Sydney Travel Guide

Sunny, seductive Sydney is a high contender for the title of the world’s most ideal city. It is slick and smart, the streets are clean, the neighbourhoods and busy pedestrian precincts pristine, the parks sublime, the water in the huge harbour blue, and the landmark buildings breath-taking. Sydney’s population is approaching five million, but it is easy to leave the frenetic urban pace behind with just a simple ferry ride to the North Shore for a bush walk, enjoy a stroll along the harbour beaches or take any one of a number of daytrips to explore the ’real’ Australia on the doorstep.

Just like its characteristic white-sailed Opera House, Sydney seems to cruise effortlessly through nights and days filled with myriad entertainment opportunities, sophisticated shopping, memorable museums, and strings of beautiful beaches. Visitors find it exhausting to take it all in, even though the tourist precinct where most of the interesting attractions are to be found is concentrated in quite a small area around the down-town waterfront and harbour area.

The fact that Sydney is a thriving seaport and industrial city has been cleverly concealed behind attractive pleasure and leisure grounds and residential suburbs, making full use of the scenic, watery geographical location. The harbour area is dominated by the span of one of the world’s largest arched bridges, backed by towering skyscrapers. It is all a far cry from the remote penal colony established by the British back in 1788.

Another plus for visitors is that compared to most big cities Sydney offers excellent, reasonably priced food, accommodation and public transport. The city has an excellent suburban rail network, with its hub at Circular Quay in the city centre, and full use is made of the waterways with ferries and passenger jet boats plying to and from various points.

Getting Around

Sydney has a good network of buses, trains and ferries that make getting around the city and the surrounds easy, and there are numerous types of travel pass deals that are good value for money. The bus network is the most extensive mode of public transport, but can be slow due to traffic jams. There are also several hop-on hop-off Explorer buses especially for visitors that take in the major sights and surrounding beaches. The underground city centre train loop is the fastest way to get around, but many of the tourist areas including Darling Harbour, Bondi Beach and Manly can only be reached by further ferry or bus connections. The best and most pleasurable way to get around is by ferry - the main terminal is at Circular Quay. A trip on the Manly ferry provides one of the best views of Sydney from the water. There is also a 10-minute monorail loop from the city centre to Darling Harbour and back, and a Metro Light Rail ’tram’ system between Central Station and Wentworth Park in Pyrmont. In addition metered taxis are plentiful and fairly economical; to cross the Harbour Bridge or pass through the Harbour Tunnel will cost an extra A$3 though. Hiring a car for short visits is not recommended due to congestion, a confusing road system and limited parking in the city centre.

Attractions

Beaches:

One thing that is not in short supply in Sydney are beautiful Pacific Ocean beaches. Anywhere in the city, except perhaps in the far west suburbs, you will never be more than half an hour away from one. Starting from popular Palm Beach to the north, you can take your pick along the coast: there is Whale, Avalon, Bilgola, Newport, Bungan, Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen-Collaroy, Long Reef, Curl Curl, Freshwater, North Steyne, Manly and Shelly! There are several small beaches around Sydney Harbour, and moving southwards one reaches the famous Bondi Beach, with its magnificent sweep of golden sand lined with an eclectic mix of ice-cream parlours, designer cafes and surf shops. The list goes on and on: a beach for everyone, all equipped with kiosks, white sand and golden bodies. Eight miles (13km) from the city centre, Manly is perhaps the most famous of these northern beaches; it was here, in 1902, that newspaper editor William Gocher first defied the state law against public bathing and today the white sand of the south beaches and the golden sands of the north beaches are crowded with swimmers, sunbathers and surfers. Manly can be reached by ferry from Circular Quay or by foot via the Manly Scenic Walkway from Spit Bridge in the city. This walk can take three or four hours but offers some of Sydney’s most breathtaking views, as well as skirting some of its most exclusive neighbourhoods. Another spectacular but much shorter walk is along the cliffs from Bondi to Bronte Beach, which takes walkers past the famous Tamarama Beach and is very popular with joggers and, at the weekend, with families.

