SEKAI Explorer Guide Sydney (2011)

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Contributor

This book would not be as it is without the great effort of all supporting Wikitravel user. People who are directly involved in this work are:

Alan, Andrew Bennetts, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel, benvenuto, Brian Martin, Carson Roen, Chris, Claus Hansen, Colin Jensen, Dan Dascalescu, Dani Haski, Davey Boyd, David, Derek M. Strout, Eco84, Ed Hoover, Emma Chenery, escottf@yahoo.com, Evan Prodromou, Frank Busch, Gerd Schenkel, Giancarlo de Vera, Girik Sehgal, Holger Mette, Iain Chalmers, Ian Page, info@reefgoddesscruises.com, info@sydneyboathire.com.au, Jani Patokallio, Jan Słupski, Jed, Jon Gates, Keith Paulin, Kevin D. Gallagher, Lee, Luke Stevenson, Marc Heiden, Mark Sheffield, Matthew, Michele Ann Jenkins, Ming Choo, Mitchell Wirth, Monica, Neil Dunlop, Owen Jones, Peter, Peter Fitzgerald, Prestige Harbour Cruises, Randhir Reddy, Richard Davies, Rob Payne, Ryan Holliday, Silver Spirit Cruises, SONORAMA, Stavro Prodromou, Stephen Mok, Tim Sandell, Todd VerBeek, Wikitravel user Alphonse, Wikitravel user Aprodromou, Wikitravel user Ascough, Wikitravel user Barefootguru, Wikitravel user Chimp, Wikitravel user Chuq, Wikitravel user Coolcaesar, Wikitravel user Darth Shatner, Wikitravel user Eunice, Wikitravel user Fawn88, Wikitravel user Flurf, Wikitravel user Glenn.scott, Wikitravel user Herrmannator, Wikitravel user Jinsanity, Wikitravel user JRG, Wikitravel user Jsg1990, Wikitravel user Kerryc, Wikitravel user Lturner, Wikitravel user Machugh, Wikitravel user Maklinchi, Wikitravel user Movie-lover93, Wikitravel user Pompom, Wikitravel user PWB, Wikitravel user Raped in sydney, Wikitravel user Ronaldo123, Wikitravel user Taipan168, Wikitravel user Theavidtraveler, Wikitravel user Thepom, Wikitravel user Tnagy, Yann Forget .

Table of Content:

• Districts

City Centre

The Rocks

Darling Harbour

City South

City East

City West

Bondi Beach

Southern Sydney

Sydney Olympic Park

Lower North Shore

Upper North Shore

Palm Beach

Hills District

Parramatta

Cronulla

South West

Blue Mountains

Central Sydney

Greater Sydney

• Understand

History

People

Climate

Architecture

Itineraries

• Get in

By plane

Airlines and terminals

Facilities

Overnight

Transfer between terminals

Between the airport and the city

By car

By bus

By train

By ship

• Get around

By public transport

By train

By bus

By ferry

By light rail

By monorail

Tickets

Access

By car

Travel times and routes

Tolls

Parking

Sydney driving speeds

By taxi

By bike

• See

Landmarks

Historical areas

Museums and galleries

Wildlife

In captivity

In the wild

Sydney Harbour

Aboriginal Sydney

• Do

Swim

Cycle

Kayak and Canoe

Sports fixtures

Walk

Skate

Performance Art

Cinema

Festivals

January

February

March

April

May

June

September

October

December

• Learn

• Buy

Currency exchange

Opening hours

Souvenirs

Fashion

Food and essentials

Postcards

• Eat

Prices

Eating times

Eat streets

Splurge

Modern Australian

Multicultural

Take away

Vegetarian and special diets

Food festivals

Tipping

• Drink

Tipping

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Serviced apartments

Read

• Stay safe

Theft

Alcohol-fuelled violence

Other violent crime

Public transport after dark

Beachgoing

Other risks

Stay healthy

• Contact

• Cope

• Get out

Districts

Sydney has a compact city centre surrounded by sprawling suburbs, forming a vast metropolitan area.

Central Sydney

City Centre
The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many famous attractions, fine restaurants, and shopping.

The Rocks
Just to the west of Circular Quay, now a cosmopolitan area, The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney and the iconic Harbour Bridge.

