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When to Visit
Sydney is one of those lucky cities that enjoy
a reasonably temperate climate year round. Seasons fall exactly
the opposite way around to Europe, with Christmas seeing the
height of the summer climate. Temperatures tend to peak at
around 30°C at this time, whilst in winter it rarely falls
below 15°C.
Rainfall tends to be higher during the autumn and winter
periods than in spring or summer. For this reason, peak periods
for visiting the city tend to be in the spring months of October/November
when temperatures are pleasantly warm and there is little
rainfall. Having said that, Sydney is a popular destination
over the Christmas/New Year period when the BBQs, fireworks
and general festivities on the beaches are a sight to behold!
Getting around
Most hotels and even some hostels in Sydney offer free transfers
from the airport to their doors; or alternatively regular
shuttle services at the terminal will drop you anywhere in
the city for a small fee. Once there, Sydney's buses, ferries,
taxis and the ubiquitous CityRail ensure that getting around
town is never a problem.
There are many pre-paid tickets available from ferry and
train stations, offering unlimited travel on a variety of
transport systems for 1-7 days. Alternatively, many tourist
offices offer the option of the SeeSydneyCard, which
for a higher fee combines unlimited transport options together
with free entrance or discounts to a variety of tourist attractions
and entertainments.
Accommodation
Sydney boasts a range of hotels, from the more basic Y
on the Park Hotel near Hyde Park which offers dorm beds,
to the swanky ANA Harbour Bank Hotel, which boasts
a fitness centre and beauty salon, heated swimming pool, and
of course perfect views of Sydney Harbour, including the Harbour
Bridge and Opera House. Prices at the Y on the Park start
at $32 AUS for a dorm bed and go up to $120 for a Family Room
(both are peak season prices and include a light breakfast).
The ANA start their peak rates at $337 for a single and go
all the way up to $891 for a family room in the Deluxe Corner
Suite on the Executive Floor over New Year.
Backpackers tend to head straight for King's Cross,
where a selection of budget hostels sit quite comfortably
in-between 24 hour food and drink joints, offering a range
of delicious cuisines at any time of day, and strip joints
with such unforgettable names as The Pink Pussycat and of
course Café au Lay.
One such hostel is the Funk House, run by travellers
for travellers, which boasts bold psychedelic murals on the
walls, a rooftop garden and BBQ area from which to survey
the city, and a whole host of organised events to keep the
guests entertained, from pub crawls to trips to the Blue
Mountains. Peak prices start at $20 per dorm bed, or $19
with a VIP discount card, which is available at most hostels
throughout Australia and New Zealand. Discounts are also available
for those who book in for longer periods.
Backpackers wishing to avoid the sleazier aspects of King's
Cross might want to head further out to Glebe, where
hostels such as Wattle House offer a more peaceful
suburban retreat. Dorm beds here start at the slightly higher
price of $25 per night.
Areas to visit in Sydney: |
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Darling Harbour
An almost overwhelmingly fast-paced area of the city, Darling
Harbour nonetheless merits careful exploring. Take a trip
on the monorail for an overview of the area before deciding
what to visit first. Various sculptures and works of art adorn
the central area, while other artistic and scientific exhibitions
and interactive displays await visitors to the acclaimed Powerhouse
Museum nearby.
Sydney Aquarium offers an insight into - or perhaps
a preview of - the abundance of exotic ocean wildlife to be
found off the East Coast of Australia, while the Chinese
Garden of Friendship, built for the Australian bicentennial
celebrations, forms a little oasis of peace and serenity amidst
the towering skyscrapers.
Things to See and do:
Sydney Harbour Bridge climb
440 feet high, the peak of the "old coat-hanger",
as it is affectionately termed by locals, offers unrivalled
views across the harbour, for those brave enough to face the
climb! For $130 AUS you can step into a safety "Bridgesuit",
strap yourself into a safety harness, and, after being breathalysed
to make sure you're not too unsteady after last night's drinking,
embark on the three and a half hour trip to the top of Sydney
and back. Trips operate both day and night, and you are even
offered the option of waiting for "dangerous conditions"
for a truly adrenaline-fuelled journey!
