Sydney

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Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: -33.867139
• Longitude: 151.207114

On Travellerspoint

• 2 Sydney Apartments
• 5 Sydney Guesthouses
• 66 Sydney Hostels
• 20 Sydney Hotels

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Introduction

Sydney Harbour Bridge

© All Rights Reserved Scobie67

Sydney is Australia's largest and oldest city. It is the site of the first European colony in Australia, which was established in 1788 in what is now known as New South Wales. Two centuries latest, 21st century Sydney is a multicultural city known for iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney is the fifteenth most expensive city in the world and Australia’s most expensive city.^[1]

Neighbourhoods

Inner City

• CBD is in the heart of the city. Home to major shopping centres, hotels, and national financial and business institutions. Set alongside the CBD are parklands including Hyde Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Within this parkland and overlooking the harbour is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, one of Australia's leading art museums.
• The Rocks and Circular Quay was the area first settled by the English in 1788 and now an oasis of historic buildings in the city.
• Darling Harbour was built for the Bicentenary in 1988. Great nightlife, bars and restaurants can all be found here as well as the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Sydney Entertainment Centre, The Australian National Maritime Museum, The Sydney Aquarium, The Imax Cinema, The Chinese Garden of Friendship and The Starcity Casino.
• Kings Cross or simply "The Cross", is the Red light district of Sydney. Besides that, it does have some great clubs, bars, and restaurants and is great even if you only want to go people watching.
• Chinatown was the original Chinatown of Sydney, though now most Chinese live in outer suburbs and you'll find more authentic Chinese food in places like Hurstville and Chatswood.
• Leichhardt is sometimes called Little Italy, although Little Stanley Street in the city also claims that title. Leichhardt is a vibrant, cosmopolitan suburb in the inner west. The buzz centres around the cafes serving great Italian coffee and gelato, the bookshops and arthouse cinema.
• Cabramatta is the place to go If you can't get to Vietnam because you'll think you're there when your in Cabramatta. A thriving Vietnamese community have created a true Little Vietnam in this suburb.

Sights and Activities

Manly

From around 1850, Manly has been considered Australia’s favourite seaside resort. It is definitely a destination for all seasons and all ages. It is most famous for its beautiful natural beauty, scenic walkways alongside both the harbour and ocean beaches and it’s many cultural events.

Manly is about 14 kilometres from the city centre and best reached by ferry from Circular Quay so you can fully appreciate Sydney's magnificent harbour. Named for the manly behaviour of the local Aboriginal tribe, Manly has beautiful beaches (both surf and family) and good shopping and restaurants on the Corso.

Bondi Beach

bondi beach

© All Rights Reserved doubledrtw

Not to be confused with Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach is approximately 9km from the city centre. Originally known as "Boondi" by the local aboriginals, it is probably the most famous beach in Australia, though not the best. The beach itself is just a large strip of sand - the main attraction is the matching strip of pubs, restaurants and shops, and its lively nightlife. Best reached by bus from Bondi Junction train station. For families, quieter beaches with parklands such as Coogee, Bronte, Neilsen Park or Manly are likely to be more appealing.

Other Beaches

• Coogee Beach is one of Sydney's best beaches without all the tourists and pretentious locals.

Other Sights and Activities

• Sydney Opera House is an Australian icon of modern architecture, Sydney's Opera House commands a formidable reputation as a modern wonder of the world.
• Sydney Harbour Bridge, just look at it in awe or, if you feel up for it, climb it.
• Art Gallery of New South Wales is Sydney's leading art museum, with impressive collections of Aboriginal, Australian, European, Asian and contemporary art. The late opening until 9pm every Wednesday is popular with locals, with free events.
• Sydney Tower is the place for great 360 degree views of Sydney from it's tallest building, in the heart of the City.
• Sydney Olympic Park was the home of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
• Taronga Zoo, "Taronga" an aboriginal word for waterview, is located just 12 minutes by ferry from Circular Quay. Taronga Zoo is a great place to become accustomed to our unique wildlife as well as enjoy some of the best views of Sydney and the harbour.
• Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens is located in the city. The Botanical Gardens are a real oasis from the rat-race of the city outside it's gates.
• Sydney Aquarium is Located in Darling Harbour.
• Sydney Wildlife World is a great place to visit if you don't have the time for a day at the Zoo.
• Paddy's Markets is Sydney's largest markets for almost everything.
• Harbour Cruises are a great way to see what is often considered one of the most beautiful harbour's in the world. Typical cruises allow great views of The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Fort Denison and City Skyline.
• Baha'i Temple, located in Ingleside a northern suburb, is a stunning strucutre and the Mother Temple for the Bahá'í Faith in Australia. For people looking for spirituality there is actually a hostel on the premises.