Darling Harbour
An extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the Central Business District (CBD). See restaurants, boardwalks, aquariums, wildlife, and museums by foot or above by monorail.

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

City East
Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and Moore Park. Busy nightlife, and coffee shops, fashion and entertainment by day.

City West
An early morning trip to the fish markets, exploring the Powerhouse Museum, finding a maritime pub or hitting the Star City Casino.

Greater Sydney

Sydney is a vast sprawling city, and the suburbs in the city metropolitan area spread for up to 100km from the city centre. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, and hidden gems.

Eastern Suburbs
Between the City and the sea, includes the world-famous Bondi Beach and other city beaches, which are strong drawcards for visitors and residents in the city during summer.

Southern Sydney
The area south of the CBD and north of the Georges River, including the areas surrounding Sydney Airport and Brighton Le Sands on Botany Bay.

Inner West
Sydney's original suburbs are now bohemian and are a hub of cheap eats, shopping and inner-city culture. Also contains Sydney Olympic Park, the home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, parks, cycling, and events.

Lower North Shore
Over the Harbour Bridge are leafy residential areas stretching northwards. The North Shore also has major commercial and retail areas at North Sydney and Chatswood, many smaller boutique shopping areas, and many parks and gardens, and Sydney's famous Taronga Zoo.

Upper North Shore
Includes leafy residential areas, national parks and waterways.

Northern Beaches
From Manly stretching North along the coast to Palm Beach.

North West
Contains the Northern Districts with includes Sydney's Silicon Valley at Macquarie Park, the northern side of the western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and the the largely residential area of the Hills District in the north-west of the city.

Parramatta
Sydney's "second" CBD, with history, shopping, eating, all just 30 minutes from the city centre.

Sutherland Shire
The district to the far south and east of the city centre including Cronulla and Captain Cooks Landing Place.

South West
Contains the centres of Liverpool and Campbelltown are a large swathe of residential and commercial Sydney.

Outer West
Stretching from Parramatta out to the Blue Mountains

The Hawkesbury is a semi-rural area to the northwest of the city, centred around the Hawkesbury River. Its main towns are Richmond and Windsor.

Understand

History

Sydney is the oldest European settlement in Australia, having been founded as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788 by Arthur Phillip (now celebrated as Australia Day, the national public holiday, with major festivities around the city and the Harbour).

People

Sydney is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, with one third of its population born overseas. European settlement largely displaced the Aboriginal peoples, and over the years, with the earliest colonists largely coming from England, Ireland and Scotland. The Australian goldrush attracted more immigrants, including a significant number of Chinese; with about one in four Australians with convict descent also having some Chinese ancestry. In the 20th century, Sydney has continued to attract immigrants from all over the world - mostly from the U.K. and Ireland, as the White Australia Policy prevented non-European peoples (and even Southern Europeans) from entering the country.

Australia's immigration patterns, and subsequently, that of Sydney, changed significantly after WWII, when migrants began to arrive from countries as diverse as Italy, Greece, Germany, Holland, China, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, Poland, Lebanon, Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and the Pacific Islands. Sydney's culture, food and general outlook well reflect these contributions to the majority Anglo-Celtic institutions and social establishment.

Sydney is recognised worldwide for its vibrant gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated at the end of February, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.

Sydney became the centre of the world's attention in September 2000 when the city hosted the Summer Olympics - officially announced by the IOC Chairman at the closing Ceremony to be the "the best games ever"! The Olympics saw a major building and renovation program take hold of Sydney, positioning it as one of the great world cities of the 21st century.

Climate

Sydney is comfortable for travellers to visit any time of year. The city enjoys over 300 sunny days each year.

- Summer (December to February) is the best time to enjoy Sydney's beachside outdoor lifestyle. Temperatures usually reach around 26°C (about 79°F) but it can be very hot, with temperatures climbing to over 40°C (104°F) for a few days each summer. Summer days can be humid, and sometimes have searing dry winds, but they frequently end with a "southerly buster", a cold front sweeping up from the south, bringing a clearly noticeable drop in temperature, rain and thunder. Within hours, the storm can pass and the evening continues cooler. Hot windy days can create a risk of bushfire, and on days of severe risk national parks and walking trails may be closed. 'Total fire bans' are also common - they will be announced on weather reports and on signs at national park entrances (also on the website of the Rural Fire Service). Occasionally low pressure systems drift down from the tropics, giving periods of more unstable weather. You won't need to pack much more than T-shirts to visit Sydney in summer, but remember your hat and sunglasses.

