Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 160

costs A$16 (US$10) for adults, A$11 (US$7.15) for children 10 to 16, and
A$41 (US$27) for families. Free for accompanied children under 10.
For other historical walks contact Sydney Guided Tours ( & 02/9660 7157 ).
The company's owner, Maureen Fry, has been in the business for over 12 years
and employs trained guides qualified in disciplines such as history, architecture,
and botany. She offers a range of tours including an introductory tour of Sydney,
a tour of Macquarie Street, and many others. Walking tours cost A$17 (US$11)
for 2 hours as part of a group. (Call in advance to find out what's available.)
A journey with a difference is Weird Sydney Ghost and History Tours
( & 02/9555 2700; www.destinytours.com.au). The tour—in a hearse—is fas-
cinating and fun, and explores a section of historic Sydney (and more modern
additions) including a former VD Clinic, the Sydney Opera House, and some
buildings along Macquarie Street. It costs A$149 (US$97) for the 1 1 ⁄ 2 - to 2-hour
trip.
MOTORCYCLE TOURS
Blue Thunder Motorcycle Tours ( & 02/9977 7721 or 0414/278 983) runs
Harley-Davidson tours of Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and places around New
South Wales. A 1-hour ride (you sit on the back of the bike) around the city
costs A$90 (US$59). A half-day trip to the northern beaches or down the south
coast through the Royal National Park costs A$265 (US$172), including lunch.
Full-day trips cost A$370 (US$240) including lunch and snacks, and go to the
Hunter Valley, the south coast, Bathurst, or the Blue Mountains.
If you love motorbikes and want to take one out on your own for a self-
guided or guided tour, contact Bikescape ( & 02/9356 2453; www.bikescape.
com.au). They'll rent you a bike to go around Sydney, or as far afield as Byron
Bay or the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
7 Staying Active
BIKING The best place to cycle in Sydney is in Centennial Park. Rent bikes
from Centennial Park Cycles, 50 Clovelly Rd., Randwick ( & 02/9398 5027 ),
which is 200m (656 ft.) from the Musgrave Avenue entrance. (The park has five
main entrances.) Mountain bikes cost A$9 (US$5.85) for the first hour, A$13
(US$8.45) for 2 hours, and A$20 (US$13) for 4 hours.
Bicycles in The City, 722 George St. (near Central Station) ( & 02/9280
2229 ), rents mountain bikes from A$5 (US$3.25) per hour, or $25 ($16) per
day. You can rent in-line skates here, too, for the same daily rate with all pro-
tective clothing. Helmets are compulsory in Australia.
FITNESS CLUBS The City Gym, 107 Crown St., East Sydney ( & 02/9360
6247 ), is a busy gym near Kings Cross. Drop-in visits are A$10 (US$6.50), and
it's open daily 24 hours.
GOLF Sydney has over 90 golf courses and plenty of fine weather. The 18-hole
championship course at Moore Park Golf Club, at Cleveland Street and Anzac
Parade, Waterloo ( & 02/9663 1064 ), is the nearest to the city. Visitors are wel-
come every day except all day Friday and Sunday mornings. Greens fees are A$24
(US$16) Monday through Friday, and A$27 (US$18) Saturday and Sunday.
One of my favorite courses is Long Reef Golf Club, Anzac Avenue, Colloroy
( & 02/9982 2943 ). This northern beaches course is surrounded by the Tasman
Sea on three sides and has gorgeous views. Greens fees are A$25 (US$16) mid-
week, and A$35 (US$23) on weekends.