text:
Sydney/Eastern suburbs

The Eastern Suburbs is the eastern metropolitan region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In the more expansive sense, the Eastern Suburbs refers to the whole area situated to the east and south-east of the Sydney central business district, around the southern shore of Sydney Harbour to the Pacific Ocean beaches and continuing on to the port at Botany Bay.

It is one of the most popular areas for visitors to Sydney, including the famous Bondi Beach, as well as Coogee Beach, Maroubra Beach and La Perouse. It is well-served by public transport and located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour.

Understand
The Eastern Suburbs enjoys extensive frontages on the Harbour, the Ocean beaches and extensive towering sandstone clifftops. This part of Sydney has a choice of over 5 different beaches. Sydney's eastern suburbs connect through to the City Centre through the City east precinct east towards Double Bay, Watsons Bay, Bondi Beach and Bronte Beach through New South Head Road and Oxford Street.

Harbourside
Sydney's Eastern Suburbs lines the southern side of the harbour from the city to North Head, with some of Sydney's finest views, and most expensive houses. Starting with the inner eastern suburbs of Woolloomooloo, Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay within City of Sydney then continuing on through Darling Point, Double Bay, Rose Bay, and Watsons Bay in Woollahra Municipal Council.

Oceanside Areas
Waverley Council Randwick City Council
 * Bondi Beach - World famous beach and beach culture.
 * Tamarama Beach
 * Bronte Beach

 * Clovelly Beach
 * Coogee Beach
 * Maroubra Beach
 * Malabar Beach
 * Little Bay Beach

Botany Bay

 * Port Botany
 * Philip Bay
 * La Perouse.

Orientation
Eastern Sydney has much to offer with some of Sydney’s most famous and beautiful spots. Eastern Sydney stretches all the way from Watsons Bay down to La Perouse.

Sydney's Eastern Suburbs are made up of the districts of Woollahra-Double Bay, Waverley-Bondi and The Centennial Parklands, starting with Paddington, Edgecliff and Darling Point to the west, The Centennial Parklands in the south, Bronte, Tamarama and Bondi to the east, Bellevue Hill at the centre and Watsons Bay in the north.

By bus

 * Buses run extensively throughout the Eastern Suburbs. Most originate from Circular Quay in the city.  There are five main bus routes from the city:
 * William St/New South Head Rd (to Rose Bay, Double Bay, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay)
 * Oxford St (to Bondi Junction)
 * 373 - To Coogee Beach via Taylor Square, Moore Park and Randwick Junction
 * 394/L94 - To La Perouse via Taylor Square, Moore Park and Maroubra Junction
 * City Sightseeing operates a hop-on hop-off bus touring the Eastern Suburbs, which travels east along the southern shore of the harbour to south head, through Double Bay out to Watsons Bay and South Head before tracking down the coast through Bondi Beach, before heading directly back to the city.
 * There are also lots of local services to Shopping Malls - Eastgardens being the largest. There are also other city bound services from most beaches and major areas as well as cross city Metrobuses which are rapid transit style buses that run every 15 mins from 7AM–7PM daily.
 * M10 Maroubra Junction To Leichardt
 * M20 Botany To Gore Hill
 * M50 Coogee To Drummoyne
 * There is also a beach connect service during summer on weekends and runs From Bondi Beach at the Tour Buses to Coogee Beach via Bronte number 362 and runs from 10AM to 6PM.

By train
Surprisingly there are no trains that take you to the beaches, however the Eastern Suburbs Line goes to Martin Place, Kings Cross, and terminates at  which is  from Bondi Beach itself. Passengers can interchange with frequent buses to Bondi Beach.

Coogee beach can also be accessed via bus from Bondi Junction, although it can be faster to take a direct bus from the city centre instead.

By light rail
The Eastern Suburbs are connected via the L2 and L3 light rail lines. Both lines start from Circular Quay and passes Central and Surry Hills, but the L2 line branches east towards Moore Park and Randwick, while the L3 line branches south wards Kingsford and Kensington.

By car
Sydney's Eastern Suburbs are very accessible by car with lots of major roadways. Main roads connected Sydney's Eastern Suburbs to Sydney CBD include New South Head Road and Oxford Street, and Anzac Parade and The M1 Eastern Distributor.

Traffic can sometimes be a struggle but is generally alright and parking can be a competition that never let's you win at the beaches in summer.

Harbour Shoreline
See the different aspects of the harbour to walk, admire the views. Take a swim in the Sydney Harbour. You can access all of the harbour shoreline by ferry or bus.

From the city to the heads:

 * Double Bay. Best known for its shopping, restaurants, and cafes. A marina and a ferry wharf dominate the harbourfront.  Swimming isn't popular here, and the waterfront park is a little worn.  There is an enclosure further east, but you can't walk to it along the harbour front.  The shopping district used to be irreverently referred to as "Double Bay-double pay" due to the range of upmarket and exclusive boutiques situated there. The bay itself has extensive mooring areas for private water craft.  Public transport access by ferry or bus.
 * Rose Bay. See the seaplanes take off and land.  This was the original international airport for Sydney when the airlines operating toward the Pacific, SE Asia and onward to Europe used seaplanes. The old seaplane terminal and airport administration building has been converted into use a waterfront restaurant. The water landing strip remains in service and is generally used for light seaplanes doing charter work and scenic flights northward to Palm Beach. Look at the harbour views.  Not really a swimming place and can feel a bit like a harbourside transport hub at times due to the ferries and the buses coming and going. There is an enclosure for swimming at the headland on the east of the bay, which is nice to cool off.  The bay has extensive mooring areas for private water craft. Parking is tight.  Public transport access by ferry or bus.
 * Rose Bay. See the seaplanes take off and land.  This was the original international airport for Sydney when the airlines operating toward the Pacific, SE Asia and onward to Europe used seaplanes. The old seaplane terminal and airport administration building has been converted into use a waterfront restaurant. The water landing strip remains in service and is generally used for light seaplanes doing charter work and scenic flights northward to Palm Beach. Look at the harbour views.  Not really a swimming place and can feel a bit like a harbourside transport hub at times due to the ferries and the buses coming and going. There is an enclosure for swimming at the headland on the east of the bay, which is nice to cool off.  The bay has extensive mooring areas for private water craft. Parking is tight.  Public transport access by ferry or bus.

 * Watsons Bay. Famous for its seafood, city and harbour views.  Immensely popular on summer weekends, it can be impossible to park anywhere close. Visit Nielsen Park and the famous Gap above the sandstone cliffs at South Head, it has stunning views and is part of an extended coastal walkway. The Gap also has a macabre history as the site of many mysterious deaths and many suicides  Public transport access by ferry or bus.

Ocean beaches
Swim, surf, walk or explore the Eastern Suburbs beaches. All of them have public transport access by bus, check Transport Info for more information.

From north to south:

Waverley Council

 * Bondi Beach. World famous surf beach.  Pretty beach, nice for swimming, walking, with plenty of food and accommodation places lining the shoreline. Parking and car access can be extremely difficult summer weekends, and challenging even at other times. Public transport access is bus from the City, Bondi Junction, or Watsons Bay.
 * Tamarama Beach. A small surf beach 2 km south from Bondi Beach. Worth a walk along the cost from there. The walk, although nice, is not quite as pretty as walking from Clovelly. Only kerbside parking. Public transport is by direct bus, or walking from the bus at Bondi Beach.

Randwick City Council
 * Bronte Beach. A nice surf beach around 3km walk south from Bondi Beach, much smaller than its northern neighbour. Good for walking. Nice ocean rock pool for swimming. Nice beachfront park with barbeques. Popular with surfers. Car access and parking can be difficult summer weekends - get there early or late if you want to drive. Public transport access is very easy from Bondi Junction, with very regular buses stopping right at the beach.
 * Clovelly Beach. Clovelly is a beach like no other in the area. If you are looking for a safe, wave free swim, then Clovelly is for you, but be prepared to swap the natural beauty of Sydney's other beaches for a beach that resembles a cement basketball court. ). There is a long bay, a breakwater, and calm swimming. It is a great location for walking, with headland walks heading north and south. The walk north to Waverley Cemetery popular and spectacular. The kiosk is now an upmarket cafe, so a good place for a picnic. Parking can be difficult, at peak times, but it is usually possible to find a spot somewhere. Public transport access is by bus. If you are not satisfied with Clovelly's man-made feel, follow the path south to Gordon's Bay where you will find an astonishing deep bay, popular with backpackers and the nimble of foot (the water is best accessed by climbing over rocks.

 * Coogee Beach. Very pretty and popular beach. A little smaller than Bondi, but not a small beach, and it has a bit of a similar feel to it.  Nice for swimming and walking, with a rock pool at the southern end of the beach.  Plenty of facilities surrounding it, Coogee has pubs, restaurants and takeaway places. Parking and car access can be difficult.  Public transport access is by bus  routes are to the City, Central, Eastgardens and Bondi Junction.

 * Maroubra Beach. Sydney largest eastern beach, with good facilities and great waves. You will always find a spot on the sand at Maroubra, but gets crowded swimming between the flags. Large parking lots, which do fill up summer weekends. Probably a little less scenic than the beaches further north, as it lacks the cliff headlands, therefore probably not as good for walking.  A cafe and kiosk on the beach, open even during winter.  Public transport access is by bus.

 * Malabar Beach. Sheltered at the end of Long Bay, Malabar is not the beach for surfers. It is a smaller, quieter beach, often not crowded at all. It is not patrolled by lifeguards. Parking is usually available. Public transport access is by bus.

