I’m putting this article in both my blogs-some people only read one. I believe this is great value. I have stayed in the Adelaide city YHA and found it very good and I would believe the new Sydney YHA will be of the same standard.

The best budget accommodation in Sydney from $42* per night
The new Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks is now open, bringing quality budget accommodation in an outstanding harbour side location, to Sydney.
With overnight accommodation priced from just $42.00 per night in 6 bed shared room ($37.50 for YHA members), budget travellers can finally stay in the heart of Sydney’s premier tourist precinct and enjoy its many attractions and stunning Sydney Harbour views.
“Sydney Harbour YHA makes quality accommodation in Sydney’s highly sought after The Rocks area available to everyone. The variety of room types ensures it is perfect for couples, families and groups travelling on a budget,” said Ross Lardner, Manager, Sydney Harbour YHA.
“Communal recreation, dining and lounge areas encourage guests to mingle and share stories from their travels which creates the strong sense of an international community that YHAs around the world are known for. On our first night open, we welcomed guests from six continents,” Mr Lardner said.
Sydney Harbour YHA offers twin, double, family and shared 4-6 bed rooms, all with an en-suite bathroom, while some rooms and the expansive rooftop terrace boast Opera House views.
Facilities include a self-catering kitchen and dining area, laundry facilities, state-of-the-art Internet cafe, coffee bar, lockers, bicycle storage, lounge, tour booking desk and convenience store.
Individual lockable cupboards include a power point for charging a phone, IPOD, camera or laptop.
The Rocks offers museums, restaurants and great shopping. Circular Quay, Sydney Opera House, BridgeClimb, The Rocks Markets and the Museum of Contemporary Art are within walking distance.
Sydney Harbour YHA is situated on the remnants of some of Australia’s earliest European settlement. The remains of houses, pubs and laneways as well as thousands of household artefacts dating back to the First Fleet were uncovered during archaeological digs and have been incorporated into its design.
Standard rates are from $42.00 per person, per night in a 6 bed share room or from $159.00 per room (harbour view), per night for a double/twin room. YHA members save at least 10%. Bookings for Sydney Harbour YHA can be made at www.yha.com.au or on (02) 8272 0900
Sydney Harbour YHA is located at 110 Cumberland St, The Rocks and is a 5 minute walk from Circular Quay train station. A shuttle bus operates between Sydney Airport and Sydney Harbour YHA.
Sydney Harbour YHA is the ninth Sydney property for YHA which also operates three beach YHAs, two remote bush lodges, two award-winning properties in central Sydney and a cosy hostel in Glebe.

Cheers
John
See Australia Slowly!
http://roamersclub.com
http://grey-nomads.org
http://roamersclub.wordpress.com

You may have missed this article in my other blog
I came across a reference to Tobruk and the following information is from their website.
TOBRUK Sheep Station, the most beautiful and most authentic rural
and outback experience in the Sydney region. An exciting, fun and interactive farm experience for all ages.
Set on over 150 acres (70 hectares) on a high plateau above the Hawkesbury River, Tobruk is surrounded by State Forests and bushland, with amazing views to the Blue Mountains. You will feel 1,000 miles from anywhere but in reality you’re only 70 minutes from Sydney (10 mins short of Wisemans Ferry).
Tobruk is ideally suited for families through to corporate groups, seniors groups, international tourists and incentives who are looking for something unique or wanting to get out of the city and experience rural and outback Australia for the day.
Everything at Tobruk is authentic – our warm and friendly staff dedicated to showing all our guests what it is that makes Australia a special country, the charm of the rustic buildings, blacksmiths shop and farm machinery, the warmth of the open campfire in Drovers Camp with billy tea and baking damper, the hearty country meals, the friendly animals and the beautiful sunsets high above the Hawkesbury River and Blue Mountains.
The program is exciting, entertaining, educational and encourages participation, no matter what your age.
Our philosophy is to provide a clean, safe, authentic environment, which all guests can enjoy. So get out of the city and come and enjoy country hospitality and outback authenticity at its best.
Tobruk Specialises In
Individual, Family and Group Day Programmes – Family Farmstays
- Jackaroo and Jillaroo Camps – Day or Extended Programs for Schools and Student Groups – Australian and International Tour Groups Incentives, Corporates and Packages – Seniors Groups – Bush Dances – Weddings – Private Functions