- Autumn (March to May) is still warm with mild nights. There can be good days for the beach in March, but you can't count on it. It is a good time for visiting attractions, going to the zoo, catching ferries around the harbour without the summer crowds. You may need a warm top for the evenings, especially for May.

- Winter (June to August) is cool, not cold. Average July maximum temperatures are 17°C, and daytime temperatures rarely drop below 14°C, but night-time temperatures can fall to below 10°C. Most rain falls as a result of a few off-shore low pressure systems, which usually result in two or three rainy weeks during winter. The Icebergs will be in the ocean doing their morning laps, but most of Sydney will be well away from the beach. It does not snow in Sydney, and unless you intend spending long periods outside, you can usually get by with just a warm top. Sydney is a year-round city, and only the outdoor water-parks close for the winter. If the beach isn't your scene, and you don't like the heat, winter may be your time to visit.

- Spring (September to November). Spring days are great for exploring Sydney's attractions, bushwalking, cycling, and the outdoors. Beaches are generally patrolled from the end of October, and Sydneysiders start flocking to the beaches in November.

Sydney's Western Suburbs, which lie away from the coast, tend to be hotter during the day and a little cooler during the night. They miss the afternoon sea breezes and the night-time warming effect of the ocean.

Sydney has air conditioning in all public buildings, and on some public transport. It is common to catch a bus or train without air conditioning on hot days. Carry water during summer and remember sun protection year round.

Sydney Climate and Weather information is available online at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology [2].

Architecture

Sydney’s skyline is large and widely recognizable. Sydney also possesses a wide array of diversity of modern and old architectural style. They range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings to Jorn Utzon’s Expressionist Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large amount of Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The most architecturally significant would be the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, among many others. Skyscrapers in Sydney are also large and modern such as the Sydney Tower, which dominates the Sydney skyline although due to the close proximity of Sydney Airport a height restriction of 235m is enforced in Sydney CBD.

There are also pockets of architecturally significant housing dotted around Sydney's suburbs. The inner-eastern suburb of Paddington is known for its terrace houses, while several inner-west suburbs contain streets lined with so-called federation houses (built around the time of Australian federation in 1901). Probably the best preserved example of federation houses in Sydney is in the Inner West suburb of Burwood. Appian Way is a circular street built around a lawn tennis courts complete with pavilion house. The large houses are all architecturally unique and built on large expanses of land featuring old trees and lovely gardens. Further away on the lower North Shore, Castlecrag is a unique suburb, being planned by the architect Walter Burley Griffin in the 1930s.

Itineraries

- Walking tour of Sydney. Please see separate listing for more information.

Get in

By plane

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (IATA: SYD) [3] is Australia's busiest airport and the main gateway to Australia. It is located 6 km from the City centre in Southern Sydney on the northern shores of Botany Bay. Sydney Airport is the oldest continually operated commercial airport anywhere in the world.

Over 35 airlines fly in and out of Sydney Airport with daily flights linking Sydney to key destinations on every continent. The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul have several daily flights, as do the European centres of London, Paris and Frankfurt (with stopovers in Asia or the Indian Ocean). There are also non-stop flights to Dubai in the Middle East. North America is connected via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas-Fort Worth and Vancouver. Travellers from South America can fly direct from Buenos Aires or Santiago (stopover in Auckland).

You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you need to fly to the state capital and transfer to a Sydney flight. Sydney can be reached within an hour and a half from Melbourne and Brisbane, 45 minutes from Canberra and just under four hours from Perth and Alice Springs

Airlines and terminals

Check which terminal you are going to.

International terminal (T1) handles all international flights and some domestic flights. Check your itinerary and flight number because connections, customs etc will take longer when arriving or departing from the International Terminal, even on a domestic flight. You do not need a passport when travelling domestically, just hang on to your boarding pass.

