Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 150

morning on weekends. Interestingly, the three sun bears near the lower ferry
entrance/exit were rescued by an Australian businessman, John Stephens, from
a restaurant in Cambodia, where they were to have their paws cut off and
served in a soup. Allow around 2 hours.
Bradley's Head Rd., Mosman. & 02/9969 2777. Admission A$21 (US$14) adults, A$12 (US$7.80) children
4-15. Ask about family prices. A Zoopass (includes entry, round-trip ferry from Circular Quay, and Aerial Safari
cable-car ride from ferry terminal to upper entrance of zoo) is available from CityRail stations for A$25
(US$16) for adults and A$13 (US$8.10) for children (no family pass). Daily 9am-5pm (Jan 9am-9pm). Ferry:
Taronga Zoo. At Taronga Zoo wharf, a bus to the upper zoo entrance is A$1.30 (US85¢), or take a cable car
to the top for A$2.50 (US$1.60). The lower zoo entrance is a 2-min. walk up the hill from the wharf.
HITTING THE BEACH
One of the big bonuses of visiting Sydney in the summer months (Dec-Feb) is
that you get to experience the beaches in their full glory.
Most major city beaches, such as Manly and Bondi, have lifeguards on patrol,
especially during the summer. They check the water conditions and are on the
lookout for “rips” —strong currents that can pull a swimmer far out to sea. Safe
places to swim are marked by red and yellow flags. You must always swim
between these flags. If you are using a foam or plastic body board or “boogie
board,” it's advisable to use it between the flags. Fiberglass surfboards must be
used outside the flags. (Expect a warning from the beach loudspeakers and an
A$100/US$65 fine if you fail to take notice.)
WHAT ABOUT SHARKS & OTHER NASTIES? One of the first things
visitors wonder when they hit the water in Australia is: Are there sharks? The
answer is yes, but fortunately they are rarely spotted inshore—you are far more
likely to spot a migrating whale. In reality, sharks have more reason to be scared
of us than we of them; most of them end up as the fish in your average packet
of fish and chips. (Shark filets are often sold as “flake.”) Though some beaches—
such as the small beach next to the Manly ferry wharf in Manly and a section of
Balmoral Beach in Mosman—have permanent shark nets, most rely on portable
nets that are moved from beach to beach.
Another common problem off Sydney's beaches are “blue bottles” —small
blue jellyfish, often called “stingers” in Australia, and “Portuguese-Man-o'-War”
elsewhere. You'll often find these creatures washed up along the beach; they
become a hazard for swimmers when there's a strong breeze coming off the
ocean and they're blown in to shore (watch out for warning signs erected on the
shoreline). Minute individual stinging cells often break off the main body of the
creature, and they can cause minor itching or stinging. Or you might be hit by
the full force of a blue bottle, which will often stick to your skin and wrap its
tentacles around you. Blue bottles deliver a hefty punch from their many sting-
ing cells, causing a severe burning sensation almost immediately. Wearing a T-
shirt in the water reduces the risk somewhat (though a pair of waterlogged jeans
isn't a good idea). If you are stung, rinse the area liberally with seawater or fresh
water to remove any tentacles stuck in the skin. For intense pain, apply heat or
cold, whichever feels better. If you experience breathing difficulties or disorien-
tation, seek medical attention immediately.
SOUTH OF SYDNEY HARBOUR
Sydney's most famous beach is Bondi . In many ways it's a raffish version of
a Californian beach, with plenty of tanned skin and in-line skaters. Though the
beach is nice, it's cut off from the cafe and restaurant strip that caters to beach-
goers by a road that pedestrians have to funnel across in order to reach the sand.