SYDNEY, Australia -- As anyone who has visited here knows, Oz is a "bloody big place," so time is of the essence when visiting.
And, to be perfectly frank about it, for far too long just getting "Down Under" was the literal and proverbial pain in the butt because there was no direct flying link, and that brought travellers into the loving embrace of U.S. immigration, usually at Honolulu -- a tedious stopover.
Ferries pass the Sydney Opera House.
That has all changed.
The distance between Canada and Australia hasn't changed, but what has is both aviation technology and Air Canada's relatively new direct service from Vancouver.
The 15-hour direct flying time is long, but it not only shaves more than three hours off the old routing, but the Boeing 777 is a comfortable flying beast. A major advance is that in "cattle class" -- economy -- there is good leg space that comes accompanied by all the other trinkets of modern travel, such as your own in-flight entertainment centre that really does work with a touch of the finger.
The biggest bonus for travellers wanting to hit Bondi Beach, the Great Ocean Road in Victoria or the dreamy Hunter Valley wine district with a full and well-rested head of steam is the flying schedule.
Outward bound departs Vancouver at 11:45 p.m. and has you into Sydney at 9:50 a.m. two days later. Don't panic. You get back the lost day coming home and there is precious little jet lag as you get to sleep the night away as if you were in your own bed.
So now you are here. What to do?
For starters, nose around Sydney. While it might appear to be a giant mushroom spreading in all directions, the sights, sounds and tastes of Australia's urban heart is easy to access.
And what better place to start than the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge along with the spectacular Sydney Opera House? Get the real bridge experience by walking across its arches. It's an exciting blast to trundle over to the top of the bridge.
If heights bother you, just stroll around and soak up the atmosphere of touristy Darling Harbour, the Opera House, hop a ferry at Circular Quay for a day at Manley Beach with its array of beach-front restaurants, or wander through the botanical park to experience the culinary treat of Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Woolloomooloo.
The famed Bondi Beach, an international magnet for the world's youth and others with an eye for the body beautiful, is a must visit. It's an easy bus ride away and again full of trendy restaurants. A favourite of my mates and me is to start at the Bondi Baths and then enjoy an invigorating coast walk to nearby Bronte. Along the way are simply spectacular vistas of the Tasman Sea and rugged coastline.
The route is undulating, often hot and a hat is recommended. Our morning safari includes a refreshing coffee pause at Bronte and then it's back to the baths for a swim and steam bath. Total distance, three kilometres.
But Sydney isn't Australia and the problem most visitors have is how to get the most out of their stay.
If time is limited a couple of suggestions: The Aussies pump out a lot of wonderful wines these days and you can literally get the real taste just a couple of hours easy drive from Sydney in the bucolic Hunter Valley, one of the country's oldest and best known wine-growing regions.
Driving to the Hunter is easy and the route takes you by some of the country's darker history and interesting pubs that are worth a stop. The original road into the valley was hacked out of tough terrain by convicts who had been transported under dreadful conditions from the "old country."
The Lower Hunter Valley, with its gentle slopes and the winding Hunter River, ultimately unveiled the true richness of the region that today attracts 2.6 million visitors a year. There are now in excess of 100 vineyards and wineries that throw open their doors and hospitality around the clock.
There is an excellent choice of hotels, motels, chalets, guesthouses, and cabins catering to those who wish to unwind and experience the bucolic delights of the region.
The choice of accommodation can be a bit overwhelming and the best place to start, if you haven't booked ahead, is at the Hunter Valley Wine Country Visitors Information Centre at Pokobiln. This well-organized centre has all the information one needs.
The other great journey within easy reach that encapsulates a lot of Australia's natural grandeur is a "roadie" to the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
If you can handle driving on the left -- really it is not hard -- head south from Sydney. The roads are excellent and very well sign-posted.
The Great Ocean Road embraces the contours of Victoria's rugged southwest coast and has to rate as one of the country's most spectacular coastal drives. The 257-km road was built in the 1930s as a memorial to Australia's First World War servicemen. This endlessly fascinating region stretches west from the regional city of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula to the South Australian border. Within these parameters one is treated to a virtual smorgasbord of ocean views.
But the sight all want to see are the Twelve Apostles, amazing natural limestone finger, or stack, formations that rise from the sea and are known as the jewels of the road. Unfortunately, there are no longer 12 apostles, as they keeping falling to the ravages of the sea that batters their roots.
Who knows how long they will continue to stand? Another one collapsed in 2005 to leave just eight standing.
So what about the outback, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Western Australia, the far north, Queensland, the Gold Coast?
She'll be right, mate. There's always next year. After all, it's only 15 hours away!
CanWest News Service
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