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Sydney (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Sydney:

Australia

 * Sydney - capital of the state of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia

Canada

 * Sydney (Nova Scotia) - a town on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia province

title: Sydney (disambiguation)


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Sydney (Nova Scotia)

Sydney is a city of 30,960 people (2021). It is the main port on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia.

Understand
This former industrial city's main industries today are in customer support call centres and tourism. Cape Breton University is a major employer and has brought students from around the world to the area. Tourism in Sydney has boomed as a result of significant government investment in cruise ship facilities and a waterfront revitalization plan through which a boardwalk and marinas were constructed, as was the world's largest fiddle.

History
Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British. Sydney served as the Cape Breton Island colony's capital, until 1820, when the colony merged with Nova Scotia and the capital moved to Halifax. A rapid population expansion occurred just after the turn of the 20th century, when Sydney was home to one of North America's main steel mills. During both the First and Second World Wars, it was a major staging area for England-bound convoys. The post-war period, there was a major decline in the number of people employed at the Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO) steel mill. The Nova Scotia and Canadian governments had to nationalize it in 1967 to save the region's biggest employer, forming the new crown corporation called the Sydney Steel Corporation (SYSCO). The city's population has steadily decreased since the early 1970s as Sydney suffered an economic decline as local coal and steel industries underwent significant changes. The closure of the SYSCO and the Cape Breton Development Corporation's coal mines in 2000-2001 have resulted in attempts by the municipal, provincial and federal governments to diversify the area economy.

Climate
Sydney experiences a cool summer, and windy, wet and stormy winter. February is the year's coldest month on average, and August is the year's warmest month on average.

While occasional thunderstorms and other rains can occur in summer, June through August are Sydney's driest months on average. Sydney's average annual precipitation cycle reflects these realities; the year's driest month, on average, is July; its wettest month, on average, is December. Average annual precipitation in Sydney is over 1500mm, virtually the highest found anywhere in Canada outside coastal British Columbia. Snowfall is heavy, averaging nearly 300 cm per winter season. However, winter-season storms are variable, and can bring changing precipitation types, commonly from ice/snow to rain and possibly back to ice/snow. A winter storm can bring accumulating snow, followed by heavy rain, then a brief return to snow or ice, resulting in no or minimal additional snow accumulation. Overall, Sydney's climate is moderately cold and strikingly variable, wet, stormy and windy from fall to early spring (October to March), and more stable and drier in summer (June to August).

Destinations
Direct flights to Sydney within Canada include from Montreal (2 hours) and from Toronto (2.25 hours).

Airlines
Canadian airlines operating to Sydney:
 * Operates to Sydney during the summer.
 * Operates to Sydney during the summer.

By car
Driving to Sydney can be done by crossing the Canso Causeway which links the island to the Nova Scotia mainland at Auld's Cove (on the mainland) and Port Hawkesbury (on Cape Breton). From there you have two options: the slightly longer but straighter Highways 105 and 125 or the shorter but twistier Route 4.

By bus

 * Its route between Halifax and Sydney includes stops in Dartmouth, Halifax Airport, Truro, New Glasgow, Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury, and North Sydney. Travel time to Sydney from Halifax is 6.5 hours, from Truro is 4.75 hours, from Antigonish is 3.25 hours, and from North Sydney is 50 minutes.
 * Travel to Sydney from the following destinations involving same day transfers is as follows:
 * From Moncton (7.5 hours) with a transfer in Truro.
 * From Charlottetown (8.5 hours) with transfers in Amherst and in Truro.
 * From Bathurst (10.75 hours), Campbellton (12 hours). Edmundston (14 hours), Fredericton (10.25 hours), Miramichi (9.75 hours), and Saint John (10.5 hours) with transfers in Moncton and Truro.
 * From Bathurst (10.75 hours), Campbellton (12 hours). Edmundston (14 hours), Fredericton (10.25 hours), Miramichi (9.75 hours), and Saint John (10.5 hours) with transfers in Moncton and Truro.

By boat
Ferry service is available from Newfoundland in North Sydney.

Get around
Most sights within the downtown are within walking distance, however most major tourist sights are well outside of the city and require a car or pre-arranged tour bus.

See
Although Sydney is the centre of Cape Breton, it lacks major tourist sites itself. Some things to see are:

 * Two private homes dating to the earliest settlement of the city, Jost House and Cossitt House, remain in the downtown area of Sydney.
 * Two private homes dating to the earliest settlement of the city, Jost House and Cossitt House, remain in the downtown area of Sydney.

Buy
The Sydney marine terminal and Charlotte Street have an abundance of arts and crafts stores selling traditional Cape Breton souvenirs.

Eat
Sydney has many well established restaurants, most with menus full of classic seafood favourites.

 * Flavor restaurants, four locations, including Flavor on the Water located at the Big Fiddle. Various menu options.
 * Flavor restaurants, four locations, including Flavor on the Water located at the Big Fiddle. Various menu options.
 * Flavor restaurants, four locations, including Flavor on the Water located at the Big Fiddle. Various menu options.

Sleep
Sydney is home to a handful of places to rest your head ranging from small motels to larger hotels.

For travellers seeking something with a little more character try one of the many bed and breakfasts in the area a selection of which can be found here

Go next

 * The Fortress of Louisbourg, about an hour's drive away, is a reconstruction of the 18th-century fortified French town whose presence plagued the British colonies of New England.
 * Stop at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada in Baddeck.
 * And no visit to Cape Breton is complete without a trip around the famous Cabot Trail, which regularly places high on lists of 'Best Drives in the World'

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

title: Sydney (Nova Scotia)


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Sydney/Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach (pronounced BON-die) is a world famous beach in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.

Understand

The closest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney (7 km), Bondi Beach has become synonymous with Sydney's beach lifestyle and is very popular with tourists, daytrippers, backpackers, residents and all Sydneysiders.

Bondi Beach is famous for its glistening ocean, pristine sands, reliable surf and seaside spirit. Its laid back coastal lifestyle, cafe culture, boutique shops and thriving, eclectic community is equally enticing.

Bondi has become a favourite of the "barmy army" of British tourists, who annually gather on its sands for a Southern Hemisphere Christmas in the sun. Bondi is home to numerous youth hostels with backpackers who congregate mainly in the summer months. It is not uncommon to hear Norwegian, Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish or Spanish while walking across the beach or through the cafes.

Bondi Beach is a very welcoming and tolerant community; topless sunbathing is acceptable and gay and lesbian couples displaying affection can be seen.

By public transport
Don't confuse Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach. may be the closest rail station to the beach but is still 3 km from it. There was a plan to build a railway station, though it never ended up constructed.

There are direct buses from the CBD to the beach. In particular, the 333 is a limited stop service that runs frequently up Elizabeth St, via Bondi Junction station.

You will save time (up to 30 minutes) by taking the train to Bondi Junction and changing at the interchange there to the bus.

Trains to Bondi Junction on the T4 Eastern Suburbs line leave from platform 24 at Central, stopping at Town Hall platform 5 and Martin Place. At Bondi Junction you can get buses from the interchange stands A1 or A3. A3 is the stop for the express 333 buses. The station at Bondi Junction is underground, go upstairs for the exit and the buses.

If you're using a public transport app, or the transport infoline webpage, the stop you need is Campbell Pde Nr Hall St.

If you're coming from the airport, get the train to Central and change to platform 24. From the Illawarra line and the south, the train continues through to Bondi Junction. From other points, change at Central or Town Hall.

By taxi
There’s a taxi stand outside the train station at Bondi Junction. Cost is about $10 depending on traffic. City to/from Bondi Beach is about $20-30. The airport, about 14km away, is about $40-55 for a 20-30min trip.

By car
There is minimal street parking, limited timed parking, and paid parking on Campbell Parade. A short visit by car on a winter weekday will be no problem. On a summer weekend, seriously reconsider your need to drive.

By Sydney Explorer
The Hop-on, Hop-Off tourist service, operates a route via Bondi Beach.

See
See the crowds, the waves, the water, the sand, the sunbathers, the teens and tweens showing off, the tourists with long socks and shoes straight off the tour coach next to the skimpily clad sunbathers. It is all part of the Bondi Beach Scene.

If you see past the crowds, the beach itself is actually naturally scenic, and there is an esplanade running along the beach front and along to the rocks either side.

There are often displays in the historic Bondi Pavilion. It's usually free and worth a quick look around.

