Nerd/techie stuff near Sydney airport? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 07:18:45 am
content: Hey Dave and all the other Sydney folks.I've got a 9 hour layover at the Sydney airport this weekend. I've only passed through the airport in the past and never actually "entered" the country so I thought this would be a good chance to burn 9 hours, see a little of Sydney, and get a snazzy new Aussie stamp in my passport.I wonder if there is anything that would be of interest to a nerdy/techie guy like myself near the airport? I don't know how long it'll take to get through customs and out of the airport(maybe an hour?), and I clearly dont want to miss my flight so I'd like to have at least a couple hours in the bank when I get back to the airport, just in case. So I figure I should have about 6 hours to play.Any suggestions?

author: TSL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 07:57:42 am
content: G'day and welcome to ozstrailyaCatch a train into Central Station, then get a taxi to here...http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/OR get a taxi straight therecheersTim

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 25, 2015, 09:44:20 pm
content: +1 the Powerhouse. It's right in the middle of the city so you'll get to experience some of what Sydney city has to offer.The airport is on the outskirts of the city so there really isn't much around that area. It's mostly residential and businesses.If catching a train though, I'd get off at Town Hall station rather than Central: Exit onto George Street, then walk down Market Street. That'll take you straight to Darling Harbour.

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2015, 06:17:27 am
content: Awesome! Thanks guys! It'll be cool to see some of Sydney. Now I just have to suffer through the 14.5hr flight to get there. UGHHHH!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 12:40:10 am
content: No option to stop over for a night or two? They recently refurbished the Shangri La hotel in Sydney; an absolutely magnificent place to stay:http://www.shangri-la.com/sydney/shangrila/I highly recommend grabbing a drink at the rooftop bar and enjoy the views of the Sydney harbour, then take a walk down to The Rocks.You'll sometimes get cheap(er) deals fromhttp://www.wotif.comThere is also the Sydney Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour if you're into warships and submarines etc...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 12:47:15 am
content: Quote from: RickieSalad on January 25, 2015, 07:18:45 amI didn't know they stamped passports any more?Tip: Declare something in your baggage, be it a packet of nuts or whatever. You'll very likely get through customs a lot faster. Sydney airport is notoriously slow, you can waste hours getting though.QuoteNope, grab the train at the airport and get out at Circular Quay (or Wynyard and walk). That is where the Opera House and Harbour bridge are, the "tourist money shot" for Sydney.Then head the Darling Harbour and visit the Powerhouse Museum as others have said, they have an original Apple 1.Apart form that, no other techy stuff worth visiting.QuoteYou need to be back at the airport 2 hours before international flights.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 12:51:58 am
content: Quote from: TSL on January 25, 2015, 07:57:42 amNo need for a Taxi in Sydney, everything is within walking distance. But then again, I'm a fast walker and it's nothing to walk from Circular key to Darling Harbour (the two main tourists hubs in the Sydney CBD)Also, I find walking the best way to see a city.The top of Centrepoint tower might be worth a look, they have a new clear deck you can walk out on. High end food court in that building too.If you are walking through Hyde Park (and I recommend you do) take the moving walkway at the top (North) right end of the park to the underground carpark and back again, juts for kicks, longest moving walkway in the southern hemisphere, and very often overlooked by tourists. I think it's kinda fun, but that's just me.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 12:57:48 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 12:51:58 amI must have walked past it hundreds of times and never knew it was there! Next time I'm in the city, I'll park down there just for shits and gigs.

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 01:08:02 am
content: I thought the maritime museum was quite nice. Maybe because, coming from a land-locked country, it contained stuff I hadn't seen everywhere else before

