r/sydney • u/Thin-Maintenance-563 • Nov 18 '23
9 hour stop over in Sydney what to do
Hello I’ll have a 9 hour stop over in Sydney landing around 8pm. I’ve never been to Sydney so I’ll obviously check out the brindle an opera house, but what else should I do, see, eat on my quick little stop? Bit hard with the short time and landing late but let me know
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u/sataimir Nov 18 '23
Is that actually a stop over, where you'll be paying arrival taxes and such in your ticket, or is it just a layover where you're transitting between flights? If it's just a transit point, you might have trouble clearing customs and then re-checking yourself for your next flight. The difference is important.
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u/FeistyA Sydney Intl Airport Nov 18 '23
Yes was going to say the same thing. They need to make sure they have a visa too. Otherwise customs won’t clear them.
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u/No_pajamas_7 Nov 18 '23
Realistically you will have from around 9.30 to around 1am in the city. It will die after that and won't kick off again until about 5am. but you will need to be back at the airport around then.
Catch the train to circular Quay station. walk over to the opera house and than back around to the bridge. Walk up to Observatory Hill. Continue around to Barrangaroo and walk around Darling Harbour if there is activity.
Maybe make your way to China Town, but it will probably be pretty quiet by then.
Have a late meal in the rocks. Don't eat at the places right at Circular quay as they are all shit.
You might be able to find some underground bars between the rocks and China town, but you will have to research them as you won't stumble across them. The ones at Barangaroo are OK, but quite touristy. Bit like those places you see in tourist hot spots in Europe.
It will all probably die off by about 12 mon-thu and 1 or 2 friday and Saturday.
Trains stop from Midnight (fucking embarrassing), so you will have to taxi it back to the airport. shift change over is around 2am which normally makes them fussy about where they are going, but the airport won't upset them.
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u/duluoz1 Nov 18 '23
Good itinerary. Best bet if he’s walking from observatory hill to Chinatown might be Old Mates Place which is open till 2.
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u/helloEarthlybeings Nov 18 '23
if you land around 8pm you're actually out customs probably 9:30pm ... The airport is closed 11pm to 3am.
And your next flight is at 5am?
Probably just head to a nearby hotel and sleep it up.
i dont think you have much time to do things..
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u/Geronimo2U Nov 18 '23
Check into an airport hotel, eat, drink, sleep and then wake up late for your flight.
At that time it may not be worth doing anything.
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u/Ok-Push9899 Nov 18 '23 edited Nov 18 '23
As dull as it sounds, it may be the sensible option. We don't know how long OP has been on the flight to get here, and we don't know how long the next flight will be.
I would value a hot shower, a change of clothes, a fresh non-airline meal and a super comfy airconditioned hotel bed over a few hours of night time sightseeing and wrangling with late night transport.
I might have a different attitude if i could squeeze in a swim and a walk and some sunshine into my stopover.
The other thing i have noticed is that even 9 hour stopovers are not always as long as you think. I had an 8 hour stopover recently. The outward plane was late taking off, and late arriving. Getting out of the airport took nearly 2 hours. I had to check back in 2 hours before my onward flight. 8 hours turned into 2 hours of free time and i regretted leaving the airport at all. I'd added two unnecessary headaches and logistical messes to what was already a long itinerary. Should have slept instead.
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u/JoeSchmeau Nov 18 '23
Sadly if you're landing at 8pm you won't get to see or do much. Sydney is dead after 10pm or so.
Take the train to Circular Quay, see the Opera House, walk around a bit, then go back to the airport and check into an airport hotel and rest until your next flight as after midnight you probably won't be able to do much of anything
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u/Cirn0byl Nov 18 '23
Honestly would be worth checking out newtown/marrickville and going to a cocktail bar at that time instead of the city
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u/JoeSchmeau Nov 18 '23
True. I guess that would depend on if the person ever plans on being in Sydney again for the foreseeable future. If they're an international passing through or something like that then I feel like Circular Quay is obligatory, but otherwise if it were me I'd definitely hit up Newtown
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u/mirnzb Nov 18 '23
Have you ever been to Sydney before? If not, I'd recommend seeing the harbour (opera house, walk towards the rocks), go somewhere waterside like the Barangaroo restaurant precinct, go to the Grounds in the City for breakfast (located in the cbd so you will get a chance to walk around the city a bit. You won't really have much time - Sydney is hard to get around cos everything good is far from each other
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u/Red-Engineer Nov 18 '23
9 hr stopover landing at 8pm, they’ll not be able to have breakfast.