Do

 * Swim. There are two sets of flags at the centre and at the north of the beach.  Bondi Beach is a fantastic place to cool off in the summer.  There are change rooms and showers in the pavilion, access is free.  There are lockers for hire.
 * Walk
 * Bondi to Coogee Walk - a coastal walk from Bondi (at the bottom of Notts Avenue, off Campbell Parade) to Tamarama, Bronte and all the way to South Coogee. Surely one of Sydney's most popular, spectacular walks. It's easy to get to, walkable by a person of average fitness, and no shortage of places to stop off for a coffee or a cool drink along the way. If you have mobility issues, a pram or young children, it may be a challenge.
 * Bondi to Manly Walk - links all the existing coastal and harbour-side walking tracks between Australia’s two most famous surf beaches, Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. For its entire length the Bondi to Manly Walk is on public land, with the vast majority of its 80 kilometres on existing well-made and well-maintained bush walking tracks.
 * Surf. The southern end of the beach is reserved for surfers.  There is one surf school, Let's Go Surfing or you can rent surf boards and body boards, as well as wetsuits. A cheaper option (although a bit further away from the beach) is Sydney Surfboard Rental and Hire.
 * Scuba Dive at North Bondi. Meet the protected Blue Groper and visit the Cathedral Cave. Rent scuba gear from Dive Bondi at 198 Bondi Rd. PADI dive certification is available: Open Water is $425, Advanced Open Water is $375.
 * Scuba Dive at North Bondi. Meet the protected Blue Groper and visit the Cathedral Cave. Rent scuba gear from Dive Bondi at 198 Bondi Rd. PADI dive certification is available: Open Water is $425, Advanced Open Water is $375.

Events

 * The Festival of the Winds - an annual kite-flying Festival in September.
 * Christmas. Bondi Beach is the traditional Christmas Day destination for backpackers for a Christmas Day "family" gathering for those whose real family is overseas.   Alcohol is not allowed on the beach or in the water.  The pubs are closed.
 * Christmas. Bondi Beach is the traditional Christmas Day destination for backpackers for a Christmas Day "family" gathering for those whose real family is overseas.   Alcohol is not allowed on the beach or in the water.  The pubs are closed.
 * Christmas. Bondi Beach is the traditional Christmas Day destination for backpackers for a Christmas Day "family" gathering for those whose real family is overseas.   Alcohol is not allowed on the beach or in the water.  The pubs are closed.

Markets

 * Bondi Beach Markets, every Su 9AM-3PM in the grounds of Bondi Beach Public School, (Campbell Parade, one block north of the main shopping centre).
 * Bondi Beach Community Market Saturday and Sunday from 1pm till late (Sept to April), some weekdays during summer, weather dependant. The Bondi Beach Community Market is located in the heart of Bondi Beach, near Hurricane's restaurant, not far from McDonald's. Great range of Jewellery, Sunglasses and fashion and beach attire. You can find some local designers at this market. The market is a run by a not for profit organisation and profits are donated to local Charities.

Eat
Bondi is a food lover's delight. There are countless cafes and restaurants on the streets around the beach, many with great views. If you're looking for something quick and easy, there are kiosks on the beach, and a cafe in the pavilion with plenty of tables on the wide promenade.

Unless you have a particular place in mind, there is usually no need to book in advance. Just walk around and find somewhere you like, or grab fish and chips and eat on the beach. Some of the more popular breakfast places fill up on weekend mornings, as do some of the more popular restaurants on Friday and Saturday night.

Drink
It is quite possible to go to Bondi Beach on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and not bother with any of that sand or water. The two biggest bars in Bondi are the Beach Road Hotel and Hotel Bondi. Both are excellent places to catch the finals in a cricket match or have a few drinks with your mates. Another great bar is at the previously mentioned Bondi Icebergs, it has a great view of the beach and relatively cheap drinks. Make sure to take some form of ID that proves you live outside a 5km radius as this is a club and club rules require that you be a member if you reside within 5km.

Of course, if you want to be "seen" then go for Ravesi's on the corner of Hall St and Campbell Parade. It attracts the beautiful people... or at least those who think they are beautiful.

Stay safe
Always swim between the red and yellow flags, which mark the safest areas and are patrolled by lifeguards. The beach is closed when surf conditions are too dangerous. At the northern end of Bondi Beach is a rip nicknamed "the Escalator" and at the southern end is a particularly strong rip nicknamed "the Backpacker's Express" that looks deceptively calm and may carry unwitting victims out to sea. The natural instinct is to swim against the rip, but this is extremely tiring and it's best to escape it by raising one hand to alert rescuers (see Australia for more information).

While there are shark nets in the summer, a siren will sound if a shark is spotted, and you should leave the water. Scary, but drowning is still a far more likely danger than a shark attack.

Go next
Try the other Eastern Suburbs beaches, some within walking distance. Cronulla Beach is over the Georges River further south. Sydney's Northern Beaches stretches north from Manly to Palm Beach.

title: Sydney/Bondi Beach


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Sydney/City Centre

The Sydney City Centre was where Governor Arthur Phillip first raised the British flag on Australian soil in January 1788, the earliest site of European settlement in Australia. After more than two centuries, it has a Manhattan-like skyline of skyscrapers on the harbour. It is the commercial centre of Sydney, seeing hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders commute daily to work, shop, and socialise.

The city centre meets and embraces its harbour. The entire foreshore is walkway, and much of it is parkland. The office towers compete with each other for the best view of the harbour, with those in the back row grateful for any glimpse.

It is the site of Sydney's grandest structures, from the modern Opera House and Sydney Tower, to the art-deco, the granite facades of the early 20th century, and the colonial sandstone of a convict era. The oldest buildings may be in The Rocks, but those warehouses and residences lack the proportion, scale, and inspiration of the construction in the city centre.

Into the evening, there is a stark contrast as many of the crowded footpaths grow quiet, and many of the city centre eateries and cafes wind down. There are still people around though: the after-work crowd still around in the city pubs, the opera aficionados and diners out down at East Circular Quay, and the groups meeting up near Town Hall for a movie, a drink, or a night out.

Get in
The City Centre lies at the hub of Sydney's transport network. Most major roads, and public transport radiate from the city. Catch a train from anywhere and it will stop here.
 * Transport NSW is the authority which operates the transport network in the state. Their website, Transportnsw.info, provides journey planning, information on disruptions and engineering works, and booking for long-distance coach and train journeys. They issue the Opal Card, which is a rechargeable stored-value card, and provides discounts and daily/weekly caps on fares.

By train
The City Circle loop, which can be used going in either directions, has five stations. They run from Central station.

 * Town Hall is centrally located. Best for shopping in Pitt Street as well as the Queen Victoria Building.
 * Wynyard is mostly for office workers, but also close by to Martin Place, the Rocks, and Barangaroo.
 * Circular Quay has the Opera House, Ferries, Harbour Foreshore and the Botanic Gardens. It provides one of the best views of the harbour from the eastbound platform as it rises overground.
 * St James is closest to Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral, State Library, Art Gallery
 * Museum is next to the Hyde Park War Memorial

There is also a station at Martin Place on the way to Bondi (pronounced bond eye) Junction in the Sydney/Eastern Suburbs.

If you're headed for the city centre, do not get off at Central in the City South. It refers to Sydney's main train station and is not too close to the city centre.

By light rail
The Dulwich Hill light rail runs from Central station, just outside of the Grand Concourse where terminating trains arrive, into Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, and onwards to the Inner West suburbs. The stops at Capitol Theatre and Paddy's Markets serve the southern part of Chinatown.

The Randwick and  Kingsford Line light rail runs along George Street, from Central Chalmers Street to Circular Quay. Running every 5 minutes, it calls at a number of stations along the line. Whilst being a lot slower than the train (takes 18 minutes from Central to Circular Quay, compared to 7 minutes on the train), and at certain points slower than walking, it is very scenic and is a great way to explore the area.