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 01:11:11 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 12:47:15 amTried that trick when I returned from OS holiday recently and it made no difference, still tedious and long waits. Plane landed at 8.00am and exited the terminal at midday.Could have been just that day or maybe its just normal nowAs for the moving walkway, like Halon, I had no idea !! now I will make a point next time I'm there.The Maritime Museum is also a very short walk from the Powerhouse tooRickieSalad ; do make sure you get back to the airport with plenty of time to get back through customs etc.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 01:16:53 am
content: So my recommendation:- Train from airport to Circular Quay (or Wynyard and walk North might be quicker as Circular Quay train likely isn't as frequent, but Circular Quay gives the "wow factor" as you step off the train and see the bridge and opera house)- Take the Manly Ferry at Circular Quay over to Manly and back. (Sydney is a Harbour city after all, worth going out on the harbour!). 30min trip each. Not much to see at Manly, so just stay on the boat and go back. Perhaps one of those jetboat tourist rides from Circular key might be quickerhttp://www.harbourjet.com/harbour-adventure/- The Museum of contempory art is free and right there if you want a peek:https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Museum+of+Contemporary+Art+Australia/@-33.860361,151.2091163,19z/data=!4m7!1m4!3m3!1s0x6b12ae3fb870a0cb:0xe21b547d906c24ca!2sSydney+Tower+Eye!3b1!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x1d6639c1a03d401d- Walk through the Botanical gardens south down to the underground moving walkway that will take you west to Hyde park:https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Domain+Car+Park/@-33.8708107,151.2155102,20z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12ae14c41fb73f:0x1b176a17a660f7d4(or just walk south down Pitt St and skip the gardens if that's not your thing)- Look at Hyde park and the archibald fountain, obligatory tourist photo.https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.870879,151.2120924,18z- Walk west 200m and go up the centrepoint tower onto the viewing platform (Sydney tower eye)http://www.sydneytowereye.com.au/https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Sydney+Tower+Eye/@-33.870451,151.20876,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12ae3fb870a0cb:0xe21b547d906c24ca- Head West along Market St down the Darling Harbour and across the Prymont Bridge and then South down toward the Powerhouse Museumhttps://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Powerhouse+Museum/@-33.8729062,151.2003252,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12ae250a9bb2c1:0x9d9479fc0cee1580The Maritime Museum and Aquarium are right here if they are your thing.- Worlds biggest IMAX screen at Darling harbour if you want a 45min experience.- Spend rest of day at Powerhouse Museum then walk back South East to Central station then back to Airport:https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Powerhouse+Museum/@-33.8816428,151.2028614,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x6b12ae250a9bb2c1:0x9d9479fc0cee1580

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 01:18:56 am
content: Quote from: lowimpedance on January 27, 2015, 01:11:11 amCan be. Have two cards filled out and chose the regular of the declared line, whichever looks quicker.Either way, get off the plane as quick and possible andrunto the custom area to beat the crowd.Will suck if you have to collect luggage.

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 01:58:42 am
content: WOW! Thanks guys you've really given me lots of info!Quote from: Halon on January 27, 2015, 12:40:10 amUnfortunately, no. I'm travelling for work so I'm on their dime and schedule. My contract will be over in October though and I'll be making the reverse trip on my way back. I was thinking of staying for a week in New Zealand and then a week in Sydney on my way back to the US. Or as Dave would say U-S-A U-S-A. Hahahaha. I'll remember that and have to check it out on my return trip.Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 12:47:15 amI won't be claiming my bag until New Zealand so I won't have to worry about that. Also I was hoping (fingers crossed), that maybe the Sydney airport has those lockers you can put your stuff in for a couple bucks. Then I could leave my carry-on and just take my camera, passport, and money out of the airport with me to speed things up a little both leaving and coming back through security. Anyone know if they have those in the airport?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 02:40:40 am
content: Well enjoy your stay! Hopefully the weather clears up for you. It's been raining the last couple of days although it hasn't been too cold (still shorts and t-shirt weather in my opinion).

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 03:06:18 am
content: Quote from: Halon on January 27, 2015, 02:40:40 amThank you!I live in Arizona in the US and it's a desert so we don't get much rain, and my ultimate destination is down in Antarctica and we get zero rain down there. So I wouldn't mind a little taste of rain one bit.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 04:15:35 am
content: Quote from: RickieSalad on January 27, 2015, 01:58:42 amSweet, then just run from the plane to the customs area. Have your form filled out on the plane, ask for two as I said, just in case, buy a packet of nuts. Every spot in the line counts.QuoteThere is a service:http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/prepare/luggage/luggage-serviceshttp://www.baggagestorage.com.au/index.php/ratesYou won't get security checked leaving the airport, just customs. So it's just plane -> customs -> freedom.

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 06:04:16 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 04:15:35 amFantastic, that's what I was hoping for!

author: TSL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 06:38:02 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 12:51:58 amAgreed - I was just being mindful of his limited time - Sydney is great on foot if you know where you're going!cheersTim

author: TSL
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 06:41:44 am
content: Quote from: RickieSalad on January 27, 2015, 03:06:18 amare you wintering@scott ?

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 07:59:45 am
content: Quote from: TSL on January 27, 2015, 06:41:44 amNo. I'm wintering but I'm one of those pesky "yanks" so I'll be at McMurdo. Scott Base is only a couple kilometers away, but I'm guessing that if you knew SB even exists then you already knew that.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 10:13:48 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 27, 2015, 01:18:56 amAnd don't forget to eat or dump the nuts (or whatever) if you take the "nothing to declare " line..or have one card and tick the box when you join the queue

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2015, 10:16:29 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on January 27, 2015, 10:13:48 amYeah, that makes sense.

author: RickieSalad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2015, 03:14:32 am
content: Thanks for the advice folks. My exploration was successful. I'd post pictures, but you've all seen that stuff a million times. Hahaha. Now after all the walking I'm exploring this seat in the airport with my rear and waiting for my next flight. A little punchy, neeeeed sleeep.Thanks again!!