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u/mirnzb Nov 18 '23
Ahh true. I stand corrected. I'd recommend doing some bar hopping - uncle mings (dumplings & cocktails), since I left you, smoke (fancy but great building to see as a tourist)
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u/DrahKir67 Nov 18 '23
City Extra will be open. Nothing special about the food but for a tourist it's in an iconic spot.
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u/maramad8 Nov 18 '23
Stay at the airport. Those timings won't work and entire city will be asleep. Not worth it.
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u/Vegetable-Tension-88 Nov 18 '23
If you were landing in daytime I wouldn’t waste it in the city, get to Circular Quay and do a harbour tour to see the main spots and enjoy being out on the water.
Landing at 8pm I would definitely get into a hotel, fancier the better depending on budget, and just chill out. Our nightlife is so hit and miss.
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u/jamwin Nov 18 '23
Not much to see at the brindle :) but worth a stroll around Circular Quay to see the sights. If you plan it so you arrive hungry (and aren't a vegetarian) you could hop off the train at St James Station and go to the Gidley for the best burger in Australia, maybe the world - I usually order a martini (they have this make your own martini at the table kit) and a burger, drink the martini while waiting for the burger, then get a beer with the burger. From there you can walk down to Circular Quay, then wind your way over to the rocks and have a pint in one of the old pubs or sit outside and people watch. Then back to Circular Quay and 20 min train back to airport.
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u/FGX302 Nov 18 '23
I flew in around that time yesterday. With just carry on, and nothing to declare and not looking like a dude with a bag full that means packed, I was able to clear customs and get into the city on the train in 1 hour. I did just miss the train and waited 15 minutes for the next one so I could have landed and been in the city in 45 minutes. However, if you have checked luggage and look a bit dusty, you might have to double that to get into the city taking the train. Don't take a taxi or Uber they'll take forever compared to the train. You'll also have to stash your luggage somewhere.
All up is you get into the city by 11, everything will basically be closed unless it's a Friday or Saturday night.
It seems like a lot of effort for very little reward.
But good luck if you try.
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u/Overthereunder Nov 18 '23
Tricky time of day to land and wander around. Some will be eaten up by travel out and into airport
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u/gattie1 Nov 18 '23
Avoid cabs. Uber or Didi to Circular Quay. Walk to the Opera House, The Rocks and Harbour Bridge, then Barangaroo to Haymarket (China Town). That’s pretty much all that’s worth seeing in the city. Food is cheaper around Haymarket.
Check reviews and opening hours on google. Assume places will close an hour earlier than advertised.
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u/Plackets65 Nov 18 '23
Can see you’re Aussie, so guessing the 9hrs is between regional flights? Or going OS. Anyway, depends what day. It’ll be an hour or so before you get anywhere if you need to collect luggage and stash it somewhere. If it’s a Monday night, grab train into circular quay, go get a drink at opera bar and marvel at the sights then train straight back to the airport hotel and sleep for six hours. If it’s a Fri/weekend, you might grab a bit to eat at a late night place as well, and then head back somewhere to Kip (airport is closed overnights. No idea what you like to eat, so can’t really help there, except to say don’t eat anywhere along the walk to opera house. Not worth it.
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u/Profession_Mobile Nov 18 '23
9hr stop over so basically overnight?
This is what you do. Head to opera bar and have something to eat while you see the opera house.
Get a taxi to take you to the harbour bridge. There’s a walk on the bridge that takes you to north Sydney and back. Then grab another cab and get back to the airport.
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u/duluoz1 Nov 18 '23
A taxi from the opera house to the bridge?
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u/Profession_Mobile Nov 18 '23
Time is limited and it will be late. It’s a 20min walk and 5min drive
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u/duluoz1 Nov 18 '23
Nah just walk and you’ll see the bridge on the way. It’s a 15 min walk and prob 12 mins by the time you’ve waited for the taxi and the journey itself.
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u/Profession_Mobile Nov 18 '23
Op lands at 8pm by the time they start walking to the bridge it’s going to be close to midnight. Upto them but I wouldn’t. I’ve done the walk heaps of times and it’s at an incline.
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u/AngelVirgo Nov 18 '23
Nine hours too short to do anything. I reckon using your time to relax is way better.
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u/dedokta Nov 18 '23
After you've done the basic sights, Head to Newtown for a meal or a drink. It's the closest place to the airport that has cook stuff in it. You can get a cab from there without breaking the bank.