Cheers
John
See Australia Slowly!
http://roamersclub.com
http://grey-nomads.org
http://roamersclub.wordpress.com

We’re over 40 and we make up the majority of the world population. We created the unprecedented growth in last century and are profoundly influencing elections, education and consumerism. Some of us were born after the Second World War and are called Babyboomers.

Spend two minutes creating a profile and start connecting with tens of thousands of mature and wealthy single over 40s for love, romance, friendship and relationship.

http://www.grey-nomads.biz

Tiger Airways Melbourne (Tullamarine) – Brisbane service set to start in early 2010.

Airfares are now on sale from $88 for the new service, which will operate up to three times a day from 28 March 2010.

Tiger will be flying into the five largest cities with 18 routes spanning every State and Territory in the country.

Tiger has also announced that it would be operating double daily services on the Sydney-Gold Coast route, as well as additional flights from Melbourne to Hobart, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Cheers
John
See Australia Slowly!
http://roamersclub.com
http://grey-nomads.org
http://roamersclub.wordpress.com

Rain, rain and more rain!
It has been wonderful-except for those in the Bellinger-Coffs Harbour area.
In Forster it has been steady soaking rain which was needed.
Today is overcast again but no rain so far.
More information has been added to the website.
www.grey-nomads.org
Go-Roam Australia!

Yesterday I was lucky!
On my morning walk I saw a pod of dolphins about 200m from the beach.
There were about 20 in one group and another 10 or so spread out further.
I’ve never seen so many together before. I must have watched them for 10 minutes before they moved further along the beach.
Forster is a wonderful place for wildlife!
www.grey-nomads.org

For those of you who are into caravanning,camping etc the South Coast Caravan, Camping and Holiday Expo will be held from 6 to 8 November at Mackay Park in Batemans Bay NSW.

There will be over 150 exhibitors.

Did you know that stamp duty was abolished on caravans, camper trailers and 5th wheelers in NSW on 1 July this year, which can mean significant savings.
The Expo will have displays of the latest models of caravans, motorhomes, camper trailers, campervans, 5th wheelers, camping equipment and tents, 4WD products and accessories, holiday destinations and tourist parks.
It will be open 9am to 5pm daily with free parking and entertainment for the entire family.

www.roamersclub.com
www.grey-nomads.org

Travelling from Glenfield to Hornsby on Monday last was a nightmare.
The road signage is dreadful.
Yes there are a lot of large green signs and the locals would be reasonably OK as they are familiar with suburb names and approximate location. I was born and raised in Sydney but have not lived there for over 40 years.
At the beginning of the Cumberland Highway near Liverpool, I was glad that Hornsby was actually on one of the green signs.
However that was the last for many kilometres.
The next one sent me to a T junction where there was no reference to Hornsby. I took the turn to the right and came to Parramatta, so I felt I was on the right track. However the next Hornsby sign was a small green one at an intersection indicating a right turn at that intersection. It was just luck I saw it as I was going straight ahead at that point and had to turn around and backtrack.
I do understand that Sydney is a big city with numerous suburbs but Hornsby is the last major suburb before you get on the Freeway north and I would think that it would be an important destination for both interstate and overseas visitors who were going north.

I went to Sydney for a class reunion over the weekend. It’s only a couple of hours drive from here.
Enjoyable time seeing some people for the first time in 40 years.
It rained all Sunday and Monday and has just started to clear here now.
I don’t know how much we have had but it has been good soaking falls not the deluge where it all runs into the gutters

Finally some rain last night. It was fairly heavy for a few minutes but whether it has done much good remains to be seen.
Overcast and cool today-which is good because I’m going to Sydney and it is a lot easier driving in the cool than the heat.