 * Little Bay and Congwong Beach. A beautiful, calm little bay (hence the name) surrounded by cliffs. Rather untouched, save for an amenities hut, this beach is accessed by traveling through old hospital grounds —Prince Henry Hospital— that have now been converted into retirement villages and upper class neighborhoods. There are a couple of shops located on Anzac Parade, which is a bout 10 minutes walk away from the beach. The beach is NOT dog friendly, good for snorkeling and kids, although this beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. Has a nice quiet atmosphere. Best accessed by car or any south-bound bus services running along Anzac Parade, such as the 392. Congwong is a calm beach nearby, save for the planes taking off overhead. There are several other beaches that are around La Perouse and the airport, but have little to no surf due to the calm waters of Botany Bay.

La Perouse and Kamay-Botany Bay
La Perouse was the site of some of Australia's earliest European history. It is named after a French explorer, Jean François de Galaup de Lapérouse, who was commissioned by King Louis XVI of France to explore the Pacific. The La Perouse area has also been an Aboriginal reserve, a defence site and even a home for hundreds of homeless Sydneysiders during the Great Depression. Much of the area is now a national park, and there are cliffs, inlets, bays, and walking trails to explore. Visit on a summer Sunday, and you will see Sydney in full recreation mode, with boomerang throwers, kite fliers, beach goers, fishermen, walkers, and picnic blankets with fish and chips. You might even catch the snake man showing Australian native snakes, all for a dollar in the hat at the end of the show.

 * Frenchmans Beach at La Perouse. This is a swimming spot on Botany Bay. It is a fairly average beach, but has an interesting westerly outlook which allows you see the sun setting over the bay, which is very unusual in Sydney, where looking over the water usually means you are facing east. Accessible by car or bus.
 * La Perouse Congwong Bay Beach. Little Congwong Beach is an unofficial & secluded clothing optional beach located at La Perouse, which is reached only by walking through the Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong Beach has been used peacefully by naturists for more than 40 years. Make your way to La Perouse on Botany Bay and park in the car park just north of Bare Island. Walk down the steps to Congwong Beach then left across the rocks to Little Congwong Beach, the second bay. This beach is very popular on summer weekends. Little Congwong is small, and has been described as the most beautiful beach oasis in Sydney.
 * La Perouse Congwong Bay Beach. Little Congwong Beach is an unofficial & secluded clothing optional beach located at La Perouse, which is reached only by walking through the Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong Beach has been used peacefully by naturists for more than 40 years. Make your way to La Perouse on Botany Bay and park in the car park just north of Bare Island. Walk down the steps to Congwong Beach then left across the rocks to Little Congwong Beach, the second bay. This beach is very popular on summer weekends. Little Congwong is small, and has been described as the most beautiful beach oasis in Sydney.
 * La Perouse Congwong Bay Beach. Little Congwong Beach is an unofficial & secluded clothing optional beach located at La Perouse, which is reached only by walking through the Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong Beach has been used peacefully by naturists for more than 40 years. Make your way to La Perouse on Botany Bay and park in the car park just north of Bare Island. Walk down the steps to Congwong Beach then left across the rocks to Little Congwong Beach, the second bay. This beach is very popular on summer weekends. Little Congwong is small, and has been described as the most beautiful beach oasis in Sydney.

Centennial Park

 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.
 * For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps.

Historical sites

 * The Historic Waverley Cemetery is on the south head of Bronte. It is Australia's oldest European graveyard, and contains a mausoleum designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the architect who designed Canberra.
 * The Historic Waverley Cemetery is on the south head of Bronte. It is Australia's oldest European graveyard, and contains a mausoleum designed by Walter Burley Griffin, the architect who designed Canberra.

Do

 * Moonlight Cinema, in the warmer months at Centennial Park and also the nearby Botanic Gardens in the City.
 * Picnic in Centennial Park, just go relax in the wonderful expanse of this sprawling park
 * Go to the Cinemas at Double Bay or to the Entertainment Quarter for movies and many other entertainment venues, or at the historic Ritz Cinema at Randwick or Hoyts Eastgardens.
 * Go to the beach. Pick any one of the iconic Eastern Suburbs beaches and enjoy the sand, surf and parade of Australian city beach culture.
 * Hang out with the tanned set at Double Bay.
 * Take a walk. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk - Barrenjoey to Royal National Park, this seven day walk traverses the great urban coastal walk of Sydney. The walk can be broken into distances and times of one’s own choosing and may be walked in either direction south from Palm Beach or north from Cronulla. There is no need to do the whole walk and a visitor can just access any part of the coastal walk they choose to experience either for a few metres or a few kilometres. For full details information and brochures see details for walks including Harbour Bridge to South Head & Clovelly and Clovelly to Cronulla. There are additional details available for Sydney Harbour coastline walks.
 * Take a walk. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk - Barrenjoey to Royal National Park, this seven day walk traverses the great urban coastal walk of Sydney. The walk can be broken into distances and times of one’s own choosing and may be walked in either direction south from Palm Beach or north from Cronulla. There is no need to do the whole walk and a visitor can just access any part of the coastal walk they choose to experience either for a few metres or a few kilometres. For full details information and brochures see details for walks including Harbour Bridge to South Head & Clovelly and Clovelly to Cronulla. There are additional details available for Sydney Harbour coastline walks.

 * Coogee Bowling and Tennis Club - a popular place to play social tennis or an afternoon of bowling. The tennis club also has space to host parties.
 * Gordon's Bay - (Also has a local nickname, Thomo's, the origin of which appears to be unknown.) A small rocky inlet just north of Coogee Beach, accessed from the cliff walk, popular for snorkeling. There is an underwater snorkel trail there for the adventurous.
 * Randwick Rugby - Coogee is the location of the home ground of Randwick Rugby Union Club, one of the main teams in the Sydney rugby union football competition. Alternate weekends see Randwick and an opposing team battle it out on Coogee Oval, just over the road from the beach - a great way to spend a winter afternoon.

Commercial centres

 * Bondi Junction. Bondi Junction is the largest commercial centre in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs being the major connection to Bondi Beach. The suburb has high rise office and apartment buildings along with Westfield Bondi Junction, the largest shopping centre in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Its major connection to the Sydney CBD is Oxford Street.
 * Double Bay. Largest commercial centre within Woollahra Municipal Council with the Woollahra administrative centre in the famous building 'Redleaf' in front of the famous 'Redleaf Pool'. Its major connection to Sydney CBD is New South Head Road.

 * Randwick Junction. Major junction in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs connecting Coogee Beach and is the home of The Randwick City Council Administration and Town Hall. Main road is Belmore Road. Its major connection to the CBD is Alison Road.
 * Maroubra Junction. Major connection to Maroubra Beach, Sydney's largest eastern beach. Located around the intersection of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road.

Shopping malls

 * Eastgate Bondi Junction. Smaller shopping centre in Bondi Junction which predates the Westfield. Lies below the famous Bondi Junction Eastgate Towers.
 * Supa Centa Moore Park. Homemaker Centre in Moore Park with furniture, homeware and electronic stores.
 * Supa Centa Moore Park. Homemaker Centre in Moore Park with furniture, homeware and electronic stores.

 * Royal Randwick Shopping Centre. Shopping Centre in Randwick Junction on Belmore Road.
 * Pacific Square in Maroubra. Shopping centre located on the site of the previous 'Maroubra Mall'.
 * Southpoint in Hillsdale. Shopping centre located below the Hillsdale apartment complex called 'Southpoint'.
 * Westfield Eastgardens. Largest shopping centre in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Built on the site of the former Pagewood bus depot which was the largest shopping centre in Australia upon completion in 1987. The area around the centre became its own suburb which took on the name of the shopping centre 'Eastgardens'.

Markets

 * Paddington Markets - Held every Saturday from 10AM in the grounds of Paddington Uniting Church, Oxford St. Expect handmade goods, vintage bargains, international foods, etc.
 * EQ Village Markets - Fresh produce markets held in the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. Regional produce and gourmet foods. Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10AM. On Sundays, the EQ Village Sunday Market offers a greater variety of goods including clothing, jewellery, toys and homewares.
 * Bondi Markets - Held every Sunday from 10AM at Bondi Beach Public School. A very popular place for local students, families and bohemian types, especially on weekends in Summer. Home-made and vintage clothing (often from up-and-coming designers), jewellery, art, homewares, etc. Reasonably cheap.
 * Antiques - Stores in Woollahra, Charing Cross.

Eat

 * Burnie's at 48 Burnie Street. Fabulous breakfasts and a sublime single origin roasters coffee menu is organic and gluten free open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.
 * The Jilted Anchovy at 350 Clovelly Road does great pizzas.
 * Burnie's at 48 Burnie Street. Fabulous breakfasts and a sublime single origin roasters coffee menu is organic and gluten free open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch.
 * The Jilted Anchovy at 350 Clovelly Road does great pizzas.

Drink

 * The Eastern Hotel at Bondi Junction is popular with young crowds on Wednesday nights, one of the more renowned mid-week venues in Sydney. Expect to pay at least $10 in cover charge.
 * Around the beaches, there are many modern pubs, such as the Beach Road Hotel Bondi.

