Why
Travel to Sydney?
Australia's
favourite city, with one of the most pleasant year round climates.
The sight of the Opera House and Harbour
Bridge impresses even the most jaded traveller, especially
when viewed from the lovely, sqwawking Botanical
Gardens.
The city is vibrant and dynamic yet still
laid back with shops and restaurants galore, old men in tight
shorts and a booming nightlife.
On the north coast are some pretty vacant coastal sunspots up to Palm Beach as well as trendy beaches
such as Bondi and Manly with their surfers, swimmers and bustling promenades to complete
the Australian ideal.
Downside:
- it is not cheap; expect to pay as much as in some European cities.
- Sydney beach waters are not warm, even in mid summer.
- the suburbs are a bungalow and barbie burntopia stretching forever...well, until the Blue Mountains get in the way.
- truly cultural offerings, like opera
and theatre, are good but not in big supply.
Sydney
climate guide:
Best:
Jan-Feb for heat, swimming and excellent partying/festivals, or
March, April, Oct, Nov for less crowded sight-seeing,
though clouds and rain are not unusual any time. Expect Nov-Jan
temperatures to head into the 40s occasionally.
Worst: June-July. Even in winter [June,
July] nights are rarely below 10C but it may be damp, cool and non-beachy,
plus crowded with holidaymakers who don't know better.
Skiing July-Sept. in the mountains.
Sydney's main attractions:
Sydney Opera House is a must [free music
recitals on Sunday afternoons]. Try an opera if you can get a ticket,
or just walk around it and savour the views.
Walk or climb the Harbour
Bridge. The climb of
1.5kms [1mile] along the arched span - 134 metres above the water
- uses safety lines and will scare the bejesus out of most but costs
silly money; only over 12s. Some visitors
think the climb is a 2.5 hour waste of time.
The Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens are for plant and bird lovers [is the cockatoo the noisiest bird
on the planet?] or just people escaping from crowds, concrete and
action overload.
Catch a ferry to Manly for great views
of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Sydney's regular water environment
and on to funky beach life and great surfing on the big beach.
Visit the cool bars and live bands in Paddington and the funky markets in the 'alternative'
areas such as Newtown and Glebe for a taste of Sidney's subculture.
Stroll Darling Harbour for post modern family oriented shopping and entertainment - touristy but well done, especially the Aquarium.
The Rocks, at the south end of the
Harbour Bridge is not only a over-restored historic
area but also arguably Sydney's best market, great for souvenirs.
Oxford Street is Sydney's top entertainment area and perhaps prime target
for a wild night out, whatever your preferences might be.
And if you can make it in February, well, it's the wackiest time
of all, the Gay Mardi Gras.
Macquarie St is good for lovers of
historical buildings and stories.
Woolahra's Queen Street has some stunning
terraced houses, art galleries and antiques shops.
Bondi [picture top right] is
a must-see beach, not far by bus or train, offering surfing, stylish
off-beach services and a wonderful coastal walk, especially 1-14
November during Sculpture by the Sea, or
September during the kite festival. Everything necessary is rentable.
There is no shortage of spectacular helicopter
trips, at a staggeringly high price of course.
Accommodation:
There's masses of choice of hotels in Sydney, though best to book ahead for
the Christmas - February premium season. Backpackers and Flashpackers
are especially well catered for, though space is not cheap.
Other
Bugbog Australia Travel Guides:
Australia introduction, Melbourne
Guide Pictures, Cairns
Guide Pictures
, Work
Guide.
Sydney was ranked the number one city in the world for
a record ninth time in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice
Awards in New York.
The magazine asked its readers to score cities on a variety of criteria,
including ambience, friendliness, culture/sights, restaurants, lodging
and shopping.
Festivals:
Jan 8-30, Sydney Festival, a solid
arts event though lacking the mad, bad Fringe that makes Edinburgh
so bizarre. Very little street action, regular theatres mainly.
Jan
26, Australia Day, nationwide
but especially lively in Darling Harbour, with free outdoor shows,
regattas and a lively night spectacle.
1st Fri of Feb-early March, Sydney Mardi Gras.
A huge and deservedly famous celebration of gaiety in all artistic
spheres. Fun for straights too!
June, 1st Sat/Sun, Manly Food & Wine Festival.
Oct, 1st Sat, Sleaze Ball. An unbelievably
queer event.
November, 1-14, Sculpture by the Sea, Sydney.
An extensive display on Bondi's gorgeous coastal path.
Dec 26, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race,
a great harbour spectacle.
Dec 31, New Year's Eve Fireworks. A
spectacular blow-out.
Dec 31, Sydney Pride, New Year's Eve
Party.
Short
Trips:
- Beach lovers who wonder if there
is life after Bondi should travel walk a while south on the delightful coastal path to Tamarama, Clovelly, Bronte
and Coogee where they'll find the answer is 'yes'.
- The Blue Mountains and its weird rock formations, caves and waterfalls are an hour
or two away by train/car, though don't expect many kangaroos to
come bouncing up to you. Possible activities include hiking,
climbing, white-water rafting, and canyoning.
Mountainous Katoomba is one of the
Mountains' primo tourist targets, offering views and activities
galore. 2 hours from Sydney.
A paddle boat runs through the Nepean Gorge of the Blue Mountains
from Penrith.
The Blue Mountains are difficult to
see properly on a day trip.
- About thirty premium beaches are
within the metropolitan area, including Manly,
a lovely ferry-ride across Sydney Harbour.
- The Royal National
Park [30kms/19mls] is a massive old park offering
varied activities from bird-watching to surfing.
- Botany Bay National Park [50
mins drive] is much smaller than the Royal [above] but provides
excellent walks, beaches and sea views.
- Gosford,
65km [40mls] north has an 'Old Sydney Town' with actors and street
theatre, 200 year old Aboriginal engravings at Bulgandry and
some superb surf and schools a mere 15kms away.
Skiing in the Snowy
Mountains and Mount Kosciuszko National Park from July-Sept
and hiking, fishing, golfing in the summer. Roughly equidistant
between Melbourne and Sydney, about 5 hours drive.
Australia wine buffs will enjoy visiting Hunter
Valley's 50 wineries and their free tastings, about 2 hours
travel north of Sydney. Don't drive back!
Coffs Harbour is good for markets,
beaches and rainforest; close by Oz standards but at 640kms [400mls]
is not exactly a morning's drive away.
External reviews on travel in Sydney.
Cuisine:
The city resident's eating habits have altered recently, going for
less posh, more value and more often - but still quality grub.
Asian restaurants have been particularly good at supplying these
'ModOz' needs.
The good news is that tasty, healthy Pacific
Rim cuisine - especially seafood dishes - is diverse, reasonable
value and easily accessible; the bad is that stylish creativity
can be in short supply.
Bondi and Manly are great for breakfast on the beach.
Arts/Culture:
Classical Music: at the Opera House
Dance/Opera: Sydney Opera Company and Ballet
at the Opera House.
Live Music & Clubs: All over the
place but especially Manly for Jazz Festivals, Oxford St and Paddington
for the popular clubs and pubs and gays.
Check The Metro section of Sydney Morning Herald and free weeklies
for info on live music.
The Maritime Museum and Powerhouse Museum in Darling Harbour are worth a visit.
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