Shopping
It is practically impossible to stay in Sydney and not go
on a shopping spree. On George Street, the Queen
Victoria Building, or QVB, is the best-known shopping
mecca, where graceful domes and beautifully-designed stained
glass windows enclose a wide variety of shops selling everything
from jewellery to clothes, handicrafts to teddies with cork
hats, and plenty of wine.
Elsewhere, Harbourside at Darling Harbour specialises
in the latest fashion and gifts; the Strand Arcade is
where exclusive designer brands meet young and funky wear
from Sydney best young designers, while duty free addicts
spend their time at the AMP Centrepoint shopping area,
easy to find courtesy of the distinctive needle tower that
dominates the city skyline.
A free and easy atmosphere pervades the Sunday Tarpeian
Market outside the Opera House, while those looking for
better bargains and fewer tourists can hunt through the truly
authentic Paddy's Markets in the Haymarket area.
Oxford Street in the Eastern suburb of Paddington
is the home of more young Australian designer fashion and
is a shopping mecca/ place to see & be seen on a Saturday
morning when Paddington markets are held near by. In fact,
most of today's young Aussie designers got started in the
markets, holding a stall every Sat until their label was 'discovered'
and became well-known. There's also a thriving bar and cafe
scene here.
Eating, drinking and partying
With so many nationalities in the city, the range of restaurants
is naturally just as diverse and the food is delicious. French,
Italian, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, Greek
- just about any world cuisine you can think of can be found
here. King's Cross is the place to be for late-night
dining Asian-style, while those wishing to feast in more salubrious
surroundings can head for Darling Harbour where over 50 chic
restaurants offer some of the finest cuisine around.
The night doesn't end with dinner either since, with 24 hour
drinking well established in the city, Sydney's nightlife
just keeps on going. Pubs (often termed "hotels"),
bars and clubs abound and the Sydneysiders party hard - possibly
a reason for why there seem to be so many beer guts around!
Venues range from Star City Casino, Sydney's answer
to Las Vegas, to Sublime, Sydney's most popular venue
for those who take their clubbing seriously. Irish bars abound,
as they seem to in most cities worldwide, with The Hero
of Waterloo near the Harbour Bridge offering perhaps the
most traditionally Irish experience. Or, if you have the cash
to flash, why not try the exclusive and expensive Cohibar
based in Darling Harbour, which boasts a flamboyant cocktail
lounge, a gaming room and a superb view across the city.
Nature
Think of nature in Sydney and you automatically think of the
beach scene that dominates the New South Wales coastline.
However, there are plenty of other areas in Sydney where skyscrapers
do not hold the forefront of the view.
Established in 1816, the Royal Botanic Gardens in
Sydney provides a beautiful and restful retreat from city
life. With features such as the Tropical Centre, the Fernery
and even a picturesque restaurant, the gardens attract a wide
range of visitors including tourists, local joggers, picnickers
and even T'ai Chi classes.
Often described as the best zoo in the world, Taronga
Zoo is a short ferry ride away from the city centre. Situated
in Taronga Park, the inhabitants include wombats, emus, elephants,
zebras, penguins, and of course kangaroos. From the top of
the park you have a beautiful view of Sydney Harbour and city
centre.
Lane Cove National Park in Sydney's northern suburbs
offers a bush retreat and river right in the middle of suburbia.
83% of the park was burnt in the bushfires of 1994, but much
regeneration work has been done since.
Aboriginal Sydney
Sydney may only be a couple of centuries old, but the native
inhabitants of Australia have been here a lot longer. It seems
inconceivable that Aboriginals were only recognised
as Australian citizens in their own right as recently as 1967,
but that is the sad truth. Much of their heritage has been
destroyed, but the Aboriginals are trying to preserve what
is left and tell visitors to Sydney their own story.
The Aboriginal and Tribal Art Centre in The Rocks
is a good place to get a feel for Aboriginal style and design,
while venues such as the New South Wales Art Gallery
and the Sydney Museum offer several interesting Aboriginal
exhibitions. For a more comprehensive experience of Aboriginal
culture, however, book a tour with Sydney Aboriginal Discoveries,
the first company to offer visitors to the city an insight
into Aboriginal life both before and after European settlement.
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