I spent a couple of days exploring the city and took this photo during an afternoon walking the streets. In Italy shops are closed between 1 pm and 5 pm, so it was quiet at Corso Umberto I, but a few locals were doing some grocery shopping or having a chat out on the street.

I was in the company of Daniel Nahabedian, a freelance travel & culture photographer, who was kind enough to help me edit this photo in Lightroom.

Neuschwanstein castle was the inspiration for  Disney`s Sleeping Beauty castle. It is probably the most visited castle in Germany, meaning when you go you won`t be alone.

Here are some tips:

• Decide in advance if you want to visit the castle inside, as you have to make reservations for a tour. A tour will take about 35 minutes and costs 12 euro/adult* (More info)
• The best shot of the castle (except if you can actually fly over it) is from the Marienbrücke. You can get here by either walking up, BUT don`t underestimate the hike up, it`s a steep hill! Or you can take a shuttle for 1,80 euros* (2,60 return) that takes you to about 5 minutes from the bridge.
• My tip, take the bus up and walk down, this way you get some extra good viewing points for more photos of the area. (Too tired and didn`t buy a ticket, you can buy one up there for 1 euro if you still want to take the bus back)
• It takes you about 20 minutes to get from the Marienbrücke to the castle, so calculate that in when you`ve booked a tour as you don`t want to miss your tour. Your tour number will display on a screen after which you will be able to enter to begin the tour.
• It`s another 20 minutes to get down from the castle to the shops, bars and parking
• Food and drinks are not overly expensive which I was expecting at a touristy location, so you can easily buy a pretzel or sandwich here when you get hungry
• You can park your car all day on the parking at the bottom of the castle for 5 euros*
• We went in the morning which was a good idea, before the buses with tourists arrive

Schlöss Neuschwanstein as seen from the Marienbrücke:

The view you have walking from the Marienbrücke to Neuschwanstein castle. You see Schlöss Hohenschwangau from a different point in a beautiful setting.

SCHLOSS HOHENSCHWANGAU

Not many people know that next to Neuschwanstein Castle there is another castle, Schloss Hohenschwangau. It was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria.

You can also visit this castle for 12 euros/adult* (Check for opening hours)

Here`s a map to show you where everything is, as you can see they`re close together.

Source

SCHLOSS LINDERHOF

And it doesn`t stop, Ludwig II liked his castles. Schlöss Linderhof is the smallest of the three castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed.

You can visit this castle for 8.5 euros/adult*, but walking around in the gardens and around the castle is free. The parking is 2.5 euros*. (Check for opening hours) This castle is located about an hours drive from the other two castles.

There`s also a combi-ticket called “Königsschlösser” that will give you single entry to Schlöss Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee for 24 euros*.

These are only a few of the castles in Germany, but probably the most visited ones. There`s one more I want to share with you and that`s Herrenchiemsee, but that`ll be for next time.

What`s your favorite German castle?

*Prices were accurate at time of publishing

I`d heard about Neuschwanstein Castle before, as its reputation precedes its name. It was the inspiration for Disney`s Sleeping Beauty Castle and it sometimes even gets referred to as Disney`s Castle. This 19th century palace on a hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen is located in southwest Bavaria, Germany. It was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and built in honor of Richard Wagner.

Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany and a famous tourist destination for foreigners. After opening to the public in 1886 the palace has been visited by over 60 million people. So, you won`t be alone when you visit. Next post I`ll be giving you some tips on that, but for now enjoy the view!