 * Haymarket serves the eastern part of Central station, the YHA at Central station, and the coach terminal. It also provides direct interchange with some buses.
 * Chinatown is a short walk from World Square, and is also convenient for Darling Harbour.
 * Town Hall is located in front of St Andrew's Cathedral and the Town Hall, with direct access to Town Hall rail station. A Woolworths Metro supermarket is directly opposite the stop.
 * QVB, a very short distance away, directly serves Queen Victoria Building, The Galleries, and is only 5 minutes walk from Westfield Sydney. It also provides an interchange with the bus station on York Street, with buses to the Inner West, the North West, and Hills District.
 * Wynyard is in the heart of the CBD, and provides rail and bus connection, the latter at Wynyard Park. There is also a direct link to Barangaroo via the train station, which has a ferry wharf for ferries to Parramatta, North Sydney, and a more circuitous but scenic route to Circular Quay. It also serves the western end of Martin Place, which includes the former General Post Office, now an upscale hotel.
 * Bridge Street is located just right before Grosvenor Street and Bridge Street, both of which contain some of Sydney's most significant heritage building, and is about 15 minutes from the Botanic Gardens and The Domain, State Library, and the Parliament of NSW. It is also convenient for the southern part of The Rocks.
 * Circular Quay is underneath the railway station and close to the ferry terminal. It serves the southern part of The Rocks, the harbour foreshore, the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art, Customs House, and the Botanic Gardens.

By bus
Direct buses to the city centre are available from many inner suburbs, and some outer regions. If you are travelling from the Central Business District (CBD) by bus on weekdays 7AM-7PM you need an Opal card purchased in advance to board.

By boat
The most pleasant way to arrive in Sydney city centre, or to get out and see the Sydney harbour or north shore, is by ferry. Most ferry routes (from 41 wharves around the Sydney harbour suburbs) start or finish at Circular Quay, at the northern end of the CBD. From here you can take a ferry to Manly or Watsons Bay to the east or Parramatta to the west, all for far cheaper than taking a private tour.

There is a train station and bus terminus right next to the ferry terminal at Circular Quay for connections to other parts of the city.

There is also a ferry wharf in Barangaroo which is next to the city centre. A ferry from Circular Quay to here will take 35 minutes, go under the Harbour Bridge and provide great views of the city.

By car
The city is accessible to private vehicles. It's well signposted from most surrounding areas. Firstly as Sydney, then as City, and finally, as City North or City Centre. Don't confuse City North, with North Sydney, or you will end up on the other side of the harbour.

Traffic in the city can be congested. Peak hours, Friday lunchtime, and Friday afternoon are worst. Weekends are usually fine, although some congestion can occur at any time. Traversing the few city blocks can take up to 30 minutes during these periods.

Many streets in the city are one-way and disallow right turns.

Parking
Garage parking can vary from around $18 to over $70 for a day on a weekday. You need to do research and book online to avoid high rates. Don't be misled by parking stations advertising parking for $5, as this usually apply for the first 30 minutes, after which charges rise steeply. Early-bird rates (for arriving and leaving during set times) can save up to 75% on hourly rates during the day.

Parking stations usually charge less for evening parking and all-day weekend parking. A flat rate is often available for $15 or less, but not all places have special deals, so check before you park. It is a safe bet to drive around the CBD and check the flat rates advertised outside the parking stations on weekends, but again, you will get better rates booking online in advance.

Street parking is scarce and although street parking for short periods is possible it is often difficult to find, particularly during the day on weekdays. Free on-street parking or street parking available for extended periods is particularly elusive. Early on weekend mornings, some on-street parking is usually available in Clarence, Kent, or Sussex Streets. On street parking is also available on Art-Gallery road. Expect to pay. Free on-street weekend parking is available where no parking zones apply on weekdays. All public parking zones are enforced by city parking police and occasionally state police, infringement penalties are around $130. Motorcycles and scooters can park for free anywhere a car can park, but must still follow any time restrictions (for example they may not stay longer than 2 hours in a 2P spot). There are also some dedicated motorbike parking spots around the city.

By bike
One of the quietest approaches to the city is from the west at Darling Harbour and Pyrmont. Pyrmont Bridge allows cyclists, and a cycle path takes you along to King St as far as Clarence St. There is bike parking there. From the North take the cycleway over the Harbour Bridge, next to the station at Milsons Point. From the south there is a separated cycle path from Central Station (Eddy Avenue) that winds its way through the city streets to meet the Kent St, King St and Pyrmont Bridge paths.

Maps and other information for cyclists around the inner city are provided by local government.

Get around
The city centre has a very rough grid system. George St is the major north-south city street, running all the way from Central Station in the south to Circular Quay and The Rocks in the north, with Pitt, Castlereagh, and Elizabeth St running parallel to it through the city centre. City blocks are small, especially in the east-west directions.

There are maps and directional signs to nearby attractions located every few blocks.

By foot
Most of the attractions below are within a radius, and are easy to walk around. Consult the Walking tour of Sydney for details. The spectacular walk along the harbour's edge (Farm Cove) from the Sydney Opera House (Queen Elizabeth II Gate) through the gated Royal Botanical Gardens to Mrs Macquarie's Chair (Yurong Gate) is for many the epitome of a Sydney experience.

Sydneysiders frequently cross against the red pedestrian lights in the city centre in any gap in traffic. but if you're not familiar with the traffic direction, best to wait for the indicator. Watch out for the trams in the George St pedestrian area. Police occasionally do have blitzes on jaywalking, where you will be fined $70 for crossing on the red.

By train/light rail
Trains run both ways around the city circle (T2/T8) stations Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James and Museum. Each of these stations has services every five minutes. Most of the city is no more than ten or fifteen minutes walk from a train station.

Another city station, Martin Place, is mid-town on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line and has services every 10 min (off-peak) to Town Hall and Central.

Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place and St James stations are located within of each other, so unless you are feeling particularly lethargic, catching the train or bus between them will take longer than the walk.

The L2/L3 light rail routes run every 5 minutes and serve the city centre. They can be slower than the train as well!

By bike
There are a few cycleways around the city. Travelling north-south along Kent St in the city west is easy enough. This route connects to Liverpool St to travel east-west, and Elizabeth St to travel to the south. It requires a bit of planning and determination to get around the city centre by bike. It may be best to leave your bike on the city centre fringe, and walk while downtown. You can be fined for cycling in the pedestrian malls or footpaths.

There are bike parking spots all over the city, and you can park your bike pretty much on any street. If you leave your bike unattended then ensure you park it in an area with high visibility - like outside Clarence St Cyclery - and secure it well.

Mobike bike dockless share bikes are available in the city centre, as are Lime e-bikes. Download the respective apps.

Public buses
All buses are numbered on their indicator boards at the front and on the left side of the bus and show the final bus destination.

The major bus interchanges are at Circular Quay, Wynyard and Town Hall/Queen Victoria Building (or QVB). Buses from Wynyard run straight over the Harbour Bridge. From Circular Quay, as a general rule of thumb: Any bus number starting with "3" run the eastern route (i.e. to/from Circular Quay via Elizabeth Street and to/from the Eastern Suburbs), while the ones starting with a "4" run the western route (i.e. to/from Circular Quay via George Street and to/from the Inner West). The ones starting with a "5" out of the city over the Anzac Bridge.

At the interchanges (Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall and the QVB) have multiple stops, each assigned a letter. Both Wynyard and Town Hall bus interchanges are scattered over a few blocks in each direction, and you'll need have directions on your phone, or check the interchange maps. Allow extra time if it is your first trip. It's just another reason to consider walking if you're doing a short trip - the next bus stop may be further from where you're going then where you are now.

Hop-on Hop-off
City Sightseeing Sydney Explorer bus tours. Costs more and takes longer than normal public transport, but can take the hassle out of planning your routes.

By car
The lack of readily available parking means that it is impractical to drive between city centre attractions unless using taxi or rideshare. Attractions in the city centre are not signposted from the city roads. The only directional signs you will see will point you out of the city centre, across the harbour bridge or to the west or east. There is a one-way system, and few right-hand turns are permitted. The pedestrianisation of the main George Street has made this even harder. Some right-hand turns are legally possible but are difficult to find breaks in traffic.

If you are driving into the city centre, then it is best to navigate to a parking lot (prebooking online can often be much cheaper, especially for the whole day). If you are going between multiple destinations in the city centre then walking, train loop, bus or tram are the quickest ways.

See
Sydney City is home to a large number of outstanding examples of Art Deco architecture, built during the 1920s and 1930s, which has now given way to a high-rise skyline dominated concrete and glass skyscrapers.

Landmarks

Harbour cruises
You can take a cruise on Sydney Harbour. There are many cruises to choose from and they depart from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. For a bigger adrenalin rush, try the jet boats that zip around the harbour at breakneck speeds.

Harbour Cruises depart from Darling Harbour and at Circular Quay in the city.

