Splish Splash, Take a Ferry, Have a Laugh

There's water all around Sydney and where there's water, there are boats. Ferries are meant to be a mode of transportation, but sometimes the ride itself is just as enjoyable as the destination. Just look at how much fun Carly Simon seemed to have in that Let the River Run video. But the destinations are good too. Just lookee here.

Taronga Zoo
Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The zoo is a mere 12-minute ride from Circular Quay. For $27.20 you can purchase a Zoo Pass at the wharf which includes the roundtrip ferry ride, zoo admission and the Sky Safari, a tram that takes you to the top of the zoo offering great aerial views.

Taronga houses the usual zoo animals like elephants, giraffes, bears, monkeys and snakes. That's not why you're going there though. You want to see its collection of Australian animals: koalas, roos, echidnas, wallabies, platypuses (or platypi) and really big spiders. The habitats are mostly green and natural, unlike some of the concrete cells that other zoos provide, and they are building and expanding the zoo all the time.

Once there you have to go to the bird show, but not for the birds. The entire zoo is on a hillside, so there are several places that offer a good view, but this one is unbeatable. Bring your camera to capture the Sydney skyline, complete with Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The giraffes also have a million-dollar view and they do this cute thing with their tongues, sticking them out at all angles.

There are feedings, zookeeper talks and shows throughout the day, so arrive early to catch the more interesting ones. It's possible to spend the night at the zoo as well. Check their website for more information: www.zoo.nsw.gov.au

Balmain
The main reason you might go to swanky Balmain is to catch the Saturday markets. There are plenty of other things to do there though and the $8.60 ferry ride takes you under the Harbour Bridge, right past Luna Park and the creepy face.

If you get off the ferry at Balmain East you're right on Darling Street. Walk straight up it a few blocks until you hit town. The main drag is full of cafes, restaurants and patisseries to fill you up, and expensive shoe, clothing and knick-knack stores to empty your wallet. In the middle of the hoity-toity shops are places like Heavy Petting, a pet store. Even the rich have a sense of humor.

Toward the end of the food and shops is the historic Shell Station (418 Darling St.). It's about as quaint as an old gas station gets. On the other side of the street you'll see a sign pointing to the right, down Young Street, to the Dawn Fraser Pool. If you follow it you'll find yourself at a peaceful little park and playground overlooking the harbour, but not the Sydney side of it. It's a great place for a picnic or to watch the sailboats glide around.

Manly
Manly is a 30-minute ride from Circular Quay (15 minutes if you take the Jet Cat instead of the big boat), but it's the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Sydney. There's still hustle in Manly, but it's running around in swim trunks and tank tops, possibly carrying a surf board.

You can do the touristy thing here and see the local museum, shop at the Mambo, Billabong and Quicksilver stores and visit the stingrays at Oceanworld, or you can relax and lay around the beach. Book a hostel for the night and spend a couple of days taking in the local vibe and perving on the abundant eye-candy along the Corso, the street connecting calm Manly Cove with chaotic Manly Beach.

To see more of the nature surrounding Manly, from the Corso go right along the beach, following Marine Parade around Fairy Bower to the more private Shelly Beach. There's a trail leading up the hill behind the beach that will loop around the woodsy area there, giving you some incredible panoramas of the ocean. There aren't any big signs pointing it out, so you'll have plenty of privacy for enjoying the lookout spots. Stop by the visitor information center next to the wharf when you arrive for free maps and a calendar of events.

Harbour Cruises
You don't have to have a destination to get on a boat. Captain Cook and other operators are happy to drive you around in circles and point out the exciting bits of the harbour. You can pick a special cruise for lunch or sunset or dinner, but for the budget-conscience there's the regular one-hour tour, starting at less than $15.00, which provides plenty of photo-ops, views of the local mansions and an opportunity to meet other travelers. Cute ones.