 * Around the beaches, there are many modern pubs, such as the Clovelley Hotel and Coogee Beach Palace, which serve food and alcohol, as well as having gaming facilities and live entertainment. Other large, well-renovated pubs sit a little further back from the beach, such as the Royal Hotel in Randwick, and the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington.
 * Cheaper drinks can be found at RSLs, which will always have bistros and gaming, as well as various other facilities - try Coogee RSL on Carr St.
 * Around the University of New South Wales, pubs and bars serve the student population - the campus bar serves cheap drinks, especially at Happy Hour (5-6PM, 5-7PM on Wednesday). The Regent Hotel in Kingsford is also a popular student haunt.
 * The Legion Club, with a balcony (with high glass) overlooking Coogee beach the Legion has long been the secret watering hole of Coogee locals. Cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, midweek trivia and live music at weekends the legion is an attractive alternative to people of all ages.
 * The Legion Club, with a balcony (with high glass) overlooking Coogee beach the Legion has long been the secret watering hole of Coogee locals. Cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, midweek trivia and live music at weekends the legion is an attractive alternative to people of all ages.
 * The Legion Club, with a balcony (with high glass) overlooking Coogee beach the Legion has long been the secret watering hole of Coogee locals. Cheap drinks and a relaxed atmosphere, midweek trivia and live music at weekends the legion is an attractive alternative to people of all ages.

Sleep
Hotels and hostels are available throughout the Eastern Suburbs. Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach are one of the main areas for backpacker and budget accommodation in Sydney.

Stay healthy
For a serious medical emergency you should call 000 from any phone for immediate attention of the emergency services.

The Prince of Wales Hospital is the major Public Hospital servicing the Eastern suburbs. It is on a large Randwick campus which also incorporates The Prince of Wales Private Hospital, The Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children’s Hospital with The University of New South Wales located on an adjoining campus.

Public hospital emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, including public holidays.

title: Sydney/Eastern suburbs


text:
Sydney/Harbour Islands

The Harbour Islands are Sydney's best kept secret. There are several in the harbour that you can visit to explore, for a picnic, or just to take in the history and the view. These include Fort Denison, Cockatoo, Garden, Shark, Clark and Rodd Islands. Goat island is closed. These are all distinct and beautiful islands and have magnificent views of sailing boats on the harbour and of Sydney's harbourside buildings. At most times of the year they can be nearly deserted. Wherever you go, expect specular views, interesting history, and somewhere just a little off that well beaten track.

Get in
To get to the islands you will need some form of water transport. To some islands you can catch a scheduled ferry service, either on either Sydney Ferries or Captain Cook/Matilda Ferries. Some tours are offered to the islands, including water transport, either scheduled or private. You can also catch a water taxi, or impose on a friend with a boat to drop you off. You cannot moor a boat on any of the islands except Cockatoo, where a $10 fee applies.

If you catch a Sydney Ferry, it is part of the ferry network. Opal cards can be used and a single trip costs the under-10 km rate ($5.20/$2.60), and you only pay for the first child in a family group.

Matilda/Captain Cook ferries, and they don't accept Opal, and only sell return tickets to Circular Quay or Darling Harbour ($17/$15) The do offer bundles with other ferry trips, such as their all day explorer ticket ($42/$26). However, it would be cheaper to use an Opal card than to add on their explorer pass.

Water taxi fares start around $50 and go upwards to around $200 which usually includes the first few passengers. It depends on your starting point and destination. Water taxis can take you between the islands, or from the shore to the islands at your convenience.

Chartering your own boat is a simple option. Self-drive boats are fairly basic charter boats that can be leased without a license.

Fort Denison
There is a scheduled ferry service operated to Fort Denison by Matilda/Captain Cook every day of the week. You can get a return ferry there with Matilda Cruises for $17/$15, which includes the park entry fees, and admission to the museum there, but not the tour or admission to the tower. The ferries depart from Circular Quay at wharf 6.

If you want to take a tour of the island and visit the tower, you need to purchase a ticket which includes the ferry transport 24 hours in advance from the Sydney Visitors Centre at Cadmans Cottage in The Rocks. The National Parks and Wildlife Service run a half-hour guided tour for $27/$17 and $72 for a 4 person family. That includes the ferry trip to the island. Standby tickets are available for the tours from the cafe on the island for $10, but these are subject to availability.

There is a rather upmarket cafe on the island. There is a morning brunch for $47 adults and $43 children (which includes the tour). Lunch is also available.

Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island is the biggest of all the harbour islands. It used to be a penal colony and is today one of eleven sites making up the UNESCO World Heritage listing "Australian Convict Sites". Sydney Ferries run scheduled ferry services about every hour from 6am until 9pm. The island is stop for some services on the F3 Parramatta Ferries or for the F8 Woolwich - Cockatoo Island Service. Just check the indicator board at Circular Quay for the next service, or check the Sydney Ferries timetable if you are coming from anywhere else. Ferries run from early until late to services those staying on the island. There is no admission fee to the island.

Take care on sunny Sundays as the ferries to Cockatoo Island run to capacity, and you may be delayed for a couple of hours getting off the island early-afternoon. if you visit on weekdays, the island can seem deserted. During major events (such as the Biennale) special access arrangements can apply.

There is a new marina on the island, and you can moor a boat for a fee. If you have a kayak, it seems acceptable to paddle up the slipway, if you leave your kayak on dry land. If you decide to kayak, make sure you know where you are going. Don't land on the neighbouring Spectacle Island, which is still a working naval base.

Garden Island
Sydney ferries has regular scheduled ferry services to Garden Island on the Watsons Bay route. Make sure you arrive well within the museum opening hours, or you will end up having a ferry trip to Rose Bay instead. Only naval personnel are allowed to disembark after museum hours. No private ferries, private boats, or water taxis are permitted to land or approach Garden Island.

Garden Island is no longer an actual island, with the gap to the mainland being filled in by naval dockyards which still effectively isolate the island from the mainland.

There is no admission fee to the island.

Shark Island

Shark Island is served by an hourly Matilda Cruises ferry on weekends and school holidays only. The price of $17/$15 round trip per adult includes the National Park landing fee.

Rodd Island
Situated in Iron Cove, just off Rodd Point. Not served by ferries. Access by water taxi or drop off. Island landing fee of $7. Must be booked and paid for in advance, and the island capacity is limited to 100, and single groups are limited to 50. You cannot moor a boat on the island.

Clark Island
Situated near to Double Bay, and not serviced by scheduled ferries. You will need to reserve a place and pay a fee of approximately $7 per head to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. You also cannot moor a boat here.

Goat Island
Goat Island is the nearest island on the western side of the bridge. Goat Island has been open to the public for significant periods in the past. National Parks runs tours to the island. Contact Sydney Harbour Tall Ships for a schedule.

Spectacle Island
This is a naval base. It is only accessible by tours. Tours have in the past been offered by the Navy and by the National Maritime Museum, but these are one off arrangements for open days and special events. You can have a view over the island from Cockatoo Island.

Snapper Island
This island is a recreation reserve. It is being developed and may one day be open to the public.

Fort Denison
A popular island on the harbour. You can't miss seeing it, it is right in front of the Opera House.

The island was used as a convict prison during the early days of Sydney's settlement. The island was then known as Pinchgut. In 1857 the entire area became a large fort, built to defend Sydney against Russian attack.

Today the island is managed by National Parks and is part of Sydney Harbour National Park. There is a museum that you can visit just by catching the ferry, or you can take a complete tour of the fort and tower by taking the National Parks tour.

Cockatoo Island

Cockatoo Island was used for convicts in the early days of the colony, but it was later developed for shipbuilding and industry. There is no industry remaining on the island, and the space is now parkland and many of the buildings are open to explore.

On the lower level of the island you can see Fitzroy Dock and Sutherland Dock, where ships were repaired. Both cut out of the rock of the island. The factories and slipway are open to visit too. Some of the old factories house artistic displays. There are two long tunnels cut out of the rock that go under the plateau. They are both still open to walk through. The dog-leg tunnel has a soundscape of what life on the island was like at various times throughout history.

On the upper plateau level there are more industrial buildings, lookouts, and a convicts mess. There are also grass tennis courts available for hire ($10/hour). You can also play a game of chess with life-sized pieces.

Allow at least two hours just to complete the self-guided walks on the island. Longer if you want to stop to see the views along the way.

From the high level on Cockatoo Island you can see across to Spectacle Island and Snapper Island. The slipway faces Spectacle Island, and scenery over there looks very similar to Cockatoo. The island was a naval explosives manufacturing and storage depot for the Australian Navy, and the island is still use by the navy (public landings are not allowed - but there are occasional tours run by the navy for special events). Snapper Island is the smaller island to the left of Spectacle. It was complete reshaped and redesigned to resemble a ship, and was then used for navy training. It is a public reserve now, but is not open to the public.

Garden Island
Garden island was the navy headquarters, shipyards and dock for much of its history. It is no longer an island, with the area between the mainland and the island being filled with dry-docks, ship building and other boat and navy facilities. However the only access is still by ferry, since the remaining naval base is on the strip of land between the mainland and the island.

Much of the naval buildings still remain. Many historic buildings and installations, but many that were still in use up until 20 or so years ago.

There are three main areas on the island.

The Garden area is accessed via several stairways, and although never curated as a formal garden is a very attractive place to walk, picnic, or to admire the view. You can climb to the top of the old signal station, and find the only place in Sydney you can take a photo with the botanical gardens, the Opera House, and the harbour bridge all in frame. You can see the location of the original 1770 gardens that gave the island its name, as Sydney's first produce was grown in these thin, exposed soils. There are picnic tables, grassy spots for picnic blankets, and even few electric BBQs available.

The Waterfront area, you can walk from the ferry wharf along the water for around 400m. You can see the bow of the HMAS Parammatta, and several other memorials and monuments scattered around by the waters edge.

The Museum area ($5 adults/children free) has two levels and extensive displays of the naval history of Sydney and the site. There is a real periscope that is a favourite with the kids. The museum can get a bit crazy when school excursions visit, but you would have to be unlucky to be there with a crowd. Usually the island and museum are very quiet. There is a special exhibition on the Japanese mini-submarines that entered Sydney Harbour during the second world war.

