Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 143

Great Deals on Sightseeing Value

The Privileges Card is a great way to save money if you plan to visit
Sydney's biggest attractions. The card costs A$25 (US$16), is good for
up to 1 month, and can be used in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.
In Sydney, all the major attractions offer some sort of discount if you
show a Privileges Card, such as two-for-one admission or reduced-price
admission if you're traveling alone, and buy-one-get-one-free reduc-
tions. With the card you'll also get discounts on harbor cruises (typi-
cally 20%), as well as discounts at certain restaurants (sometimes a free
main course if two of you are dining, or a 20% rebate off the total bill
for the cardholder and three others). To get a card, you'll need to fill
out an application form, available on the Internet (www.privileges
card.com) or at tourist information centers in Sydney; you'll receive a
booklet with details on where you can save. Call Privileges at & 1800/
675 500 (in Australia), or fax at 02/6254 8788. If you book in advance,
the company can arrange to have the card sent to your hotel.
The See Sydney & Beyond card, a cashless smart card packaging
more than 40 of the city's main attractions and tours, is valuable for
avoiding lines and saving money, although you'll have to plan well to
get the most out of it. The card can be purchased for a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 7-
day period; the one-day pass costs A$59 (US$38) for adults and A$39
(US$25) for children. You can also purchase cards including public
transporation; a one-day card with this option costs A$75 (US$49) for
adults and A$47 (US$30) for children. For more information, call & 02/
9247 6611 or see www.seesydneycard.com.

of Manly (come back after dusk to see the lights ablaze around The Rocks and
Circular Quay); to Watsons Bay, where you can have lunch and wander along
the cliffs; to Darling Harbour, for all the area's entertainment and the fact that
you travel right under the Harbour Bridge; and to Mosman Bay, just for the ride
and to see the grand houses that overlook exclusive harbor inlets.
FAST ACTION ON THE HARBOR For a thrill ride, you can board a 420-
horsepower jet boat, which zooms about on three high-speed waterway tours at
speeds of up to 40 knots (about 80kmph/50 mph), with huge 240-degree turns
with instant stops. Harbour Jet ( & 1300 88 73 73 in Australia, or 02/9212
3555; www.harbourjet.com) offers a 35-minute Jet Blast Adventure costing A$50
(US$33) for adults, and A$35 (US$23) for kids under 15, and A$135 (US$88)
for a family. A 50-minute Sydney Harbour Adventure costs A$65 (US$42) for
adults, A$45 (US$29) for kids, and A$175 (US$114) for a family; a 1-hour-and-
20-minute Middle Harbour Adventure cruise costs A$90 (US$59) for adults,
A$60 (US$39) for kids, and A$240 (US$156) for a family. Rides are fast and
furious and pump with rock music. A 1 1 ⁄ 4 -hour Ultimate Scenic Adventure,
which goes through Sydney Heads and out to sea, and ends up at Bondi, costs
A$175 (US$114) for adults and A$160 (US$104) for kids. There's no family
price for this one. The boat leaves from the Convention Jetty, between the Con-
vention Centre and the Harbourside Shopping complex on the far side of Dar-
ling Harbour. These trips don't leave every day, so check beforehand.