OZtralia.tv Blog

Added Sydney Resources and Information

By: Phoenix Arrien

Sydney Tower…well…towers above Sydney. We rocket up in a lift to the top to find a circular observation deck offering 360 degree views of Sydney, the harbour and beyond.

Here you get a real sense of the city, the beautiful parts, the parks, the industrial sections and the grimy poorer areas. The waterways stretch and snake shiny blue tentacles everywhere and it appears such a vibrant, colourful city from up above.

Sydney is serviced by an effective system of public transport including trains, buses and a monorail, which is useful as most Australians shudder at the traffic congestion on the city’s streets. Shopping, dining, information and entertainment abounds, making Sydney a great starting point for your Australian holiday.

Check out:

Captain Cook Cruises www.captaincook.com.au/sydney

The Rocks Walking Tour www.rockswalkingtours.com.

Star City www.starcity.com.au

Taronga Zoo www.zoo.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Aquarium www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

Sydney Tower www.sydneyskytour.com.au/tower

More information on Sydney www.sydneyguide.net.au

Come Swim With The Fishes

By: Phoenix Arrien

Ane…Anem…Animo…Anemon..Those Cute Little Wavy Things in Australia’s reefs.

Remember when Nemo tried to say the word ‘anemones’? Never watched the movie ‘Finding Nemo’, eh? Well, try and say anemones twenty times and you will get the picture.

Unfortunately such creatures are having a hard time due to removal of anemones from reefs. This causes problems for both the anemones and their anemone fish, which cannot survive in the wild without their homes.

The Sydney Aquarium has launched a special display on sea anemones as part of a new campaign to save the home of Nemo and his family.

As the number of anemones harvested from ocean waters continues to grow, the Sydney Aquarium Conservation Fund is supporting Australian scientist Dr Anna Scott, from Southern Cross University, in her quest to develop ways to breed anemones in captivity.

The Aquarium has created a special display on Dr Scott’s research and has given a home to more than 30 of her captive bred baby leathery sea anemones in order to raise public awareness about the pressures these species are facing.

While there are more than 1000 types of sea anemones, only 10 are known to provide a home for anemone fish such as Nemo and his family, making them highly prized for the aquarium trade.

Dr Scott is using her findings to develop ways to breed anemones in captivity to provide an alternate source for private aquariums and potentially to restock damaged reefs.

Sydney Aquarium Chief Executive Kevin Bush said the Aquarium was committed to supporting Anna’s research and helping people realise the implications of harvesting anemones.

“After the movie ‘Finding Nemo’, the world fell in love with our beautiful little anemone fish. But it’s important to make people aware that Nemo and his family are under threat from the harvesting of anemones so we need to support the scientific community in their work to find a solution,” Mr Bush said.

There are also other cool critters at the aquarium and it makes a great day out next time you are in Sydney, Australia

By: Phoenix Arrien

Anyone who has travelled to Australia and not been to Sydney will either be a hermit on a yacht or an illegal boat person. Ok not quite…but almost.

Sydney is ‘in your face’ and well worth staying a few days during your Australian travels (but no longer!). The largest city in Australia, it offers the best buzz and nightlife, worst crime and most middling food in the country. However accommodation is something this city does excel in (bar Melbourne). The accommodation choices in the heart of Sydney city are many and among the best are:

InterContinental Sydney (117 Macquarie St, Sydney)

Efficient hotel within a grand 19^th Century building. The lounge overlooks the harbour and the décor is a mix of historic mementos and new designer furniture. Dining is at formal and informal restaurant and cafes. There is a pool and sauna and across the road lies wonderful gardens and near the ferries.

Park Hyatt Sydney (7 Hickson Rd The Rocks, Sydney http://www.sydney.park.hyatt.com/)

Uniquely situated beneath the Harbour Bridge on Sydney Cove, this property offers great views of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Dining makes full use of the beautiful harbour views and there’s fun to be had in the sun at the rooftop pool. All rooms have balconies and there is plenty to see, while the staff provides unbeatable personal attention.

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney (76 Cumberland St The Rocks, Sydney  http://www.shangri-la.com/) In a prominent harbourside setting, with stunning panoramas of the harbor bridge, opera house and city skyline, this mustard-yellow 36-story highrise hotel is a Sydney landmark in its own right. Inside, it’s very sophisticated and chic, dining is stylish recreation centers on a health club, neoclassical pool and sauna. Plenty of room for playing boats in the large marble baths in the guest rooms, so pity about the water shortages.

The Sebel Pier One Sydney (11 Hickson Rd Walsh Bay, Sydney, http://www.mirvachotels.com.au/).  A great location near water, shopping, entertainment and historic areas there is a strong nautical feel to this hotel with the unusual rooms sporting plenty of nooks and crannies to explore. Dining is on a sunny terrace overlooking the water and there are parks nearby as well as a great waterfront.

Crowne Plaza (150 Day Street, Sydney, http://www.crowneplazadarlingharbour.com.au/) This no-frills, comfortable hotel is well-placed between the entertainment and leisure precinct of Darling Harbour and Sydney’s Central Business District. Eat at the restaurant, dip in the pool or skip off to the endless number of entertainments and attractions nearby.

We had the pleasure of staying in one of (what we think is) Sydney’s best hotel’s, the Sheraton on the Park.

Right next to Hyde Park, this hotel is very luxurious and relaxing. We came through here just on a whim really… We were on our way to film in Perth and found ourselves in Sydney  on lay over.

When we walked into the hotel, we knew it was a different place all together. The executive lounge though…that took the cake. The view of Sydney is amazing.

We say that seeing is believing. Check it out for yourself.