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Sydney/Northern Beaches

The Northern Beaches of Sydney refers to a suburban district located in the north of the city, as well as a stretch of famous beaches extending northwards from Sydney Harbour and North Head at Manly to Barrenjoey Point and Broken Bay, fronting the Pacific Ocean. In general, the suburbs that fall within the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater local government areas are considered the "Northern Beaches".

Understand
The Northern Beaches is surrounded on all sides by either water or forest areas, causing some locals to call the area "the Peninsula". The hilly areas and plateaus behind the beach suburbs is also known separately as the "Forest District", so named because of the large tracts of natural bush land which feature in this area.

Manly Beach is the most popular destination for visitors, with a range of attractions and activities aimed at the day tripper and holiday maker. In reality, there is so much more that the Northern Beaches has to offer than this tiny southern portion and lesser crowds make it more enjoyable.

Northern Beaches is a family-orientated area and topless bathing is not the norm; it still occurs in Manly, but is less common than at the beaches on the other side of the Harbour in Bondi and the Eastern Suburbs.

Get in
There are no rail services to any of the Northern Beaches.

By ferry
In the south, the Northern Beaches are connected to Circular Quay by the famous Manly Ferry, running every fifteen minutes between Manly and the (Sydney City Centre).

From the north, there is also Palm Beach Ferries which operates between Palm Beach and Ettalong (on the Central Coast) and runs every hour or two.

By bus
Buses run from the city to Mona Vale, and from Manly to neighbouring suburbs. Suburbs in the Forest District are serviced by CDC NSW and run to the city and North Shore Line train stations. The Sydney Buses route B1 to/from Sydney CBD takes about 60 minutes in bad traffic and 54 minutes in normal traffic.

The slow 155 bus goes to Frenchs Forest via Warriewood, giving great views of Warriewood Beach along the way.

Mona Vale is well served and is the main bus hub on the Northern Beaches

The 160X bus route which runs between Chatswood and Dee Why is the most reliable way to get to Dee Why Beach as it comes every ten minutes between the early morning and midnight. Then at Frenchs Forest, change for the 166 bus that runs every twenty minutes to Dee Why Beach.

By car
There are only three ways to get to the Northern Beaches by car. The first route is the Spit Bridge from Mosman (Military Road/Spit Road). The second route is across the Roseville Bridge (Warringah Road), from Chatswood. The third route is via Mona Vale Road, which comes from Pymble/St Ives.

Running north to south along the beaches, the main road artery is Pittwater Road/Barrenjoey Road. Another major road, connecting the north and south through the Forest area, is Wakehurst Parkway, which offers a beautiful (but rushed) drive through natural bushland.

The Spit Bridge is a gridlock point for traffic. Many commuters try to use the T3 lanes, which are for carpooling.

By seaplane
Palm Beach Seaplanes or Sydney Harbour Seaplanes from Rose Bay, Cottage Point and Mooney Mooney to Palm Beach area.

By car
A car can be a flexible and easy way to travel around the area. However, parking in Manly and the other beachside suburbs in the summer months can be both expensive and difficult. It you're travelling to the beach by car, consider the traffic and possibly plan an early or late arrival. All beachside suburbs charge for parking at the beach.

By ferry
There are a couple of specialised local service ferries around the northern beaches.

Local Pittwater services operate between Palm Beach and Great Mackerel Beach. The Church Point Ferry company provides services on Pittwater between Church Point and Scotland Island.

Ocean beaches
The Northern Beaches is famous for its beaches, each with its own distinctive character. Northern Beaches buses ply the route between Manly and Palm Beach, passing all of the ocean beach suburbs along the route. Check Transport Info for more information.

From south to north

The popular Australian soap opera Home and Away (popular in Australia and the UK) is partially filmed at Palm Beach – fans of the show will easily recognise some of the local views. Palm Beach is a good 45 mins to 1 hour drive from central Sydney – more if traffic is bad closer to town. Traffic can be bad on the journey on hot "beach days" and in peak hour traffic closer to the city. Traffic can also be bad around Palm Beach, and parking can be very difficult during summer holidays.
 * Manly. Manly has a harbourside beach and a long ocean beach, connected by the Corso, with shops, cafes, restaurants, and has many other attractions.
 * Freshwater.
 * South Curl Curl. A larger beach.  Has a 50m rock formed ocean swimming pool.  Ocean currents in the beach can be strong, and especially important to swim between the flags.  Public transport access by bus.
 * North Curl Curl. A popular beach, with nice cappuccinos served right on the sand.  Get there early on secure your space on the sand, and a parking spot on summer weekends.  Nice cliffs providing more entertainment for children, with a small caves in the cliffs to play in.  Parking difficult, but usually possible.  Public transport access by bus.
 * Dee Why. Pleasant beach that can get quite busy on weekends. The northern end is usually less busy but is unlikely to be patrolled. Dee Why Lagoon is a nature reserve and wetland that is home to many migratory bird species. It is probably best viewed from Long Reef beach.
 * Narrabeen. Appears in the Beach Boys' song Surfin' USA and holds many professional surfing events here. There are really two sections to the beach. North Narrabeen, which is close to the Warriewood headland and which flows into a lagoon, is best for families as kids can play on the dunes near the lagoon and swim there if the surf is too strong. This part of the beach, reached via Old Pittwater Road, is very close to a camping ground. Further south along the same road is Narrabeen beach, which is popular with surfers and kite surfers. If you fancy an outing on the lagoon, you can hire kayaks and other water craft. Ask at the camping ground for further information.
 * Collaroy. Much calmer and has perhaps the smallest waves on the Northern Beaches. For this reason, it's a good place for beginners to learn how to surf, and because of this there are a few 'surf schools' here. There are two places nearby where you can have excellent views. The first is Long Reef headland, just south of Collaroy, where there is also a spectacularly situated golf course. The second is Collaroy Plateau which rises behind Collaroy to the west and gives a grand view from a lookout point across the Northern Beaches.
 * Warriewood. One of the most picturesque on the peninsula and is ideal for swimming. It is a relatively small beach and headlands on either side mean it is protected from the wind and the surf is usually calmer and less choppy than nearby Mona Vale beach. The beach itself is reached by walking down a trail from the top, or driving down to a small car park right next to the beach. On the southern headland of Warriewood beach there is a walking trail that affords lovely views of the Northern Beaches and leads to North Narrabeen beach. The headland between Warriewood and Mona Vale beaches is a popular spot for paragliders - but be warned, sudden unexpected winds can be a major problem for inexperienced 'jumpers'.
 * Mona Vale. A long golden sandy beach with good surfing and swimming, with car parking near the beach. The surf can be rougher than at nearby Warriewood, which is more sheltered. The beach has flagged areas with lifesaver patrols through the summer. Cliffs at the southern end make access between Warriewood Beach and Mona Vale Beach difficult for the disabled and those with children. A 10-minute drive west of Mona Vale along Mona Vale Road takes you to the Bahá'í House of Worship, one of only seven such buildings in the world.
 * Newport.
 * Bilgola.
 * Avalon.
 * Church Point.
 * Whale Beach. A peaceful beach which also has a smaller rose-gold sand beach which lies between two faces of cliffs. Every January, Whale Beach hosts its own ocean swim called The Big Swim, a competition that has been held yearly since 1974.
 * Palm Beach is one of the longest of Sydney's beaches, being approximately 2-3 km long along the Pacific Ocean shore. The beachside suburb of Palm Beach backs on to Pittwater, a large southern inlet of Broken Bay, making the locality about as surrounded by water as is possible, without actually being an island. The peninsula is home to many of Sydney's wealthiest inhabitants, who appreciate the tranquil atmosphere and "convenient" isolation.

Other beaches

 * Clontarf.
 * Pittwater, in the far north of the Northern Beaches, is a waterway with a number of attractive beaches and pleasant scenery.

Forest Areas
A high point is Beacon Hill and a lookout offers views across large parts of the Northern Beaches and as far as the CBD of Sydney.

Do

 * Manly has a range of beachfront and harbourfront activities and beaches, and is the premier tourist destination.
 * Palm Beach and Barrenjoey lighthouse are worth visiting at the Northern tip of the area.
 * Garigal National Park surrounds the area to the West, with many walks and picnic areas.
 * Manly Dam

Walk up onto Barrenjoey Head and see the lighthouse, an opportunity to gaze across Broken Bay to Brisbane Water, Lion Island and the Central Coast.

Cinema
There are cinemas in Manly, Brookvale, Collaroy, Warriewood and Avalon. There is an Art Deco twin cinema on Pittwater Road, its great big blue facade is a living piece of history that gives the ultimate cinema experience, a real family orientated cinema.

Golf
Long Reef Golf Course offers one of the most scenic (if windy!) courses in Sydney. Mona Vale Golf Club has fantastic views over the ocean at cheap prices.

Spectator Sports

 * Cricket. Manly also has a grade cricket side which plays at an oval in Manly itself during the summer season. Grade cricket is essentially a feeder competition for the Pura Cup competition (still regularly referred to as the Sheffield Shield), and top Australian players rarely play at grade level.
 * Cricket. Manly also has a grade cricket side which plays at an oval in Manly itself during the summer season. Grade cricket is essentially a feeder competition for the Pura Cup competition (still regularly referred to as the Sheffield Shield), and top Australian players rarely play at grade level.

Scenic drives

 * Home and Away Tour. The Australia soap, Home and Away has many sights around Palm Beach that would be identified by avid watchers of the show.

Shopping malls
Most Northern Beaches suburbs have small shopping villages oriented towards locals and their needs.

 * Warringah Mall, located at Brookvale, and one of Sydney's largest shopping monstrosities, with most of the major retail outlets. It is also unique in Sydney as an "indoor/outdoor" shopping centre, reflecting the outdoors lifestyle of the Northern Beaches.
 * Warriewood Square, located in the Warriewood Valley (much more dull and tacky).
 * Dee Why has a major strip of shops, while Manly caters mainly for tourist and leisure shoppers. Harbord (Freshwater) has some quiet, but an interesting group of shops where you can buy localised souvenirs such as stickers and beach gear.

 * Collaroy is home to the iconic retailer Larry Adler Ski & Outdoor. Make sure you drop in and watch out for Santa climbing in the window at Xmas time.

Eat
There are many restaurants on the Northern Beaches, generally taking advantage of the beachside surrounds. Manly has many restaurants of all types and price ranges, reflecting the tourist nature of the area.

 * Dee Why has a number of good restaurants, particularly along the beachfront. The major shopping areas in most of the beachside suburbs offer a good range of cuisines and quality.
 * Many of the beaches have kiosks operated by the surf clubs but they are limited to sausage rolls, meat pies, chiko rolls, coffees and cold drinks.
 * Fish and chip shops are everywhere here and an enjoyable evening can be had eating them on the benches in the parks and beaches watching over the ocean.

Mona Vale has the best chicken burgers and chips in the area at the Aces shop, next to St. George, on Bungan Street.

Drink
There are many public hotels on the Northern Beaches. Manly has a selection of pubs and nightclubs around the Corso and beach. Many of the forest and beachside suburbs have a pub with its own character - old or newly renovated - quaint or beer barn.

 * The Arms hotel in Newport.
 * The Collaroy Services Beach Club is located overlooking the beach at Collaroy. The Surf Rock Hotel is big with locals on a Friday night, with live bands and a line out the door.
 * Mona Vale Hotel.

Sleep
The tourist centres of Manly and Palm Beach feature a number of accommodation choices from budget to five star. Check their articles for details. Outside of those centres:

Beachside
If you're roughing it, there is a large and popular camping ground close to the beach near Warriewood headland. There are both camping and caravan facilities there.

 * Mona Vale Motel Clean, friendly & affordable.
 * Mona Vale Motel Clean, friendly & affordable.
 * Mona Vale Motel Clean, friendly & affordable.

Go next

 * Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

title: Sydney/Northern Beaches


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Sydney/Macquarie Park

Macquarie Park-Ryde (also known as the Northern Districts or Inner Northwest) is the metropolitan area on the northern bank of the Parramatta River and is bordered by Lane Cove National Park to the east and north and Parramatta and the Hills District to the west.

Understand
The Macquarie region has a diverse mix of peoples, cultures and cityscapes and offers the curious traveller an opportunity to see a different side of Sydney. There are four main areas of Macquarie to explore.

The first of these areas is the suburbs that sit along the northern edge of Parramatta River and include suburbs such as Hunters Hill and Woolwich. These suburbs are filled with 19th-century buildings overlooking the water and are home to some of the wealthiest people in Australia. There are also many parks and reserves in the area with views of the water and great picnic spots. Further north of the river is an area famous for its diversity and great food. In the suburb of Eastwood in particular, you will find large numbers of wealthy East Asian families and international students who have come here for the schools and universities nearby. The Chinese and Korean restaurants here are some of the best in Australia. Eastwood also holds a number of cultural festivals throughout the year.

Further north of Eastwood and reaching the upper limit of the region are the suburbs of Beecroft and Cheltenham. These suburbs are hidden gems and have lush tree lined streets with grand heritage homes, a quaint shopping village that is reminiscent of an old English town and an abundance of golf courses, grass tennis courts and nature reserves.

Finally, to the northeast is Macquarie Park and Macquarie University. This area was developed to be similar to the area surrounding Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and is now Australia's undisputed high technology hub. Travellers that come here will find large campus-style office buildings for companies like Microsoft and Oracle as well as the lush rolling lawns of the university. The central hub of this area is Macquarie Centre, a sprawling shopping mall that is Sydney's second largest. Macquarie Park is also the gateway to Lane Cove National Park, a large park that borders the region to the east. The park contains the picturesque Lane Cove River, walkways, picnic spots and a campground.

Get in
The region is well serviced by public transport with trains, buses and ferries servicing the area.

By car
If you intend to go to the business area in the northwest, take the Gore Hill Freeway, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 Motorway from the city. If you intend to visit the Hunters Hill and Woolwich peninsula, take Victoria Road all the way to the Gladesville Bridge and you're there.

By train or metro
Sydney Metro's M1 line serves the technology park at North Ryde and Macquarie Park. The most useful station is Macquarie University, connecting to the namesake university, Macquarie Centre, and has bus connections to the surrounding suburbs and the city.

T9 Northern Line serves the middle/western parts of Ryde, and has stops in Eastwood, Epping and Beecroft. The intercity rail line, the Central Coast and Newcastle Line, calls at Epping for connections to the Metro, and runs north to the Central Coast.

By bus
Buses from the city (departing from the Queen Victoria Building near Town Hall and also from Wynyard and Central) travel frequently to Macquarie Park and Epping. The 545 and 550 buses also travel between Macquarie Park and Parramatta, winding through the Ryde and Parramatta suburbs.

By ferry
There are regular ferries from Sydney and it makes a great way to get to places near the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers. The Parramatta River Line (F3) leaves from Circular Quay and has stops at Woolwich, Huntley's Point and Meadowbank. The Lane Cove River Line (private operator) leaves from Circular Quay and has stops in Hunters Hill and Lane Cove.

By bicycle
There is a separated bicycle path for most of the distance between the city and the Macquarie region. When riding from the city simply head over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and follow the signs to 'Macquarie Park'. Once you are in Macquarie, there are bicycle paths (some separated, some shared with other road users) that can safely get you around the region. Be mindful that like most of Sydney, the Macquarie region has hills, but no extended climbs.

By foot
Like much of suburban Sydney, this area is not easy for walking due to size and infrastructure. A hike through the middle using the Lane Cove National Park is possible.

Parks and gardens

 * Clarks Point Reserve, Woolwich, New South Wales.jpg

Macquarie University
While not as historic or as grand as its competitor in the Inner West, Macquarie is still a unique Australian university with over 126 hectares of rolling lawns and natural bushland. It is one of the only campuses where you can see natural wildlife wandering around and stopping human traffic. Nestled in the trees are modern Brutalist style buildings designed by renowned architect Walter Abraham. The campus features a modern library, museums, art galleries, a sculpture park, an observatory, sports facilities and a hospital. If you happen to visit the campus, here are the main attractions:
 * Central Courtyard is at the centre of the campus and fans of archieture will appreciate the Brutalist style concrete buildings that surround it.
 * University Lake is a picturesque spot to relax in the sun and read a book with the university's students. There are plenty of ducks and fish in the lake to watch and play with.
 * Macquarie University Art Collection emphasises contemporary Australian art. Its main pieces can be found in the art gallery (building E11A) while its large sculpture collection is scattered throughout the campus.
 * Museums including the Australian History Museum (Building W6A Level 1), Museum of Ancient Cultures (Building X5B, Level 3), the Biological Sciences Museum (E8B-110), and the Downing Herbarium (Room 148 in Building E8C). Museums are generally open Monday to Friday, 9AM-4PM.

Events
There are a small number of events held annually in the area.

Walking

 * River Bends (18846634552).jpg

Shopping malls
The area is in abundance of enormous (but generally soulless) shopping malls.

Shopping streets
Despite the popularity of shopping malls, a couple of small shopping streets are making a come back.

Eastwood
If you are craving East Asian food then Eastwood is the place to go. Prices vary and depend on if they are targeted towards international students or wealthy Asian families and businessmen. Restaurant turnover is high in Eastwood and finding the newest and hottest restaurant is easy as there will be a long line of people trying to get in. If in doubt, try any of these classics that have stood the test of time.

Hunters Hill and Woolwich
This is an upper middle class area and restaurants here are expensive. If you are on a budget and want to check out the area it's best to bring a packed lunch. Otherwise, splurge and enjoy.

Other suburbs
There are pockets of good food in suburbs not listed above. Here is a list of the best ones.

Drink
It is fair to say there is a lack of bars in the area, let alone good bars. Here is a list of places scattered in the area.

Bars and clubs

Camping

 * Reflections, Lane Cove River.jpg

Budget
These are the cheapest (but not necessarily good) hotels to stay in the area. There are no hostels.

Splurge
Been a non tourist area, the only 4 and 5 star hotels are located near the business area in Macquarie Park.

Libraries
There is a library near almost every town centre. They are open Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings and all provide full internet access. Bookings are taken, and you may need to book at peak times.

Wi-Fi
Most coffee shops have WiFi. Shopping centres also offer free WiFi.

Internet cafes
There is an absolute abundance of internet cafes that are primarily used for gamers in Eastwood and Epping. These advantage of internet cafes is they open very late into the night.

Go next

 * The Lower North Shore is the next district to the east. Chatswood is a little more upmarket compared to Eastwood, with bigger and brighter shops and restaurants.
 * Parramatta to the west is also an important business area.
 * Cross over to the Inner West using Victoria Road or the Ryde Bridge.
 * Take the ferry from Woolwich Wharf to historic Cockatoo Island.

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

title: Sydney/Macquarie Park


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Sydney/Outer West

The Outer West is the huge western area of Sydney that includes the suburbs of Blacktown, Mt. Druitt, St. Mary's and Penrith.

Understand
Settlement began when the area was designated for Aboriginal people to live in. "The Blacks Town" become Blacktown today. This part of Sydney attracts a high amount of recent immigration, with 50% of residents born outside of Australia from various countries including India, the Philippines, China and Brazil.

The area is developing fast owing to reasonable transport connections and relatively affordable Sydney housing. Penrith and Blacktown have become the centres for Outer Western Sydney business and nightlife.

By car
Road access from Sydney to the Outer West is easiest via the M4 Western Motorway, and that continues up to the Blue Mountains to the west. Access from the north via the M2 Hills Motorway is an alternative, although toll charges apply. Access from the south via the Westlink M7 but tolls also apply.

By train
The area has good train connections. All trains stop at the major centres before proceeding either to Penrith or Richmond. There are Express services to some stations from Sydney Central station.

Frequent trains pass through, ,  to  and beyond to the Blue Mountains.

By bus
The area has buses from Springwood to Penrith and Macquarie Park to Blacktown.

Buy

 * The stations at Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Penrith all have large shopping malls right next to them.

Connect
All 4G mobile phone networks in Sydney are available here. Telstra has 5G.

Stay safe
The area has the reputation of being one of the more dangerous in Sydney. Take particular care at nighttime when walking or taking the train.

Go next

 * Blue Mountains by car or train. If you're coming from Sydney, you've already come a third of the way.
 * Historical Richmond and Windsor in the City of Hawkesbury are to the north
 * To the south is Southwestern Sydney

title: Sydney/Outer West


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Sydney/Parramatta

Parramatta is a western district of Sydney, a city in its own right within the Sydney Metropolitan Area, and the second oldest European settlement on the Australian mainland.

It's 24 km from Sydney CBD and 6 km from Sydney Olympic Park. Parramatta is the demographic heart of the Harbour City, and one of its most historic neighbourhoods.

Understand
A significant commercial area on the upper reaches of the Parramatta River. The traditional owners are the Barramatugal Aboriginal people, part of the Darug clan. First called Rose Hill by the Europeans, it was later renamed to reflect the Aboriginal people and was likely a variation on Barramatugal.

Parramatta was the earliest vice-regal home of colonial Sydney. An agricultural settlement was established there within weeks of the first fleet arriving from Britain. The present-day Sydney CBD was established as the colony's port settlement to service the more desirable Parramatta which became the preferred home of governors and the privileged free settlers in the early years of the colony. Sydney soon began to eclipse Parramatta in both size and importance over the next century; however, it was the establishment of Parramatta that allowed the future global city to survive and then thrive. Eventually, Parramatta ceased being regarded as a separate town and became the centre of Western Sydney. It is now recognised as Sydney's "Second CBD" with many companies and state government departments having their headquarters and offices in the rapidly consolidating city.

Parramatta is again looking to its waterfront as a centre of community activity, with the new Powerhouse Museum being built on its banks. The city celebrates its vibrant multicultural community, and Church Street at night makes it one of the best places to dine in Sydney. Most of Australia's earliest colonial buildings remain standing, and in fact there are more heritage listed buildings in Parramatta than Sydney's historic Rocks quarter.

Parramatta has elegant parks and other attractions that make it an important destination within Greater Sydney. The ferry trip under the Harbour Bridge and up the Parramatta River makes the trip to Parramatta worthwhile for the journey itself.

Climate
Parramatta's climate is similar to coastal Sydney, but the cooling effect of the sea breeze on hot summer days does not reach it. Being further inland makes Parramatta on average a few degrees cooler in winter and a few warmer in summer. Rainfall overall tends to be slightly less too.

By car
Parramatta is next to the M4 Western Motorway (toll; need an E-Toll tag or call them to pay). Parramatta is well signposted from the motorway. Surrounding suburbs also have signposted exits from the city.

If you are in no hurry you can use Victoria Rd or Parramatta Rd. Traffic between Sydney City and Parramatta during peak hours can be extremely slow. Easily twice as long as the time taken for the trip during off-peak times.

By train
Parramatta is well served by T1 Western Line trains to Central Sydney & the North Shore. Trains run at least every 10 minutes and take 30 minutes for the trip. From the City, single fares cost $4.95 peak with Opal.

Penrith, Blacktown, Richmond and Strathfield are also on the T1 Western Line, making trips to these centres quick and simple. Trains to and from the Blue Mountains on the Blue Mountains Line also stop at Parramatta.

There is also the T2 Inner West line which stops at all the smaller Inner West stops like Newtown or Ashfield.

Connections to Liverpool can be made on the T5 Cumberland Line which travels directly to Liverpool. Sydney Olympic Park can be reached by changing at Lidcombe for the "Olympic Sprint" train.

By bus
Parramatta is a hub for many buses, which operate from a bus interchange near the station. If you are coming from the city, or near a train station, the train will usually be quicker than the bus.

See Transport Info for the best route from where you are.

 * 501 and 500X bus operate every 15-30mins from Haymarket via Pitt St and Victoria Road. It's major half way point is either Top Ryde shops or West Ryde train station. The trip takes over an hour end-to-end.
 * The 550 bus offers a frequent service to Macquarie Park via Epping, but again, if you are doing the entire trip from Macquarie Park it is quicker to get the train.
 * The North-West T-Way is a dedicated bus route to link Parramatta to Rouse Hill, and the Liverpool-Parramatta T-Way links Parramatta with Liverpool via Bonnyrigg.
 * Metrobuses M92, M91 connect to Hurstville in Southern Sydney and Sutherland. Again, if you're going the distance, the train will be quicker.
 * The 600 links the Hills District and Hornsby.

By ferry
The Rivercat ferry service runs between Circular Quay and the Parramatta Wharf. Its a very pretty and relaxing way for a traveller to visit. It takes a fair bit longer and costs more than the train, if you have already "done" the harbour. Note that the ferry will not go all the way to Parramatta when river levels are too low, and you will have to swap to a bus at Rydalmere. It is about five minutes walk to the centre of Parramatta from the wharf.

At $7.35 for a one-way trip, it is an expensive trip or a cheap 30-minute harbour cruise, depending on which way you look at it.

By bicycle
The Parramatta Valley cycleway offers off-road and quiet road cycling to Parramatta from Sydney Olympic Park and Putney. It is quite well signposted, and should be possible to cycle without a map. It has pretty sections following the Parramatta river from Putney and Sydney Olympic Park as far as Rydalmere, passing by University of Western Sydney and a small industrial area before the residential streets of Parramatta. It would be quite possible to hire bicycles from Sydney Olympic Park and cycle to Parramatta if you would like a bit of a ride. The bicycle will come in handy to see the sights of Parramatta as well.

Starting from Pyrmont Bridge in the city, and following the signed route towards Drummoyne, Gladesville, Putney and then Parramatta it is also possible to cycle from the City to Parramatta on off-road or on quiet roads, the circuitous route is nearly 30 km, but you miss the a couple of hairy sections around Concord that the more direct route encounters.

Although not as scenic, the Parramatta to Liverpool Railtrail links Parramatta with Liverpool on largely off-road paths. The off-road cycleway extends from Parramatta all the way to Windsor through Westmead and along Old Windsor Road.

By bus

 * Route 900 is the free shuttle bus. The bus runs every ten minutes around a loop that covers most areas of the city, indicator boards on the bus make it easy to find your stop. Operates M-F 07:00-18:30, Sa 08:00-16:00, and stops at:
 * Parramatta Station (Darcy Street, other side of the station from Westfield).
 * Westfield (Argyle Street) Westfield shopping Centre, Church Street Mall/
 * Law Courts (Marsden Street - south) Parramatta Park
 * Cathedral (Marsden Street - north) St Patricks Cathedral, Prince Alfred Park, Riverside Theatres
 * Leagues Club (OConnell Street) Parramatta Swimming Centre, Parramatta Stadium and Leagues Club, Parramatta Park
 * Church Street North (Church Street - north)
 * Prince Alfred Park (Church Street - mid) Prince Alfred Park, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Heritage and Visitors Centre
 * Lennox Bridge (Church Street - south) Eat Street, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Heritage and Visitors Centre, River Walk
 * Phillip Street (Phillip Street - west) Retail, Eat Street and Dining
 * The Wharf (Phillip Street - east) Parramatta Wharf -Rivercat Terminal, River Walk, Harris Park Heritage Walk
 * Charles Street, Commercial Offices
 * Macquarie Street, Post Office, Commercial Services and Retail, Lancer Barracks and Military Museum

By foot
The CBD area of Parramatta is quite small and can be easily walked.

By train
Parramatta has one main railway station. Its suburbs of Harris Park, Granville and Westmead also have railway stations.

Westmead station is on the T1 Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train west from Parramatta (towards Blacktown, Penrith, or Richmond). Harris Park and Granville are also on the Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train east from Parramatta (towards the city). You can walk to Rosehill from Parramatta in less than half an hour, and to Harris Park in around 15 minutes.

By car
There is a general shortage of on-street and free parking in Parramatta. Expect to have difficulty parking in the CBD on weekdays, and near the shops on weekends. Paid parking is usually available and is considerably cheaper than in the Sydney CBD. Westfield has free parking for the first two hours.

See
The Parramatta Tourist information and Heritage Centre is where Church St crosses the river at Lennox Bridge. It has a free exhibition showing the history of Parramatta from colonial to modern times.

Historical landmarks
As Parramatta was the first site of European settlement outside Sydney it contains many historical landmarks. How interesting this is to you will depend on your historical perspective. The oldest buildings here date to the colonial settlement in the early to mid 1800s. Old Government House and Elizabeth Farm are the two primary historical sites.

Open to visit

 * Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall. Built in 1883 in classic Victorian architectural style, the town hall is still used by council.
 * Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall. Built in 1883 in classic Victorian architectural style, the town hall is still used by council.
 * Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall. Built in 1883 in classic Victorian architectural style, the town hall is still used by council.
 * Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall. Built in 1883 in classic Victorian architectural style, the town hall is still used by council.
 * Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall. Built in 1883 in classic Victorian architectural style, the town hall is still used by council.

There are also historical sites at Queens Wharf, and Parramatta Park. See the Parks listings below.

Historical properties now used for commercial purposes

 * Harrisford, George Street. Original site of the Kings School
 * Kia Ora House, at 64 Macquarie Street. This house was built by James Houison in the 1840s.
 * Former Cumberland Building, Land and Investment Company (now a restaurant). Built in the year 1889 to resemble the famous... “ Santa Maria Del Fiore” (The Florence Cathedral – Our lady of the Flower) in Florence Italy. It is now Liana's Restaurant (see Eat below).
 * Former Cumberland Building, Land and Investment Company (now a restaurant). Built in the year 1889 to resemble the famous... “ Santa Maria Del Fiore” (The Florence Cathedral – Our lady of the Flower) in Florence Italy. It is now Liana's Restaurant (see Eat below).

Historical properties now used for public purposes

 * Female Orphan School, on the Parramatta Campus (Cnr James Ruse Drive & Victoria Rd) of the Western Sydney University (WSU). It was the first purpose-built charitable institution in Australia, and is Australia’s oldest three-storey masonry building. The building now contains the Whitlam Institute. You can catch the train getting off at Rydalmere station or via bus from Parramatta City - Sydney Bus Routes 501, 523 and 524 operate between Parramatta railway station and the campus.
 * Female Factory- Australia's first convict establishment for women and children, completed in 1821. By public transport the best way to get there is by the loop bus getting off at stop 5.
 * Parramatta Gaol - Parramatta Correctional Centre was Australia's oldest serving Correctional Centre. Parramatta Gaol was proclaimed on 2 January 1842 with progressive opening of wings up until approximately 1910. It is located on the Cnr of Dunlop and New Streets North Parramatta. The centre was decomissioned in 2011, and given to the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council, who left the gaol cells in the same state as the last inmates in 2011. Ghost Tours are run on an occasional basis (at least once per month). Bookings are essential.
 * Cumberland Hospital - this is a vast site of historic buildings. Next to the Female Factory, it is divided into an east and west precinct. It is located at Fleet St Parramatta, though the main entrance is off Hawkesbury Rd Westmead (near the Children's Hospital). Look particularly at Glengariff House, the hospital superintendent’s former residence; this grand building now houses the museum of the Cumberland Hospital. The hospital grounds also contain the Wisteria Gardens which adjoin Parramatta Park.

Parks

Cemeteries

 * St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, corner of Church St & Pennant Hills Rd, dates from Governor Macquarie’s time.
 * St Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, corner of Church St & Pennant Hills Rd, dates from Governor Macquarie’s time.

Bridges

Parramatta River runs through the Parramatta CBD. There is a weir at Charles Street which is the limit of navigation from Sydney. Between the Charles Street Weir and the O'Connell Street Weir the river is really only a wide canal, though there are a number of pleasant riverside walks including walks by the northern bank by the Riverside Theatres and on the south bank through the new Justice Precinct. The river widens upstream of the O'Connell Street Weir. There is another weir damming the river further upstream in Parramatta Park. There are a large number of bridges spanning the river, in the city centre. In order they are -

 * Charles Street Weir, marks the upper reaches of the present day tidal influence on the river, you can walk along the river from here until the Marsden St Bridge.
 * Barry Wilde Bridge, crosses the Parramatta River at Smith Street. Prior to the construction of the Charles Street Weir this was the uppermost reaches of the tidal influence of the Parramatta River.
 * Marsden Street Bridge.
 * Marsden Street Weir, this weir holds back the Parramatta River and was the source of Parramatta's first water supply built under instruction from Governor Macquarie. The current weir is not the original weir. Prior to the Marsden Street bridge being constructed the weir was the Marsen Street crossing but frequently flooded.
 * Marsden Street Bridge.
 * Marsden Street Weir, this weir holds back the Parramatta River and was the source of Parramatta's first water supply built under instruction from Governor Macquarie. The current weir is not the original weir. Prior to the Marsden Street bridge being constructed the weir was the Marsen Street crossing but frequently flooded.
 * Marsden Street Weir, this weir holds back the Parramatta River and was the source of Parramatta's first water supply built under instruction from Governor Macquarie. The current weir is not the original weir. Prior to the Marsden Street bridge being constructed the weir was the Marsen Street crossing but frequently flooded.

Events
Foundation Day in early November celebrates (appropriately enough) the foundation of Parramatta.

Parramasala - the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts

Walks

 * Riverside Walk - a walk along the Parramatta River from the Ferry Wharf to the Lennox Bridge in one direction and from the ferry wharf to the Gasworks bridge in the other direction. It shows the history of the area from an indigenous perspective, featuring indigenous interpretive art. Near the Gasworks bridge a giant artwork is a re-interpretation of a colonial military Sentry Box which used to stand near the artworks location in the first years of the British colony.

Cinemas

 * Event Cinemas - cinema multiplex including gold class cinemas, located at Westfield Parramatta

To play

 * Golf, at Parramatta Golf Course, Ryde Parramatta Golf Course or Fox Hills Golf Course
 * Swimming at Parramatta & Granville Swimming Pools are outdoor swimming pools, in a more old fashioned Australian style. Parramatta pool is next to Parramatta Park. There are two water slides for kids, at $2.50 for six slides. There is a diving pool, and a shaded and heated wading pool for toddlers.

Shopping malls

 * Church St is the main street shopping strip in Parramatta CBD. This area struggled for many years to compete with the large enclosed shopping malls, and can be a little dingy, but makes a change from the environmentally controlled alternatives. Church Street is a mall between the railway and Macquarie Street. It contains a number of arcades including the Queensland Arcade, Connection Arcade and Greenway Arcade
 * Church St is the main street shopping strip in Parramatta CBD. This area struggled for many years to compete with the large enclosed shopping malls, and can be a little dingy, but makes a change from the environmentally controlled alternatives. Church Street is a mall between the railway and Macquarie Street. It contains a number of arcades including the Queensland Arcade, Connection Arcade and Greenway Arcade

Markets

 * North Rocks Bring & Buy Markets - market for second hand goods such as tools, clothing, plants, bric-a-brac and books etc. Average 110 stalls. Markets are held every Sunday from 07:00 to 13:00. Entry by donation to Rotary charities. Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children (carpark), North Rocks Road, North Rocks (opposite Westfield Shopping Centre)

Eat
Parramatta has many restaurants, from the budget to upmarket. $50 mains are certainly not uncommon in the nicer establishments, so if you are on a budget, check the menu carefully.

Restaurants are located in three broad precincts plus nearby Harris Park and Parramatta Park/Westmead:

Eat Street
Eat Street is at the northern end of Church Street. The largest number of restaurants are between Phillip Street and Market Street.

Phillip Street/George Street
Phillip Street and George Street run east-west from Marsden Street down to the ferry wharf.

South Church Street
South Church Street is south of the railway line and north of the Great Western Highway. Heading away from the railway down Church Street is a small Chinatown.
 * Tomadachi (Sushi), Argyle St
 * Sahara (Turkish), Argyle St
 * XIC LO (Vietnamese), Argyle St
 * Twenty-one Fifty, located in the Marriott Hotel at 18 Anderson Street
 * Twenty-one Fifty, located in the Marriott Hotel at 18 Anderson Street

Harris Park
Harris Park is to the east of Parramatta, it has its own railway station but is within easy walking distance of Parramatta. It is famed for its Indian restaurants.
 * The Olive (Greek), 44 Marion Street, Harris Park
 * The Olive (Greek), 44 Marion Street, Harris Park
 * The Olive (Greek), 44 Marion Street, Harris Park
 * The Olive (Greek), 44 Marion Street, Harris Park

Parramatta Park & Westmead
Parramatta Park is at the western end of the city. Westmead is located to the west of Parramatta, on the other side of Parramatta Park.

Pubs
There are pubs galore in Parramatta.

 * Westmead Tavern, 24 Railway Parade, Westmead
 * General RW Bourke, 76 Church Street
 * Hotel Parramatta, 10 Darcy Street
 * Royal Oak Hotel, 387 Church Street
 * Westmead Tavern, 24 Railway Parade, Westmead
 * General RW Bourke, 76 Church Street
 * Hotel Parramatta, 10 Darcy Street
 * Royal Oak Hotel, 387 Church Street
 * General RW Bourke, 76 Church Street
 * Hotel Parramatta, 10 Darcy Street
 * Royal Oak Hotel, 387 Church Street

Budget

 * Parramatta Central Motel, 32 Station Street Harris Park

Near Rosehill
The following hotels are all located along James Ruse Drive or just off it, close to both Rosehill Racecourse and about 5 minutes drive from the City centre

 * Rydges Parramatta Sydney, 116 James Ruse Dr. - Rydges Parramatta is in Parramatta.
 * Waldorf
 * UWS Village, located next to the University of Western Sydney, this venue specialises in group accommodation
 * UWS Village, located next to the University of Western Sydney, this venue specialises in group accommodation

Near Westmead

 * Best Western Westmead

Connect
Parramatta has well developed contact facilities. Internet cafes, public phones, all 3G mobile networks, post offices, are all readily available. Parramatta library offers Internet facilities.

Go next

 * If you are staying in Parramatta you have a 30-minute headstart to the Blue Mountains over those staying in the city.
 * Cumberland State Forest is an urban forest at 95 Castle Hill Road Pennant Hills.
 * Fairfield is a multicultural suburb southwest of Parramatta, which is a 15-minute train ride (Cumberland Line).

title: Sydney/Parramatta


text:
Sydney/Botany Bay

Airport & Botany Bay is an arbitrary district name for the areas surrounding Botany Bay and also those directly south of Sydney, which include Sydney Airport, Redfern, Alexandria, Brighton-le-Sands, Mascot and Rockdale among others. It can sometimes include La Perouse and parts of the southeast, though it is covered in its own district.

Understand
The area between the airport and the city has historically tended to be light industrial. However, urban consolidation has led to new apartment living and associated facilities scattered throughout the warehouses. Outlet centres have opened in this area too, with the Alexandria area around Green Square hosting weekend shopping buses, whose occupants browse through the clothing, homewares, and other miscellany for sale.

Towards the coast, Botany Bay and Brighton is the centre of Sydney's Greek community. It is a great place to cool off and have a coffee by the water without waves. There's Greek yum cha and ice-cream on offer until late at night.

Rockdale and Mascot offer traditional suburban shopping strips with local specialty shops and restaurants that have been replaced by the air-conditioned shopping malls in most places in Sydney.

As of Apr 2020, Green Square is undergoing urban regeneration around the train station, and has some high-density housing, a new town centre being developed, and a library being the centrepiece of the area. There are some eating options around the area if for those around the area, but it can seem a little barren.

By public transport
A number of train lines and buses service the area. Consult Transport Info to find the best route.

The 320 runs from Central Railway Square to Green Square and Mascot as well. The Brighton-Le-Sands and Botany Bay foreshore is best accessed by the 303 bus from the city.

 * Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line – connects the western parts of the City of Bayside with the CBD, the Eastern Suburbs, St George and Sutherland Shire and the Illawarra.
 * Airport and South Line – best for accessing the factory outlet area, Green Square, Mascot and the airport, from Central, Wolli Creek and the southwest suburbs.
 * See the caution box above regarding the Bankstown Line

By car
The Eastern Distributor is the link out of the city to the south and to the airport. Parking along the beach areas can be problematic on sunny weekends and holidays. Parking in the industrial outlet areas can be difficult during business hours, but usually some timed parking can be obtained.

Botany Bay
Captain Cook first landed in Botany Bay in 1770, and raved about the place. However, when the first fleet of convicts arrived 18 years later to start the colony, they didn't care for it. Too sandy, and no fresh water, and they moved on to Sydney Harbour. Since then sections of Botany Bay have been reclaimed for container terminals and Sydney Airport, and industry and oil refineries built on its foreshores northern and southern foreshores. However, the bay is still popular for swimming and windsurfing, and a 10-km walking cycleway runs along its foreshore from Kyeemagh to Dolls Point. There is a memorial to the First Fleet. Cafes, restaurants, clubs, ice cream are available also. Parking is usually available, except on the busiest of summer weekends. Public transport access is by train to Rockdale, and then 478/479 bus to Brighton le Sands. Both services run frequently.

Do

 * Planespotting from the carpark behind the old control tower on the shore of Botany Bay adjacent to the main north-south runway. The carpark is closed after dark. There is a small beach and access to the security fence only metres from the main runway. At dawn you may see some of Sydney's racehorses being led into the water here for a swim. Car & pedestrian access is from General Holmes Drive, and there is an infrequent bus service.
 * Cycling
 * Windsurfing. Botany Bay is one of Sydney's premium spots for windsurfing when the wind comes up in the afternoons.

Buy
Alexandria is the city's outlet centre, adjacent to Green Square station in Alexandria.

Connect
Telstra has 5G in most of the area.

Go next

 * La Perouse

title: Sydney/Botany Bay


text:
Sydney/South West

Southwestern Sydney is a large residential area to the south and west of Sydney, including the centres of Cabramatta and Liverpool. The district also covers the Canterbury-Bankstown area, but not the Macarthur suburbs.

Understand
The southwest of Sydney is mostly off the beaten tourist track. The area constitutes the main road into Sydney from Melbourne and Canberra, and cheap roadside accommodation with parking is available in motels where you can keep your car while in Sydney.

The suburbs around Cabramatta and Bankstown give some of Sydney's best access to the mix of cultures that comprise Sydney.

 * Cabramatta is a vibrant Vietnamese and Chinese community. In a suburb where Vietnamese-born residents outnumber those born in Australia, there are plenty of authentic Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese restaurants, Asian groceries and a great atmosphere with locals selling home produce on the footpaths along the shopping districts.
 * Bankstown is an interesting split of cultures, with Lebanese shops dominating the area. Try and figure out which side of the train tracks you're on. The suburb and its neighbours like Punchbowl and Lakemba are often in the news for shootings, although much of it is gang-related and don't involve passers-by.
 * Fairfield is an ethnic enclave of Assyrian Christians. Around the start of the 20th century the area had a population of 2,500 people and with fertile soils, which produced crops for distribution in Sydney. During the mid to late 1980s, an influx of Assyrians fled Iraq and settled in Fairfield, making it the most popular settlement for Assyrians, and this helped shaped the community and vibe of the commercial area.
 * Liverpool is an administrative centre of the southwest and growing business centre.

History
The traditional owners of most of the land in the area are the Cabrogal-Gandangara tribe.

Climate
The southwest of Sydney is warmer and drier than Sydney CBD in the summer because of its inland location, where temperatures may soar to 40 °C for a few days, but usually hover in the early 30s. Winter nights are particularly cooler.

Get in
The general rule of Sydney public transport applies - that the closer you remain to the city centre the greater the likelihood of public transport being an effective way of getting there. Buses and train lines thin out in both density and frequency the further out towards the southwest suburbs you head, however for the careful transport planner, you can manage to get to most destinations without a car.

By car
The M5 is the major Sydney freeway to the southwest. If you are travelling out from the city towards the southwest for a day trip you'll be moving against the peak, and can expect a quick run on the motorway. However, if you staying along the Hume Highway for some cheap accommodation to access Sydney, the M5 could be your nemesis. Travel times can easily triple during peak commute times.

If you are planning to arrive from Canberra or Melbourne and are flying out of Sydney early, and have the idea to save on accommodation by stopping overnight 20 minutes short of the airport, then take care. You may be bumper-to-bumper but it can be avoided if you're willing to pay $11 tolls.

By train
The line winds its way past Bankstown on to Cabramatta and Liverpool. It takes just under an hour to get to Liverpool from the city centre. The South Line also goes to some South West suburbs such as Padstow and Revesby.

The line goes from Schofields in North West Sydney to Cabramatta, Liverpool and Leppington.

By bus
The City Connect Bus Service is a free bus service that operates in a portion of Southwestern Sydney.

 * Brown Route: Operates on Mondays and runs between Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Canley Heights.
 * Pink Route: Operates on Wednesdays and runs between Fairfield, Fairfield West, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta and Canley Heights.
 * Orange Route: Operates on Thursdays-Fridays and runs between Fairfield, Fairfield Heights, Villawood and Carramar.
 * Blue Route: Operates on Saturdays and runs between Fairfield West, Prairiewood Leisure Centre, Fairfield Showground, Fairfield Hospital and Villawood.

See

Do

 * Campsie Food Festival
 * The Cabramatta Moon Festival is held every year on the weekend of the spring equinox (generally in September), during which the suburb welcomes over 90,000 visitors and celebrates with moon cakes, lion dances and fireworks.

 * Fairfield Showground – A multi-purpose venue popular for multicultural festivals, horse racing, carnivals, markets and club meets attracting as many as 20,000 people.
 * Fairfield Leisure Centre – The centre includes a gymnasium, aerobics studio, steam room, crèche, 25-m heated indoor swimming pool, 50-m outdoor swimming pool, baby pool, Aqua Play Water Park, and multi-purpose indoor sports court.
 * Aquatopia Water Park – features 10-m and 20-m high slides, the adventure aqua tower, a toddlers pool, Fishpipe and the Wave Rider.
 * Sydney International Equestrian Centre – Built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is a world-class event venue set on 96 hectares of rural parkland.
 * Calmsley Hill City Farm – A farm based attraction where children and adults can enjoy a variety of exciting shows and exhibits.
 * Calmsley Hill City Farm – A farm based attraction where children and adults can enjoy a variety of exciting shows and exhibits.

Buy
The suburbs of Bankstown and Cabramatta have many Asian style shops opening onto the main streets running through the town. The centres around the station have a market feel are easily accessed from the respective stations.

Bankstown also has the large shopping mall experience, with Bankstown Central just a short distance away.

There are many stores in Cabramatta that import Vietnamese products.

Eat
The southwest of Sydney is home to a great many multicultural restaurants and while cheaper and generally better than those in the city, they can get equally busy during the weekends.

Fairfield
Top restaurants in the area include:
 * La Tratt (Italian)
 * Candelori's (Italian)
 * Montagne (French)
 * Matsuya (Japanese)

Iraqi, Assyrian, Vietnamese and Thai-based restaurants are found sporadically in the above, aforementioned streets. Assyrian and Iraqi based restaurants include foods such as kebab, pacha (boiled cow or sheep parts), bomya (okra stew) and shawarma.

Clubs
Nineveh Club and Assyrian Sports & Cultural Club are both popular ethnic clubs in Fairfield. Other clubs include:

Sleep
If you entering Sydney from the south-west (Hume Highway) you can exit from the freeway, and take the old Hume Highway for a choice of motel accommodation that should be available on standby outside of peak times. The above drinking areas are also hotels.

Go next

 * Inner West
 * Parramatta
 * Campbelltown

title: Sydney/South West


text:
Sydney/St George and Sutherland Shire

St George and Sutherland Shire is a district about 25 km south of Sydney CBD, centred around the Georges River and bounded by Botany Bay and Port Hacking.

Sutherland Shire
Sutherland Shire is primarily a residential area and is known as "the Shire". Its main tourist destinations are the beach suburbs of Cronulla, the bushland of Australia's oldest national park the Royal National Park and the first landing point of Captain Cook at Botany Bay in Kurnell.

It is surrounded by water, with the ocean to the east, Port Hacking to the south, the Georges River and Botany Bay on the north, and the Woronora River on the west, although the Menai area (east of the Woronora) is also considered part of the Shire. It has numerous opportunities for uncrowded swimming, boating, bushwalking, and exploring the parks, gardens and history of the area.

The Sutherland Shire is a destination to consider if you were looking to stay in Sydney, but want to avoid the expense, parking hassles, and crowds of the city centre. It offers cheaper accommodation, less crowds, free parking, access to beaches, parks, and bushland, shopping and other amenities and is an 30-40 minute train trip or drive to the attractions at the city centre.

St George
St George is the area north of the Georges River and south of the M5. Mostly made up of residences, the areas directly north of the river like Oatley and Lugarno are especially quiet and hardly explored by visitors. The population is rapidly changing, epitomised by Beverly Hills and Hurstville, now hotspots for Chinese shops and restaurants.

Get in
See Cronulla and Royal National Park for information on how to access those areas, and the information with the attractions on how to access them.

By train
Trains run on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra and the South Coast line to the district every 15-30 minutes. The journey takes around 30-45 minutes. The city train stations of Central, Town Hall, Martin Place and Kings Cross offer a direct service. From the other city stations you will need to change at Central to platform 25.

From Sydney Airport catch any train from platform 2, change at Wolli Creek station to platform 4.

By car
From the north there are three bridges over the Georges River that link to the Sutherland Shire. If you follow the Princes Highway south from the Sydney CBD towards Wollongong, you will enter the Sutherland Shire crossing the river at the Tom Ugly's Bridge. The journey will take around 30 minutes. Alternatively, you could travel along Rocky Point Road and cross Captain Cook bridge to enter the shire through Taren Point.

From the south Wollongong just follow the signs to Sydney via the Sydney freeway, and as soon as you seen the "Welcome to Sydney" sign, you have made it. The journey takes around 30 minutes but can be congested at peak times.

By bicycle
The cycleway from Sydney Olympic Park follows the Cooks River to the edge of Botany Bay through Southern Sydney. It enters the Sutherland Shire over the Captain Cook bridge and continues largely off-road or on quiet roads to Cronulla. It then continues on a wide shoulder on a 80km/h road to Kurnell. The cycle route is signposted, but there are a couple of intersections that are not well marked, and you should do some research on the route and take a map so you don't get lost or end up on a very busy road.

By bus
There are bus connections to Miranda direct from Hurstville and from Rockdale. Both are slower and more expensive than the train. Parramatta, and Bankstown are linked to Sutherland by the high frequency M92. As with most public transport in Sydney, Transport NSW will give you all the timetable and routing information you need.

By car
Car is the easiest way to quickly and easily get around the district. It takes around 20 minutes to drive from east to west, and around 15 minutes north to south.

By public transport

 * Trains between Sutherland and Cronulla every 15 minutes, and every 30 minutes to other stations.
 * Miranda tends to be main bus hub, with services running to Lilli Pilli, Sylvania (as well as Cronulla and Sutherland). Catch a bus to Sutherland for Menai, and points west of the Woronora River.

Transport NSW provides information on all bus and train times to any street address or attraction. It will recommend the quickest method at the time you wish to travel.

By bicycle
The area can be pleasant for cycling, but plan your route to avoid traffic and significant hill climbs. The three cross-routes from West to East, connect Illawong to Sutherland, Sutherland to Taren Point, and Taren Point to Cronulla and Kurnell.

See
See Cronulla and Royal National Park for sights in those areas of the Sutherland Shire.

Other sights in the Sutherland Shire include:

Do
Do the things there are to do in Cronulla and the Royal National Park and then:

Buy
Cronulla has an open air shopping mall, but also:

Eat
There are a selection of places to eat at Cronulla.

As with much of Sydney every shopping strip has at least one decent Australian-Thai restaurant, which may not please the gourmet with service nice food at around $15 a main for dinner, with a lunch special usually $7-10. There is no shortage of Indian and Chinese options too.

For morning coffee try the strip in Gymea, on Gymea Bay Road near the Kingsway for a selection of several nice cafes, or for a more relaxed pace there is a coffee shop at the Marina near the Como Pleasure Grounds in Cremona St.

Sleep
There is accommodation in Cronulla and there is camping and a YHA in the Royal National Park. Please see those articles for details.

The choices in the rest of the area are limited.

Internet access
All Sutherland Shire Libraries provide full internet access, with free Wi-Fi for up to 4 hours per day and computers for hire. There are libraries at Cronulla, Caringbah, Miranda, Sutherland and elsewhere, that are open Monday to Friday and Saturday Mornings. Only Sutherland is open Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Wi-Fi
Gloria Jeans Coffee by the station in Sutherland provides free Wi-Fi for customers, as does the cafe two doors down in the Eton Arcade, and various other cafes around. Usually you will need to get the password from the counter.

There is free Wi-Fi in both the food courts in Miranda Westfield shopping mall, courtesy of the McDonald's restaurants there, as well as at the McDonalds in Kirrawee, Sylvania and Cronulla.

title: Sydney/St George and Sutherland Shire


text:
Sydney/Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is a body of water in Sydney.

 * Sydney Harbour Islands - See Sydney/Harbour Islands.

 * National Park - See Sydney Harbour National Park.

title: Sydney/Sydney Harbour


text:
Sydney/Sydney Olympic Park

Sydney Olympic Park is an area 15 km west of Sydney CBD. It is on the western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and was the home of the 2000 Olympic Games.

The Sydney Olympic Park area, together with the surrounding areas on the Parramatta River including the neighbouring suburbs of Newington and Wentworth Point, host a wide variety of sporting events, including athletics, aquatic, archery, Australian rules football, cricket, soccer, tennis, hockey, rugby (both union and league), skateboarding and more. It is also home to open spaces and parks such as Bicentennial Park, Newington Armoury, Wentworth Common, Blaxland Riverside Park, Woo-La-Ra and Wilson Park.

The venues are also used for conferences, and music and family events, including the Royal Easter Show in April. When there are no events on, the area around the station and the main venues are very quiet. At 6PM most evenings, you can have Olympic Boulevard largely to yourself.

Access to the area and to the parklands is free, although parking can be expensive and difficult to find. The area was specifically designed to not be a car-centric hellhole; the authorities do whatever they can do discourage you from bringing your car in, but it may be your only choice when the trains network is lopsided.

For the purposes of this article, this article covers Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Point, Newington, parts of northern Homebush (around DFO) and Rhodes.

By train
Olympic Park is accessible through its own. Most of the time, you'll need to travel to Lidcombe station and transfer to the T7 Olympic Park Line (Olympic Park sprint) at Platform 0. Trains leave Lidcombe Station every 10 minutes, but frequencies may change during trackwork weekends. During major events, direct trains to Olympic Park also run from Central, Redfern, Strathfield and Parramatta stations, and sometimes also from other locations. Olympic Park station is wheelchair accessible.

Some parts of Sydney Olympic Park – Bicentennial Park in particular – are actually closer to, although still within easy walking distance of Olympic Park station. During major events, travellers from the north may be encouraged to use Concord West rather than Olympic Park even for central events. Concord West is wheelchair accessible.

As part of the Sydney Metro West, new rapid transit line being built between Westmead and Hunter St (opp. Wynyard and Martin Pl) via Parramatta and North Strathfield, there will be a new station in Sydney Olympic Park. It initially had an opening date of 2030 but has since been slated to 2032.

By bus
Sydney buses provide regular services from Strathfield and Rhodes stations by the route 525, 526 and 533 buses. Parramatta station has route 525 and Chatswood station has route 533.

Unless you are already at a bus departure point, the train will usually be quicker.

For major events, like sporting events, and the Easter Show, the major event bus service operates, providing frequent event buses from most corners of Sydney. For smaller events, like football matches, a handful of buses may run to a timetable on the major event bus routes.

By ferry
in Wentworth Point, operated by Transport for New South Wales, is on the Parramatta River and is usually served with the F3 Parramatta River line with ferries from Parramatta, Barangaroo and Circular Quay among other locations. The wharf, which was used for the Olympic Torch journey to the stadium, is around 2 km from the Olympic Stadium area and other attractions served by the Railway Station, but is much closer to the Millennium Parklands, Newington Armoury and many of the area's cycling tracks.

By car

 * Travel from Sydney City follow A4 Western Distributor/Anzac Bridge and into the WestConnex toll tunnel at M4 Western Motorway. Take the Sydney Olympic Park exit after the end of the tunnel.
 * Homebush Bay Drive (A3) and Parramatta Rd (A44) both pass Sydney Olympic Park. Follow either of these A roads, and follow the signs to Sydney Olympic Park.

Major event parking is available in large multi-story car parks for $25. Parking in the multi-storey carparks at other times is on a sliding scale up to $25. There is often free parking available at the aquatic centre if there are no major events on at the time. There is free parking in Bicentennial Park during the day, limited to 4 hours on weekdays. Traffic can be heavy during major events, but parking is usually available for all but the most major events. Check the Sydney Olympic Park website for details of parking and activities.

By bike
Several of Sydney's cycle routes converge on Sydney Olympic Park. The Cooks River Cycleway from Botany Bay. The Parramatta Valley Cycleway is linked by a cycle bridge over the Parramatta River linking Rhodes and Meadowbank (and on through Bicentennial Park). Cycling around when you get there is easy, with many paths and bicycle parking provided.

Get around
The train station and bus stops are within easy walking distance of the arenas, Olympic Boulevard, Bicentennial Park, and the Aquatic Centre. There are bike hire centres in Bicentennial and Blaxland Parks.

Light rail is also planned for Sydney Olympic Park as part of Stage 2 of Parramatta Light Rail. LRT will connect most stadiums (inc. the station) and Wentworth Point, which will eventually be headed towards Parramatta Square. Construction started in 2023 and is expected to open in 2031.

Park venues
Locals usually go to Sydney Olympic Park to see events such as sporting matches, music acts, or conventions. They are held at one of the following venues. Some venues may have tours.

Other venues include the Quaycentre (a multipurpose hall), Athletic Centre, Hockey Centre, Archery Park and the Sports Centre.

Parks

 * . Other parks in the area include, and
 * . Other parks in the area include, and

Buy
Shopping opportunities are limited within Sydney Olympic Park. But there are a number of small shops and convenience stores around the park. Other shopping centres and local supermarkets can be found in Newington, Wentworth Point, Rhodes or Lidcombe.

Near Olympic Boulevard and the Arenas
In the way of fast food, there is a McDonald's, Subway, Oporto's and a Gloria Jeans coffee shop in the stadium area, and not much else. Gloria Jeans has seating and a courtyard area often not crowded when there are queues at the other fast food places. These can close before some evening events finish. The Brewery serves food until a bit later.

Bicentennial Park
There is a kiosk in Bicentennial Park, near the kids playground, but it is only open for lunch. Good for ice-creams on a hot day.

Drink
There is not much nightlife to speak of on non-event days. On event days, the atmosphere changes - depending on who and what is playing.

Sleep
A wide range of local accommodation options are available within the precinct. Availability varies on what events are happening, but expect the 2 weeks that The Sydney Royal Easter show to run to be booked out in advance (sometime in March-April), and major concerts & sporting events to be also booked out.

Connect
There are some free public Wi-Fi spots about in the event precinct. The area is also well covered by normal telco providers.

Go next
If you are staying at Sydney Olympic Park, you are about equidistant from Sydney City and Parramatta. Stay on the M4 Western Motorway past Parramatta, and in 90 minutes or so you could be in the Blue Mountains.

title: Sydney/Sydney Olympic Park


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Sydney/The Rocks

The Rocks is sandstone buildings, history, laneways, culture and Australiana by day, and a busy pub scene by night. It is the historical precinct of central Sydney immediately to the north of the City centre on the western side of Sydney Cove, and where the First Fleet set up their first convict settlement. The Rocks is very different in character and atmosphere from the neighbouring commercial and retail centre of Sydney. Last but not least, it is the southern terminus of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It retains a certain sense of charm from its days as a British convict settlement, from its old buildings and watering holes to lovely Victorian-era flats, and reflects its status of having been the main trading port of the city.

Get in
To get to The Rocks, you have to get to the City Centre first. From there you can walk north along George St, or along Harrington St from Wynyard, or along the western shore of Circular Quay and Sydney Cove (keep the water on your right).

By train, Circular Quay station is located at the waterfront, and served by (Inner West and Leppington),  (Bankstown), and  (Airport and South) services. However, if coming in from the North Shore, Western Sydney, or Parramatta, (North Shore/Western) and  (Northern) lines call at Wynyard, which is not overly far from The Rocks.

By light rail, the and  light rail call at Wynyard, Bridge Street, and Circular Quay, all of which are close to the area. Services run every 5 minutes from Central and the Eastern Suburbs.

By bus, services in the area include:

 * 311, 324, and 325 run into the western part close to Barangaroo Reserve, Observatory Hill, the southern end of the Harbour Bridge, and Walsh Bay. Buses head to Town Hall, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, and Watsons Bay.
 * Others routes run from Circular Quay, which is convenient for George Street and the southern part of The Rocks. Buses useful for tourists include the 333 to Bondi Beach, 373/374 to Coogee, 377/397 to Maroubra, and 520/M52 to Parramatta.
 * Sydney Explorer sightseeing buses — which depart every 18 minutes throughout the day from Circular Quay — stop at the Sydney Visitor Centre and Campbell's Cove / Dawes Point in the Rocks.

By ferry, all ferry routes call at Circular Quay and again a short walk to the south of the area.

By driving, The Rocks isn't signposted as a destination on city roads. Follow the signs to City North, and then just drive north along George St. Some of the streets are closed for the markets, and for pedestrian safety on Friday and Saturday nights. There is parking in The Rocks and Barangaroo areas but expect to pay in excess of $50 a day to park there on a weekday, the prices are just as expensive as the heart of the city. There are usually all-day deals to be had on a weekend and in the evening.

Get around
The Rocks is best explored by foot. The area by the harbour and George St is flat and accessible. Away from the harbour there are a maze of steep laneways and streets.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an unmissable landmark of Sydney. It is fondly known as the "Coat Hanger" and is visible from many parts of The Rocks, and elsewhere in the City Centre. It isn't the longest bridge or hold any other records for size. However the sheer scale of the structure right in the centre of Australia's largest city is unrivalled. For example, it takes 10 years and 30,000 litres of paint to paint the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and when they finish they have to start again at the other end.

There are many ways to see or experience the bridge. If you cross from The Rocks to North Sydney have a walk around Luna Park and a go on the Ferris wheel before returning. If you are on a fitness regime, a walk over the bridge and a swim at North Sydney Olympic pool by the harbour is a perfect start to the day.

 * There is a harbourfront walk from Circular Quay, skirting The Rocks area and continuing on under the Harbour Bridge. The walk goes in front of the Overseas Passenger Terminal, and will take around 45 minutes. The walk is free. The City of Sydney has an app available for the self-guided tour, and can be joined to walks to Observatory Hill.

 * You can walk over the bridge on the pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the bridge. The views are great and admission is free. On the southern side the entrance to the walkway is hard to find. The entrance on the western side is on Fort St near Observatory Hill. On the eastern side the entrance is on Cumberland St near Argyle St. If coming from the city, Cumberland St is closed at the Wynyard side. Walk along Harrington St and follow the small, hardly noticeable signs past Susannah Place. Alternatively, you can get the lift up to the Cahill Walkway from Circular Quay, and walk around towards the Bridge for about 10 minutes. Don't follow the road signs or any roadway on to the Bridge. You may be intercepted by police before you meet a worse fate with the traffic. The entrance at the northern side is easy to find, about 30 m south of the Milsons Point Station. There is no way to access the bridge by foot without using stairs. There are many flights at Milsons Point and Cumberland St, and two flights from the Cahill Expressway down to the Bradfield Highway. If you aren't good with stairs, take the walk next to the harbour. If you want to drive to the walk, there is extremely limited parking in Cumberland St and around The Rocks. Limited 2-hr meter parking is also available near the northern entrance at Milsons Point. The walk is often busy, but there are no queues or crowds. You can walk one way, and take the train the other way if you wish.
 * You can cycle over it. There is a cycle lane on the western side of the bridge, dedicated to cyclists. There are usually multiple share bikes near the Milsons Point entry that you can hire for 30 minutes. However, the cycle will only take you five minutes before returning you to the city roads. The distance is more suited to walking.
 * You can have a picnic under it. There are nice parks at both ends of the bridge where you can appreciate the massive scale of the pylons and the height of the bridge. They are all weather parks, sheltered high above by the bridge platform.
 * You can have a picnic under it. There are nice parks at both ends of the bridge where you can appreciate the massive scale of the pylons and the height of the bridge. They are all weather parks, sheltered high above by the bridge platform.

 * You can sail under it on a ferry or a cruise ship.

Do
For the things you can do on the Harbour Bridge - see the See section above.

Theatre
The Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is based in the Rocks. They have a season of shows at both the Wharf Theatre and the Sydney Theatre, which are across the road from each other. The company has a mix of local and international dramatic productions.

Between times, there are often some other shows on at the theatres. You never quite know what you are going to get at an STC production. A story that falls flat, or a production to remember. The production values are high, but you certainly won't be seeing the latest production of Wicked, or the Lion King there. Try the theatres in the City Centre or at Star City for that.

Buy
The Rocks is a great place to shop for Australiana. Many shops selling Aboriginal art and crafts, Australian designed clothing, line the streets and arcades. Likely more expensive then less touristed areas.

Eat
There is a choice of restaurants and bars, and you will read good and bad reviews of most of them. The rule seems to be that you can expect to pay a premium to eat at The Rocks. They all tend to get very busy at times, and have high staff turnover, so your experiences will vary. It is difficult to go dismally wrong choosing a nice restaurant for a night out in the Rocks. On the other hand, deciding that 11PM on a Friday night is a good time for a pizza at Zia Pinas is unlikely to be a rewarding experience, either for the food, ambience, service or value for money.

There are a few restaurants which cater almost exclusively to the tourist crowds Many of these fill by the coach load, and are otherwise quiet. These places are usually apparent by the menu or the style, and are usually easily avoided if you aren't after that experience. Most restaurants in The Rocks draw a mix of locals and visitors.

Nowhere in the district is far from a restaurant or cafe, but there are a couple of distinct restaurant precincts. Campbells Cove is a small waterfront precinct, between the International Passenger Terminal and the Park Hyatt, usually recognised by the one or two tall ships at the wharf there. It is a pretty spot, with boardwalks and sandstone. There are a few fancy restaurants surrounding the precinct including the Italian Village and the Imperial Peking. At International Passenger Terminal there are a strip of restaurants and bars, including the famous seafood restaurant Doyles, and the fine dining Pier.

Just about every pub in The Rocks will serve some sort of food, usually for only a subset of their opening hours. For pubs like the Lord Nelson and the Australian, food is a speciality.

Budget
There aren't many cheap or takeaway options to choose from. If you are there during the markets, there are usually a few reasonable cheap options from the market stalls. Otherwise, there is a Subway, and little fast food cluster in Playfair St, if you need to feed the kids quickly and cheaply.

Drink
The Rocks pubs get busy most nights. It is a popular night spot for tourists and locals alike. You can walk along George St from Circular Quay and pass several popular pubs that attract a crowd. Late at night, especially on Friday and Saturday night that strip (starting from Jacksons at the Quay and stretching as far as the Observer Hotel) can have a vibe, or be rowdy, depending on your point of view. Away from George St the mood is quieter.

Sleep
The Rocks is not really the prime backpacker area of Sydney. It has some of the premier low-rise accommodation in Sydney, some in historic buildings, and others with unbeatable harbour views.

Splurge
Hotels on Circular Quay are listed under City Centre.

Stay safe
The Rocks is a busy area, with late trading, and a comfortable feeling. The Rocks does however have some of the highest level of reported assaults in the state, usually due to the concentration of pubs that can inevitably lead to some late-night alcohol fuelled violence. The area is well patrolled by police, but some fights do occur in the pubs and on the streets. Use common sense when interacting with drunk people, and you will just be a spectator.

The Rocks police station is on the corner of Argle and George, just opposite the Argyle Hotel. It is one of the major central Sydney police stations and is easily accessible at all hours of the day.

Connect
There is full mobile phone network coverage with 5G here.

Go next
Walk back into City Centre or catch a ferry from Circular Quay or Barangaroo to another part of the city.

title: Sydney/The Rocks


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Sydney/Upper North Shore

The Upper North Shore is a leafy and affluent residential area to the north of the heart of Sydney. It is east of the Lane Cove river, north of Chatswood and south of the uppermost border of Hornsbyshire council area.

Understand
The Upper North Shore starts north of Chatswood and stretches all the way to the Hawkesbury River. It consists of mainly residential and bushland suburbs, with the apartments and high density of the Lower North Shore giving way to the detached houses in the leafy suburbs of Killara, Pymble, Turramurra, Warrawee, Wahroonga and Hornsby and further north to villages carved out of the bush near Berowra and Mt Colah.

Containing some of the oldest residential areas of Sydney, the North Shore is known for its extensive gardens and mature European trees, making it one of the most attractive areas within the Sydney metropolitan area. This is particularly true in November of each year, when the blossoming of the Jacaranda trees provides streetscapes of bright purple flowers.

Get in
The T1 train line and the Pacific Highway provide the spine of the region, running parallel to each other for much of their length.

By train
While there are plenty of train stations in the Upper North Shore, the two most important ones are listed.
 * is a major station on the North Shore line. All trains on this line, including expresses, stop there.

 * is a terminal station for both the North Shore and Northern lines, as well as providing onwards services north through the Central Coast, Newcastle and beyond.

By car
The Sydney/Upper North Shore is very accessible from nearly every part of Sydney, as it faces no major geographical obstructions, and is not too far away from the CBD, being about a 20-40 minute drive, depending on where in the Sydney/Upper North Shore you'd want to go to.

From other parts of Sydney it's:
 * 15 minutes from Mona Vale, via the Mona Vale Road
 * 15 minutes from Lane Cove National Park, via the Ryde Road
 * 20 minutes from Brooklyn, via the and
 * 30 minutes minimum from Berowra Waters. Although this is part of Outer Sydney, getting here is hard due to the lack of infrastructure
 * 30 minutes from Parramatta, via the and
 * 30 minutes from The Hills, via the

Get around
Trains and public buses are available, mainly centred around a city commute. You'll probably be able to get to a single destination and return to the city by public transport easily enough, but touring the area requires a car especially in the northern areas of Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal National Parks. The main road linking the North Shore suburbs together is the Pacific Highway (A1) in a northwest to southeast (and vice versa) direction.

See

Connect
Mobile coverage is quite strong in most of the area, but is basically non-existent in the national parks at the north.

Within Sydney

 * Take a break from the nature walks and dive into the Northern Beaches via the A3 Mona Vale Road.

Further away

 * Brooklyn is a pleasant town on the banks of the Hawkesbury river, just a few stops north on the train line.
 * Wisemans Ferry is a nice pleasant picnic spot on the Hawkesbury.

title: Sydney/Upper North Shore


text:
Syktyvkar

Syktyvkar is a city in northwestern Russia of about 235,000 and the capital city of the Komi Republic. It is an industrial city and also a major logistics hub for forestry products.

Get in
Syktyvkar has passenger services from Moscow (25 h) and Saint Petersburg (32 h) on most weekdays, as well as daily regional trains from most cities in Komi. Regional trains are often quite slow and usually don't carry first class carriages.

See

 * National Museum of the Komi Republic, Ulitsa Lenina 57. Provides perspective on history and natural aspects of the Komi region, with interactive exhibits. Then across the way in the city square you'll find Lenin in all his statuary.
 * Sobor Svyatitelya Stefana Permskogo Dukhovnyy Tsentr Pravoslaviya, Ulitsa Lenina, д.6. Stephen's cathedral with gold-colored onion domes.

Go next
The 600-year-old monastery at Ust-Vym is an easy day trip.

title: Syktyvkar


text:
Sylhet

Sylhet is the capital of Sylhet Division in Bangladesh.

Understand
Nestled in the picturesque Surma Valley amidst scenic tea plantations and lush green tropical forests, greater Sylhet is a prime tourist destination. Sylhet has developed due to remittances from the expatriates living in Britain. Laying between the Khasia and the Jaintia hills on the north, and the Tripura hills on the south, Sylhet breaks the monotony of the flatness of this land by a multitude of terraced tea gardens, rolling countryside and the exotic flora and fauna. Here the thick tropical forests abound with many species of wildlife, spread their aroma around the typical hearth and homes of the Mainpuri Tribal maidens famous for their dance.

The Sylhet valley is formed by a beautiful, winding pair of rivers named the Surma and the Kushiara both of which are fed by innumerable hill streams from the north and the south. The valley has good number of haors which are big natural depressions. During winter these haors are vast stretches of green land, but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent seas.

These haors provide a sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds who fly from Siberia across the Himalayas to avoid the severe cold there. Sylhet has also a very interesting and rich history, Before the conquest by the Muslims, it was ruled by local chieftains. In 1303, the great Saint Hazrat Shah Jalal came to Sylhet from Yemen with a band of 360 disciples to preach Islam and defeated the then Raja Gour Gobinda.

An interesting feature of Sylhet region is the aboriginal tribes such as the Tipperas, the Monipuris, Khasis and Garos who still live in their primitive ways in the hills, practising their age-old rites, rituals, customs and traditions. During festivals such as Rash Leela (Full-moon night in February) and Doljatra, the Monipuris perform their famous dance, based on allegorical love themes of their ancient mythology.

By bus
There are many luxury coach and bus services from Dhaka to Sylhet. Some notable services are Hanif, Ena Transport, Green Line, London Express etc. These services are available from 5:30AM to 12:30PM. For latest schedule it is recommended to contact with the particular company.

By train
There are train services from Dhaka, Chittagong and Comilla to Sylhet every day. From Dhaka, there are four trains named Joyontika, Kalni, Parabat and Upoban that depart at morning, noon and evening. From Chittagong there are two trains named Udayan and Paharika that depart at morning and night.

Get around
Uber ride sharing service is available to travel within the city. A rental service called 'Jatri' also available to move around. Rickshaw ride could be a good option for short distances. CNG auto rickshaw widely available in the city to get around. Sylhet is not a walkable city. It lacks good quality footpaths.

See
Tea Gardens, shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal Yamani and Hazrat Shah Farhan (rahmt.), Shahi Eidgah, Chandni Ghat, Ali Amjad's Clock Tower, Keen's Bridge, Shah Jalal Bridge, Osmani Museum, Jaflong, Parjatan, Shah Jala University, Osmani Medical College and Hospital, Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, Theme Parks, etc.

 * Greeva Peet - Mahalakshmi peet: About 4 km south of Sylhet is a place named Joinpur (Dakshin Surma - Surma is the river that flows through Sylhet). Sri Mahalakshmi bhairav temple is situated close to the Shakti shrine, as is custom.

Further afield

 * Sri Mangal: Sri Mangal is famous for the largest tea gardens of the world covered by lush green carpet. One can have a look into the spectacular tea processing at Tea Research Institute. Bangladesh produces and exports a large quantity of high quality tea every year. Most of the tea estates are in Sri Mangal. It is called "The land of two leaves and a bud". It is also called camellia, green carpet or Tea Mountain. There are a lot of tea estates including the largest one in the world. Make sure to take the taste the seven layer tea at Sri Mangal. The terraced tea garden, pineapple, rubber and lemon plantations from a beautiful landscape. It is known as the tea capital in Bangladesh. Just offer entering into the tea estates the nice smells and green beauty will lead you many kilometres away. Also, visit the Mini Zoo created by Sirishranjan in 1972. The best time to see the tea plantations is during rainy season, which is when the tea is harvested by women in bright saris. Photographers often visit during this time.
 * Tamabil-Jaflong: Situated amidst splendid panorama, Tamabil is a border outpost on Sylhet-Shilong Road about 55 km away from Sylhet town. Besides enchanting views of the area one can also have a glimpse of the waterfalls across the border from Tamabil. Jaflong is also a scenic spot nearby amidst tea gardens and rate beauty of rolling stones from hills. Also the Kalibari temple, one of the 51 Sakthi peet, is situated near Jaflong. This place is not maintained, due to the reduced local Hindu population.
 * Lawacherra Rain Forest: Lawacherra Rain Forest is one of the important & well-reserved forests in Bangladesh. Here visitor may see gibbons swimming through the trees and birds like bee-eater owls parrot. It is a good habitat of deer, leopard, wild chicken, squirrel, and python. Don't miss it especially if you are bird watcher. The terrain is hilly and vegetation is fairly thick. Only one rare Chloroform tree of Asia is here and a prime attraction of travel
 * Madhabkunda: A highlight here is the Madhobkundo waterfall surrounded by lush tea estates and ponds full of waters lilies. Unfortunately there are a lot of burnt trees from an oilfield disaster, but it is still a picturesque landscape with rubber & lemon plantations.
 * Lawacherra Rain Forest: Lawacherra Rain Forest is one of the important & well-reserved forests in Bangladesh. Here visitor may see gibbons swimming through the trees and birds like bee-eater owls parrot. It is a good habitat of deer, leopard, wild chicken, squirrel, and python. Don't miss it especially if you are bird watcher. The terrain is hilly and vegetation is fairly thick. Only one rare Chloroform tree of Asia is here and a prime attraction of travel
 * Madhabkunda: A highlight here is the Madhobkundo waterfall surrounded by lush tea estates and ponds full of waters lilies. Unfortunately there are a lot of burnt trees from an oilfield disaster, but it is still a picturesque landscape with rubber & lemon plantations.

Do
At day time you can visit all the major attractions. There is no night-life in Sylhet although some bars are available in major hotels and the Station club. Drinking is strictly prohibited in public areas.

At evening it is a must see recommendation to visit Chadnighat area where you will enjoy a beautiful view of Surma river, Ali-Amazad clock along with iron made Kean bridge built in 1854.

Buy
Sylhet has a variety of malls and bazaars which offer shoppers plenty of goods for sale. The relatively new influx of expatriate money has rapidly transformed Sylhet into a shoppers city. Hand-made textiles are a speciality. Zindabazar and Kumarpara Road are the shoppers' paradise where most of the big mall are located. For famous local fabric manipuri fabric, all the good shops located in Lamabazar area. Be aware of your personal belongings as you walk around, pickpockets are rampant and unnoticeable among large crowds. Some notable brands shop listed below.

Eat
The two most well-known restaurants in Sylhet for Bengali food are Panshi and Panchbhai. Both restaurants are located in Jallarpar, Zindabazar. They are both very popular with people of all classes because of their affordable prices and good quality food. In addition to these two restaurants, there are several other restaurants of similar quality in this area.

Light meals or foreign food restaurants can be found throughout Sylhet. However, there are more restaurants in Naya Sarak and Jail Road. This area has a variety of shops selling everything from drinks to local and foreign food.

There are a few buffet restaurants in the city. One of the most notable is Grand Buffet Restaurant, located in East Zindabazar. Here, you can get buffet lunch for ৳750 and buffet dinner for ৳850.

Drink
Alcohol is not readily accessible in Sylhet, with Porjoton Motel being the sole establishment featuring a bar, situated on Airport Road. It is recommended to refrain from consuming alcohol in public spaces.

Sleep
Sylhet has many hotels which offer decent accommodations at reasonable prices. Bargaining always helps.

Embassies and consulates

 * 🇮🇳 India
 * Britain

Go next

 * Sunamganj, one of the most beautiful lakes of Bangladesh located here. Boat house available here for both day and night trip.

title: Sylhet