing and able to answer questions about any part of my upcoming trip. Thanks!

Josh

Mr Smith
2005-09-14, 11:05 AM
Josh fire away, can't ask anyone better than an Aussie! if you need some help at SYD then i can put you in touch with a few people who are great to hang out with!

you may also want to check out http://www.vpmag.com/yssy/index.php for info on Sydney airport, if you plan to spot at CNS then i recommend you visit the airport ops office and they will take you out to the runway to shoot also! no problems doing that, the hill you won't miss cos you'll know you gotta climb the bloody thing to get those famous coral sea shots!

anything you wanna know? just fire away.

mirrodie
2005-09-14, 03:18 PM
hey Josh,

check your PM.


We went just prior to 9/11 and I actually kept a good journal, whilst there.
spent most of the 3 weeks there in B+Bs like you and only a few nights at a resort.

lots of notes.

(I mean good notes. I literally found a recipe for bread I got up in Daintree, north of Cairns.)


call me

hey, after 8 is great, if you want to call later.

Mario

jakbar
2005-09-19, 01:46 PM
Monty, that'd be great if you could put me in touch with someone at SYD. I'm planning to spend most of the entire day of Wednesday, October 26th at SYD. I won't have a car, so I'll need a ride to/from SYD if that's possible. I'm also flying up to CNS that evening around 6:45, so I'll need to either be dropped off at the airport (in which case I'll have to bring my luggage) or back at my hotel.

As for spotting in CNS, I'm not sure what day yet I'll be doing that, but I like your idea of going to the Airport Ops office. Are they really that open to letting spotters out onto the field for photography? Do I have to drop any names so they know I'm legit? I probably will climb the hill for some of those signature CNS shots, but I wouldn't plan on staying there the whole day, especially if I can shoot near the runway as well.

I'd love to hear from you or from Mario with some ideas/suggestions for things to do in both Sydney and Cairns. Someone mentioned to me that we should do this tour that takes you up to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Is that any good? I've also heard that Quiksilver is the best operator for day trips to the Reef out of Port Douglas. True?

Also, if you have any suggestions for New Zealand (north island only), I'd love to hear them.

Josh

jakbar
2005-09-19, 01:46 PM
Monty, that'd be great if you could put me in touch with someone at SYD. I'm planning to spend most of the entire day of Wednesday, October 26th at SYD. I won't have a car, so I'll need a ride to/from SYD if that's possible. I'm also flying up to CNS that evening around 6:45, so I'll need to either be dropped off at the airport (in which case I'll have to bring my luggage) or back at my hotel.

As for spotting in CNS, I'm not sure what day yet I'll be doing that, but I like your idea of going to the Airport Ops office. Are they really that open to letting spotters out onto the field for photography? Do I have to drop any names so they know I'm legit? I probably will climb the hill for some of those signature CNS shots, but I wouldn't plan on staying there the whole day, especially if I can shoot near the runway as well.

I'd love to hear from you or from Mario with some ideas/suggestions for things to do in both Sydney and Cairns. Someone mentioned to me that we should do this tour that takes you up to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Is that any good? I've also heard that Quiksilver is the best operator for day trips to the Reef out of Port Douglas. True?

Also, if you have any suggestions for New Zealand (north island only), I'd love to hear them.

Josh

Mr Smith
2005-09-19, 09:29 PM
Hi Josh

CNS is very spotter friendly, i'll speak with someone who frequents the airport often and get the exact details, as for Sydney i have sent you an email with a few addresses of people to contact...also post your info on the Sydney Airport Message Board! you'll be suprised who'll come out if the weather is good.

as for the harbor bridge climb...

http://www.adrenalin.com.au/experiences ... x?view=249 (http://www.adrenalin.com.au/experiences_details.aspx?view=249)

another must is a visit to Bondi Beach

http://www.voyeurmagic.com.au/


Taronga Zoo one of the worlds finest!

http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/

Sydney Tower for the view

http://www.sydneyskytour.com.au/

darling harbor is another great venue!

oh and for something very Australian you have to go to Harrys Cafe De Wheels at Woolloomooloo, it's close to the city and an absolute must! i go there everytime i'm in Sydney.
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/ ... wheels.htm (http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/harrys_cafe_de_wheels.htm)

if your planning on spotting and need to get to the airport from the city then take the train to Green Sq on the Airport and East Hills line and get whoever is meeting you to pick you up from there, it will save you a huge amount of $$, they screw you if you jump off at any other station after Green SQ on that line. the airport is very close to the city so it's a very quick train ride!

http://www.cityrail.info/networkmaps/mainmap.jsp

hope that helps, check your hotmail also!