King`s Park and Botanic Garden

King`s Park and the Botanic Garden cover 400 hectares and overlooks the Swan River, besides showcasing lots of Western Australian plants it`s a popular place for picnics, walks and events. You can take free guided walks in the park. At 10 am Botanic Garden Walk and at 2 pm there`s a Wilderness & Wildflowers Walk. (More info)

Supreme Court and Gardens

The Supreme Court Gardens are an important open space area in the CBD of Perth. A part from having a stroll through the gardens, it`s a lovely place to sit on a bench and have your lunch. They are located on the corner of Barrack Street and Riverside Drive. (More info)

Swann Bell Tower

 The Swann Bell Tower is a very iconic building on the skyline of Perth. I haven`t been up myself yet, but you can visit the tower for AU$ 14/adult. Besides the 360 degrees view you have over the Swan River and Perth City, you will also be able to hear the bells ring. Check for ringing times here.

Harbor

The harbor is a nice place to just stroll around or sit back while overlooking the water. Of course it`s also the place to take a ferry to Fremantle, Rottnest Island or go on a river cruise along the Swan River.

TIP

Even though the center is very walkable, there are FREE buses that take you around Perth city. Three lines, the Red Cat Bus, the Blue Cat Bus and the Yellow Cat Bus make sure you cover most of the city. Check the timetable and map for which bus you want.

You can easily walk around in the city, which makes you take a closer look at the buildings and the artwork in the streets. Perth has a very relaxed vibe to it and families love to come here. Maybe the sunny weather has something to do with that?

Shopping

Murray Street Mall and Hay Street Mall are probably the best known shopping streets with names like David Jones, Target, Myer, etc. The streets are car free for your convenience.

Beaches

Cottleshoe beach is one of the most famous beaches. Besides this beach you have Rottnest Island, Scarborough or the beaches of Rockingham. I haven`t been to all, but so far the beaches of Rockingham are my favorite, as they`re not crowded at all. Rockingham is about 40 minutes south of the city. There is a direct train line between Perth City and Rockingham.

Want to get out of the city?

Margaret River

Margaret River is about 270 km (170 miles) south of Perth and known for its wine region. Besides that, it`s also famous for surfing spots along the coast. At Cape Leeuwin you can find Cape Leewin Lighthouse, mainland Australia`s tallest lighthouse and the place where two oceans meet, the Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean.

You can visit the lighthouse grounds for AU$ 5/adult or take a guided tour and climb the lighthouse tower for AU$ 17/adult. (More info)

Also make a stop at Busselton Jetty, the longest wooden jetty (pier) in the Southern Hemisphere.

How to get to the city center from the airport?

The airport is located approximately 12 km (domestic terminal) and 17 km (international terminal) from the center. It takes you about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic and road works. I was told prices for a taxi would be around AU$ 30. I noticed we paid a bit more going to a train station just outside of the city center as that was better for our following journey, but do consider a bit more with traffic and road works. I think the rates you can find on the official page of the airport, are pretty accurate.

Other options are (which I haven`t tried yet):

• Shuttle Bus: Perth Airport City Shuttle: every 30 mins (domestic) and 45 mins (international): starting from AU$ 15/adult (domestic) and AU$ 18 (international). The journey takes about 35 minutes.
• Bus: Transperth Bus 37 from the domestic terminal to Kings Park via the city. AU$ 3.20/adult and the journey takes about 55 mins.

*Prices were accurate at time of publishing

What`s your favorite thing to do in Perth?

I heard about these guys on my Indian Pacific train trip. Two Architecture graduates who love their city started up these free walking tours in Sydney & Melbourne. You basically show up at the meeting point and look for your guide in a bright green “I`m free” t-shirt. (No need for booking!) They work on a tips only basis.

Every day (rain or shine): Sydney Sights (3 hours) at 10.30 am & 2.30 pm and the Sydney Rocks (1,5 hours) at 6pm. For more info, check out: www.imfree.com.au

I`ve taken the Sydney Sights tour myself and it was one of the best city tours I`ve had. Even though it was 3 hours, I didn`t get bored or distracted like I usually do during city tours. You get to see so much more from the city because of a local guiding you. I also enjoyed the ‘free in Sydney map’ with tips on things to do for free by day & night as well as useful tips from the guide along the way.

