Ah, the exhilaration of seeing the dazzling lights of New York City shortly before we land at JFK International Airport.
And that exhilaration and pure adrenalin drives our whirlwind five-day visit, as we face the unanswerable question of which of the many sights to see.
For the newcomer, there are the iconic attractions that seem ingrained in our collective psyche from TV and the movies - the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park to name a few.
But the constant evolution of the city also continually throws up more offerings.
Not the least is the haunting 9/11 Museum and Memorial and its neighbour the One World Observatory on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of One World Trade Center.
It's the tallest building in the western hemisphere, but we reach the top in less than 60 seconds, in a lift where moving images depict the development of the city's skyline from the 16th century to the present day.
The amazing 360-degree views take your breath away.
Oh, just in case you too wondered - "Can I bring my licensed firearm? - features in the FAQs on its website.
Be relieved to read: "There are absolutely no firearms permitted."
A sombre mood prevails among the many visitors at the 9/11 Memorial's twin reflecting pools, featuring two man-made waterfalls within the "footprints" of the fallen Twin Towers.
The names of the 2983 people who died in the 2001 and 1993 terrorists attacks are etched in bronze on the ledges around the pools.
NYPD counter-terrorism officers are everywhere, all seemingly cheerful as they acquiesce to non-stop requests to pose for photos with tourists.
The huge underground museum contains a myriad of exhibits.
They range from recordings of emotional emergency calls, images of fleeing people and the burning buildings, to poignant flyers about missing loved ones, plane fragments and everyday personal items like glasses and shoes found at the scene.
The Survivors Staircase is there, the last visible piece of the buildings after the attacks, used by many to run for their lives.
The NY Times arts critic Holland Carter eloquently refers to the "theatrical, voyeuristic and devotional" experience of moving through these rooms.
We are used to museums generally depicting events far removed from us.
But this one seems more poignant, more real and more sobering because we were part of the global audience who followed the unfolding horror on our screens.
It's also just one of the many Manhattan museums well worth a visit if only time was on your side.
The Whitney Museum of American Art last year moved out of the Museum Mile to the Meatpacking District, near the Hudson River.
Check out its collection and special shows, but the new building itself is also a marvel, with indoor and outdoor galleries.
From the wide large terraces, there are great views of the surrounding district including the river and the start of the High Line public park.
The museum's Jeff Levine says the outdoor stairways to each terrace "were inspired by the fire escapes which are such an essential part of New York".
Yes, we spot those very photographic fire escapes everywhere we walk, whether it's alongside those forest-like amazing skyscrapers or along the very popular High Line.
Built on a disused historic freight rail line elevated above the streets, the beautifully designed 2.33km long park features wildflowers,grasses, seating, artworks and more great views.
It's just one of the free Manhattan sights.
Others include the ferry to Staten Island, or walking around the bustling Grand Central Terminal with its astronomical ceiling painting and the impressive New York Public Library with its marble edifice, chandeliers, wide staircases and famous Rose Main Reading Room.
Or there's just walking and walking the streets of the borough's fascinating districts, checking out the locals, the steady stream of yellow taxis, the street food vendors - some attracting long queues - and those skyscrapers.
Back on the museum trail, the possibilities are endless ranging from the compact beautiful rounded Guggenheim to the gigantic, overwhelming Metropolitan Museum of Art with a permanent collection of more than two million works spanning more than 5000 years of world culture.
It could take a month of Sundays to see them all.
Even a casual wander reveals an Egyptian temple, the stunning Tiffany "Autumn Landscape" lead glass window, a beautiful furnished living room by Frank Lloyd Wright, and sculptures, paintings, drawings from around the globe.
Speaking of large scale, the American Museum of Natural History is another colossus with its 32 million specimens and artefacts from Earth and beyond.
For many the highlight is the huge collection of dinosaur fossils, but there are also vast Halls of Human Origins, Biodiversity, Ocean Life and Meteorites.
I particularly loved the dioramas of North American mammals, including a towering brown bear in front of snow-capped mountains.
School excursions were never this exciting in my time.
But then again, Brisbane isn't Manhattan.
* The writer was a guest of China Southern Airlines, New York & Company, Sofitel New York and New York Hilton Midtown.
And that exhilaration and pure adrenalin drives our whirlwind five-day visit, as we face the unanswerable question of which of the many sights to see.
For the newcomer, there are the iconic attractions that seem ingrained in our collective psyche from TV and the movies - the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square and Central Park to name a few.
But the constant evolution of the city also continually throws up more offerings.
Not the least is the haunting 9/11 Museum and Memorial and its neighbour the One World Observatory on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of One World Trade Center.
It's the tallest building in the western hemisphere, but we reach the top in less than 60 seconds, in a lift where moving images depict the development of the city's skyline from the 16th century to the present day.
The amazing 360-degree views take your breath away.
Oh, just in case you too wondered - "Can I bring my licensed firearm? - features in the FAQs on its website.
Be relieved to read: "There are absolutely no firearms permitted."
A sombre mood prevails among the many visitors at the 9/11 Memorial's twin reflecting pools, featuring two man-made waterfalls within the "footprints" of the fallen Twin Towers.
The names of the 2983 people who died in the 2001 and 1993 terrorists attacks are etched in bronze on the ledges around the pools.
NYPD counter-terrorism officers are everywhere, all seemingly cheerful as they acquiesce to non-stop requests to pose for photos with tourists.
The huge underground museum contains a myriad of exhibits.
They range from recordings of emotional emergency calls, images of fleeing people and the burning buildings, to poignant flyers about missing loved ones, plane fragments and everyday personal items like glasses and shoes found at the scene.
The Survivors Staircase is there, the last visible piece of the buildings after the attacks, used by many to run for their lives.
The NY Times arts critic Holland Carter eloquently refers to the "theatrical, voyeuristic and devotional" experience of moving through these rooms.
We are used to museums generally depicting events far removed from us.
But this one seems more poignant, more real and more sobering because we were part of the global audience who followed the unfolding horror on our screens.
It's also just one of the many Manhattan museums well worth a visit if only time was on your side.
The Whitney Museum of American Art last year moved out of the Museum Mile to the Meatpacking District, near the Hudson River.
Check out its collection and special shows, but the new building itself is also a marvel, with indoor and outdoor galleries.
From the wide large terraces, there are great views of the surrounding district including the river and the start of the High Line public park.
The museum's Jeff Levine says the outdoor stairways to each terrace "were inspired by the fire escapes which are such an essential part of New York".
Yes, we spot those very photographic fire escapes everywhere we walk, whether it's alongside those forest-like amazing skyscrapers or along the very popular High Line.
Built on a disused historic freight rail line elevated above the streets, the beautifully designed 2.33km long park features wildflowers,grasses, seating, artworks and more great views.
It's just one of the free Manhattan sights.
Others include the ferry to Staten Island, or walking around the bustling Grand Central Terminal with its astronomical ceiling painting and the impressive New York Public Library with its marble edifice, chandeliers, wide staircases and famous Rose Main Reading Room.
Or there's just walking and walking the streets of the borough's fascinating districts, checking out the locals, the steady stream of yellow taxis, the street food vendors - some attracting long queues - and those skyscrapers.
Back on the museum trail, the possibilities are endless ranging from the compact beautiful rounded Guggenheim to the gigantic, overwhelming Metropolitan Museum of Art with a permanent collection of more than two million works spanning more than 5000 years of world culture.
It could take a month of Sundays to see them all.
Even a casual wander reveals an Egyptian temple, the stunning Tiffany "Autumn Landscape" lead glass window, a beautiful furnished living room by Frank Lloyd Wright, and sculptures, paintings, drawings from around the globe.
Speaking of large scale, the American Museum of Natural History is another colossus with its 32 million specimens and artefacts from Earth and beyond.
For many the highlight is the huge collection of dinosaur fossils, but there are also vast Halls of Human Origins, Biodiversity, Ocean Life and Meteorites.
I particularly loved the dioramas of North American mammals, including a towering brown bear in front of snow-capped mountains.
School excursions were never this exciting in my time.
But then again, Brisbane isn't Manhattan.
* The writer was a guest of China Southern Airlines, New York & Company, Sofitel New York and New York Hilton Midtown.
Source: AAP