Fort Denison
Fort Denison has a nice cafe, under a white marquee with a view facing away from the Opera House to the northern side of the Harbour. It serves brunch as part of the tour. It is open for lunch, and serves modern Australian cuisine, of the big plate small fancy serves style. Mains around $25. The location, however, is unique. There is a kids menu, which is quite necessary, given the nature of the food and presentation.

Cockatoo Island

There is a kiosk called the Muster Station Cafe open from 8:30am until 4pm everyday. It sells sandwiches, wraps, quiche, muffins, coffee, beer, wine and soft drinks. There is also a cafe on the other dock side of the island. There are vending machines on the island too.

There are coin operated barbecues on the island that take $1 coins. You have to bring your own food to barbecue.

No alcohol can be brought to the island, and your bags may be searched at anytime.

Garden Island
There is a cafe in the museum on Garden Island, that servers lunch and coffee for around $10. The food is down-to-earth, fancy burgers and sandwiches style. Still, the value in eating at this harbourside location inside the historic buildings on the Island is unmatchable.

Other Islands
On the other open islands there are picnic tables and grass. Bring a picnic basket and blanket.

Drink
Occasionally, they have a concerts or other events, particularly on Cockatoo Island. Generally, however, there is no nightlife or bars on any of the islands, and nighttime access is limited.

There are licenced cafes serving alcohol during the day at both Cockatoo and Fort Denison. You cannot bring alcohol onto either of the islands.

Sleep
You can stay on Cockatoo Island, right in the middle of Sydney Harbour, right on the water, and about 10 minutes by ferry from the city centre. Don't count on a late night out, as the last ferry takes you back to the island at 9pm, but you can certainly get an early start if you like. Sites are $45. For $75 you get a site, a tent, mattresses, chairs, and lantern. The pre-erected tents you can hire are closer to the water than the sites where you can pitch your own. The tents comfortably fit two adults, and you can squeeze in a couple of kids too if you are keen, for no extra. They hire sleeping bags on the island, so this accommodation is a possibility even if you didn't bring your camping equipment. There are free hot showers. Lockers are available at $8 per 24 hours.

There are also several houses available to rent on the plateau level,

Staying here around New Years Eve requires booking in August, paying more, and sometimes winning a ballot.

You cannot stay overnight at any other islands.

Connect
Mobile reception is available on all the harbour islands.

Go next
You get a good view of Cockatoo Island from the Parramatta Rivercat, or the Woolwich Ferry. Both trips leave from Circular Quay in the City Centre.

If you find Garden Island interesting, there is a very similar experience at the old naval site at Chowder Bay at Middle Head,with the old naval installations open to visitors with amazing views, gardens, history and a harbourside location.

If you find Rodd Island hard to access, you can see all there is to see of this small island on the Bay Run around Iron Cove. Walk, cycle or jog around the 7km path next to the water in Sydney's Inner West.

If you want to see Clark Island, you can get another great view from McKell park. A small park with gardens, and view back to the Harbour Bridge, in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

You can get a great shot of the Opera House and Fort Denison while walking across the Harbour Bridge, in The Rocks.

There used to be three other islands in the harbour, Glebe Island, Berry Island, and Darling Island. All of these now form part of the mainland. Glebe Island is a port facility, now largely decommissioned. You can see it from the Anzac Bridge, but it really would only be of interest to historians, or fans of abandoned ports, and access to the area is limited. Berry Island is on the Lower North Shore, and there is a 20 minute interpretive bushwalk there. Darling Island forms a seamless part of the mainland at Pyrmont Bay, in the City West. See those articles for details.

Some of the eastern ends of Sydney such as Sydney Harbour National Park overlap with some of these islands, and include some islands as well, plus parts of Manly and Vaucluse.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Sydney/Harbour Islands


text:
Sydney/Hills District

Hills and Hawkesbury is the largely residential area to the north west of the CBD and north of Macquarie Park. It includes the Hills District area around Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills and the semi-rural areas around Dural and Galston.

Understand
The Hills District has been gradually developing from a more-or-less rural area to a part of suburban Sydney over the past 30 years, so you will encounter elements of both lifestyles here. Travellers may be more interested in the rural qualities and, especially, the nearby National and Regional Parks. However, it can be very convenient indeed to have access to the 'creature comforts' of civilization that are right next door in a modern city of more than 4 million people. Once the main vegetable growing region for Sydney, The Hills District continues to be the centre for plant nurseries, both large and small. You can still find vegetables and flowers for sale alongside the road in many places. Lots of people drive out to the northwest on weekends, visiting antique shops and art galleries and checking out the local markets. Increasing numbers of private schools, alternative centres, churches, etc. have re-located here. Traffic is therefore steadily increasing, but most of the area still has a rural feel, especially at its outer edges. In short, you can enjoy the bush and still have wireless internet and a good cappuccino!

Get in
Outer areas such as the Hills District are less well serviced. The most convenient railway station is in Pennant Hills, however, in general, it's much more convenient to have your own car for travelling around the area.

By car
The area is connected to Sydney City by the Warringah Freeway, Gore Hill Freeway, Lane Cove Tunnel and Hills Motorway. Travel outside of peak hour if possible, as the roads get congested during the commute hours into Sydney.

By metro
There is a chain of new metro stations running from the city right through this area, including Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Bella Vista and Rouse Hill.

By bus
Hillsbus services the area. Castle Hill (location of a future metro station) can be considered the main hub, with buses from the Sydney City centre (610 610x 612 612x 619 etc) which run frequently at around every 10 minutes in peak periods. There are also connections from Castle Hill Parramatta, Seven Hills, Pennant Hills and others.

The rural area to the north of Castle Hill does have some limited public transport, but you will likely find it challenging to get to the smaller rural settlements by bus.

History
West of Parramatta out to the Nepean and Hawkesbury was the site of some of Sydney's most important colonial development. The earliest colonialists built their first roads and railways here, away from the barren ground of Sydney Town to the fertile plains to the west. Those free settlers and ticket-of-leave convicts made their fortunes here, building estates and mansions to emulate the landed gentry of England - a place that they still considered themselves very much a part of. This is where the convicts of the Irish rebellion tried to overthrow the government and were slaughtered. This is where the Aboriginal people saw their hunting grounds taken from them, and mounted some resistance with their spears against the British guns.

However, much of what was here is lost underneath the Sydney suburban sprawl. Some of Australia's most significant history is open to be visited. Convict built roads can be walked, and colonial mansions and properties remain. Much is under the shopping malls carparks - only found in history books.

Shopping centres
There are several large shopping centres in the area.

Connect
Most of the Hills district is well covered by 5G, but some areas to the far north side of the Hills district is sometimes patchy.

Go next

 * Cattai National Park - First Fleet surgeon Thomas Arndell's 1821 Cattai Farm and surrounds has grassy picnic areas, barbecues and shelter sheds beside the Hawkesbury River, and car-based camping is available year round (bookings essential). Tel: . Lots of walking tracks and the ruins of a windmill thought to be the oldest industrial building in NSW. About 30-40 minutes drive from the area, north of Windsor.
 * Marramarra National Park - Well worth a visit, only about a 15-minute drive north of Dural, at the junction of Hawkesbury River and Berowra Creek. Canoeing, camping, bushwalking, picnicking or birdwatching. Tel:.
 * Scheyville National Park - near Windsor, is about a 30 minute drive. Conserves endangered ecological communities and species of the Cumberland Plain and Hawkesbury River catchment. Some colonial remnants and relics from old farms. Tel:.

title: Sydney/Hills District


text:
Sydney/Inner West

The Inner West of Sydney stretches from the small inner city suburb of Chippendale (south of Central Railway Station) to the secondary railway hub and business-retail centre of Strathfield and also Sydney Olympic Park to the west. Particular areas of interest to the traveller include Newtown, Glebe, Balmain, and Leichhardt.

Understand
The Inner West suburbs are among the oldest parts of Sydney. They developed along Parramatta Road, which runs to Parramatta at the source of the Parramatta River. The architecture of the Inner West ranges from terraced houses to mansions and reflects its development in the Victorian (1840–1900) and Federation (1901–1914) periods. The area is quite culturally diverse, with several town centres with distinct cultural atmospheres, such as Italian (Five Dock, Haberfield and Leichardt), Greek (Marrickville), Portuguese (Petersham), Chinese (Ashfield and Burwood), Korean (Strathfield) and Vietnamese (Flemington). Its proximity to the central business district makes it popular with commuters and an alternative base for business.

Geographically, the Inner West is punctuated by a series of major bays in the north, creating picturesque riverfront areas that are popular for water sports, walks, runs and bike rides. Popular waterfront restaurants are also located in this part of the Inner West.

Suburbs
The Inner West is itself a diverse area. Parramatta River forms a series of picturesque bays and peninsulas in this area. The formerly industrial working-class areas facing the water are now fashionable suburbs, such as the Balmain, Drummoyne and Abbotsford peninsulas, with waterfront walkways and picturesque parks such as Cabarita Park and Ballast Point Park. Further inland, there are bustling, student-orientated suburbs in Newtown and Glebe and the cosmopolitan European chic of Haberfield, Leichhardt and Petersham. Meanwhile, around major railway stations such as Marrickville, Ashfield, Burwood and Strathfield, bustling Asian influenced town centres contrast sharply with quieter boulevards with elaborate houses built around the turn of the 20th century. Meanwhile, smaller centres such as Summer Hill, Dulwich Hill, Croydon, Homebush and Abbotsford are instead known for their cafes and slower-paced village atmosphere.