A few of the highlights we saw

St Mary`s Cathedral

St Mary’s has the greatest length of any church in Australia and is located in Hyde Park, which is named after the original Hyde Park in London.

The General Post Office

The General Post Office (abbreviation GPO) is a landmark building in Sydney. It is located at No. 1 Martin Place. The building was to resemble the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Forgotten Songs

At Sydney’s Angel Place you’ll find a public art installation for you to see and hear. In 2009, artist Michael Thomas Hill created Forgotten Songs, an installation of 110 empty birdcages suspended high in the air that play the songs of fifty birds that used to live in the city before urbanization.

The Waiting Man

Waiting, a statue by Johnson, depicts a businessman reading a newspaper, installed at Australia Square in central Sydney.

And of course you can`t visit Sydney without seeing the two most iconic attractions of the city.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts center, designed by a Danish architect named Jørn Utzon. He received the Pritzker Price – architecture`s highest honor – in 2003.

and Sydney Harbour Bridge

More interesting sights:

Above are just a few of the sights in Sydney, taking the free walking tour will give you a good impression of where everything is if you want to visit certain places for a longer time.

Free to enter:  Sydney Rum Hospital, Art Gallery of NSW, The Mint, Museum of Contemporary Art (late opening on Thursday), Customs House (open till midnight except Sundays and offers FREE wifi!), Botanical Garden, …

A few tips from our guide

Views over the city 

• 360 Bar and Dining at the Sydney Tower where you get a nice view over the city as the bar rotates 360 degrees. There`s a $ 20 AUD minimum spending, but you can enjoy a few drinks (drinks start from $ 7 AUD). Dress code is smart casual.
• O Bar and Dining at Australian Square offers views over the city, with a minimum of $ 8 AUD to be spent at the bar.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Instead of doing the Bridge climb, which starts at $ 198 AUD, you can climb the 200 steps of the Pylon Lookout for $ 11 AUD. You can also walk across the bridge which is 1.3 km and takes about 30 minutes.

I didn`t have time to test these out, but they sound like good tips, so I thought I`d share them with you.

Places to Eat

This place came recommended through social media channels: the Australian Hotel at the Rocks, because of their special pizzas. You can order a pizza here with kangaroo, crocodile,…

The following recommendations came from Y Travel Blog. Make sure to check out their 33 Tips for Sydney:

• El Loco in Surry Hills, a lovely Mexican place with delicious tacos for only $ 5 AUD!
• Bourke Street Bakery. I loved this place! I`m addicted to bread and always have a hard time abroad finding what I like, but this place knows what they`re doing. Btw you won`t be the only one here, I went twice and there was always a queue.

Shopping

I loved the neighborhood of Surry Hills very much, there`s a nice vibe and great little boutiques as well. Of course you have more shops together at the Westfield shopping centers at the central business district and Bondi Junction. For another shopping experience you can visit the Queen Victoria Building which houses many shops from chocolate shops to jewelry to clothing, you can find it all here. (Shops are open until 9 pm on Thursdays)

Don`t forget to check out the Rocks Markets at the Rocks on Saturdays and Sundays.

Great Transportation Tip

There`s a FREE bus, number 555, that runs from Circular Quay to Central Station from Monday till Friday from 9 am till 3.30 pm (until 9 pm on Thursdays). Saturday and Sunday from 9.30 am till 6 pm. Both directions every 10-15 minutes.

Had enough of the city?

Take a ferry to Manly (at wharf 3). Not only does it have a beach where you can relax and shops you can browse, the boat trip will give you the opportunity to see the city skyline from the water. (We paid $ 14.40 AUD/person for a return ticket)

TIP: Take the ferry around sunset and have an affordable sunset cruise in the harbor overlooking the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Or take a bus to famous Bondi Beach. We took the number 333, you can buy a bus ticket at a convenience store or at newsagencies.

What`s your favorite thing to do in Sydney?