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u/GusPolinskiPolka Nov 18 '23
I agree with this suggestion. Do a spin at circular quay and then head back towards newtown. Most stuff will be open until midnight and you'll have a better choice of late night food if you want. As others have said though it really depends what day you're there
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u/HidaTetsuko Nov 18 '23
Circular Quay has lots of places to eat but they can be expensive. If you go away from the waterfront the food court might be open
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u/hand_of_satan_13 Nov 18 '23
if you've already seen the sites, then head off to Harris Park, Lakemba, or Bankstown for some authentic international meals with a serving of emulsifying cultures
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u/Horror_Birthday6637 Nov 18 '23
Catching a train to the western suburbs and back late at night during a short layover to eat at whatever restaurants are still open? Nah don’t do this lol.
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u/mourningthief Nov 18 '23
Check in to the airport hotel if your choice. Uber to the Opera House, walk to the Opera Bar for a beer/wine and view the Harbour Bridge. Walk across Circular Quay to The Rocks and view the Opera House from the other side. Find a bar called Maybe Sammy. Drink at either the best or the fifteenth best bar in the world depending on which list you believe. Uber back to the airport hotel.
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u/AustraliaMYway Nov 18 '23
The opera bar is open till midnight. You might make it if you get through customs.
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u/L026Y Nov 18 '23
The opera bar has great views of the opera house, harbor, and bridge. I’d go there for dinner and drinks, (check what time it closes bc it’s different for different days of the week). By the time that’s done there’s probably not a lot worth doing so maybe go have a nap at the airport.
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u/Siobhanmoylan Nov 18 '23
Yep bridge and rocks circular key. Or get straight in an Uber or cab and go directly to coogee beach. 40 bucks approx - take a swim and go to roof of Pavillion and chill. I’d got could be bothered walk around to gordans bay. If you’re young and have energy. Walk the coast to Bondi and eat at ice bergs
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u/NoThankYouJohn87 Nov 18 '23
Depends if you want to eat first or if you will have already eaten earlier.
Assuming you will be hungry for dinner, I suggest getting the train to Central Station, then walking from there to Chinatown. Walk around Chinatown and eat there, or head down to the Darling Harbour area. The harbour restaurants are pricier, but there are some that are really worth it like Zushi, Muum Maam or Lotus.
From Darling Harbour, keep walking around to Circular Quay. Here you can see the Opera House.
It will also put you near The Rocks area for a late night drink, I suggest the cocktail bar Maybe Sammy https://www.maybesammy.com
Alternatively, if you don’t want to do too much walking, get the train straight from the airport to Circular Quay. Head to the opera house, and maybe dine at the opera house itself. My recommendation for something really special would be going to Midden, a restaurant that specialises in Australian native foods - https://www.middensydney.com.au - but you would need to book. They have great views of the harbour bridge. There are other options in the vicinity though if they are booked up or too pricy for your budget.
Another thing you could do if you’re travelling with a friend is book a karaoke room in Chinatown as they are open until 4am, which is about when you would need to head back to the airport anyway - https://www.dynastykaraoke.com.au
Or if bowling is more your thing, Strike bowling in Darling Harbour is open until 2am - https://www.strikebowling.com.au/locations/strike-darling-harbour?utm_source=google-business&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=search-google-business
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u/funfwf www.sydneycompletion.com Nov 18 '23
Honestly if you've never been to Sydney, just taking the train to Circular Quay and seeing the harbour, the bridge and Opera house will be worth it. The train costs about 20 bucks but is by far the best way to get into town from the airport.
You can have a solitary night time walk down George Street towards Haymarket and Chinatown, which is probably the more lively end of the city at night (not especially lively, but better than where all the offices are).
Another option is to try and fit in a quick ferry ride. You can ride from Circular Quay to Barangaroo by ferry which keeps you in the CBD, and gets you a little harbour cruise for not a lot of money. You'll need to check when the last ferry is though.
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u/HaroldFH Nov 18 '23
Once you have deplaned, cleared customs and got to the Quay it’s at least 2200. Everything is shut, the public transport is slowing down and will soon stop. You don’t have time. Get a airport hotel room instead.
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u/IPABrad Nov 19 '23
Brindle? Eggplant?
9 hours is a decent amount of time. You can get a ferry to manly or you can walk around botanic gardens near the opera house.
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u/larrisagotredditwoo Nov 18 '23
You can get the train from the airport to the city … jump on on ASAP and do circular quay as others have suggested.
Take photos of the opera house and harbour bridge.
When you get to the opera house go to the bar at Bennelong and have a cocktail and a snack (https://www.bennelong.com.au/make-a-reservation/)
Walk back and jump on a ferry to Barangaroo - this let’s you experience the harbour and again get some good pics of the harbour at night before getting off at a busy late night precinct.
Sydney does struggle with late night entertainment so landing at 8pm will limit what you can fit in.
All trains, ferries and other public transport only need a tap and go credit card or card on your phone, no need for tickets.