Sydney

Introduction

Opera House detail

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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. A little over two centuries old, 21st century Sydney is a multicultural city known for iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Neighbourhoods

Inner City:

• CBD - The heart of the city. Home to major shopping centres, hotels, and national financial and business institutions.
• The Rocks and Circular Quay - The area first settled by the English in 1788 and now an oasis of historic buildings in the city.
• Darling Harbour - 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 - 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..

Suburban sights:

• Bondi Beach - 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 appeal more.
• Manly Beach - Manly is about 14km 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.
• Leichhardt - 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 - If you can't get to Vietnam, visit Cabramatta and you'll think you're there. A thriving Vietnamese community have created a true Little Vietnam in this suburb.

Sights and Activities

• Sydney Opera House - 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.
• Sydney Tower - For great 360 degree views of Sydney from it's tallest building, in the heart of the City.
• Sydney Olympic Park - Home of 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 - Located in the city, the Botanical Gardens are a real oasis from the rat-race of the city outside it's gates.
• Sydney Aquarium - Located in Darling Harbour.
• Sydney Wildlife World - A great place to visit if you don't have the time for a day at the Zoo.
• Paddy's Markets - Sydney's largest markets for almost everything.
• Bondi Beach - It might not be our best beach, but it is our most famous.
• Manly - More than just a beach and only 30 minutes on the ferry which is must by itself.
• Coogee Beach - One of Sydney's best beaches without all the tourists and pretentious locals.

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

• Australia Day - January 26th is when celebrate what it is to be Australian.
• New Years Eve - The biggest public event in Sydney attracting thousands of famillies to the harbour foreshore for a spectacular fireworks show.
• Mardi Gras - Sydney's Gay and Lesbian parade started as a gay pride event almost 30 years ago and has been growing in size and popularity ever since.
• The Sydney Film Festival was established in 1954 and runs for several weeks in June.
• The Biennale of Sydney is an international showcase for contemporary art run every two years. The 16th Biennale of Sydney will run from 18 June to 7 September in 2008.
• The Sydney Festival is a major cultural celebration showcasing theatre, dance, music and the arts. It will next be held from January 5-26 in 2008.
• The City2Surf - is Australia's greatest fun-run with around 60,000 people of all ages running the 14km course from the centre of the city to Bondi Beach. This year it is being run on August the 10th.
• The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - Even if you're not a yachtsman, This is a spectacular sight. The race starts in Sydney Harbour every year on Dec. 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

Special Events 2008

• Rugby League World Cup - Shared with many locations up and down the east coast of Australia, 10 nations compete for Rugby Leagues ultimate prize. Runs through October and November.
• World Youth Day - Organised by the Catholic Church. Starts July.

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. The average annual rainfall is 1215 mm, falling at least 1 mm on average 100 days a year.^[1] Rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year, with slightly more rain during the first half of the year.

Getting there

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 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 Airlines servicing Sydney.
- 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 N.S.W.
- Aeropelican is a regional airline servicing 4 airports across N.S.W.

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 45minutes.

By Car

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If you plan on driving to Sydney, it could be a long trip depending on where you are.
- Adelaide to Sydney = 1400 kms
- Brisbane to Brisbane = 1000 kms
- Cairns to Sydney = 2400 kms
- Canberra to Sydney = 300 kms
- Darwin to Sydney = 4000 kms
- Melbourne to Sydney = 900 kms
- Perth to Sydney = 4000 kms
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 N.S.W.

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 HERE 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.

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.

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 here 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 a information/reservations desk at the airport.

Budget

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.

Mid-Range

Upscale

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.

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