*Prices were accurate at time of publishing

When visiting Sydney, it`s hard not to visit the two most iconic attractions of the city, being the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Of course the city has a lot more to offer and I`ll be writing about that in the weeks to come.

Did you know?

The bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” because of its arch-based design and it took 272,000 liters to give the Bridge its first three coats of paint.

]]> http://www.isabellestravelguide.com/sydney-harbour-bridge-by-night.html/feed 0 http://www.isabellestravelguide.com/off-train-excursions-on-the-indian-pacific-route.html http://www.isabellestravelguide.com/off-train-excursions-on-the-indian-pacific-route.html#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 10:51:43 +0000 Isabelle http://www.isabellestravelguide.com/?p=17653 When crossing Australia on the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney, you`ll make some stops along the way. To give you a bit more of an overview, I`ve put together a list of the tours that are offered.

Kalgoorlie Highlights

The gold rush, set off by Paddy Hannan`s discovery in 1893, was one of the biggest in Australian history. On this tour, you will hear the story of the largest Outback city in Australia that was built on gold and learn about the hardships encountered. Travel along Hannan Street for the heritage buildings and the history of many pubs. Visit the massive ‘Super Pit’ Goldmine, now more than 400 m deep and over 3,3 km long – floodlit in some areas for viewing at night. Kalgoorlie-Boulder has the largest population in any regional city in Western Australia and is now a bustling and expanding place that offers a contemporary and cosmopolitan lifestyle.

We arrived in Kalgoorlie late at night, which was a pity as we didn`t quite see the big impression the Super Pit would have as seen during the day. Especially when you learn during the tour that the Super Pit can be seen from space and is so big it would fit Uluru! When traveling on the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, you will see it in daylight. It`s still interesting to see and I enjoyed the visit to the Mining Hall of Fame that has some of the trucks that are being used at the Super Pit there for you to see and even climb. Standing next to these does make you aware of how big the equipment is that`s being used.

Cook

Self guided walk of Cook. Cook is a railway station on the standard gauge rail line from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie with no inhabited places around. The town was established in 1917 when the railway was built and was named after the sixth Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Cook. The town is on the longest stretch of straight railway in the world, at 478 kilometers from Ooldea to beyond Loongana. Cook is the only scheduled stop on the Nullarbor Plain for the Indian Pacific. The bush hospital is closed, the swimming pool is empty but Cook still has the ability to spark your curiosity.

At noon, we arrived at Cook for a short stop. You`ll only be here for about 30 minutes, but that`s sufficient to see this ghost town. You`ll find a map in your cabin that shows you were everything is, so you can explore the town yourself.

Adelaide

Here you have a choice of 2 tours:

City Sights

Stand at the memorial statue of Colonel William Light and look over the neatly laid out city seeing the vision for Adelaide just as he did. From here see some of the best views of Adelaide and the world famous Adelaide Oval. This excursion will encompass some of Adelaide`s best known tourist attractions, including St. Peter`s Cathedral – a beautiful historical building… and the North Terrace cultural precinct, home to two universities, the Art Gallery and State Library.

Adelaide Central Market

Right in the heart of the city of Adelaide sits the largest fresh produce market in the Southern Hemisphere. At 140 years old, the Adelaide Central Market has been known worldwide as the Australian epicenter of food, culture and lifestyle.

I decided to take the City Sights tour to get a feel of the city. You`ll arrive into Adelaide early in the morning. The tour takes about 1,5 – 2 hours and also includes a stop a the Haighs chocolate factory, which as a chocolate lover, I could appreciate. I would have loved to stay a bit longer in Adelaide as seeing from the tour it looks like a city with beautiful buildings, parks and lots to offer. I hope to be back here someday to fully explore the city, the tour is just a teaser.

Broken Hill

Broken Hill is an isolated mining city in the far west of Outback New South Wales, located near the border of South Australia. It has been called the Silver City, the Oasis of the West, and the Capital of the Outback. One thing you can be sure of is that Broken Hill looks like a classic Outback town, with big country pubs on wide street corners for sharing a drink and swapping stories under deep blue skies. 

