Vodafone Ashes Series 2010-11
Inspection Report - Sydney
Australia and England will contest the fifth and final Vodafone Ashes Series test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Whatever the score, everyone travelling to Sydney - the capital of New South Wales - will be amazed at the sights and sounds of Australia's most famous city and landmarks. New Year's Eve is reknowned for being a bit special, so what better way to start your stay on Sydney than enjoying the fireworks and NYE festivities before the cricket starts. It promises to be magical...
The Sydney Cricket Ground - or SCG for short - is a 46,000 capacity stadium located in Moore Park, and is home to the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans AFL team. The ground has a homely feel, despite the recent development and the addition of the newer stands. This is mainly due to the character of the traditional Members Pavilion, which exudes charm and provides a fond reminder the history of the stadium and the sport.
Howzat Travel seating arrangements will be as follows*:
Silver - Brewongle/Churchill Stands Block 28, 29 or 30 (See map / See view)
Gold - Victor Trumper Stand Block 311, 312 or 313 (See map / See view)
Platinum - Victor Trumper Stand Block 315, 316 or 318 (See map / See view)
Read Cricket Australia's 'Conditions of Entry' guidelines here.
Hotels
Howzat Travel will be using three properties for our customers' stay in Sydney - the Rydges World Square, the Four Points Darling Harbour and the Mantra 2 Bond Street, all located within the central business district of Sydney and a short distance from the attractions that the city has to offer.
Rydges World Square 4.5*Hotel website
This impressive property has a great location right on the edge of Sydney's Chinatown district, with clubs, bars shops and restaurants all within seconds' walk outside the hotel front door. The monorail - which links Chinatown to Darling Harbour and the main shopping district - runs through World Square itself and the nearest stop is a minute from the hotel. Darling harbour is just a 10 minute walk, and the The Rocks & Circular Quay are about 25-30 minutes by foot. The central train station is also just 7-10 walk from the hotel in the other direction.
The Rydges World Square hotel boasts 443 rooms, all offering air-con, flat screen TVs with cable TV and internet access, whilst all guests have access to the fully-equipped gym. The 'Sphere' restaurant on the lobby level offers contemporary cuisine
drawn from Australian, European and Asian influences and guests can enjoy a drink in the adjacent 'Square' bar.
The Rydges World Square hotel is located on World Square, just a 7-10-minute walk down Pitt Street to Central Station, where regular buses will be running to Sydney Cricket Ground - see map to the left, click to enlarge. If you wanted to walk, it would take you 30 minutes, heading east then south east along Liverpool Street, Oxford Street and Flinders Street towards Moore Park and the SCG.
Four Points Darling Harbour 4*Hotel website
Conveniently located overlooking the picturesque Darling Harbour, the Four Points Hotel is Sydney's largest hotel with 630 rooms. It is also just a short walk away from King Street Wharf and Cockle Bay, plus the monorail to access Chinatown and the main shopping area. Sydney Aquarium is directly below the hotel and the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre is only a short walk away.
Each of our rooms in the hotel features modern furnishings, with air-con, broadband internet access and cable TV as standard. Downstairs you will fine the lobby bar and the excellent Corn Exchange Restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. The hotel also has a 24-hour fitness centre and a family room with lending library and complimentary internet stations.
Outside the front of the hotel you will also find the Dundee Arms, one of the oldest pubs in Australia, now part of the hotel. It serves very reasonable pub meals and a selection of Australian beers. Look out for the happy hour too!
The Four Points hotel is located on Sussex Street, next to Darling Harbour. It is a 20-minute walk down Kent Street and George Street to Central Station, where regular buses will be running to Sydney Cricket Ground - see map to the left, click to enlarge. Walking to the SCG would take approximately 45 minutes, as you head through the city in a south-east direction towards Moore Park.
Mantra 2 Bond Street 4*Hotel website
The Mantra 2 Bond Street really has one of the best positions in Sydney's central business district, being located just 5-7 minutes by foot from Circular quay, The Rocks, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, plus all the excellent shopping the city has to offer. It is also located directly on the route of the free number 555 Green Bus, which is an ideal way to travel around Sydney, hopping on and off as you wish.
The property itself features apartment-style accommodation; 170 rooms - most with Sydney city views - all featuring air-con, fully-equipped kitchens, laundry facilities and cable TV. The Mantra 2 Bond Street also has a cafe and bar in the lobby where you can get breakfast each morning, and a must for all guests staying here to to rty out the rooftop pool and spa.
The Mantra 2 Bond Street is located on the corner of Bond Street and George Street, deep in the central business district. It is a 30-minute walk south of Castlereagh Street to Central Station, where regular buses will be running to Sydney Cricket Ground - see map to the left, click to enlarge. Walking to the SCG would take approximately 45 minutes, as you head through the city in a south-east direction towards Moore Park.
New Year's Eve
Although Howzat Travel will not be hosting our own NYE event, we can highly-recommend an option to all of our guests; Wolfie's restaurant in Circular Quay West in The Rocks, right next to Sydney Harbour Bridge. The food is delicious and the location is excellent, with spectacular views across Sydney Harbour and the Opera House - it really is the perfect position to watch the NYE fireworks and festivities and see in 2011! The package includes:
Four-course gourmet menu
UNLIMITED local sparkling, red & white premium wine, local beer, juice and soft drinks
Live band, DJs & dance floors
The perfect position to watch the NYE fireworks and festivities and see in 2011!
Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most iconic structures in the world, so if you're in Sydney and haven't climbed it already, it's a must-do (as long as you are not scared of heights). BridgeClimb
offers three different types of climd, differing in journey and duration. each one is exhilarating and highly-recommended. Book your climb by visiting the BridgeClimb website. Across the harbour from the bridge is one of Australia's other famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House. Whether you just want to walk around the outside and have your photo taken, or actually go inside and see a show or do a tour, it's up to you. The picturesque Darling Harbour is home to Sydney Aquarium, National Maritime Museum, the world's biggest IMAX cinema plus lots of restaurants and bars. Well worth a visit... Near to Darling Harbour, both King Street Wharf and Cockle Bay Wharf also have a wide array of eateries and places to relaxing and enjoy a drink. Take a ferry from Circular Quay across the harbour to Taronga Zoo - home to over 2,600 animals in eight different zoogeographic regions. The Rocks is a very quaint and historic area of Sydney, next to Circular Quay. Here, you can find lots of tourist-orientated attractions, shops, cafes and restaurants, all amongst the narrow streets and cobblestones. Just a short ferry ride from Circular quay are the coastal resorts of Manly and Bondi Beach. Surfing is popular at both resorts, but they have plenty more to offer and are well worth it if you have some free time. A trip to the Hunter Valley Wineries is a good way to spend a day, enjoying the beautiful scenery to the north of Sydney and of course, the delicious wines! Again, getting out of the city to see that the Australian countryside has as much to offer as the cities, take a day tour to visit the legendary Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves - Australia's largest underground limestone caves.
Weather
Summer days in Sydney are usually hot and sunny. Average daily highs during summer are around 26°C but can reach into the 30°s and higher on very hot days. You will usually enjoy between eight and nine hours of sunshine so makes sure you take the necessary protective cream and clothing. Note, storms with heavy rainfall are not infrequent, although they do not normally last long.