 

Darling Harbour:

The waterside tourist precinct of Darling Harbour, close to the central business district, is crossed by a monorail and offers plenty of entertaining diversions, museums, carnival rides, restaurants and shops. For example there is the Imax Theatre with Australia’s largest cinema screen; the magnificent Chinese Garden with its serpentine paths and placid pools; and the huge Star City Casino and the Sydney Entertainment Centre. An absolute must-see is the Sydney Aquarium (www.sydneyaquarium.com.au), one of the world’s best aquariums, which has underwater walkways through two huge tanks filled with an amazing array of sea creatures. There is also a giant plexi-glass room suspended inside a seal pool, and an impressive re-creation of the Great Barrier Reef. Also look out for the Powerhouse Museum and the National Maritime Museum.

  Telephone: (02) 9281 0788 or (02) 9240 8500 Email: darlingharbour@shfa.nsw.gov.au Website: www.darlingharbour.com.au Transport: Darling Harbour is easily accessible by bus, train, monorail, light rail or ferry

Harbour Bridge:

One of Sydney’s most famous landmarks, the Harbour Bridge (known locally as the ‘Coat Hanger’) was completed in 1932 after claiming 16 lives during its construction. The bridge spans the 1,600ft (500m) gap from the north to the south shore, which was previously only accessible by ferry, and accommodates pedestrian walkways, two railway lines and an eight-lane road. Visitors can experience the bridge in an adventurous way by climbing to the top as part of an organised group for breathtaking views and a feeling of personal achievement. For the less daring 200 steps lead to the Pylon Lookout for equally fantastic views at 285ft (87m) above the water, with three levels of exhibits on the way up depicting the history and construction of the bridge.

 Address: BridgeClimb starts at 5 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. Entry to the Pylon Lookout is from the pedestrian walkway on the Eastern side of the Bridge from the city; use the ‘Bridge Stairs’ in Cumberland Street Telephone: BridgeClimb: (0)2 8274 7777; Pylon Lookout: (0)2 9240 1100 Email: admin@bridgeclimb.com Website: www.bridgeclimb.com Opening Time: Pylon Lookout: daily 10am to 5pm. BridgeClimb operates daily at 10-minute intervals with day, twilight and night climbs Admission: BridgeClimb: day and night climbs AU$155 (adults); Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sunday day climbs are AU$175; all twilight climbs are AU$225. Reduced rates apply for 12-16yr olds. Pylon Lookout: AU$8.50 (adults), AU$3 (children 8-12yrs)

Olympic Park:

The site of the 2000 Australian Millennium Olympic Games, built on a former garbage dump, has become a favourite tourist attraction (there are afternoon bus tours from Circular Quay in central Sydney). Call at the information centre first for information, maps and tour guides. The marvellous Stadium Australia, built for the Olympic track and field events, is currently the venue for Australian rugby and soccer matches. Tours of the stadium are available. The Aquatic Centre is open to the public for swimming. A great view of the eco-friendly Olympic Park and city can be had from the observation deck of the Novotel Hotel.

 Address: 1 Showground Road, corner of Showground Road and Murray Rose Avenue (Olympic Park Visitor Gateway) Telephone: (02) 9714 7888 (24-hour recorded information) Email: info@sydneyolympicpark.com.au Website: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au Transport: Serviced directly by buses, trains and ferries Opening Time: Daily 9am to 5pm. Sydney Olympic Park Visitor Gateway: 8am to 5pm daily Admission: Free. Aquatic Centre pool entry: AU$6 (adults), AU$4.90 (children 4-15 yrs); general admission/spectator fees to the pool are AU$3

Royal Botanic Gardens:

Sydney’s ‘green lung’ is the 30-hectare botanical garden, established in 1816 and containing more than 7,500 species of plants. Australia’s very first farm was on the site where the garden now flourishes, southeast of the Opera House. Paths and walks criss-cross the gardens, leading strollers past two sets of ponds, garden sculptures and numerous horticultural areas. Don’t miss the Sydney Tropical Centre; the rose, herb and succulent gardens; the First Farm; the Fernery; and the palm grove. Watch out for a young specimen of the rare Wollemi Pine (only 38 adult trees exist in the world) in the Pioneer Garden. The gardens also have a visitor’s centre, shop, restaurants and kiosks. Guided walks are offered at 10.30am every day except public holidays, visitors who prefer not to walk can take a scenic train tour. Inside the Gardens you can also admire Government House, formerly the residence of the New South Wales Governor, which sits atop a hillock overlooking the Opera House and Farm Cove. It is open to the public for tours.