Here you have also 2 choices:

Pro Hart Gallery

Paris, New York, London and Broken Hill. You might not think it, but this town`s art scene could rival those of the biggest art capitals in the world. An artist that represents the cheeky and colorful charm of Broken Hill, the late Kevin ‘Pro’ Hart`s gallery is not to be missed when in town. At the gallery there`s not only a wide selection of his signature paintings but also hundreds of works by an impressive lineup of artists including Claude Monet.

The Palace Hotel

Famous from the comedy ‘The adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert’.

Because the Pro Hart tour provided a quick tour around the city, I opted for the Pro Hart Gallery tour. It`s a lovely gallery where you can browse three floors with art and not to forget admire the cars outside.

Practical Tip

For your off train excursions: bring sunscreen, walking shoes, insect repellent and a hat.

I very much enjoyed the stops along the way, giving me more insight in these places where you otherwise might never stop (think Cook). It was a pity that some of the places were visited late at night, not giving you the full experience, like with the Super Pit, but unfortunately that has to do with the timing of passing. You have to see the tours as a little taste of each place so you can return to your favorites to explore them for a longer period.

Tours are included in the price if you travel in Gold or Platinum Service. The italic paragraphs are copied from the brochure you receive in your cabin.

I traveled as a guest of Great Southern Rail for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Where do you socialize?

You go to the Outback Explorer Lounge where you order a drink at the bar, sit back and relax. It`s also the place to get to know your fellow travelers, play a game or enjoy your drink while overlooking the beautiful scenery outside the window.

This lounge is for people traveling in Gold and Platinum Service. Since 1 April 2013 all drinks are included when you travel in Gold or Platinum. When you`re traveling in Red Service you can visit the Matilda Café where you can purchase drinks and food.

Where do you eat?

You will be enjoying your breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, a classic styled restaurant.

There`s plenty of choice and you get presented with a menu at each meal. Lunch has two courses and dinner has three courses. The first two days the menu was the same, but you had 4 choices for your main during lunch and 6 choices for your main during dinner. The last day (from Adelaide to Sydney) the menu changes again.

All the dishes looked delicious, but I could only try so many in three days. I was pretty impressed by the plates that were served, the presentation and the flavors knowing they only had a kitchen on a train. What I appreciated most was that you could choose from Australian products like beef from South Australia, salmon from Tasmania or chicken from the Yarra Valley in Victoria. All the wines were Australian, from Margaret River in Western Australia to the Barossa Valley in South Australia and many more.

They ask you to reserve a time for your meals, which is a good thing, as this way you don`t have to wait long to be seated at the restaurant. They seat you together with others, giving you the opportunity to get to know other people traveling on the train.

When you`re traveling in Gold and Platinum Service all food and now also drinks are included. When traveling in Red Service you can purchase food at the Matilda Café. I paid a visit to the Café and saw they sell pies, sausage rolls and breakfast, lunch & dinner. For example there were 3 dinner choices, each for 13.90$*.

There are three restaurants and two bars.

Where do you sleep?

When you`re on a train for 3 days and 3 nights it`s quite important where you sleep. I traveled in Gold Service and slept in a Twin Share Cabin. So what does that look like?

You have a three seater bench that converts into a lower and upper bed at night. Which the train staff convert for you at night when you`re enjoying dinner.

There`s a tiny en-suite bathroom with a toilet and shower with complimentary toiletries awaiting you on your first day.

I had a look at the Platinum Service and this is what you can expect:

*different linens and towels

* bigger room

* afternoon tea in your room and an alcoholic drink at night

* step-in shower

* own key card, whereas the Gold Service doesn`t have one

There is one more service aboard the train, called the Red Service, which is a seat for yourself and you share showers and toilets.

What does it feel like spending 3 days and 3 nights on the Indian Pacific?

