Originally Posted by notcasesensitive (Post 498988)

I've had a change of vacation plans and I'm now booked for flights to Brisbane, Sydney and Auckland in mid-to-late June. I'll have a few days in each of Brisbane and Auckland and only two days in Sydney. Tips? Must-sees?

Any thoughts on what the fact it will be winter means to my travel plans? Sounds like Brisbane will be like LA (temperate year-round), but I'm less confident about Sydney and Auckland...

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 498995)

Never been to Brisbane. Really good food in Sydney but the last time I was there it was incredibly expensive. Anyone could make a ton of money working at a mine drilling minerals for the Chinese, which drove prices up. This may have cooled off. When I go for work, I stay near The Rocks, which is not the most interesting part of town -- go farther afield. Take a ferry somewhere and back.

Auckland was pretty cool when I was there almost two decades ago, but it's very spread out -- a hard place to see on foot.

Originally Posted by LessinSF (Post 499006)

Brisbane has a great food and walking scene. If you can find the time, go down to Byron Bay. It is Australia's Santa Cruz. You can skip the Gold Coast unless you love Florida's miles and miles of beach-front retirement condos.

Auckland is cool too. It is spreadout, but there is a circle loop bus that goes everywhere you want to go and works for sightseeing too. Depending upon your weather, a good day trip is wine tasting on the island just off the city.

Sydney is Sydney.

Originally Posted by notcasesensitive (Post 499009)

Thanks! I'm considering renting a car in Auckland and doing a 3 night (self-guided) tour including stops in Hamilton, Rotorua and Lake Taupo (basically the first three days of this itinerary). My sister wants to see the glow worms and I'd like to see snowcapped mountains, thermal springs and such. I think if we did that, our first three nights would be this tour and our fourth night would be in Auckland. Seem doable? Seem worth it? Or would you stay in Auckland with just a day trip to the worm caves?

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski (Post 498791)

UWS restaurants- Boulud Sud across from Lincoln Center and Telepan on 69th just west of Columbus are two favorites. I assume you are there soon? If not until spring there are outdoor Cafes along the Hudson that are not great food but beautiful settings. On the other hand, simply walking up Amsterdam from 72nd to about 90th you will pass a million restaurants, and might simply wait for inspiration. (Also, Tavern on the Green is reopened, in case you have any Catcher in the Rye fans?)

As to family activities, the Cloisters is pretty cool and the park around it amazing- hard to believe you are sill in the City. The High Line walk is good, even if too crowded. The aircraft carrier tour would probably be something they'd like. Also the Natural History and Metropolitan Museums are great. 9/11 memorial is something, the museum might be a bit much for the younger kid, but maybe not?

But simply walking through the park, or just walking a few miles down one of the avenues is pretty amazing. The changes along Broadway from the UWS to say Soho, or even further down gives you a pretty dynamic sense of the City.

EDIT- walk the Brooklyn bridge and have lunch in DUMBO, or take the water taxi from Bk Heights to Williamsburg.

Originally Posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.) (Post 499012)

My weather experience from many years ago in June is probably not much use, but winter in NZ was pretty cool, and downright cold on the South Island. Sydney wasn't so bad.

I didn't see the worm caves then, but thought the other stops were definitely worth making it happen. That said, why not just hop a flight from Brisbane or Sydney straight to Christchurch and spend 3 days on the South Island?

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 499024)

Momofuku's Ssam Bar, on Second Ave at 13th. Make a reservation for a group to get the bo ssam, and if you don't eat pork, reconsider.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 499024)

Ella, on Columbia somewhere near 70th. A neighborhood tapas place.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 499024)

Gastronomia Culinaria, on 106th at Manhattan. Better-than-average Italian.

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall (Post 499032)

I think you mean Columbus, but I'll let it slide.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 499051)

Only because I had too much to drink. Also enjoyed Pio Pio on Amsterdam at 95th, but not sure the family-style format will work for everyone.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 499051)

Only because I had too much to drink. Also enjoyed Pio Pio on Amsterdam at 95th, but not sure the family-style format will work for everyone.

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall (Post 499071)

Did you not do NoMad Bar or Levain? If so, I refuse to give you recs for anything ever again.

TM