You can create your own harbour cruise, as the normal Sydney Ferries services go everywhere a cruise goes and more. Get a daytripper ticket for $20, and take as many ferries as you like, get on and off where you like, and enjoy a picnic in any of the many harbour side parks next to the ferry wharves. On a Sunday and if travelling with children, a Family Funday Sunday ticket can be bought from all the usual outlets for $2.50 and allows unlimited travel on all public transport for the day. Timetables are available at the Quay, and it's hard to catch a ferry somewhere that isn't worthwhile. The Manly ferries even have a cafe on board, where you can grab a pie, and sit out in the sun, taking in the view for a fraction of the cost of a luncheon cruise! Consider dropping in at one of the harbour islands

Theatre

Other theatres are at Lyric Theate at Star City in Pyrmont, the Capitol Theatre in the south of the city, and the Wharf Theatres at Walsh Bay in Sydney/The Rocks.

Cinema

If you are interested in fringe or arthouse films, you may also like the Chauvel, Verona and Academy Twin cinemas in nearby Oxford Street.

Buy
The CBD of Sydney is also the retail centre of the city, having the largest range of shops and outlets in a variety of settings. Sydney's shopping is frequently concentrated within large city malls and arcades (heavily interconnected mid-town through a number of underground walkways). There are also a number of recognised shopping strips.

If you are shopping for food and supplies, the convenience stores and even the city fruit stores can have up to three times mark-up over supermarkets. If you need to stock up on the basics, it would be cheaper to try the supermarket "Woolworths", one opposite Town Hall on Park and George Sts or one underground north of Wynyard Station in the MetCentre (take down escalator from ground level of the MetCentre); or the supermarket "Coles", one at Carrington and Wynyard Sts or one at 388 George St near King.

George Street
George St is the closest thing to Sydney's main street. It has a shopping strip between the Town Hall (Park St) and Wynyard (Hunter St), about 10 minutes brisk walk. Along this section of road there are numerous fashion, technology and gift stores and malls like the Queen Victoria Building, Galleries Victoria, Myer, Westfield, the Strand Arcade and the Apple Store.

Pitt Street Mall
Pitt Street mall is a pedestrianised block between Market and King St that is so busy that it has some of the highest retail rents in the world. Both sides of the Pitt St mall are full of shops and shopping centres, extending westward to George St and eastward to Castlereagh St. Most of the malls connect to each other. The Westfield Sydney connects to the David Jones department store, the Queen Victoria Building (and through there to the Galeries Victoria and Town Hall Station), and the MLC Centre (and through there to Martin Place Station), making this area ideal for shopping in poor weather.

Castlereagh Street and Martin Place
Castlereagh Street north of King St and Martin Place between Castlereagh and George Sts. Home to a large concentration of fashion houses and big names including DKNY, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Ferragamo, Gucci, Bvlgari, Stefano Canturi and Chanel.

Eat
There is much competition, specials, and choice for breakfast and lunchtime eating. Even the classiest restaurants tend to have lunchtime specials, and the competition for breakfast, coffee and lunch at the budget end of the market is fierce. However, by supper time in the evening, many of the cafes and take-aways have closed in the CBD and the remaining restaurants can be expensive. Doing your food exploration at lunchtime will save you money in the city centre.

Neighbouring Chinatown in the south of the city has a large number of restaurants offering cheap and tasty Asian cuisine, and the food courts in Market City Shopping Centre stay open into the evening, when the CBD ones have usually shut.

Budget

 * Food courts. All through the Sydney CBD there are food halls where the city workers flock to get lunch. A sit down lunch at these food courts will cost between $5 and $10, and there is competition for business. There are many, but to whet your appetite, try one of the following:
 * Westfield Sydney in Pitt St Mall (north of Market, between George and Castlereagh), also open weekends and Thursday nights, level 5 east side for crowded upscale food court dining, level 1 west side for mainline food court.
 * David Jones Food Hall, lower level (SW corner of Market and Castlereagh)
 * MLC Centre in Martin Place (SW corner of Castlereagh)
 * The Galeries Food Court, lower level (500 George St, NE corner at Park St)
 * Regent Place, (501 George St, SW corner at Bathurst St)
 * Under the Gateway Building or the AMP building at Circular Quay (Alfred St, corner of Loftus)
 * Australia Square (the tall but round building) northeast of Wynyard Station (George St, SE corner of Bond) 15 food choices, outdoor seating on concrete plaza
 * In the Metcentre just north of Wynyard Station through a ground level connector (west of George St between Margaret and Jamison) ground level.
 * Hunter Connection just east of Wynyard Station (Hunter Street, between George and Pitt, or go down the steps at Wynyard Station and take the Hunter Connection tunnel) specialises in SE Asian food, delicious Thai for $6.

If you fancy an early dinner (or late lunch) many of the food halls sell off remaining lunch items at discounted prices around 4PM in the afternoon, sometimes for as little as $4-5 a meal, but commonly for $6.

Cafes
The Sydney CBD is packed with small cafes that serve (usually) good coffee and a breakfast of toasted banana bread, toast (with cinnamon, Vegemite etc) or anything involving bacon and eggs. They mostly serve office workers and are open (generally) between 6AM and 3PM during the week. On the weekend most are closed in central CBD, and you may want to head to a more residential area to find breakfast. The ones in the shopping districts will open a little later, but always by 9AM.

 * QVB (Queen Victoria Building) has a number of gorgeous cafes - try the ground floor for buzz or the top floor for longer quieter conversations QVB Dining

Mid-range
The CBD is flooded with cafes and pubs doing lunch with mains in the $10-15 range. Avoid the ones in or immediately next to major tourist attractions to avoid inflated prices. Clarence St, York St, and even Pitt St have many to choose from.

Outside of the cafe scene, mid-range restaurants in Sydney's CBD proper tend to be a little thin on the ground, but you will find plenty clustered around the George St cinemas and World Square, and on Liverpool St. Liverpool St. in particular has a large number of Korean restaurants to choose from

Splurge
Sydney's top-end dining scene is world class, with prices to match. Some of the best restaurants in Australia are listed below, and many of them feature on the San Pellegrino list of the Top 100 restaurants in the world.

Small bars
Sydney has many experimental small bars as an alternative to the pubs and beer halls.

Gig guides

 * Metro is the Sydney Morning Herald' s entertainment lift-out, published every Friday.
 * Metro is the Sydney Morning Herald' s entertainment lift-out, published every Friday.

Budget
There is little budget accommodation in this district. There are some backpacker hostels but generally cheaper accommodation is found in the surrounding areas around Central Station in the City South.

Stay safe
In the daytime Sydney City is a busy location with high pedestrian activity. The biggest threat to your safety during the day is traffic, so take care when crossing roads with high traffic volumes and one-way flows. Occasionally there is a blitz on jaywalking, so look-left, look-right, and look around for police at the intersection before crossing on the red.

If you're out late, stick to popular areas and main streets. The main business area of skyscrapers and office building area north of Park and south of Bridge St becomes very quiet at night as the office workers return to the suburbs. Late at night anti-social behaviour and even some alcohol-related violence is possible around the George St Cinema strip (between Bathurst Street and Liverpool Street) and the northern (harbour) end of George St towards the rocks (north of Bridge St). The harbour end of George St is very busy on Friday and Saturday nights, with large numbers of people arriving in the city to go to the nightclubs, many of them already having started drinking hours ago. On other nights the area around the Quay down to the Opera House is very pleasant. It has a variety of restaurants and bars, a great view, and is safe.

On the trains late at night stay close to the guard's compartment which has an exterior blue light. There is an emergency assistance button on every platform and by the entrance to the train carriages on more modern trains.

Internet
Some convenience stores have a terminal or two although prices are high and computers can be antiquated and filled with malware. Expect to pay around $2.50 per 10 min.

For free Wi-Fi in a comfortable environment, try the NSW State Library (free password at the circulation desk) or the Sydney City Library in the Customs House.

Free Wi-Fi is also available in numerous supermarkets, shopping centres and food courts, where you'll be asked to give up a social media account in return for access. Try Westfield in Pitt St Mall, MetCentre, Woolworths in Pitt St, and many more.

Most cafes offer Wi-Fi to their customers, although they almost always require a password.

4G Internet is available everywhere in Sydney on all networks.

Phone
Public phones are fairly common in the CBD, although seldom used. You can also use them to send text messages, domestically or internationally.

Cope
SmareCarte offer luggage storage on Loftus Street at Circular Quay. They also offer a transfer service to their facility at Sydney airport.

Go next
Take a walk to the surrounding city areas, go to the aquarium, maritime museum, or just walk along the boardwalks at Darling Harbour. Visit the historic district of The Rocks. Walk up to Chinatown in the city south for Yum Cha.

Take a ferry trip from Circular Quay to the Harbour Islands, Manly or Parramatta.

Walk, or catch the train, over the harbour bridge to the Lower North Shore.

title: Sydney/City Centre


text:
Sydney/City East

Immediately to the east of the City Centre and also adjacent to City South is an area of laneways, nightlife, cafes, pubs, bars and entertainment and sometimes referred to as the "Inner East". it is an area where many choose to stay, and many more visit. From the tiny wine and tapas bars to the "Klondike-like saloons", the City East is one of Sydney's favourite areas to visit for a night out. The district has some of the most densely populated and lively postcodes in Australia.

Orientation
The following areas and suburbs make up the City East district:

Get in

Trains and a maze of bus routes run through the area. From the city, its often possible to walk to where you want to be. Parking is restricted nearly all the time on any day of the week, although cruising around the back streets is an option if the parking fairy is smiling upon you.

Kings Cross can be accessed by bus or train to Kings Cross Station, which is on Darlinghurst Road. The train station exits deliver the visitor into the southern end of the main Kings Cross entertainment district. The 323, 324, 325, and 326 buses also run from Circular Quay, up Elizabeth Street and along William Street. You can also walk from the City Centre to Darlinghurst Road in around 20-30 minutes.

Oxford Street has a long strip of night clubs, bars, restaurants, fashion boutiques and other retail activities running its length. It starts in East Sydney at Hyde Park and runs through Darlinghurst, Taylor Square and on to Paddington. You can use the train station at Museum to enter Oxford Street from the Hyde Park end. This station is just near the start of Oxford Street, and you can walk the length of it in 45 minutes or so. The 'strip' unofficially ends around Queen Street in Woollahra. If you want to get directly to your destination, you can catch one of the stream of buses that go up Oxford Street. Routes 333, 392, 397, 373, 394, 399, and 377 run from Circular Quay and Elizabeth Street and up Oxford St at least as far as Taylor Square.

Surry Hills is adjacent to Central station and runs up the hills to the east toward Moore Park. Walk east from the station through Sydney's commercial fashion quarter and up toward Crown Street. Crown Street is serviced by bus routes 301, 302, and 303.

Woolloomooloo lies to the north of William Street across from the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens and runs down to the old wharves at Woolloomooloo Bay. Stairs link Art Gallery Road down to the finger wharves. The walk will take around 20 minutes from the city or Martin Place or St James Station. The walk is slightly shorter from Kings Cross Station, but a little less scenic, just follow Victoria Street from the station north to the water. Alternatively the 311 bus links Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst Road, Oxford Street and Railway Square every 15 minutes or so. If you are driving, you can park in The Domain car park, which is a short walk away, or cruise around the back streets if you are feeling lucky.

Moore Park has a frequent bus service from the city. Consider the Metrobus 10, which leaves Town Hall every 10 minutes or so. The 392, 394, and 396 all continue from Oxford Street along Moore Park. You can buy a combined train/bus ticket from any station to Moore Park. During events extra buses run to Moore Park from Central Station. These buses leave from near the Chalmers St exit. These buses do not accept Multi tickets, but do except combined train/bus tickets to Moore Park. During events you may want to consider just walking from Central - you will see many people doing the same, the walk will take around 30 minutes. There is a multi-storey parking lot at Fox Studios (The Entertainment Quarter) which sometimes offers free parking for 3 hours, but charges a flat fee during events. Traffic around the area can be congested during events.

Get around
To get around the area, most locals walk, though this part of the CBD is much less pedestrian-friendly than the rest of the CBD. Expect to see lots of other pedestrians around Oxford St, William St and Darlinghurst Road most times of the day and night.

Kings Cross can be a jam for cars both in peak hours on weekdays, and late at night.

Almost everywhere has either limited parking (one to two hours) or parking meters. Expect to pay for parking if you drive. Moore Park has three hours free parking, except during sporting or large entertainment events, when you can expect to pay a larger flat fee.

Museums and galleries

Please see the City Centre article for more comprehensive details on The Art Gallery of New South Wales and other nearby public Art Galleries and Museums

The City East precinct is home to an extensive range of private art galleries with a high concentration in the Paddington area.

Parks
Although the district is densely populated and space is certainly at a premium, there are parks and open spaces around.

Some of Sydney's other large and popular parks and gardens lie just beyond the boundaries of the district. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Domain and Hyde Park form part of the north-western boundary of the district and lie in the City Centre. Centennial Park and the 'greater' Moore Park area is just to the south-east of the district in the Eastern Suburbs.

Live music
There are numerous live music venues scattered throughout the inner east area, catering to all sorts of music from local up-and-coming bands to international touring acts.

Swim
Sydney is well known for its beach culture but people do not have to go all the way to the coast to have a swim. There is a long tradition of Public baths in Sydney. Some of the old ones remain, such as at North Sydney at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to the Luna Park entrance. Several of these Public baths or swimming centres are directly adjacent to the City east precinct or are within walking distance.

 * City of Sydney swimming centres are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
 * City of Sydney swimming centres are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
 * City of Sydney swimming centres are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

Sports fixtures
Moore Park is one of the main sporting precincts in Sydney. Most weekends during winter will feature games of any one the three football codes played in Sydney. Cricket and soccer are played in summer.

The Sydney Football Stadium, known commercially as Allianz Stadium, is a rectangular pitch catering for rugby league, rugby union and soccer, while right next door the Sydney Cricket Ground hosts cricket and Australian Rules. A number of clubs are based at Moore Park:

 * Sydney F.C. play in the A-League soccer competition during summer.
 * Sydney F.C. play in the A-League soccer competition during summer.
 * Sydney F.C. play in the A-League soccer competition during summer.
 * Sydney F.C. play in the A-League soccer competition during summer.

Oxford Street
Home to a huge range of boutique shopping, fashion, quirky gift stores, book shops, and everything in between. Great for an afternoon's window shopping and casual discovery. Max out your credit card at one of the many higher end clothing and accessory shops running down Oxford Street. Featuring some of Australia's most popular brands and designers - Sass and Bide, Lisa Ho, Morrissey, Scanlan and Theodore and Kitten. Be sure to explore the side streets such as Elizabeth St and especially William St for the newer, funkier labels such as Ginger and Smart and the ever present Collette Dinnigan.

Crown Street, Bourke Street, South Dowling Street
At the 'off' Oxford Street end of these three streets can be found a developing precinct of some eclectic and more edgy shops than many of those on the Darlinghurst section of Oxford Street.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney
There are two main eating strips in the Darlinghurst & East Sydney area. Victoria St in Darlinghurst is home to a good array of quality restaurants for all budgets. East Sydney is Sydney's original Little Italy and many Italian restaurants are to be found on and around Stanley St.

It's also worth having a wander to the 'Paddo' Five Ways which is north of Oxford St in central Paddington. It's a loosely Parisian-inspired collection of cafes and restaurants nestled among five corners which meet at one roundabout. Coffee at Heeley's is highly recommended.

Woolloomooloo
The finger wharf at Woolloomooloo is home to some of the most exclusive (and pricey) restaurants in the district. Lunch on the wharf is a favourite of Sydney's high-flying banking and business types, as well as the occasional media or sporting celebrity. Beautiful views of the Sydney skyline and Woolloomooloo Bay.

Surry Hills
There are a huge number of restaurants on Crown St between Oxford and Cleveland Sts and down some of the side and parallel streets like Foveaux St and Bourke St. Quality tends to be pretty good as rents are high and bad/unpopular places tend to close down quickly.

There are also a number of cheap but tasty South Indian restaurants on Cleveland St between Bourke and Crown Sts.

Kings Cross
Kings Cross is the red-light district, but don't let that put you off it if that is not your scene. There are many pubs and nightclubs here, but it is still strip clubs that are the most prominent. There are brothels and some street prostitution as well. The strip clubs aren't the sort of place you would go for a drink and regard the entertainment is a sideshow. They also tend to be a bit dingy, where the nightclubs and pubs in the area generally are bright, with a vibe. Due to the licensing laws and the state government's reaction to fatal brawls, the drinks on sale are limited and expensive, lockouts occur at 1:30AM and last drinks is at 3AM.

Bars and pubs

 * The Oxford Hotel, On the corner of Oxford and Burke St is a great place to visit. The basement contains Gilligan's, home to the famous Oxford Smash cocktail.
 * The Oxford Hotel, On the corner of Oxford and Burke St is a great place to visit. The basement contains Gilligan's, home to the famous Oxford Smash cocktail.

Sleep
The area hosts some of Sydney's most prestigious hotels, and some of the less desirable places! The Sydney landmark, the Boulevard Hotel is near the Cross, on William Street. This area is the hotspot for backpackers in Sydney - Hostel joints are everywhere and bring a wonderful influx of young independent travellers to the area which really add to the vibrance. There are also a few mid-range hotels scattered around. These central locations make the area a popular place to stay for budget and upmarket travellers alike.

Kings Cross
The Kings Cross area is one of the main backpacker hubs in Sydney. The majority of the backpacker hostels around the Victoria St area will not accept travellers with Australian passports. Some won't accept New Zealand travellers or those above a certain age.

Australia Post

Contact number: Australian national contact: 13 7678, International contact +61 3 8847 9045

Fitness

 * City Gym Sydney, 107–113 Crown St, East Sydney. Heading north out of Darlinghurst is one of the premier fitness and bodybuilding gyms in East Sydney.

Yoga
Surry Hills and Paddington have many yoga centres and training facilities.

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

Stay safe
Kings Cross is frequented by drug-users, sex-workers and drinkers, all of whom influence the general vibe of the locale. The area is lively, well lit and always full of travellers and residents going about their business all days and nights of the week. Most people there don't cause problems. Ignore the touts and stay out of fights. Be careful in the less well-lit laneways and alleys as, although they are rare, muggings and violence do occur. The area is popular with large groups of men, and sexist leers and remarks are not uncommon.

Be a little careful on Friday and Saturday nights along Oxford Street, particularly the stretch from around Taylor Square to Liverpool St/College St. There are a lot of late-night venues here and the area is very popular for bucks' parties and the like. If you keep to yourself and avoid large groups of males, it's very unlikely that you'll find trouble.

Surry Hills gets its share of drunks as well at night, so be aware of alcohol-fueled violence. During the day it has a light, residential feel, and you should have no problems. At night there are quiet laneways, and overall the area is quiet. Keep to the main roads.

Problems are unusual at Moore Park. Sporting events and concerts in Sydney tend to be convivial, with any rivalries limited purely to banter.

Call 000 for immediate emergency services assistance or 131444 for NSW Police Service, non-emergencies.

 * Kings Cross Police Station is located close to the El Alamein Fountain in Fitzroy Gardens.
 * Kings Cross Police Station is located close to the El Alamein Fountain in Fitzroy Gardens.

Go next
The City East area is a wonderful place to stay as it is central to so many of Sydney's attractions and gives access to transport such as rail and bus services to explore further afield. It is also close to the airport making it an easy destination for an international or interstate arrival or departure. Many attractions are within walking distance, including the Central Business District, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour. The inner Sydney area, often referred to as the 'Inner City' is a great place to walk with many parks and gardens to take a rest in and most areas of the city and nearby inner city areas have cafes, bars and restaurants in abundance to help keep thirst and hunger at bay.

City Centre The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many famous attractions. The city has many fine restaurants, museums and art galleries, the botanic gardens and the Domain, the Conservatory of Music, a large public library and plentiful shopping for all tastes and budgets.

The Rocks Just to the west of Circular Quay on the headland that provides the city end to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Look west toward the inner harbour Goat island and the old maritime suburb of Balmain and east toward the Opera House and the small island of Fort Denison. Now a cosmopolitan area with many tourist oriented shops, bars and an at times rowdy nightlife in some parts. The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney, many old workers' cottages and the iconic Harbour Bridge at the far end on Millers Point.

Darling Harbour This precinct is home to an extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the Central Business District (CBD). See restaurants, boardwalks, aquariums, wildlife, and museums including Australian National Maritime Museum all by foot or above by light rail.

City South The Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station area is home to markets, cafes, Chinese culture and cuisine, and some cheaper accommodation and shopping.

Eastern Suburbs For more shopping look at Double Bay in the shopping quarter toward the water for upmarket boutiques and other shops and also along New South Head Road. Also Woollahra, Rose Bay and further on to Vaucluse for shopping restaurants, cafes and historical attractions.

City West The fish markets, Powerhouse Museum, find a maritime pub for a drink, visit the Star City Casino and the old docks area of the inner west containing art galleries, exhibition spaces, apartments and restaurants.

title: Sydney/City East


text:
Sydney/City South

The City South district is home to Australia's largest Chinatown as well as its largest train station, Central station. It is south of the City Centre, to the east of Darling Harbour and City West and also adjoins both City East and Eastern Suburbs toward its eastern boundaries. It has three main lineal axis, Pitt Street, George Street and Sussex Street. If you are arriving in Sydney by long distance bus or train, this is the area where you will be dropped off.

Understand
The district has some of the cheapest hotels in the city, and is full of good value restaurants, internet cafes, pubs, markets, and discount shopping. The area also stays open relatively late compared to the rest of Sydney, which makes it a good place to find a late supper.

Sydney's current Chinatown moved to the Haymarket area in the 1920s, and its official status was recognised in 1980 when the community raised funds to erect the traditional archways found at both ends of the pedestrianised Dixon Street. While it is the biggest Chinatown in Australia, the original enclave was noticeably small due to limited immigration during the White Australia Policy era, and has rapidly grown outwards past the old boundaries because of booming immigration from Hong Kong in the 1980s/90s and now mainland China in the 2000s. Nowadays Haymarket is no longer the main Chinese-majority neighbourhood, with satellite Chinatowns popping up in Ashfield, Eastwood, Hurstville, Chatswood and Kingsford among others.

Other small immigrant communities have also emerged around the area, from the Spanish Quarter on Liverpool Street, to Thai Town on Campbell Street and Koreatown centred around Pitt Street and Liverpool Street.

Walk

 * From Darling Harbour Chinatown is on the southernmost edge. Walk past Tumbalong Park and the Entertainment center. About 20 minutes from Harbourside.
 * From Town Hall walk south on George Street.

By train
Take the train to Central or Town Hall stations. Walk north (towards the harbour/city) along George St from Central, or south (away from the harbour/city) along George St from Town Hall. Turn onto Hay St for Chinatown.

By light rail
The light rail stops at Haymarket. It's a good option if you are coming from Pyrmont or the Star, but from the City or Darling Harbour it is probably just as quick to walk.

The and  light rail connects to Circular Quay, Town Hall, and Central. The services come from Randwick while the  Light rail services come from Kingsford.

By bus
No buses running along George Street as the light rail has now taken over
 * Buses running from Railway Square north to the City all stop along George St. Get off near Hay St.
 * Some buses running south from the city up George St stop along George St adjacent to Haymarket. Not all George St buses take this route. Check the details on the stop and check with the driver. You will want to press the button to get off when you see World Square on the left. George St buses leave from Stand C at Circular Quay.
 * If a bus is not ideal, then take the light rail!

By car
It is generally advisable to not bring your car into the CBD: streets in the Haymarket area get extremely congested on weekends and at peak hour. One wrong turn at these times can add 15 minutes to your journey. However, there is plenty of parking in and around the area. Parking in Darling Harbour. Parking is around $25 a day in Market City. Look for $15 all day deals on weekends in some of the lots around the south of the area. Additionally, some streets are restricted to light rail/tram only.

Get around
Walking is the best way to explore the crowded streets of Chinatown. Be sure to watch out for traffic and the light rail. They can come across at any time.

See

 * Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.jpg
 * Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.jpg
 * Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.jpg
 * Dr Chau Chak Wing Building.jpg

Do
Stroll around the district exploring the colourful Chinese meets Australian culture. If in the mood to play, head to the upper floor of Capitol Square (adjacent to Capitol Theatre) to play an extensive set of Asian arcade games.

Buy
Chinatown is particularly famous for its Chinese stores, mainly in Dixon Street and Sussex Street, selling imported clothing and homewares, Chinese herbs, and exotic foodstuffs such as pressed duck, Asian greens and dried mushrooms.

Eat
This area has an incredible range of restaurants and is one of Sydney’s best dining precincts. There are over 60 restaurants and food court stalls around Chinatown and Haymarket, offering many Chinese regional specialities, plus Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian cuisines. Many establishments serve the ever popular yum cha, irresistible sweet and savory snacks that are wheeled around on trolleys, generally between 10AM and 2PM. As a rule, avoid any restaurant in Chinatown with touts outside begging you to come in - the food is more often than not overpriced and not good. For a complete contrast, visit near by Liverpool Street, where there are some excellent Spanish restaurants.

Budget
The area around Central Station and Haymarket has many choices of backpacker accommodation, including Wake Up and two YHAs at Sydney Central and Railway Square.

Stay safe
The George St area between Town Hall and Central can be a little rough very late at night usually past dusk. It's always busy though, so the usual precautions should see you stay out of trouble. Try to avoid Belmore Park (on Eddy Avenue in front of Central Station) at night as it seems to attract a lot of drug addicts. There are also a lot of homeless people in Sydney South, and violent incidents have been reported here. Don't wear anything that looks expensive. However, the Chinatown here is very safe compared to the rest of Sydney South.

Central Bus Station isn't the best introduction to Sydney at any time of day, let alone after dark when it's more unpleasant. If you are arriving late, have plans for how you are getting away safely.

Watch out for touts, as they will try and do whatever they can for you to go and dine in their restaurant or buy something off their shops.

Connect
There are many Internet cafes around the area. Newsagents have terminals, internet stores advertise high speed and gaming access. World Square has coin operated terminals, along with a couple of the other shopping centres. Around central station there are several options (although not on the station itself). Expect to pay a couple of dollars to check email, or try to get around $6 for an hour of usage.

In addition the public libraries in the area offer Internet access.

Go next
Wander westwards to Darling Harbour. Take a long walk (more than 30 minutes) up George Street to get to Circular Quay.

title: Sydney/City South


text:
Sydney/Cronulla

Cronulla is a beachside suburb in the Sutherland Shire in southeast Sydney.

Get in
Cronulla is the only Sydney beach on a train line and has a large amount of free parking along the foreshore. This makes it one of the most accessible of Sydney beaches.

By train
The line from Bondi Junction to Cronulla via Central Station. Trains arrives every 15 minutes and the trip takes around 55 minutes. If coming from Sydney Airport take the train from the airport to Wolli Creek and change to a Cronulla bound train.

By bus
The 962 links Cronulla to Menai and Padstow in Sydney's south west.

By car
It is a 45 minute drive by car from Sydney CBD, or 30 minutes from Sydney Airport. Continue to drive south past the airport along Botany Bay and continue to follow the signposted route to Cronulla. There is no charge for parking at the Cronulla beaches or anywhere in Cronulla. Parking time limits do apply in places so check before you leave you car because parking inspectors are quite prominent in the area.

By ferry
There are hourly ferries from Bundeena, across Port Hacking bay.

By bike
The cycle route from Homebush Bay to Kurnell passes near to Cronulla. It is a pleasant and largely off-road cycle from Botany Bay to the northern Cronulla beaches. From the cycleway along Captain Cook Drive, follow Elouera Road into Cronulla. There are some cycle facilities on this road. If you want a quieter route, or if you are in a hurry to get to the beach, turn first left off Elouera Rd, and follow the beach into Cronulla, or stop for a dip at Wanda.

Get around
Once you are in Cronulla, the shops, North and South Cronulla Beaches, and Gunnamatta Bay are within walking distance of the accommodation spots and the train station. The north end of Cronulla mall aligns with North Cronulla Beach, the centre (Surf Road) aligns with South Cronulla Beach. The far southern end of the mall, past the station, is Gunnamatta Bay.

Walking 1km along the beach esplanade northwards will get you to Eloura Beach and a further 1 km will get you to Wanda Beach. Walking southwards along the ocean will get you to Shelly Beach and then Bass and Flinders Point.

You can drive and park within Cronulla, but parking can get difficult during summer, especially if there is a surf carnival on, or on a sunny summer weekend, and especially at South Cronulla beach.

There are buses from Cronulla and Caringbah stations that service surrounding areas. They will get you closer to the Eleura or Wanda beach than the train does. The catch is that they run infrequently, every hour or so on weekdays, and every couple of hours on weekends. They also wander around the area rather than travelling directly, taking around half an hour for the trip.

Taxis are available at the station.

Bike hire is available at Chain Reaction Cycles on the Kingsway east of the mall. Cycles aren't allowed on the beachfront esplanade.

Buy
runs between Cronulla Station and the Kingsway. It is an outdoor pedestrian precinct bordered by shops and cafes. It has a beachware stores, other fashion stores, as well as supermarkets, bakeries, and take away food.

Eat
Cronulla Mall is filled with take-away places, alfresco cafes, and restaurants with just about every kind of food. Good for lunch, coffee or a cheap meal, or an evening meal. North Cronulla Beach has a selection of restaurants just in front of the beach, good for dinner, or breakfast by the waves. South Cronulla Beach has a selection of cafes, fish and chips and ice-cream, great to eat in the park or on the rock wall with your feet in the sand. All the beaches have kiosks open when the beach is busy if you don't want to move your towel.

Eat-in (Mid-range)

 * Hog's Breath Cafe a steak house located by North Cronulla Beach a little further down from Zink bar and up from Sealevel, a family favourite not quite as expensive as Summer Salt or Sealevel but can be hefty if taking a large family.

Eat-in (Splurge)
Cronulla has some of the premium restaurants in the region, with seafood the speciality.

Connect
Cronulla library has free Wi-Fi for 4 hours per day during opening hours. Some coffee-shops also offer free Wi-Fi.

Go next
A ferry leaves from Cronulla every hour to Bundeena on the edge of Royal National Park. Bundeena has its own bay beaches which are quieter than Cronulla, and a small selection of restaurants, take away places and coffee. Catch the ferry from the ferry wharf on the Gunnamatta Bay side of the railway behind the station. Don't miss the last ferry back. The timetable is on the wharf.

title: Sydney/Cronulla


text:
Sydney/Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is a leisure and entertainment precinct, in central Sydney. It extends to Pyrmont and Ultimo, and contains The Star and Pyrmont Bay, including Harris St. It has the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife World, and a Madame Tussaud's museum.

Understand
Darling Harbour is an extensive area almost completely dedicated to entertainment and tourism. For many decades acting as the core of the working port of Sydney, Darling Harbour was developed for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. It is home to Sydney's largest exhibitions and conferences

Darling Harbour is a small inlet, ringed by attractions and pedestrian boardwalks facing the water. The Pyrmont Bridge is a wide pedestrian and cycle swing bridge that crosses the inlet, linking the two sides and forming a loop walk around the area. The area has fantastic water views, ice-cream, playgrounds, parks, fountains and often free attractions on weekends.

There is nowhere to swim, but if it is hot, feel free to run child-like under the many fountains in the area.

During the day, the area attracts visitors, city workers, and exhibition and convention attendees, getting busy on summer weekends and school holidays. On weeknights it has a particular vibe, with popular restaurants by the water, and people just out strolling around. On Friday and Saturday nights, the place is populated by club goers and can be quite crowded.

The Pyrmont Bridge forms a historic centrepiece to the area, but don't expect any other history to discover - outside of the museums that is. The redevelopment of the area has swept away all that used to be. However, the suburbs of Pyrmont and Ultimo, 200 metres or so from the water's edge, have many of the original pubs and terraces that were previously inhabited by the dockers and warehouse workers during previous life of the area.

Walk
Darling Harbour is within walking distance of most points in the Sydney CBD.

 * From the northern side of Pitt St Mall, walk west down King St until you come to King St Wharf and the Darling Harbour footway. From the southern side, walk west down Market St to the Pyrmont Bridge.
 * From Town Hall walk downhill (west). Follow the signs from Town Hall Station and the Kent St Arcade.
 * From Chinatown, Haymarket and Central Station walk west (downhill) past Paddy's Markets and ICC Sydney into south Darling Harbour.

There are a number of access methods to Darling Harbour that have steps, but a level alternative route is signposted, or an alternative lift is provided. The Darling Harbour access at the west of Market Street has level access with a lift at the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge providing access to the bridge and water level.

By train
Catch a Sydney Train to Central or Town Hall stations. From Town Hall, follow the signs to Darling Harbour out of the station, exiting via Town Hall Square. Walk downhill (west) for two blocks to the eastern edge of Darling Harbour. From Central walk down into Haymarket (Chinatown), and then walk west to the southern end of the Darling Harbour district.

By light rail
The Dulwich Hill Light Rail line is the ideal way to access Harbourside, The Star Casino or the Fish Market. You may board from its starting point at Central station or catch it en-route at Capitol Square or Paddy's Markets in Haymarket. It runs 24/7 between Central Station and The Star, other stations have services every 5-15 minutes between 6AM and 11PM (midnight on Friday & Saturday).

If you are going to Cockle Bay, the aquarium, or King St Wharf on the eastern side of Darling Harbour from the City, the light rail will take you further away from where you want to be. It only serves the western side of Darling Harbour, and you will have to walk back to access Cockle Bay or Aquarium.

There is level access at all light rail stations.

By car
Darling Harbour is accessible by car:

 * From the north cross the Harbour Bridge and head west onto the Western Distributor and then take the exit to Darling Harbour.
 * From the city, head down Market St (west), and follow the signs and exit at Darling Harbour.
 * From the east or south of the City, consider the Cross City Tunnel (toll applies), and follow the signs.

Like the City, parking in Darling Harbour is expensive but a number of parking stations are available. Expect to pay up to $30 for a day of parking. Some cheaper parking options are around near the Ultimo end of Darling Harbour, for around $15. It's often worth booking ahead online.

By ferry
If you are traveling from Circular Quay you have an option of the Sydney Ferries, the government owned standard green ferries, or the Matilda Rocket ferries.

Sydney Ferries depart Circular Quay wharf 5. They accept Multi tickets, or a single ticket will cost $5.80. They stop at Barangaroo on the eastern side, and at Pyrmont Bay Wharf at the very northern tip on the western side, past the Maritime Museum. Ferries depart approximately every 20 minutes, and run M-F from 6:45AM to 10PM, and Sa Su public holidays 8AM to 10:15PM.

Matilda Rocket departs from the Harbour Master's Steps on the west (left) of Circular Quay. They arrive just by the Aquarium very close to the Pyrmont Bridge, at a different wharf to the Sydney Ferries. They charge $5.70 for a single ticket and issue their own tickets. They don't accept the Multi (but do issue their own day passes, just for their ferries). The frequency varies, depending on demand. They run at least every hour from 10AM until 5PM.

The ferry trip takes 25 minutes or so, as the route isn't that direct by water. The ferries all need to pass under the Harbour Bridge to get to Darling Harbour. The white ticket booth at Circular Quay is selling tickets for the Matilda Rocket. Proceed to Wharf 5 directly if you wish to board a Sydney Ferries service.

The F3 (Parramatta River) Ferries arrive and depart about every hour at either Barangaroo Wharf 1 or 2, heading upriver towards Sydney Olympic Park and Parramatta.

The F4 (Pyrmont Bay) Ferries are a lot more frequent, and can be caught at either Pyrmont Bay or Barangaroo.

Again, if your interest in getting in is purely utilitarian, it may be quicker to walk, or take a train or bus service. To get from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour by ferry can easily take 50 minutes if you just miss a ferry. By comparison it is only around 30-40 minutes to walk there. However if you need a reason to take to the Harbour on a ferry service, then this is the perfect excuse!

By bus
The 389 bus from Bondi and Town Hall does a whole loop around the entire Pyrmont and Ultimo area, going to the Star City Casino, and the Maritime Museum lower level road. The bus runs every 10-15 minutes from around 6AM until midnight.

If you have a Sydney Explorer pass, the red Sydney Explorer buses have several stops around Darling Harbour, stopping on the roadside of the Maritime Museum, and at the transport interchange between Harbourside and the Convention Centre, and by the side of IMAX.

By bike
Pyrmont Bridge, the centrepiece of Darling Harbour, is a shared pedestrian and cycle space. Separated cycleways lead east into the city and Kent St cycleway, west to Union Square and Anzac Bridge, and south along Darling Drive towards Central and Ultimo. Cycling around Darling Harbour is tolerated in the quieter times of the morning, but crowds make it all but impossible at the busier times of day.

Get around

The area is designed for walking. It is generally flat, car-free in most parts, with footways connecting to the Casino and to the Powerhouse Museum. There are directional signs to the major sights scattered around and maps available at the tourist information.

If you are right at the southern end of Darling Harbour by the Entertainment Centre or the Powerhouse Museum, then it might be worthwhile getting the light rail if you are going right to the northern end at the casino.

Around the water's edge and the surrounding parkland, the terrain is flat and accessible to wheelchairs and prams. There are lifts to access Harbourside, King St Wharf, and Cockle Bay Wharf. Darling Harbour is a newer area and accessibility has been considered in its design.

There are lots of fountains at the southern end of Darling Harbour, and you will have to walk around them. If you notice people taking an apparently long route, and can see a quicker way to cut across Tumbalong Park, you will find that you have to join the main pathway to go around the fountains. If time is of the essence, then following signs and people who look like they know where they are going, will usually be quicker than meandering around the landscaping.

Darling Harbour has wide and flat walkways which are perfect for skateboarding, scootering and cycling.

See
Darling Harbour is a great place to take in the city lights at night time, as you walk through the district or sit by the bay.

Attractions

Do

 * Play on the free children's playground near Tumbalong Park.
 * Jump through the fountains and run up and down the spiral fountain outside the Convention center.

Harbour cruises
Depart from the King St Wharf on the eastern side of Darling Harbour, or from Circular Quay in the City There all types to choose from.

Eat
There are lots of places to eat at Darling Harbour. It is literally lined with restaurants, alfresco cafes, bars, and take-aways, and is a great place to go in an evening for dinner overlooking the water and the city skyline. On popular days there are concession stalls selling ice-creams, drinks, etc. all over the place, again, at higher prices than you would expect to pay elsewhere.

Generally no need to book a restaurant on a weeknight, as it is always possible to get a table somewhere by just strolling around the harbour, picking something that appeals.

Those with an aversion to second hand cigarette smoke, should note that smoking is generally permitted at some of the outdoor alfresco bars overlooking the water. Sitting inside means that you won't get bothered by cigarette smoke, but you also miss the best locations. Smoking laws now mean you can't smoke in eating areas, so sitting in areas that serve food eliminates this issue.

King Street Wharf
King Street Wharf is a newer development on the eastern side of Darling Harbour, adjacent to the city at the western end of King St, north of the aquarium.

Cockle Bay
On the eastern side of Darling Harbour, adjacent to the city, at the western end of Market St. South of King St Wharf.

Harbourside
On the western side of Darling Harbour, over the Pyrmont Pedestrian Bridge from the city and Cockle Bay.

There are some very good Thai, Malaysian and Indian restaurants providing very good food at reasonable prices.

Drink
For a modern styled bar, with plenty of space, facing the promenade to the water, try:

For a more traditional pub feel, try:

For nightclubs try:

Budget
There's not many Budget options available in the Darling Harbour precinct. But you will find a number of Backpacker Hostels and economy hotels in the City South district, namely in Haymarket, and near Central station. Many of these places are in short walking distance to Darling Harbour, or only a few stops on the Dulwich Hill Light Rail line.

Most pubs in Pyrmont also have accommodation, varying in quality, offering a real alternative style from the normal city accommodation.

Stay safe
There is a police station and first aid station at the tip of the harbour. The area is quite well patrolled, and generally busy, and it is a comfortable area to walk in the daytime and into the evening.

Late on a Friday or Saturday night can be drunken behaviour. After 10PM or so on a weeknight the area can get quiet if there are no events on that night.

There is no fence around the harbour, and the water is deep. Watch and ensure young children don't fall in. Ladders are located at regular intervals, and life rings are scattered around as well.

Cope
Toilets are found under the Pyrmont Bridge on the eastern side, next to first aid, in Harbourside and Cockle Bay Wharf, and next to the curtain fountain at the southern end precinct. They are available at many other locations as well. Baby change facilities are available there too.

Like in Circular Quay, there are often quite elaborate busker shows put on next to Harbourside. These shows are professionally organised, and train backpackers to put on juggling shows. Although free to watch, part of the training is a hard-sell to solicit donations of up around $20 at the conclusion of the show, and they will try to humiliate anyone walking away without paying, or only leaving coins.

Connect
There are coin operated internet access terminals on the ground floor of Harbourside. There are public phones distributed about the precinct.

If you are attending a convention, ask the conference organisers about Wi-Fi access in the convention centre.

There is a McDonald's restaurant in Harbourside, with a free Wi-Fi hotspot that covers a section of the food hall. Really easy to use without buying any food there.

Go next
The rest of the city is just at your eastern doorstep, but if you have made it this far west, why not keep going to Sydney's Inner West. Still plenty of restaurants and cafes, with a more inner-city residential feel.

title: Sydney/Darling Harbour