 Address: Mrs Macquaries Road Telephone: (02) 9231 8111 or (02) 9231 8125 (weekends) Website: www.rbgsyd.gov.au/sydney_gardens_domain Transport: Ferry to Circular Quay, or bus 441 to the Art Gallery of NSW. It is also a stop on the Sydney Explorer bus. The nearest train station is Martin Place Opening Time: Daily 7am. Closes at various hours depending on the month, from 5pm in winter to 8pm in summer Admission: Free

St Mary’s Cathedral:

This impressive Gothic cathedral is the mother church of Australian Catholics and is a landmark in the very heart of Sydney, situated on the northeastern side of Hyde Park. The cathedral was built in 1868, but its two towering spires were added as recently as 2000 after steel frames were put in place by helicopter and clad in stone. The massive cathedral is constructed from dressed pyrmont sandstone and laid out in a cruciform design. It has some lovely stained-glass windows worth viewing.

 Address: St Mary’s Road Telephone: (02) 9220 0400 Email: info@stmaryscathedral.org.au Website: www.sydney.catholic.org.au/Cathedral/index.shtml Opening Time: Monday to Friday 6.30am to 6.30pm; Saturday 8am to 7.30pm; Sunday 6.30am to 7.30pm

Sydney Opera House:

It may not be an ancient monument, but the architecturally distinctive Sydney Opera House epitomises the city as much as does the Great Pyramid in Cairo or the Acropolis in Athens. Situated on Sydney harbour at Bennelong Point, this intriguing white-sailed landmark is no white elephant. It is a fully functional performing arts centre in constant use. The complex consists of a massive Concert Hall that seats more than 2,500 people and has the finest acoustics in the world; a smaller Opera Theatre, also used for ballet performances; a Drama Theatre, seating about 500 people; the smaller Playhouse; and the Boardwalk dance and music venue. The building, designed by Joørn Utzon, was completed in 1973 and cost over $100 million, most of which was raised with a series of national lotteries. There was so much controversy involved in its construction that the Danish architect returned home without ever seeing his finished product. Free performances of various types are given outside on the boardwalks around the Opera House on Sunday afternoons.

 Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney Harbour Telephone: (02) 9250 7250 Email: infodesk@sydneyoperahouse.com Website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com Transport: Buses, trains and ferries go to Circular Quay, which is a five-minute walk to the Opera House Opening Time: Guided tours daily 9am to 5pm (one hour); Box office for tickets to performances open Monday to Saturday 9am to 8.30pm, on Sundays two hours before the scheduled performance time Admission: Guided tour: AU$23 (adults), concessions AU$16

The Rocks:

The best place to start exploring Australia’s oldest city is at The Rocks, a restored 19th-century village at the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was the site of Australia’s first European settlement in 1788, and is therefore considered to be the birthplace of the nation of Australia. The area features cobbled streets and squares, gas lamps, craft shops and small restaurants. Here too are several historic buildings, including one of the city’s oldest, Cadman’s Cottage, built in 1816, and two of Sydney’s oldest pubs, the Lord Nelson and the Hero of Waterloo. It is recommended that visitors seek information and a map from The Rocks Visitor’s Centre (in George Street) in order to make the most of the neighbourhood and its many attractions, which include museums, view sites, markets, monuments and buildings. From The Rocks it is also possible to access the Pylon Lookout on the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge for an amazing view of the harbour and beyond.

  Telephone: (0)2 9240 8500 Email: therocks@shfa.nsw.gov.au Website: www.therocks.com

Travel Guide powered by Word Travels, copyright © 2006 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Cheapflights can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.