Events and Festivals

Sydney offers a wide array of events and festivals, far too many to mention here. You can always check What's On Here

Annual Events

Sydney's New Year celebration

© All Rights Reserved magdabis

• Australia Day on January 26th is when celebrate what it is to be Australian.
• New Years Eve is the biggest public event in Sydney attracting thousands of famillies to the harbour foreshore for a spectacular fireworks show.
• Chinese New Year Festival in 2009, celebrate the Year of the Ox which begins on 26 January this year. More than 50 events and activities will be held from Friday 23 January until Sunday 15 February.
• Mardi Gras is Sydney's Gay and Lesbian parade. It started as a gay pride event almost 30 years ago and has been growing in size and popularity ever since. In 2009, it will be held from Sunday 15 February to Saturday 7 March.
• The Sydney Film Festival was established in 1954 and runs for several weeks in June.
• The The Archibald Prize is Australia's most prestigious and popular art prize, with portrait's of famous Australians and an air of controversary. Exhibition runs from March - May each year.
• The Biennale of Sydney is an international showcase for contemporary art run every two years. The 17th Biennale of Sydney will be held in 2010.
• The Sydney Festival is a major cultural celebration showcasing theatre, dance, music and the arts. For 2009, it will be held from 10 to 31 January.
• The City2Surf is Australia's greatest fun-run with around 60,000 people of all ages running the 14 km course from the centre of the city to Bondi Beach. The 2009 City2Surf will be held on Sunday 9 August.
• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, even if you're not a yachtsman, is a spectacular sight. The race starts in Sydney Harbour every year on December 26 around 1pm.
• The Open Air Cinema is located on the side of Sydney harbour showing the latest films in a unique open air environment with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background. Runs Jan-Feb.
• The Moonlight Cinema is an open air cinema screening latest release, contemporary, cult and classic movies on the lawns of the picturesque Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park. Runs Dec-Mar.
• Outdoor Music Festivals are extremely popular in Australia over summer. Find out more about the Outdoor Music Festivals in New South Wales happening in and around Sydney.

Weather

Sydney enjoys a temperate climate, with mild winters and warm summers. The hottest month is January when on average the city has 14.6 days over 30 °C. The hottest day on record was 45.3 °C in 1939. Winters are much cooler, although temperatures rarely drop below 5 °C. July is the coldest month of the year. Average daytime temperatures between 17 °C (July) and 27 °C (January) , and between 9 °C (July) and 19 °C (February) at night.
The average annual rainfall is 1215 mm, falling at least 1 mm on average 100 days a year. ^[2] Rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year, with slightly more rain during the first half of the year.

Getting there

By Plane

International

Sydney Airport (SYD) with 31 million passengers in 2007 is Australia's premier airport, servicing flights from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, South Africa, and other parts of Oceania.

• NOTE* Australia has very strict quarantine laws designed to protect our unique flora and fuana. Check HERE to see which items you can, and cannot bring into the country.

Domestic

From Sydney, you can also fly domestically to Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Canberra and other airports across Australia.
Domestic services to/from Sydney are offered by:

• Qantas services 62 airports across Australia
• Virgin Blue is a budget airline servicing 27 airports across Australia
• Jetstar is a budget airline servicing 21 airports across Australia
• Rex. (Regional Express) is a regional airline servicing 32 airports across New South Wales
• Aeropelican is a regional airline servicing 4 airports across New South Wales

If you are transfering between the international and domestic terminals you can take the T-bus or the train and costs $5.

Getting to the city from the airport is quick and easy:

• Taxis will cost between $20 and $30 for the 20 minute ride to the city
• Train services to the city cost around $14 and takes 13 minutes
• Shuttle buses can drop you at the door of your hotel/hostel and cost a flat rate of $12 and can take upto 45 minutes

By Train

If you are travelling around Australia, CountryLink offers long-distance services connecting Sydney to Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane, as well as regions of New South Wales not covered by the Cityrail network. The Indian Pacific connects Sydney to Adelaide and Perth, but tickets are not cheap. Expect to pay at least $680 (AUD) for a one way trip to or from Perth, unless you're lucky enough to qualify for a cheaper rate (available to children, seniors, backpackers and students).

