2012 Easter Weekend Plans Part 3

"Sydney Royal Easter Show" is the biggest event in Sydney for every Easter, that any Sydney visitors should not miss if you have not been to one before. In fact, I was told that (needs public vertification) it is the BIGGEST show in australia.


I took this photo from the train station Advertisement board. Apparently, $36 includes return train ride from Sydney Olympic Park where the show is held.
Anyone who is interested should do some homework from this website Sydney Easter show in detail.

For the knowledge, there is "Royal" shows in various state in Australia, the dates are different.
Royal shows in Australia

For Adelaide that would be in 1st week of September, if anyone is interested, i can get discounted tickets for the Adelaide royal show, that is if you are in Adelaide.

For Perth, I have not been to one yet, it is towards the end of september and 1st week of october. Here's the link perth royal show

I never been to Melbourne 'Royal' show, although i resided in melbourne for couple of years. But I would prefer to go moomba festival melbourne, that is celebrated every Labour day long weekend of each summer at Yarra river right outside the city. Simply because, it is FOC. I am that cheap. :D

If some kind souls can provide me some easter show pictures, please share with me, i will placed it up in this page.

2012 Easter Weekend Plans Part 2

Easter was last weekend and I HAD A AWESOME time. Many Thanks to people to help my easter trip a memorable one. It did not really go as what i had planned in mind >>
http://singaporeclubau.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/2012-easter-weekend-plans-part-1.html
Nevertheless I will share some of the things one could do for the next easter 2013 as well as the things i had done during easter holidays.

6th April Easter Friday

I arrived in Sydney 9am from adelaide. To make matter worse, my old aliment was back to haunt me since 1st April. I was very close to cancelling my trip, but on the 3rd April, i decide, fug it, since i can manage to limp my way to work, there is nothing to stop me from visiting my friends in sydney. So very kind Merlion offer me a ride from Kingsford airport to Marsfield.

I waited for his car at Public Pick up in T2.It is a area consists of 52 parking spaces offering 10 minutes free pick-up time. Vehicles that stay beyond the free 10 minutes, or park in a car park area outside the designated Public Pick-up area, pay normal parking rates.


Users can refer to below link for further information on dropping off and picking up in kingsford Airport in Sydney.
dropping off and picking up in Kingsford
Soon i saw a glimpse of merlion, sturdy old car and i jumped in! She is a really sturdy old ger -- one of the old classic we used to see in our japanese manga

Anyhow, after i dropped my bags at my friend's room, we headed to Macquarie shopping centre for brunch at 'Thai Break". It is not a Chat Thai branch. Food there taste quite OK for a thai eatery. price is along 12-15Aud for a dish with large serve of rice. In general, 2 girls can share 1 dish. I have yet to try out all their menu BUT i can assure you, their tom yam soup is just 4/10. Not spicy nor sour, no strong aroma as well.

After brunch, i parted my ways with Merlion, and agree that we will go uncle phil's house on Easter Saturday for Dinner, i will elaborate that in next part.

Sydney Opera House
This was the 4th time i was in sydney, but never once i set foot near the Opera House.
1st time, i was too stuffed at work that i didnt really managed to do much homework to figure out the transport system in sydney prior my x'mas break.
2nd time, it was for work, simply had no time to explore.
3rd time, it was still for work but i flew in with mum 1 day on sun, still i was so stuffed with work that i STILL did not managed to figure out how to make my way to the Opera House although i managed to squeeze some time to travel into city.
So hence, the 4th time, i had my frd to bring me there, and i learn to figure out sydney transport system. It was easier than reading on the brouchure, at least for me.

We arrive at Waynard Station, change trains into Platform 5/6 that travels to Circular quay Station. Upon exiting the station, on our way to the opera house, there is a lot of ferry terminal one can ride to visit serveral places, which i did not really pay attention to.

