Hello there...

For breakfast/brunch on Sunday, it's hard to go past the MCA Cafe (which is directly across Circular Quay from the opera house...). It opens at 10am on Saturday and Sunday... the food is pretty good, but the views are spectacular - see here http://www.mca.com.au

Public Holidays in Sydney are generally pretty good... and the one on 4 August is a "Bank" holiday, which means that it's not really a public holiday and everything will be open anyway .... you should be fine...

The Fish Market will be open (www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/Default.aspx?base), but I suspect that you might be disappointed if you are expecting a big, bustling exciting market... the fish is good, but its really a slightly run down building with a few fish shops, and a pain to get to.... if I only had three days in Sydney, the Fish Market would not even be close to getting on the itinerary...

Go to Marque - although you will need a booking... the food is amazing!! The easiest way to Surry Hills from Circular Quay is to catch a bus or a taxi ... the 373 or the 377 will take you to Darlinghurst up Oxford Street (a ten to fifteen minute trip) and then Marque is a five minute walk up Crown Street... A taxi from the Four Seasons will cost you about A$10-15 or less....

For domestic flights, I generally leave home an hour and a half before the flight is due to leave, but at 9.30 on a week day you might want to leave half an hour earlier (noting that if you are flying Quantas there is a fair chance your flight will be delayed at the moment!!)...

Have a great trip...

Michael

I'd agree that the fish markets are really not all that interesting and I skip them.

Circular Quay to Surry Hills is easy by public transport. You could take a 378 or 380 bus up Oxford street and get off at Crown street and walk south or you could take a train to Central and walk up Forvaux street.

It's an interesting walk through Darlinghurst/Surry Hills either way.

Marque (possibly our favourite restaurant in Sydney) is at 355 Crown Street, near the corner of Foveaux Street. On the day, call the Transport Infoline (131 500) for the fastest, most direct way there for the time you want to travel.

It may end up being almost as cheap and more convenient for the 3 of you to take a cab (though your 14 year old is eligible for a half fare). When you get route and time information, ask the 131 500 assistant for how many sections the trip is and cost – it’s likely to be a 3 - 5 section fare (which is $3 for an adult).

For great views and great food at reasonable prices, also check out The Wharf restaurant in Walsh Bay (www.thewharfrestaurant.com.au).

I like the Museum of Contemporary Art Café (MCA) for brunch. Fort Denison, in the middle of the Harbour just off the Quay does a tour with brunch. Never done it – but the location is spectacular.

For getting to the airport, a cab or the train is the best bet. I’d go with a cab, because the station access charge for 3 at the airport stations is likely to cost you more than the taxi fare. It’s about a 20 min trip and you’re mostly travelling against the traffic.

Still, give yourself plenty of time, because some airlines won’t let you on the flight is you are 30 seconds past their check in cut off.

Thanks a lot for all your replies!

Sounds like Surry Hills is not that far away from Circular Quay and taking a cab would not cost a fortune. If the weather cooperates, we might just train to Central and walk through Darlinghurst one way and return by taxi.

Is the Sydney CityRail a surface light rail or subway network? I'm thinking of buying the Cityhopper pass (rail only) for Day 1, the Explorer Bus pass for Day 2 and the Daytripper for Day 3.

Have read some restaurant reviews here and elsewhere. Tetsuya's often garners rave reviews (though among a few unfavorable ones also). I know I would not be able to get a reservation there this late anyway for our upcoming trip. Have also considered Claude's and then Marque came across as another good one (and opens on Monday).

Both MCA and the Wharf look great and are easy walking distance away from the FS - appreciate your recommendations! There indeed are more nice restaurants in Sydney that open on Sun or Mon than I had thought.

The Cityrail system is made up of a very small subway which is linked to an extensive aboveground heavy rail network although, the area of it which would be of interest to tourists is pretty small.

There are 5 subway stations in the CBD with two more aboveground: Circular Quay and Central are both aboveground.

There also a couple of more subway stations of the Eastern Suburbs line which heads out to Bondi Junction.

The Monorail and the light rail system are privately owned and not covered by Cityrail ticketing.

Thank you for your clarification! Looking forward to this trip!

Mars,

Claudes is also very very nice (although IMO not as wonderful as Marque)... it's also a little more formal than Marque, but very friendly and intimate...

It's web site is here.... it's another five minutes by cab further up Oxford Street from Crown Street (the street that Marque is on)...

web site here: http://claudes.com.au/

Have a great trip.