By Car

If you plan on driving to Sydney, it could be a long trip depending on where you are:

• Adelaide to Sydney = 1400 kilometres
• Brisbane to Sydney = 1000 kilometres
• Cairns to Sydney = 2400 kilometres
• Canberra to Sydney = 300 kilometres
• Darwin to Sydney = 4000 kilometres
• Melbourne to Sydney = 900 kilometres
• Perth to Sydney = 4000 kilometres

All distances are estimates.

By Bus

The Sydney Coach Terminal is located under Central railway station on Eddy Avenue. There are a number of coaches services to Sydney from around Australia.

• Greyhound Australia services the whole of Australia
• Firefly services from Adelaide and Melbourne
• Murrays services from Canberra and Southern New South Wales

By Boat

Sydney has one of the most spectacular harbours in the world and nothing compares to arriving here by sea. The harbour has two dedicated passenger terminals servicing both local and international cruise ships. One is located in Circular Quay opposite the Opera House, the second is Wharf 8 located near darling harbour. Summer is the peak season for ships to visit Sydney. Check the Sydney Ports website for cruiseliners and dates.

Getting Around

By Car

Sydney is not a car friendly city (traffic can be very bad at peak times and finding a parking space isn't easy, or cheap) so if you plan on staying in or around the city area, forget about a car. If you have a car, the city has over 50 parking stations. Expect to pay between $25 to $50 per day.

Car hire is available at Sydney Airport and throughout the city. Available from:

• Budget.
• Europcar.
• Hertz.
• Thrifty.

Bus hire is available from:

• Sydney Minibus Hire.
• North Sydney Bus Charters.

By Public Transport

Sydney has a an extensive network of trains, buses, and ferries to get you to just about anywhere you will want to go. The city centre also has a Monorail if you want to get a better view. For information on travel passes, timetables, and fares check Transport Info Line.

By Foot

Sydney's CBD is quite small, so it's pretty easy to get around by foot. If you're staying somewhere in the centre of town, harbourside attractions like the Darling Harbour and Circular Quay (where the Opera House is located) are within walking distance. One of the best ways to discover a city is on foot. There are guided tours available. You can pick up a brochure from the Town Hall and follow a number of walking routes that will show you contemporary and historic Sydney.

By Bike

Increasingly, there are more and more cycleways being built giving safe access for cyclists to get around the city and suburbs. You can legally ride a bike on the road but you must follow the same road rules as other traffic and you must also wear a helmet. For more information check Road safety

Eat

One of the great things about Sydney is its multiculturalism, and the benefits that brings can be seen in restaurants across the city.

Drink

Sleep

Finding a place to lay your head once you are in Sydney shouldn't be a problem, if you booked ahead. When there are special events on it can be very hard to find a room at a price you're willing to pay, so book ahead. If that isn't an option, there is an information/reservations desk at the airport.

With 122 hostels around Sydney you're sure to find what you're looking for. The most popular areas are near Central Station, Kings Cross, Bondi Beach, and Manly.

Shop

There are a few key shopping areas in Sydney, depending on what kind of shops you would like to explore. If you are looking for big department stores, head to the Pitt Street Mall, where David Jones and Myer dominate the landscape. A short walk away is the Strand Arcade (412-414 George Street), which boasts an impressive collection of small (and usually expensive) shops. From here you can head underground to a long, undergound mall filled with stores which runs right through to Town Hall Station and directly under the QVB (Queen Victoria Building).

Looking for something a little different? Head down Oxford Street in Paddington. Close to the city, it offers plenty of second-hand and alternative styles.

If you're looking for a bargain, you cannot go past Paddy's Market in the Haymarket area, close to the Entertainment Centre and Central Station. Here they have souvenirs and your regular market gear and upstairs you have factory outlets stores.

Outside of the city, shopping centres in the Suburbs of Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Parramatta, and Miranda are huge and could easily fill a day.

Work

Learn

• University of Sydney
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Western Sydney

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

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