BUT there is a ferry ride to Luna Park, $30, but Luna Park entry is free. It will be interesting for family to bring kids on their first ferry ride and travel to Luna park. The children's dream and paradise.



That pretty much conclude my first day in sydney for Easter.

Lake Macquarie is only a short distance from Sydney, located between The Central Coast and Newcastle.

Lake Macquarie is only a short distance from Sydney, located between The Central Coast and Newcastle.

Recently, we invited our favourite uncle, Uncle Phil, to join us for a fishing trip on Lake Macquarie. The main idea is to get him away from busy Sydney onto a more idyllic location which Australia is famous for.


The lake itself is the largest coastal saltwater lake in Australia, over four times the size of Sydney Harbour.



View Larger Map

Arriving at Lake Macquarie is easy from Sydney. Just head north and find your way to the F3 Entrance at Wahroongah (near to Hornsby) and take the freeway. Travelling on the F3 freeway from Sydney will have you arriving in 90 minutes!!

For east Lake Macquarie (Swansea, Belmont, Charlestown) take the Budgewoi Swansea Charlestown exit and use the brown and white signage.  For west Lake Macquarie, take the Morisset, Toronto or Cardiff exits and use the brown and white signage

The lake is 24 km long and has 174 km of foreshore, with it's beautiful bays and beaches.
The eastern side of the Lake Macquarie Area border the Pacific Ocean with it's long sandy beaches.
On the western side Lake Macquarie adjoins the Watagan Mountains.
The Lake Macquarie region offers opportunities for Fishing, Swimming, Water Skiing, Surfing, Boating, Hiking, Horse Back Riding, Wine Tasting and much more.


Read more about the lake here and what it can offer here:
http://www.lakemacquarie.com/
http://www.visitlakemac.com.au

Uncle Phil has a nice time cruising on the lake on our boat, and thanks to his blessings and the luck that he bring with him, we have a good catch! We brought home 5 fish! However, our total catch of the day is 10 but we need to put 5 back into the lake! :(

In his own words, this is one of the best trip away from Sydney that he had, "plan also can't plan until so good!"

Umina Beach - Only a short get away from Sydney

For sydney siders,  We at Singapore Club in Australia ,offer you some suggestion to getaway idea from busy Sydney for a weekend etc..

The following article is copied from: http://www.uminabeachvillage.com.au/

Umina Beach - Only a short get away from Sydney

Umina Beach is surrounded by the clear fresh waters of Broken Bay, Brisbane Waters, the Hawkesbury River & National Parks.

Looking south towards Palm Beach & 'Summer Bay', Umina boasts two beaches, Ocean Beach & Umina Beach, connected to each other with Pearl Beach a stroll around the headland to the south.
Surrounded by outstanding natural beauty, award-winning attractions, Umina Beach is popular with holiday-makers & day-trippers. There are activities & accommodation options for everyone.

Map:


View Larger Map

Four kilometres west of Woy Woy Train Station & 16 kilometres south of Gosford, the Umina Beach Peninsula boasts the southern-most beaches of the Central Coast.

An easy 40 minutes or 65 kilometres north of Hornsby (43 km of freeway) Umina Beach is closer to Sydney than most people think.

Only one hour and 15 minutes pictureqsue train ride from Central Station & only 86 km north of Sydney CBD (43 km of freeway), Umina Beach is a great getaway for escaping the summer crowds!

Umina Beach boasts easy access to a number of secluded beaches, bays and great towns
- Bouddi National Park
- Brisbane Waters
- Empire Bay & Ettalong
- Hawkesbury River
- Killcare Beach
- Maitland Bay
- Patonga Beach
- Pearl Beach
- Woy Woy

There's also nice cavaran park where you can spend the night in, when you are there dont forget to support our friend Peter at Singapore Zing Cafe Bar located on 315 Trafalgar Ave, Umina.

Peter has kindly offered 10% discount off everything on the cafe menu for our members.

More pictures:

Woy Woy Bay:

Ocean Beach Umina: