and I can't remember the details of this exactly, but it's worth taking a boat trip from the harbour.

IIRC, there are plenty of tours leaving from the waterfront that take you out past the Opera House, round (what I think is called) Manly Bay, past some tiny islands (a couple of which have enormous houses on) and back again.

Bondi Beach is also pretty good and worth visiting if you have the time, but it's not drop-everything-to-go-there good.

I know you said you're only there for 3 days, but if you're in the surrounding area at all, I would definitely, DEFINITELY recommend a trip up to the Blue Mountains. it's the most stunning scenery I've seen anywhere in the world - from what I remember, the town of Katoomba is one of the best places to go for that.

Sorry for vagueness and most importantly, have a fantastic time!

And would recommend 'The Rocks Cafe' in The Rocks area (not far from the Bridge etc). If it's still there. Great food.

While we were there there was a free music festival going on in Darling Harbour. 7 years ago. No use to you now, but we noticed a lot of free open-air type stuff went on in the centre of town. It's a very welcoming place for tourists and travellers.

There is (was?) a fantastic bookshop on George Street.

As Joe R says take the ferry trip around the harbour, which is vast. Look in awe at the exclusive private homes clinging to the rocks in places like Clontarff and Beauty Point. How the other half live?

It's a fantastic place. Can I come?

We were in Sydney over New Year in 2006. Our children were 14 and 11 at the time and like you we crossed from Perth to Sydney. It's worth remembering the time difference which I seem to remember was 3 hours!
You seem to have most of the bases covered. We stayed by Darling Harbour and caught a water taxi around the harbour so we travelled under the bridge and got our first sight of The Opera House which was an exciting way of seeing things. You'll also pass (I think you can get off as well) Lunar Park a small fun fair which my daughter was pleased to see as Mary-Kate & Ashley had filmed there. Tarronga Zoo was a little disappointing but worth it for the views back across the harbour. The Sydney Tower (it's always changing it's name) is worth going up if you don't mind heights and the IMAX on Darling Harbour is good to escape the heat. The tour of The Opera House was entertaining. There's also a maritime museum near to the aquarium and the sub is well worth going on.
Out of the two cities I loved Sydney to visit but probably wouldn't want to live there. I'd live in Perth tomorrow if the opportunity arose (providing they sorted the beer out).
I was surprised at a big country scene in Oz with many artists that I'd never heard of.

This will get you in the mood for the Aussie Summer!

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and if it's still running, the tourist bus that does a circuit including the beaches etc, is well worth going on, and yes Bondi is rather a letdown. The ferry across to Manly is great trip. We also did a trip to a penal colony museum just on the outskirts which was a very eerie place.The pie and pea cart down by the docks is a must.

We had about 4 days in the city, and it was nowhere near enough time to even dent what was available to do. It's a great city and can't wait until we make a return visit there. Enjoy yourselves
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Is it where they throw shrimps on the 'Barbie'? :-)

...as I did, of thinking that Vegemite must be fairly similar to Marmite.

worth knowing. I've often nearly bought it out of sheer recklessness. What's it like?

I tried in it Manly, I think; one morning whilst in Sydney and the area. I figured it must be kind of the same. All I can say is yuk yuk yuk. To be fair, that may be the Vegemite lover's reaction to Marmite, but it is just so different. It was ten years ago now and I don't like to talk about it...

Only for three days to recover from the 25 hour flights before visiting family in Melbourne. We took our then 5year old and 18 month old!

Best advice I can give is to use the normal ferries rather than taking a boat tour. They give great shots of the bridge ond Opera house and will also take you over to the zoo and Luna park (old fashioned fun fair as well). We were there over a weekend and they did a one-off ticket that allowed all day use of the ferries which was great value.

There’s also a city bus tour that allows you to get on / get off - not essential but a good way to get your bearings on arrival.

There were some good restaurants around Darling harbour area with the Meat and Wine Co being especially good with the children.

Loved the city and would like to return one day (finances willing), enjoy your trip........

A great trip out of the harbour and just around the coast to Manly, which has a totally different vibe to Sydney. Walk to the beach at the other end of the main drag.There's a bar on the corner overlooking the surfing beach. Go up to the rooftop restaurant and watch it all going on.

Perfect for the whole family. The koalas are like living, breathing teddy bears, albeit rather stoned teddy bears. But you get to interact with them and wombats and dingos (so cute and no threat to your baby whatsoever). Far superior to the Tarronga Zoo. Sydney itself is a wonderful city, I am sure you will all have fun.

thanks guys - have made some notes, and will be sure to try and find that bookshop for the 10 rules of rock and roll book!