 * Newtown's main street, King Street is architecturally probably the best preserved Victorian high street in Sydney. Neglect preserved it in the first place - no money was to be made by knocking things down in the twentieth century, and now regulation favours conservation rather than demolition. Along its length you'll find the usual mix of shops in a major city's boho zone: secondhand book shops, over thirty (at last count) Thai restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants, cafés, clothing shops and an assortment of odd quirky little places.
 * Glebe also has some intact 19th-century terraces. The main shopping strip is Glebe Point Road, a trendy area home to many specialty stores, cafes and restaurants. The Tramsheds houses restaurants and a supermarket in a historic tram depot building. An unexpected sight nearby is the Sze Yup Temple on Edward St, dedicated to Kwan Ti — a 3rd-century Chinese folk hero. In its 110 or so years, it has burnt down twice and been twice restored. Also nearby, Toxteth Park was the mansion of George Allen, prominent lawyer and local politician whose estate originally covered much of the area. It is now used by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.
 * Balmain was once an industrial working-class neighbourhood, but its proximity to the city and prime waterfront estate attracted richer folk. It's now a trendy village of upmarket residences, cafés and restaurants. Gentrification has led to some interesting quirks: the heritage-listed Working Men's Institute is occupied by a restaurant, and the industrial monster of the Colgate-Palmolive Building, a former soap factory, now houses posh harbourside apartments which can be seen when taking the ferry to Balmain.
 * Haberfield is a heritage-listed "garden suburb" from the Federation period, featuring tree lined boulevards and picturesque homes. Its town centre has a distinctly Italian village atmosphere.
 * Strathfield has a few well-preserved Victorian country mansions built on wide tree-lined avenues by wealthy merchants in the 1880s. Some have been converted into schools. One notable precinct is the Woodward Avenue Heritage Conservation Area, bounded by The Boulevarde, Woodward Avenue and Albyn Road. The commercial centre of Strathfield, around the station, vies with Eastwood for the title of Sydney's Little Korea, and much of the shop signage is in Korean.
 * Burwood is 10 km west of the Sydney central business district. The outer parts of the suburb feature architecturally distinctive heritage buildings, including the Appian Way, a street known for its architecturally designed Federation-style homes. The commercial centre of Burwood, around the train station, is today best known for its Chinese eateries and restaurants.
 * Homebush is a small suburb to the north of Strathfield that retains a tranquil garden suburban feel with historic houses built on tree-lined boulevards. There is a multicultural village centre with a wide variety of Mediterranean cafés and Asian restaurants. To the west of Homebush lies Flemington, which has a village centre with a distinctly South-East Asian flavour and is the location of Sydney's main produce market, Sydney Markets.
 * Sydney Olympic Park is a suburb on the boundary between the Inner West and (Outer) Western Suburbs. It is best known as the venue of the 2000 Olympic Games, but also has expansive parkland, including Bicentennial Park. ( Note : SOP is covered separately on Wikivoyage)
 * On the southern banks of the Parramatta River is Rhodes. This suburb features a complex of high-rise apartments for extensive views and lively parks along the waterways.

By bus
From the city, various Sydney Buses routes run regular services to the Inner West. Route numbers in this area begin with 4 or 5; useful routes include the 431-434 to Glebe/Balmain, the 436-440 and Metrobus 10 to Leichhardt, 422-428 to Newtown, the 480-483 to Strathfield Station and the 500 route up Victoria Rd through the suburb of Drummoyne. Most buses are "Prepay Only" between 7AM and 7PM; you must buy tickets from designated outlets such as newsagents or convenience stores, as they are not available for sale on board.

The Inner West suburb of Burwood is the north-west terminus of the route 400 bus which runs from Bondi Junction to the airport. Using this bus and changing onto a train is a cheaper alternative to using the train directly from the airport. However, the bus is subject to Sydney traffic, and a train will usually be better for time.

By ferry
Sydney Ferries run a scenic route from Circular Quay in the city centre to the area via the inner harbour and the Parramatta River, stopping at various wharves along the way. Ferries are the most convenient way to visit the waterfront suburbs of the Inner West. The most useful wharves for travellers are those at Balmain, Drummoyne, Cabarita and Olympic Park. The river service continues on to Sydney's second business centre at Parramatta.

By light rail
The Inner West can also be reached by the Inner West Light Rail, which travels from Central station via Darling Harbour to Glebe and onwards to Dulwich Hill. This is an interesting way to travel, as it follows the old goods (freight) lines which serviced Sydney's ports.

By train
Only the more southerly parts of the district are served by rail lines:
 * The T2 Inner West line services this district, stopping at Redfern, Macdonaldtown, Newtown, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Summer Hill, Ashfield, Croydon, Burwood, Strathfield and Homebush, with some trains proceeding further west. Newtown, with its eat street and bars, is serviced every 15 minutes until late.  Strathfield is a major interchange station, and also has very frequent express services to the city.
 * Further south, the T3 Bankstown Line stops at Erskineville, St Peters and Marrickville.

Parks and gardens
Directly south of the Sydney Harbour and Parramatta River, the Inner West has plenty of quiet bays and headlands with views. These are best reached by ferry or car, as the main railway line is located further south, away from the irregular coastline.

 * The Homebush Bay Circuit is another car-free and mostly flat foot and cycling track that passes through Bicentennial Park and Sydney Olympic Park, crossing Homebush Bay via a bridge. It also connects cafes and commercial areas in the suburbs of Rhodes and Wentworth Point. Best accessed by train from Rhodes station, or by ferry from Sydney Olympic Park wharf.
 * The Homebush Bay Circuit is another car-free and mostly flat foot and cycling track that passes through Bicentennial Park and Sydney Olympic Park, crossing Homebush Bay via a bridge. It also connects cafes and commercial areas in the suburbs of Rhodes and Wentworth Point. Best accessed by train from Rhodes station, or by ferry from Sydney Olympic Park wharf.

University of Sydney
The University of Sydney was founded in 1850, the first university in Australia and Oceania. Located right at the boundaries of central Sydney and the Inner West, its Camperdown campus has grand sandstone buildings with detailed stone carvings and is well worth a visit. It takes 20 minutes to walk from Central station and you'll pass through Victoria Park, a large quiet haven bounded by two busy roads. The University also houses a few interesting museums and galleries, which may be closed over the Christmas break.

 * The Clock Tower, a classic example of Neogothic design, sits at the end of the long walkway from Victoria Park. On the other side of the building is the Main Quadrangle, which has a single jacaranda tree in the courtyard that can be caught in full purple bloom during late spring.

Events

 * Newtown and Enmore are also home to the Sydney Fringe, Sydney Mardi Gras Fair Day, zine and comic fairs, Walk The Streets, and other alternative festivals and activist events during the year.
 * Newtown and Enmore are also home to the Sydney Fringe, Sydney Mardi Gras Fair Day, zine and comic fairs, Walk The Streets, and other alternative festivals and activist events during the year.

Self-guided walking tours

 * Balmain’s Industrial Heritage Walk. The Inner West Council has leverage tech and developed a new interactive self-guided audio walk offering a snapshot of Balmain’s rich industrial and labour heritage.
 * Balmain’s Industrial Heritage Walk. The Inner West Council has leverage tech and developed a new interactive self-guided audio walk offering a snapshot of Balmain’s rich industrial and labour heritage.

Markets

 * Glebe Markets.jpg regular markets in Glebe and Rozelle (near Balmain) are a great place to shop with the locals, look for unusual bargains, and try interesting street food. Held in the grounds of the local public primary schools the are on every Saturday and the Rozelle markets on Saturday and Sunday.
 * The Carriageworks in Redfern hosts the Eveleigh Markets, which consist of a farmers' market selling local farmers and producers of artisan food products, held every Saturday 8AM-1PM, and an artisans' market for local and independent artists of all types to exhibit and sell their work.
 * The Marrickville Organic Food Markets are held at the Addison Road Centre and has a good mix of organic produce straight from the farmers, secondhand items and food stalls in a leafy compound. Held every Sunday from 8AM to 3PM. There's also Reverse Garbage inside, which sells bits and pieces of things saved from the dump.
 * The Sydney Markets at Flemington are a whole lot messier than the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, and even a little maniac on Fridays and weekends, but there's undoubtedly a wide range of cheap fresh vegetable and fruit produce under one big warehouse. There are gorgeous flowers on sale if you get there early (before 9AM). There's also an assorted secondhand market on Saturday.

Eat
The Inner West is really a great place to eat, with a choice of "Eat Streets", where you can get to, and stroll along and do some menu inspecting before you choose your favourite.

Ashfield
Contains a large population of Chinese people and is known among the Sydney Chinese community as 'Little Shanghai' where you can find a decent amount of cheap and authentic Chinese/Shanghainese food not far from the station along Liverpool Road.

Burwood
A highly multicultural suburb, located about 15 minutes from Central Station, there are a few dining options to be had which are particularly convenient if you are staying in the area. Burwood Road is where you will find most restaurants and businesses. Conveniently located right at Burwood Station, if you head left/south upon exiting you will find many Asian restaurants and businesses, whilst heading to the right you will find a range of outdoor dining cafés and restaurants and Westfield Burwood.

Balmain
Balmain is a cosy neighbourhood with lots of cute houses and quirky shops. Ballast Point Park is a great spot for a picnic with a view over the Harbour bridge. You can get to Balmain by ferry or bus. There are also a lot of pubs around and a good selection of restaurants, mostly located around the main street, Darling Street.

Glebe
Concentrated on Glebe Point Road, there is a variety of excellent restaurants to suit a range of budgets.

