Melbourne is already spoilt in terms of golf courses being located a short drive from the “Sandbelt”; which maintains names such as Royal Melbourne and Kingston Heath, but it is now adding to its hotel options with a range of new properties that have either opened this year or that are due to open later on in the year. It promises to keep this vibrant cosmopolitan city high on the “must-see” list of any traveller, not just golfers. You can see more details of some of the new hotels by clicking here. We will be especially interested to see what Gordon Ramsey creates at the new Crown Metropol.
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of the agents responsible for our South Pacific programmes.
I loved Sydney from the minute I stepped of the plane…everything about the city I adored! I wanted to do as much as possible during my time there and of course, a visit to Sydney Opera House was essential. I can’t explain how wonderful and amazing the building is; the tour includes an extensive journey of inside and outside the Opera House. Part of the tour involves watching a detailed video section with your guide and your group at the end of the circuit. This for me was the best part; to hear the story of the original architect Jørn Utzon and the history behind how this unique building came to be.
Inside the Sydney Opera House
I combined the Sydney Opera House tour with the Sydney Harbour Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises, taking in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo, Fort Denison, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, Luna Park, and The Rocks & Darling Harbour. You are able to get off at any of the stops and join the cruise again at a later time.
A view on the Sydney Harbour Cruise
It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes without any stops, and was a great way to take everything in. The area round Sydney Harbour has a great buzz and atmosphere, with several fantastic places to stop off for a coffee or a light lunch – a wonderful way to relax and watch the world go by.
By Denise McKee. Denise McKee has worked for PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of the members of staff responsible for our South Pacific programs.
At this time of year, everyone here in Scotland is wrapping up against the cold climate, while down under they are enjoying the start of their summer. Reflecting on the time I spent in Australia – this time last year – I was reminded of the excellent experience climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge; something I would recommend to everyone.
Alastair Niven, one of the PerryGolf staff members who is responsible for South Pacific programs
Myself and one of my colleagues booked the climb online a few days in advance, but it can be done much further ahead of time, which is recommended if you wish to do the evening walk which is very popular. We walked the short distance from our hotel through the Rocks area of Sydney past the various bars and excellent restaurants to the start point under the main highway of the bridge. After check in and being allocated to our group (around a dozen of us) we were given a safety briefing and were provided with all of the equipment we required based on the weather that day. It should be noted that, for safety reasons, you are not allowed to take cameras and all items have to be securely attached to you to avoid anything falling down onto the highway below.
Our group was a mixed bunch from the UK, Denmark and also a local from Sydney, ranging from around 16 years old to mid 50’s I would estimate (and all in varying degrees of fitness). I was concerned prior to the trip about being fit enough but it really was not difficult and our entire group completed the climb easily. We then set off on a gantry fixed under the bridge to the stone pylons that ‘book-end’ the bridge itself. The Pylons do not serve any structural need and are just there to make the bridge appear more solid.
We made our way up the stairs through the pylons and then up some ladders to the top surface of the arch. From there it is a leisurely walk up to the highest point of the arch. The views of the city and harbour are fantastic – as you can imagine – and the guide kept us amused throughout with various facts about the bridge and its construction (as well as several anecdotes). At the top, after some photos, we headed back across to the other side to start the descent to base.
The whole experience takes around three and a half hours so it was a great way for us to spend a morning and really get to know one of the world’s most iconic structures in a way it is not usually possible to do. Being located so close to the famous Opera House means it is easy to combine these two fantastic sights into the one day. Check out the Bridge Climb site for full details and to book online.
I would say this is must for anyone visiting Sydney!
St. Andrews Golf Course which opened approximately four years ago to strong reviews (Tom Doak designed) on the Mornington Penninsula near Melbourne has re-opened again a few weeks ago. It was closed for 18 months but maintained.
Barnbougle Dunes on the north coast of Tasmania and arguably one of the most remote locations for a world class course is getting a neighbor in 2010. The team of Crenshaw/Coore are in the finishing stages of the “The Lost Farm” which will open in spring 2010 (fall in the northern hemisphere)…if history is anything to base expectations upon, this will be a great course. This is completely separate facility from Barnbougle Dunes.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