Cabin

I have to admit, I don`t think I could do this trip in Red Service with just a seat for 3 nights. You do have the same beautiful scenery as the rest of us, but having the privacy, your own shower, a bed and nice meals, make this journey so much more enjoyable. Our cabin was big enough during the day, as you can sit back and relax, look out the window and if you want some more space you just enjoy a drink at the lounge. At night, the single bed was comfortable and big enough for me, but I`m tiny, so I can`t speak for example an adult tall man. If this train trip was longer than 3 days I would consider paying more for a double bed and a bigger bathroom.

Food

The food was delicious, varied and beautiful presented. I preferred having the reservation instead of open seating like we had one time, as the wait can be long as you have to wait to be seated and people go at the same time.

Whole experience

The overall experience for me on the Indian Pacific was relaxed and had a peaceful vibe to it as you go through the gorgeous and varied scenery. You have your own privacy if you want, but at the same time you can mingle with others at the lounge and/or restaurant.

The only thing missing for me was either an open viewing carriage like on the TranzAlpine in  New Zealand for photos and to take in the scenery. Or maybe a carriage with a glass roof, again to take in the scenery.

Who is this train journey for?

• People who love cruising as it has a similar feeling to it: you travel while you sleep, you see lots of places in a short amount of time, and you get to know your fellow travelers.
• People who prefer a relaxed way of traveling. There`s no stress when checking in, no lines, everything is so relaxed and when you arrive, you arrive at the train station in the city center.
• People with time, we have to be honest, you can do the same journey in a few hours flying, but trust me you won`t have the same experience.
• People who appreciate this way of travel as some might find it boring, expensive or too long.
• People who don`t like flying.
• People who love nature, as you see the different scenery across Australia.
• People who want to have a unique experience.

What others aboard said:

It`s a relaxing way of traveling – Loved the socializing, felt like one big family on a trip – Beautiful scenery

Some Practical Tips

• Check-in the latest an hour before departure. We were able to board 25 min before departure.
• If you`re taking electronic devices, such as laptops, that connect to 240-volt power on the trains you should also pack a surge arrester. There are 3 sockets in the Gold Twin Share Cabin.
• Pack medicine and things you need in an overnight bag, as you will not see your checked luggage until after the trip
• As for dress code, go with smart casual. People like to dress up a bit for dinner as they`re on their holiday. Also bring a cardigan or something similar, as the air-conditioning can be cool in the evenings.

Prices

Interested in experiencing this train journey yourself. The Gold Service Twin, I traveled in, was AU $2420* from Perth to Sydney. The Platinum Service is AU $3890* from Perth to Sydney. The Red Service day/night seat starts from AU $840*, but you might want to check out the rail passes, as they offer a special deal in this service. For Gold and Platinum Service there are Advance Purchase Fares which offer a discount when you make a booking at least 6 months in advance.

*Prices accurate at time of publishing

I traveled as a guest of Great Southern Rail for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

The first three photos were taken only half an hour apart from each other after leaving Perth. As you can see, there`s quite the difference.

On the second day we crossed the Nullarbor Plain with longest straight section of railway in the world, 478 km.

The third day we had an early stop in Adelaide and this is the view we had on our way to Sydney.

On our final day, we probably saw the greenest scenery along our journey. Just beautiful, not to mention riding through the Blue Mountains just before reaching Sydney.

As promised, a short video of my train journey crossing Australia:

When you`re aboard the train you`ll see the different scenery while crossing such a big country like Australia. It`s hard to imagine for someone who comes from a tiny country like Belgium, heh, there are even sheep farms in Australia the size of Belgium! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your train journey across. Want to know what it`s like aboard the Indian Pacific, read up here. And don`t forget about the off train tours you can do.

I was invited as a guest on the Indian Pacific by Great Southern Rail, but all opinions, photos and video are my own.

Anyone have an idea or can guess where this photo was taken?

I`ll give you a little tip: it was taken on one of my recent trips.