A side trip from Perth to Sydney....that's like going London to Kabul. Distance I mean. Or New York-LA.

Ferries - A ferry to Taronga zoo, gondola to the top, walk down the hill, but it'll take most of a day. Great views of the harbour and city. Ferry to Darling Harbour and the aquarium is good. My kids love it, specially the shark tank. The ferry ride up middle harbour is very nice.

The Koala park is good, but it's a long way out so bank on most of a day for that too. The koalas at Taronga can be a bit of a disappointment as mentioned above, so the Koala park is a bit more full on.

If you've got a car and don't mind an hour or so drive, a run down to the Royal National Park, the beach at Gymea is beautiful. Up north to Kuringai park and the restaurant at Church Point is nice (but book).

Beaches only if the weather is good (it just turned cold and grey....). Manly is a hike (but nice, and a ferry ride). Bondi is touristy and a bit too yobbish for me, particularly at night. Bronte is a bit more low key, nice cafes. Surfing lessons are good fun for all ages.

Center Point tower is still accessible during the redevelopment in the city mall.

Surry Hills has loads of great restaurants up and down Crown Street. The Red Lantern vietnamese is phenomenal (Luke Nguyen, a new TV chef), but book well in advance. Billy Kwong for chinese (Kylie Kwong is another recent new TV chef), but again book. Toko for japanese was interesting, and a bit different.
Watson's Bay for Doyle's fish and chips on a sunny lunch/afternoon. Dinner in the restaurant for a seafood platter. A ferry there (or a water taxi if you're flush) and cab back to the city as the ferries don't run too late.
Cockle Bay for restaurants and bars. Wouldn't bother with Darling Harbour side really, apart from Zaffran's indian restaurant.
Oxford Street, Paddington for higher end shops and cafes.
Oxford Street, Darlinghurst for restaurants.
King Street, Newtown for more bohemian shops and cafes.
Darling Street, Balmain for cafes, pubs, restaurants.
There are some nice restaurants in the passenger terminal at Circular Quay, but you're paying for a view of the Opera House.
The fish market for lunch and a nose around. Maybe a seafood cooking course (not sure about kids).

You may not want movies, but the iMax at Darling Harbour might be a bit different.

Harbour Bridge - go up the leg (the corner nearest the Opera House). Best view in the city for my money. Add it's free.

The Rocks is a bit touristy too. Depends if you like the idea of the Ken Done t-shirts and kangaroo scrotum purses. More or less the same in the Darling Harbour mall, except indoors.

The observatory has a lot of early evening events, a museum, 3D space science movies and up to the telescopes if the sky is clear. My 9 year old loves it.

re vegemite - spread thinly

best and cheapest jaunt is the ferries up the river to parramatta , get off turn around and come back

ferry to manly . worth getting off and looking around a bit

Ditto ferry to watsons bay - the pub and doyles fish restaurant are a great destination.

The water will be ideal at that time of year. Humidity down and sun less fierce. Bondi is always packed .Great for eye candy but if you aren't into waves I'd recommend Nielsen Park ( formerly err shark Bay ) which is east in Vaucluse.a lovely beach on the harbour=- views of bridge ,and ferries pootling by.

Clovelly is a protected harbour on the ocean side. You can snorkel there and safe ofr kids.

The coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee or parts thereof is spectacular.

One of those all day sightseeing buses is worth considering.

also suggest walk through botanical gardens to New South Wales Art Gallery. Excellent aboriginal collection as well as other local artists and international stuff.

you might consider taking in a game of Aussie rules foootball at the SCG. Being from Melbourne these days we think they know sod all about AFL in Sydney but it will be a lovely sunny day and the crowds are not belligerent.

The best rock venue for bands is the Metro.Tiered levels for stnading so runts like me can see and a good PA. It is in the CBD.
http://www.metrotheatre.com.au/events/metro

The Basement has is more refined -jazz , world, folk and funk. Most of the space is dedicated to tables for sit down meals ( not bad actually)and you can stand at the back.

http://www.thebasement.com.au/

The Basement is near circular quay

all other forms of football pretty much evolve in a line on a rectangular field which is ideal for a camera set on a track .

Aussie rules is played on a large oval, usually a cricket oval and players from either side can kick back and forth at will. Much of the action occurs off the ball - usually further up field. Modern coverage perefer to focus on close ups so you lose that persepctive.In olden days there was one of 2 cameras set in the stand which gave you a whole of game perspective. They looked like ants mind you.

Can I encourage those who might be in Australia and who have dismissed the game on the basis of what they have seen on television, to go along to an AFL match.