Domestic terminal 2 (T2) is the largest domestic terminal. Airlines using this terminal include Qantaslink (Qantas flights numbered 1600 and above), Aeropelican, Regional Express (Rex), Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Australia.

Domestic terminal 3 (T3) handles Qantas domestic flights numbered from 400 to 1599, which are mostly services to larger cities and towns.

Facilities

T1 (International terminal) has food and shopping both before and after immigration and security. There is an open air beer garden and bistro by check-in Bay A on the departure level. There are cafes on both departure and arrival levels. Good coffee and food can had for a reasonable price, but it is easy to buy poor overpriced coffee and food too. Departures has cheaper prices than downstairs at arrivals. There is a better and cheaper choice of food before going through security, at the large central food hall in departures. Avoid currency exchange offices (see the Currency exchange section). Two free showers for both males and females are available by check-in bay A on the departures level. There is also an open air observation deck, with the entrance next to check-in bay B on the departures level, through the bistro and up the elevator. A post office is in the check-in area, but it is only open during business hours. Post boxes are available after customs. There is a small kids play area after security. There is a large duty free shop selling alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and electronics available when departing and arriving. There are some free Internet terminals in departures, even a few before security. There are paid Internet terminals there too and downstairs in arrivals. Trolleys cost money landside of security. Pick one up airside where they are free, or out in the carpark where they have been left by previous users.

T2 has a large food and shopping area, with a large selection of food outlets located to the right after you go through security. There are also gift shops, bookshops and some clothing stores. There are nice views over the tarmac from the eating area. There are ATMs before and after security. Everyone is able to go through security, whether travelling or not.

T3 (Qantas domestic) has a food hall with a variety of food and coffee. Nice Thai is available for around $15 or Hungry Jacks for normal prices. The food hall is airside of security, but you do not need to be a passenger to pass through. Most food and drink places and the security checkpoint close 30 minutes or so before the last departure. Don't expect to be able to get anything at all if you are arriving on a late flight. Don't expect people to be able to get to the gate to meet you on a late arrival as they will have to wait at baggage claim if you arrive after the last departure. There are Wi-Fi and Internet terminals available for $5 per hour.

For accommodation around the airport, see the Southern Sydney article

Overnight

Due to curfew laws, no planes arrive or depart between 11PM and 5:30AM. The domestic terminals (T2 an T3) close after the last flight has cleared (around 11PM) and reopen at 4AM - you cannot remain in the terminal.[4] T1 (international) also closes around 11PM and reopens at 4AM - but there is small transit area with basic facilities that you can remain in if you are already in the terminal (landside). This is located on level 1 near the entrance to the train station. There are limited seats and it fills up quickly when security starts herding people out of the terminal. The last train service departs at 11:45PM.

Transfer between terminals

Transfer between domestic terminals T2 and T3 must be done on foot. Follow the signs either via the railway station underground, or across the car park.

Transfer between T1 and T2/T3 is 4 km by road, as the terminals are on opposite sides of the airport tarmac. You will have to use one of the following methods to transfer:

- An Air-side shuttle is available free of charge if you are connecting through with Qantas or a One World partner airline, or between Virgin Australia and a codeshare flight or other international Virgin Flight (for example United Airlines).

- If you aren't entitled to the free Air-side shuttle, your best bet is to catch a suburban train ($5). It is a 2 minute journey between Domestic and International stations with around 7-8 minute frequency. Follow the train signs from the terminal and board a train towards City Circle for International-Domestic transfers and towards Revesby or Macarthur for Domestic-International transfers and travel ONE STOP. Make sure to remember all of this or the consequences will be dire.

- T-bus ($5.50) outside the terminal building. The T-bus is a dedicated terminal shuttle and uses the normal roads. It is scheduled to take around 10 minutes but can be stuck in Sydney traffic at peak times. Runs at a 10-20 minute frequency and you pay the driver on boarding. This method is quite unwise, as the suburban train is both cheaper and a lot quicker.

- Taxi ($10). The trip will take around 10 minutes.

- Walk. If you have little luggage and some time to kill, the walk will take around an hour. There is a footpath the whole way, and has good views of planes taking off metres above your head, and of the Alexandra Canal. From T1 walk across the car park, across the crossing, under the underpass, and follow the Airport Drive footpath/cycleway to the right, keeping the canal on your left, and airport on your right. From T2/T3 follow the road out of the airport, and turn left onto Qantas drive, and keep the airport on your left. The route is not covered.