Mr Smith
2005-09-19, 09:29 PM
Hi Josh

CNS is very spotter friendly, i'll speak with someone who frequents the airport often and get the exact details, as for Sydney i have sent you an email with a few addresses of people to contact...also post your info on the Sydney Airport Message Board! you'll be suprised who'll come out if the weather is good.

as for the harbor bridge climb...

http://www.adrenalin.com.au/experiences ... x?view=249 (http://www.adrenalin.com.au/experiences_details.aspx?view=249)

another must is a visit to Bondi Beach

http://www.voyeurmagic.com.au/


Taronga Zoo one of the worlds finest!

http://www.zoo.nsw.gov.au/

Sydney Tower for the view

http://www.sydneyskytour.com.au/

darling harbor is another great venue!

oh and for something very Australian you have to go to Harrys Cafe De Wheels at Woolloomooloo, it's close to the city and an absolute must! i go there everytime i'm in Sydney.
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/ ... wheels.htm (http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/harrys_cafe_de_wheels.htm)

if your planning on spotting and need to get to the airport from the city then take the train to Green Sq on the Airport and East Hills line and get whoever is meeting you to pick you up from there, it will save you a huge amount of $$, they screw you if you jump off at any other station after Green SQ on that line. the airport is very close to the city so it's a very quick train ride!

http://www.cityrail.info/networkmaps/mainmap.jsp

hope that helps, check your hotmail also!

mirrodie
2005-09-20, 11:27 AM
I didnt do the Bridge climb, but I looked into rapelling and thats something we've slated to do near summer when we return to Oz.

IIRC, what I didnt like about the bridge climb was that you cant take photos from there, so I though, whats the point. it's a valid safety concern (dont want cameras falling on top of traffic) but thats the only reason we didnt do it.

We did a day at Bondi beach, cute NJ shore type of village feel. We did not do Taronga Zoo but did a few zoos up in Brisbane. But my brother and mom recommended Taronga. Instead of Taronga, we took a trip to see the kangaroos out in the Blue Mountains area. I'll look the exact info at home.

We spent a few days in Darling Harbour, just a great place to soak up the culture.

Also, if you really want to see the heart of Syndey, see the Kings Cross area. They party so hard over there, it puts Times Square to shame.

Cafe De Wheels at Woolloomooloo- great place for a relaxed moment. one night, we just walked from out B+B to the Cafe (its like a small trailer, red) and bought a few of their meat pies and simply sat on the dock. Its directly behind her Majesty's fleet, so its like eating with your feet dangling over the water while at the Intrepid. Just one of those moments in Oz we cant forget.

Also, I did not do this but IIRC, there is a Syndey Control Tower tour, isnt there? I read about it a while back, between 9/11/01 and now.

mirrodie
2005-09-20, 11:27 AM
I didnt do the Bridge climb, but I looked into rapelling and thats something we've slated to do near summer when we return to Oz.

IIRC, what I didnt like about the bridge climb was that you cant take photos from there, so I though, whats the point. it's a valid safety concern (dont want cameras falling on top of traffic) but thats the only reason we didnt do it.

We did a day at Bondi beach, cute NJ shore type of village feel. We did not do Taronga Zoo but did a few zoos up in Brisbane. But my brother and mom recommended Taronga. Instead of Taronga, we took a trip to see the kangaroos out in the Blue Mountains area. I'll look the exact info at home.

We spent a few days in Darling Harbour, just a great place to soak up the culture.

Also, if you really want to see the heart of Syndey, see the Kings Cross area. They party so hard over there, it puts Times Square to shame.

Cafe De Wheels at Woolloomooloo- great place for a relaxed moment. one night, we just walked from out B+B to the Cafe (its like a small trailer, red) and bought a few of their meat pies and simply sat on the dock. Its directly behind her Majesty's fleet, so its like eating with your feet dangling over the water while at the Intrepid. Just one of those moments in Oz we cant forget.

Also, I did not do this but IIRC, there is a Syndey Control Tower tour, isnt there? I read about it a while back, between 9/11/01 and now.

Mr Smith
2005-09-20, 08:06 PM
yes they do Sydney Airport Tours on saturdays only i believe.

Mr Smith
2005-09-20, 08:06 PM
yes they do Sydney Airport Tours on saturdays only i believe.

mirrodie
2005-09-21, 11:02 AM
Smith, have you done the tower tour?

Can photos be taken from there?

Just wondering

Mario


PS Josh, you have my number?

mirrodie
2005-09-21, 11:02 AM
Smith, have you done the tower tour?

Can photos be taken from there?

Just wondering

Mario


PS Josh, you have my number?

Mr Smith
2005-09-21, 08:21 PM
http://www.airsidetarmactours.com/compo ... /Itemid,1/ (http://www.airsidetarmactours.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/)

never been on it cos i don't live in Sydney, was a recent uproar about the tour no longer allowing photos to be taken, you don't get out of the bus, it's more like a drive around the airport for 90mins.

Mr Smith
2005-09-21, 08:21 PM
http://www.airsidetarmactours.com/compo ... /Itemid,1/ (http://www.airsidetarmactours.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/)

never been on it cos i don't live in Sydney, was a recent uproar about the tour no longer allowing photos to be taken, you don't get out of the bus, it's more like a drive around the airport for 90mins.

jakbar
2005-10-19, 10:09 PM
Thanks for all the help guys! I'm leaving on Saturday, and I don't think I have ever been quite as excited for a trip as I am for this one! I'll take lots of good pictures and will be sure to post stuff when I get back in a few weeks.

Josh

Futterman
2005-10-19, 10:31 PM
Wow, I remember when you were tossing this idea around a year ago...now you're actually going. Crazy.

Have a GREAT time! :)

Brian