Leichhardt, Haberfield and Five Dock
The suburbs of Leichhardt, Haberfield and Five Dock are Sydney's Little Italy, with a mix of residential buildings, restaurants (Italian and others), cafés, eateries and individual retail outlets, including several bookstores and grocery shops. Norton Street in Leichhardt has historically been the busiest of the three, but it has fallen on tough times with the piazza-styled Italian Forum rattlingly empty, and Haberfield and Five Dock are perhaps more vibrant these days.

Marrickville
Located 7 km from the CBD, Marrickville is well known for its multicultural working class Greek and Vietnamese heritage built under the flight paths of Sydney airport. These days, some describe it as the 'new Newtown' as it is now an emerging area popular with students and artsy types. Trendy cafes and bars mix with old school good value eateries in this suburb.

Newtown
The King Street strip is a cheap eats paradise, with food from all corners of the globe, including a strong Thai presence. Try also the Portuguese bakeries of nearby Petersham for their famed custard tarts.

Drink
The Inner West suburbs of Glebe and particularly Newtown have a thriving nightlife scene. Newtown is renowned as one of Sydney's main alternative suburbs and is also frequented as a nightlife hotspot away from the chaos of the CBD. King St is lined with many funky pubs and bars and it is convenient to walk from Newtown Station to most of these venues.

Cope

 * The Marrickville Metro shopping centre (34 Victoria Road, Marrickville) has two supermarkets, a Kmart and a typical range of specialty stores.
 * Church St Medical Practice (Church St, Newtown) is one of the best general practice clinics in the Inner West.

Go next

 * West - the Inner West is only the tip of the vast area west of Sydney's city centre, known as "Greater Western Sydney". Inner and Outer western Sydney are separated by a substantial green strip, made up of Sydney Olympic Park, a huge cemetery, golf courses and the Cooks River. For the visitor, the easiest way to cross into Greater Western Sydney includes by ferry further upriver (or use the train, or Parramatta Road) to reach Parramatta. The train will also take you to the multicultural foodie destinations of Bankstown and Cabramatta.
 * East - the ferry, train or bus will also take you back down-river to the city centre. Cross town to experience more late-night shenanigans at City East.
 * South - from the city centre, you can also take the train south to visit the laid back St George and Sutherland Shire districts in the south of Sydney.
 * North - cross Sydney Harbour to visit the North Shore. Apart from the regular passenger ferry that criss-crosses the river, an interesting way to cross the river by car is via the Mortlake-Putney cable ferry.

title: Sydney/Inner West


text:
Sydney/Lower North Shore

The Lower North Shore is the metropolitan area on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour and is surrounded by Middle Harbour to the east and Lane Cove River to the west. The region extends as far north as Chatswood, where beyond that is the Upper North Shore.

Understand
If you have ever walked the steps of the Sydney Opera House and wondered what lies on the other side of the harbour, it is time to explore the Lower North Shore. Connected to the city by Sydney Harbour Bridge, the region offers travellers spectacular views of the harbour, hidden harbour beaches and a peak into the lives of some of Sydney's most affluent residents.

The commercial and geographical centre of the district is North Sydney, a large business hub with skyscrapers (housing mostly financial services companies), shopping malls and a small nightlife scene. Just south of North Sydney is the harbour and the densely populated suburbs of Milsons Point and Kirribilli. It is here where you will find the northern foundations of the bridge and a waterfront promenade with excellent views of the city skyline and the Opera House. It is also where you will find Luna Park, a historic theme park by the water.

To the east is the visually stunning Mosman peninsula which includes the suburbs of Neutral Bay, Cremorne and Mosman. Throughout this area are quiet harbour beaches, natural bushland reserves and magnificent mansions with private jetties. It is also where you will find the world famous Taronga Zoo.

To the west lies historically significant suburbs such as Lavender Bay and Wollstonecraft. Most of the houses are Victorian-era terraces made of sandstone. There are also some natural headlands that off an opportunity for short hikes.

Finally, the north of the area and reaching the upper border of the region are the commercial centres of Crows Nest, which has a popular food and bar street, and Chatswood, a mega shopping zone with 3 large shopping malls and a long shopping street.

By car
There are harbour crossings that connect the Lower North Shore to the city: the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. For North Sydney, Milsons Point and Kirribilli you have to take the bridge, and take any of the first set of exits to your left as you come off the bridge. For points further north, you can use the bridge or the tunnel. Then for Cremorne and Mosman, take the 'Military Road' exit and head east. For Chatswood, continue on the freeway until you reach the Chatswood exit.

By train and metro
The North Shore Line (/) serve the central core of the region between and. Trains for the Lower North Shore depart from Central, Town Hall and Wynyard stations in the city. Services run every five minutes or so during the day.

Sydney Metro's M1 line connects Chatswood to the The Hills district and Epping, Macquarie Park and North Ryde from the west of Chatswood. .

By bus
Regular buses run from the city throughout the Lower North Shore. From Chatswood there are regular bus services to the City, North Sydney, Crows Nest, Ryde, Macquarie University, Gladesville, Northbridge, Mosman, and the Northern Beaches.

By ferry
West of the Harbour Bridge, Milsons Point and McMahons Point are on the F3 and F4 routes, providing connections to Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Balmain and up the river towards Parramatta. Both wharfs provide access to North Sydney for ferry travellers. You can walk there from Milsons point, or get the bus connection from McMahons Point.

Just to the east of the Bridge the F5 route connects Kirribilli with Circular Quay.

The rest of the eastern area of the region also has ferry services, to Mosman, Cremorne, Neutral Bay and Taronga Zoo services.

To the far west, a little known private ferry operation connects the Lane Cove River to Circular Quay and Darling Harbour by Captain Cook ferries.

The ferry may be a slower way of travelling around the region. Services can be less frequent than trains and buses, cost more, and take longer. So, check with Transport NSW if your interest is purely in the fastest trip. On the other hand, every trip is a bargain priced harbour cruise, letting you see the most scenic side of the area.

By foot
You can walk across the Harbour Bridge from the Rocks, directly into Milsons Point. It takes about 20 minutes brisk walking. Be careful on hot (or rainy) days since there is not much shade or shelter along the way.

By bicycle
There is a dedicated cycleway on the western side of the bridge, fully separated from cars and pedestrians. On the city end, follow the Kent St Cycleway north, or enter from Observatory Hill. From the Milsons Point end, the entry is the stairs west and south of the station. Once you leave the bridge, there is only a patchy network of bicycle lanes and the roads can be narrow and steep. Plan your route in advance. Lime eBike and Mobike are available on the southern (city) side of the bridge. You can ride them over the harbour bridge, but you have to return them back to the city within a reasonable time to avoid excess charges, so they are not really useful for more than a cruise over the bridge and back.

By car
Away from the railway line and ferries, a car can be a good option for getting around the Lower North Shore. North Sydney and Milsons Point are business districts, with parking at a premium on weekdays. The shopping areas of Chatswood and Crows Nest generally have 3 hours of free parking available. Other tourist spots and the harbour can have parking metres or paid parking.

By public transport
The public transport system in the Lower North Shore is mostly designed to get locals from the area directly to North Sydney and the city. Therefore, connections between the hotspots (Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach for example) are not that easy. Because of this, day trips to places are excellent (e.g. city to Taronga Zoo by ferry and city to Balmoral Beach by bus) and many travellers will prefer to do day trips from the city to one place. If you do want to get around using public transport, it is best to use Google Maps or a similar tool that can help you determine the best combination of trains, buses and ferries to get you around. For the most part services are on time and not crowded.

By foot
Exploring the harbour on the north side is ideally done by foot. There are walking trails and paths along the water. The overall region is too large to walk, so you'll have to combine walking with some other form of distance transport: public transit, car or bike.

Harbour parks, walks and picnics

 * Extensive walking opportunities are available in Lane Cove National Park. Lane Cove Park is developed, with well formed walks, cafe, etc. Entry fee is payable for cars to enter. Cyclists and pedestrians are free.
 * Harbour views from parts of the district are spectacular. In addition to the normal views, Sydney Harbour has occasional fireworks displays, the most impressive of which is the New Year displays at 9PM on New Years Eve and at midnight on New Year's Day. Visitors hoping to watch the New Year fireworks from a North Sydney vantage point need to be prepared to arrive at around midday on New Year's Eve to claim a spot in one of the public parks. The area is frequently restricted access on New Year's Eve and visitors may not be allowed to bring alcohol into the area
 * Walk around the foreshore from Kirribili to Lavender Bay along the Luna Park promenade.
 * Extensive walking opportunities are available in Lane Cove National Park. Lane Cove Park is developed, with well formed walks, cafe, etc. Entry fee is payable for cars to enter. Cyclists and pedestrians are free.
 * Harbour views from parts of the district are spectacular. In addition to the normal views, Sydney Harbour has occasional fireworks displays, the most impressive of which is the New Year displays at 9PM on New Years Eve and at midnight on New Year's Day. Visitors hoping to watch the New Year fireworks from a North Sydney vantage point need to be prepared to arrive at around midday on New Year's Eve to claim a spot in one of the public parks. The area is frequently restricted access on New Year's Eve and visitors may not be allowed to bring alcohol into the area
 * Walk around the foreshore from Kirribili to Lavender Bay along the Luna Park promenade.
 * Extensive walking opportunities are available in Lane Cove National Park. Lane Cove Park is developed, with well formed walks, cafe, etc. Entry fee is payable for cars to enter. Cyclists and pedestrians are free.
 * Harbour views from parts of the district are spectacular. In addition to the normal views, Sydney Harbour has occasional fireworks displays, the most impressive of which is the New Year displays at 9PM on New Years Eve and at midnight on New Year's Day. Visitors hoping to watch the New Year fireworks from a North Sydney vantage point need to be prepared to arrive at around midday on New Year's Eve to claim a spot in one of the public parks. The area is frequently restricted access on New Year's Eve and visitors may not be allowed to bring alcohol into the area
 * Walk around the foreshore from Kirribili to Lavender Bay along the Luna Park promenade.
 * Harbour views from parts of the district are spectacular. In addition to the normal views, Sydney Harbour has occasional fireworks displays, the most impressive of which is the New Year displays at 9PM on New Years Eve and at midnight on New Year's Day. Visitors hoping to watch the New Year fireworks from a North Sydney vantage point need to be prepared to arrive at around midday on New Year's Eve to claim a spot in one of the public parks. The area is frequently restricted access on New Year's Eve and visitors may not be allowed to bring alcohol into the area
 * Walk around the foreshore from Kirribili to Lavender Bay along the Luna Park promenade.

People watching

 * Chatswood's, very close to the train/metro station, has regular musical performances, an ethnic food market on Thursdays, and occasionally performances from buskers.

Buy
Chatswood can feel like one big shopping mall. Westfield, Lemon Grove, Chatswood Chase and the Mandarin centre merge along the Victoria Avenue into a seemingly endless stretch of fashion, food and just about everything else. The major chains are all there, with many of them having more than one outlet. There are also many smaller shops and centres lining the main shopping mall. Chatswood Chase is an upmarket shopping centre with designer clothing stores and the upmarket department store David Jones. Chatswood Westfield is a mainstream shopping centre with cheaper clothing stores. Chatswood Mandarin is a smaller shopping centre with an Asian food court, a cinema, and a Chinese supermarket on the ground floor.

North Sydney has plenty of shopping options during the week, but feels eerily quiet on weekends when most businesses shut shop.

Crows Nest and Lane Cove have a good selection of local shops to browse, and both have a good community feel.

Eat
The Lower North Shore has plenty of great eating options. Milsons Point has a good selection of Italian and Thai restaurants and cafes, many overlooking the Bridge and Harbour. North Sydney has plenty of food courts for office workers, although not much for evenings and weekends. There are numerous restaurants with a variety of cuisines in Crows Nest near the junction of Pacific Highway, Falcon Street and Willoughby Road, and in McMahons Point, along Blues Point Road. St Leonards mostly has cafes for office workers. Chatswood has a fantastic selection of East Asian restaurants, and the shopping malls have plenty of quick options. Neutral Bay and Mosman have also countless options all the way down Military Road (and if visiting the zoo, it would probably be advisable to try this rather than use the cafes at the zoo).

North Sydney
Packed with office workers during the week, you will find most options (although not all) are closed during the evenings and on weekends.

McMahons Point
It is a great option to walk down Blues Point Road from North Sydney and choose a good restaurant. The architecture and atmosphere is very pleasant, and outside seating is popular. Unlike North Sydney these cater mostly to residents and are open evenings and weekends. Check the prices on the menus at the door, as there are some premium places along here you could stumble into.

Chatswood
There is almost no limit to the options to be found in Chatswood. The two shopping malls provide large food courts, and there are plenty of authentic Asian restaurants within a few minutes walk of the train station.

Lane Cove and Longueville
An eat street with more local appeal.

Bars and clubs
The suburb of North Sydney is known as a playground for young Sydneysiders, in particular for teenagers and people in their early twenties. There are a number of nightclubs and pubs located within walking distance of North Sydney train station.

Stay healthy

 * Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Highway, St Leonards. . fax +61 2 9926 7779. The Royal North Shore Hospital is a fully equipped public teaching hospital. It has an emergency room.
 * Chatswood Medical & Dental Centre, 270 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. . No appointments, just turn up. Payment by cash or credit card.  They are used to seeing travellers there.  Daily 8AM-10PM.
 * Forum Medical Centre, Pacific Hwy, St Leonards (cnr Herbert St). . M-F 9AM-5PM; Sa Su 10AM-2PM.

Go next
Take a ferry south or go over the bridge to the city centre. Head east to Manly and the rest of the Northern Beaches or west to Macquarie Park. Up north is the Upper North Shore.

title: Sydney/Lower North Shore


text:
Sydney/Manly

Manly is a harbour and ocean-side suburb and locality of Sydney and the southernmost of Sydney's Northern Beaches. It is known for its beaches and for its surfing culture.

Understand
"Manly - Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care..."

- slogan used in 1940 by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company to describe "Australia’s Premier Seaside Resort"

Situated across the Harbour 11 km (7 mi) northeast of Sydney City on the lower Northern Beaches, Manly was named by Captain Arthur Phillip after his encounter with the confident and manly Aboriginal people who lived on the peninsula.

The main Manly shopping strip, the Corso, links the Harbour Beaches and the ferry wharf with the ocean surf beach. Manly is therefore the perfect destination to enjoy Sydney Harbour and the eighteen ocean beaches, coves and inlets used for swimming, sailing and surfing. Manly also has a huge range of shopping, dining and entertainment attractions to keep all ages and interests occupied.

By ferry

Ferries dock on the harbour side of Manly a short walk across to the beach. The F1 line departs from Wharf 3 at Circular Quay (adjacent to the train station). The Manly Ferry crosses the Harbour to Manly every 30 min. It is by far the most picturesque and relaxing way of getting to and from Manly. The ferry takes around 30 min and total travel time from the city centre is about 45 min. Single fares are $7.20/$3.60. You can tap your Opal Card, credit card, or buy a single trip ticket from the machines.

Sundays are a veritable bargain at $2.70 for a travel around Sydney when using an Opal Card or contact-less credit card at the Opal gates. The cheap price and popular destination leads to large crowds on sunny Sundays.

Manly fast ferries cost $10.20 for the same trip, and complete it about 10 minutes quicker. They leave from Wharf 6 at Circular Quay. You can tap your Opal Card or your credit card for the trip. They run a few services during the day direct to Watsons Bay from Manly - which is useful if you want to see Manly Beach and Bondi Beach in a single day, as this can save considerable time on the trip back to the city. This company also sells hop-on hop-off ferries passes for its ferries.

By bike
Bikes are permitted on the Manly ferry from the city at no charge, just wheel them on. There are a few different places to hire bikes from in Manly and plenty of tracks to use once you get there.

 * Manly Bike Tours
 * Manly Cycles Bike hire.

It is possible to take a cycle from the city to Manly on fairly quiet streets, on a reasonably well signposted route. While the main road follows the ridge as much as possible, the cycle route goes over the headlands, so you want to have your hill legs ready.

By car
From the City, Manly is signposted from the north side of the Harbour Bridge. Take the Bridge and then the Manly exit from the Warringah Expressway.

From points further north, get on Pittwater Road and stay on it all the way to Manly. At Warringah Mall, Pittwater Road turns to the left which is clearly signposted.

Expect considerable congestion along Military Road leading to Spit Bridge during peak times, including weekends. Spit Bridge opening times can see even more extended delays. There are a number of parking stations in Manly. Street parking is hard to come by, and impossible to find on a sunny summer weekend.

By bus
Bus from the city to Manly is usually a two step affair. First get a 100 to Spit Junction. Change there for a 144 towards Manly. Outside of 100 hours, you can get any BN1, 245, 247 and a few other buses to Spit Junction. The bus is a good option if you'd like to do some shopping in Mosman on the way, or maybe to stop off at one of the cafes or restaurants Military Rd in Neutral Bay on your return.

Hiking
From Spit Junction there is a well marked path that runs along the harbour all the way to Manly. It will take a good 2-3 hours, and refreshments are not readily available. If you make the effort then there are some excellent views on the way in.

Get around
Manly has two sides, the harbour side and the ocean side. The harbour side has the ferry wharf, and some attractive bay beaches with constructed swimming rockpools and calm netted beaches. The ocean side has the surf beaches of North and South Steyne, connected by a beachside walkway and cycleway. Connecting the ocean side and the harbour side is The Corso. A wide pedestrian mall, buzzing at all times of the day and night. It is an eclectic mix of shopping and eating, with a few upmarket restaurants and bars, interspersed with dives, kebab shops, and suburban supermarkets. You'll also find the overpriced bland fare aimed at tourists, and more varieties of ice-cream that you can sample in a week.

Also on the harbour side is Shelly Beach, the start of The Spit walk, parks and gardens.

If you want to get out to North Head or to see the attractions in the surrounding area, car, bus, bike or walking are options. There are some great coastal walks available. There are lots of bike tracks in the area. See the bike hire places listed above.

Do

 * Sea kayaking. Kayaks are available for hire from several places near the ferry wharf.
 * Cruise through the air parasailing behind a speed boat.
 * Walks Manly to the Spit walk. Manly to North Head (also suitable for cycling).
 * Walks Manly to the Spit walk. Manly to North Head (also suitable for cycling).
 * Walks Manly to the Spit walk. Manly to North Head (also suitable for cycling).
 * Walks Manly to the Spit walk. Manly to North Head (also suitable for cycling).

Events

 * Manly Food and Wine Festival ("A Taste of Manly") - Held each year in the first week of June, attracts some 30,000 patrons who come to see and taste the exhibits in a great beachside setting.
 * Manly Food and Wine Festival ("A Taste of Manly") - Held each year in the first week of June, attracts some 30,000 patrons who come to see and taste the exhibits in a great beachside setting.

Buy
Manly Corso is the street in centre of Manly that connects the ferry wharf and the Manly beach on the other side. It features restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, bars and shopping outlets.

Eat
There are several restaurant and take-away strips in Manly. The Corso runs between the wharf and the ocean, and there are restaurants along the Coroo, or just either side of it. There is a selection at the ferry wharf area, and again along the ocean side.

Drink
There are numerous pubs and clubs in Manly, including some of the Northern Beaches more notorious establishments:

 * The Steyne Hotel is popular with locals on Wednesdays (for Karaoke) and weekends
 * The Ivanhoe is another favourite with locals
 * The New Brighton Hotel (Shark Bar) is frequented by late teens and 20s every weekend. Serves $5 cocktails all day, every day.
 * Henry Afrikas is a pub with a night club down stairs and a function room upstairs which is very popular with the younger crowd
 * The Old Manly Boatshed is an underground drinking hole with frequent live bands
 * The Wharf Bar is a popular bar next to the wharf frequented by a mixed crowd
 * Charlie Bar is an annex off the Manly Pacific Hotel and popular on weekends
 * Shore Club, yet another weekend location right across from the beach. Three levels of music and an open-air rooftop bar
 * Hugos Pizza Manly serves pizza and cocktails with a view of the bay from Manly wharf
 * Manly Wine Room by Gazebo is a funky place for a drink and some mussels and is situated at the south end directly across the road from Manly beach
 * Manly Wine Room by Gazebo is a funky place for a drink and some mussels and is situated at the south end directly across the road from Manly beach

Stay safe
Life guards supervise the beach every day of the year, and you can always check with them for the latest beach safety information. Only swim between the flags. No flags = no swim.

During the day Manly is often very busy with people but completely safe, although late at night during weekends some of the bars are likely to get rowdy and fights occur.

There isn't a great deal of shade on either Manly Beach or North Head. Ensure you have sufficient sunscreen and a hat during summer.

The cliffs around North Head can offer great views, but have been the scene of many accidents - take care and supervise children. Rock-fishing is this area can be dangerous.

title: Sydney/Manly


text:
Sydney/Maroubra

Maroubra is a suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. It has a popular surfing beach Maroubra Beach. There is a rockpool around the northern point.

While many consider it to be one of the best surfing venues, it has an unfortunate, media driven reputation for the tough 'Bra Boys' that surf the area. But if you are visiting the beach just for a dip or a visit, you can swim and sip cappuccino completely unaware of any surfing subculture.

Name origin
The name "Maroubra" is taken from a local Aboriginal word meaning "like thunder" - describing the sound of the surf pounding against the rocks on Maroubra Beach.

History
In 1861, the first house was built in the suburb's area by Humphrey McKeon. A number of other settlers arrived on the land in the 1870s to work on the wool scouring works located at the northern end of the bay.

The suburb first made headlines on the 6 May 1898, when the Hereward - a fully-rigged iron ship weighing 1,513 tons - was caught by the gale force winds and shipwrecked at the northern end of Maroubra Beach while heading north toward Newcastle. The shipwreck remained on the beach for a number of years until a failed attempt to refloat it was made by building a coffer dam around the wreck. Hereward Street in Maroubra is named after the event.

Major residential development only began in the 1910s after Herbert Dudley, a real estate developer, subdivided the land into residential blocks. Herbert Dudley also lobbied for the extension of the tramline to Maroubra Junction in 1912, where he had built Dudley's Emporium which has since been redeveloped. More crown land was released for residential use in the 1920s and the tram line was extended to Maroubra Beach in 1921.

Between 1925 and 1934, the Olympia Motor Speedway was located in South Maroubra at the corner of Anzac Parade and Fitzgerald Avenue, however due to the dangerous concrete track, a number of deaths occurred and it was closed after only 9 years of operation.

Description
While it is a popular surfing beach and has a much more longer stretch of beach than the nearby Coogee and Bondi beaches, Maroubra actually is quieter and more downmarket than its neighbouring cousins further north. It has a feel of a peaceful country village but hosts many international surfing events and its coastline is enough to accommodate two surfing clubs.

Along with Bondi, Maroubra is divided into Maroubra Beach, South Maroubra and Maroubra Junction. Maroubra Junction is the commercial hub of the beachside suburb, with the Pacific Square shopping centre (formerly Maroubra Mall) as its main attraction. Maroubra Beach is the quieter beachfront area. South Maroubra, as you can guess, lies south of Maroubra Junction and has three shopping areas: South Maroubra Shopping Village (which serves the nearby Maroubra Beach, known to locals as "The Sands"), Duffy's Corner (which serves the surrounding community) and Lexington Place (which serves the residential area framed by Anzac Parade, Beauchamp Road, Malabar Road and Fitzgerald Avenue). Unfortunately, Lexington Place was known infamously for its high crime rates (2003). Ongoing re-development (2008) of community housing estates into mainstream residential properties is having a positive effect.

Maroubra has a village community feel despite its fair share of crime hot spots and tough gangs. Nevertheless, Maroubra serves as the second-largest suburb in the Randwick City Council area.

By bus
Buses run to Maroubra Beach from Bondi Junction and the city. Bus routes 317 and 353 runs from Bondi Junction and stops at Maroubra Beach. Bus route 395 runs from Railway Square near Central Station. All other bus services (376, 377, 396, 397) run from Circular Quay and either stop or terminate at the beach, being less regular services. Anzac Parade is the major public transport corridor with some other buses going to the city, Railway Square, Eastgardens, airport, University of NSW, the suburbs south of Maroubra (e.g. La Perouse) and even the western suburbs.

By train
There are no train stations near Maroubra, but you can catch a train on the Eastern Suburbs Line and get off at Bondi Junction to connect with the 317 bus, or you can get off at Central station to connect with the 376, 395 or 396 buses (for Maroubra Beach). Either way, the train ride will take you 10 minutes.

By tram
Nearest light rail stops are at the end of the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford tramlines with bus connections stopping at the Southend Hotel in Maroubra Beach.

By car
Maroubra is a 20 minute drive from the city, via Anzac Parade. It must be noted that although Maroubra Beach is less crowded than Bondi or Coogee beaches, it can still be difficult to find a parking space on a hot weekend (parking up to 4 hours is free). There are also car parking at Maroubra Junction and in selected areas of South Maroubra, free of charge.

By taxi
Two taxi companies service Maroubra. Taxis Combined (call 131 008) has the most extensive taxi service in Sydney while Legion Cabs (call 13 1451) can also take you to Maroubra. The major taxi rank is at Maroubra Junction outside the Commonwealth bank, corner Maroubra Road and Anzac Parade.

See

 * Maroubra Beach
 * Malabar Beach. Slightly further south from Maroubra Beach, Malabar beach is a safer beach with less surf.

Do

 * Walk along the promenade at Maroubra Beach which is the beginning of a coastal walk to Coogee, Bronte, Tamarama and finally, Bondi Beach.
 * Show off your skateboarding skills at the Maroubra Skate Park at Maroubra Beach.
 * Surfing is a world-renowned at Maroubra Beach for its great beach culture. In fact, Maroubra Beach has a coastline long enough to support two surfing clubs and from Sunday 19 October 2006, Maroubra Beach is Australia's second National Surfing Reserve. Annual surfing carnivals attract large crowds and international competitors to this laid back community.
 * Surfing is a world-renowned at Maroubra Beach for its great beach culture. In fact, Maroubra Beach has a coastline long enough to support two surfing clubs and from Sunday 19 October 2006, Maroubra Beach is Australia's second National Surfing Reserve. Annual surfing carnivals attract large crowds and international competitors to this laid back community.
 * Surfing is a world-renowned at Maroubra Beach for its great beach culture. In fact, Maroubra Beach has a coastline long enough to support two surfing clubs and from Sunday 19 October 2006, Maroubra Beach is Australia's second National Surfing Reserve. Annual surfing carnivals attract large crowds and international competitors to this laid back community.

Eat

 * There are also a number of cafes and restaurants at the new Pacific Square shopping complex at the heart of Maroubra Junction (corner of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road).
 * On Maroubra Road, There are a few restaurants, east and west of Pacific Square along Maroubra road such as Fu Lin Chinese, Chris' Pizza and Joey's Fine Lebanese Cuisine.
 * There are also a number of cafes and restaurants at the new Pacific Square shopping complex at the heart of Maroubra Junction (corner of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road).
 * On Maroubra Road, There are a few restaurants, east and west of Pacific Square along Maroubra road such as Fu Lin Chinese, Chris' Pizza and Joey's Fine Lebanese Cuisine.
 * There are also a number of cafes and restaurants at the new Pacific Square shopping complex at the heart of Maroubra Junction (corner of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road).
 * On Maroubra Road, There are a few restaurants, east and west of Pacific Square along Maroubra road such as Fu Lin Chinese, Chris' Pizza and Joey's Fine Lebanese Cuisine.
 * There are also a number of cafes and restaurants at the new Pacific Square shopping complex at the heart of Maroubra Junction (corner of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road).
 * On Maroubra Road, There are a few restaurants, east and west of Pacific Square along Maroubra road such as Fu Lin Chinese, Chris' Pizza and Joey's Fine Lebanese Cuisine.
 * There are also a number of cafes and restaurants at the new Pacific Square shopping complex at the heart of Maroubra Junction (corner of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road).
 * On Maroubra Road, There are a few restaurants, east and west of Pacific Square along Maroubra road such as Fu Lin Chinese, Chris' Pizza and Joey's Fine Lebanese Cuisine.

Drink

 * The Bay Hotel and Diner (Maroubra Bay Hotel) 182 Marine Parade - great place to hang out for live bands and a drink, right on the beachfront
 * The Bay Hotel and Diner (Maroubra Bay Hotel) 182 Marine Parade - great place to hang out for live bands and a drink, right on the beachfront

Go next

 * The French town of La Perouse isn't too far south

title: Sydney/Maroubra