Between the airport and the city

Sydney Airport is 9 km from the city centre and reaching the city centre or other suburbs is easy, whether it be by suburban rail, bus or car. If you're going to the city centre the following methods are your best bet:

- Suburban trains operated by CityRail [5] depart frequently from Domestic and International rail stations, which are connected to the airline terminals via lifts and pedestrian subways. What makes travelling to the airport by suburban rail special is that a so-called GatePass has to be bought in addition to a single ticket ($11.80); this also applies to holders of a MyMulti commuter travelcard, which by the way nearly every visitor should have. The airport is located on the Airport & East Hills line and is served by a train every 10 minutes during off-peak, and every 7 minutes during peak. Passengers for the city centre should take a train bound for City Circle (a loop which contains Central, Museum, St James, Circular Quay, Wynyard and Town Hall stations). Be advised that CityRail is the aorta of the public transport system which is why trains can be extremely crowded during peak hours. It is most often possible to fit on since all trains are double-deckers, but you will very likely need to stand.

- Local buses. If you want to skip the GatePass fee, a good option is to take the 400 local bus route towards Bondi Junction. The stop after the domestic terminal is 200-300 m from the Mascot suburban rail station, which is one stop from the Domestic Terminal but free from the GatePass fee. The bus costs $3.30 and the train $3.20, adn with a MyMulti card it costs no extra. The bus stops are located outside T1 and T3 (but not T2). There is only limited luggage space on the bus, but if you can manage backpacks or suitcases by yourself it should not be a problem.

- Mini-bus operators will drive a group of passengers to the city and deliver them to their hotels – a typical charge is $13 per passenger.

- Taxis to the city centre should cost approximately $30 (including tolls), and more to other Sydney destinations (The Rocks $35-40, North Sydney $35, Manly $50, Parramatta $80-100 etc.) You can expect to pay a $3.00 airport taxi levy and a $5.50 Eastern Distributor toll on top of the metered fare. If you are arriving on a Friday evening, you may face a long queue for taxis. Asking the driver to take O'Riordan Street is a little slower but shorter and cheaper than the Eastern Distributor tollway which frequently experiences traffic congestion during peak times.

- Vehicle rental is available at all terminals from a variety of rental companies (see Sydney Airport website for current list [6]). After you rent a vehicle, you will be directed to pick it up at a parking space in the adjacent parking garage. You return the vehicle to the same area.

- Having someone pick you up. At T1 (International), a private car can not stop legally at the arrivals area to pick up someone from the curb. If you exit the car park within 15 minutes, it is free, otherwise it is $7 per half hour. At T3 (domestic terminals), cars can stop at the pickup area only if there is someone already at the kerb. At T2, there is a pick up area inside the paid car park. Follow the yellow stenciled signs outside the terminal. Car park charges apply if you stay longer that 10 minutes (T2/3, 15 minutes for T1). Fines apply for waiting at the arrivals areas or for picking up at the departures areas. Leaving your car is out of the question. The parking officers can photograph your car and licence plate and fine you without warning you to move along.

- Walk and train from T1. T1 (the international terminal) is less than 2km from Wolli Creek Station, from where a train to the city costs $3.20 and a MyMulti can be used with no surcharge. The walk isn't signposted and may be very quiet after dark. It is all surfaced, has only one set of three steps (in the airport, near the customs building), and takes in some nice scenery by the Cooks River. Exit straight from the international terminal (T1), follow the pedestrian path under the multistory car park, and continue just to the left of the customs building to the pedestrian crossing. Go under the road, as indicated by a green Marsh Street sign until, you run into a green fence with the canal directly in front of you. Follow the path up to your right around and back over the path you just walked on up to the Marsh Street bridge. Cross the Cooks River on the footpath on the right of Marsh St and then proceed along the cycleway next to the Cooks River (signposted to Tempe), keeping the river on your right. When you reach the Princes Hwy (6 lane road), cross at the pedestrian crossing lights, and continue straight on, past the apartment blocks, shops, to the end of the road, then turn right up to Wolli Creek Station. The walk will take about 20 minutes and will save you $11.80 on the train fare. Trains from Wolli Creek are even more frequent than from the airport since also East Suburbs & Illawarra line trains stop there.

- Walk and train from T2 & T3. The Domestic terminals (T2 and T3) are about 1.7km from Mascot train station. The walk takes about 20 minutes and is along suburban pavements that can be uneven at times. Follow the road out of the domestic terminal and on to O'Riordan Street. Follow O'Riordan Street and then veer left onto Bourke street. Cross Coward Street and then John Street, Mascot train station is on your right. An adult fare to the city (Central) from Mascot is $5.80 or $2.60 for a gate pass if you have a MyMulti or MyTrain ticket.

By car

By bus

Sydney has an extensive bus network, including a free shuttle buses in the Sydney CBD and Parramatta. Buses are also common as feeders from suburban rail stations to more isolated suburbs.

Most of the buses in the inner city and inner suburbs are run by the government owned Sydney Buses [15] The outer network is run by private bus companies. These services rarely compete so you will usually have only one way of getting somewhere by bus. MyMulti travelcards are fully valid on private buses

You must flag down buses with an outstretched hand if you want them to stop for you--they will not automatically stop unless they need to pick someone up or drop them off.

A bus fare depends on many sections you are travelling in, with each section being about 1.6 km (1 mi). There are increasing parts of Sydney, such as the City area, Bondi Junction, Parramatta Rd, Norton Street, Anzac Parade, and Military Road where you can no longer buy tickets on the bus, and you must pre-purchase a ticket from a ticket agent (usually a newsagent or convenience store) or a transit shop. The metrobuses (red) and some other limited stop routes are also prepay in their entirety. All types of tickets, including MyBus single-ride, MyBus 10 multi-ride and MyMulti multi-modal tickets, are available from these agents. If you are not at a stop or taking a route that is prepay, you can just state your destination to the driver and pay the fare. Only single trip tickets are sold by drivers. To avoid confusion most Sydneysiders pre-pay anyway, even when it is not required as the rules for what buses sell tickets, and which do not, confuse even locals.

In order to buy the correct ticket from an agent you will need to know how many sections your journey will be, to know if you need a MyBus1, 2 or 3. You can find out how many sections your trip is by calling the transport infoline (131500), asking at a transit shop at Wynyard, Circular Quay, or the QVB, or by looking at the route map in the timetable (printed or online). A ticket reseller at a newsagent or convenience store will have no idea of the correct ticket to sell you for your destination. Every section you travel in counts as a section. For example, to travel from Wynyard to North Sydney Station is 2 sections because you travel in sections 2 and 3. If you boarded one stop before Wynyard and exited one stop after North Sydney Station, you would have travelled in sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, so you would need a 4 section ticket. A MyBus1 is for 1-2 sections, a MyBus2 covers 3-5 sections and a MyBus3 covers 6+ sections. As a guide, note that a MyBus1 will cover any journey within the CBD, and any journey of more than 10km/15 minutes will probably need a MyBus3.

Note however that MyMulti tickets do not work on the same numbers as MyBus. A MyMulti 1 ticket will work on any Sydney Buses bus anywhere on the network and also on any government ferry meaning that it can represent good value and less confusion, though greater cost than a MyBus ticket. Sydneysiders find this confusing as well.

Drivers may be able to give change for a $20 note, but it is best to use only coins and lower-denomination notes.

There are two main bus termination points in the CBD, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are separated by a one-stop commuter train trip. You will need to make this trip if connecting from buses arriving from north of the harbour bridge to buses heading east or west, or vice versa. Bus information centres are located at both Wynyard and Circular Quay.

Red metrobuses operate airconditioned, cross-city routes without a timetable, at 10-20 minute frequency depending on the time of day and day of the week. You can SMS the stop number on the bus stop to 0488 898 287 and, if you are lucky, you should receive a reply telling you when the next metrobus will arrive. This bus claims to have electronic next stop displays, but these are rarely working or available.

On most buses there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are at. There are no poster maps on the bus either. If you are not sure where you are getting off, pick up or print out the timetable, which has a route map on it and watch for landmarks as you pass. Also, if you take a bus marked "Limited Stops" or "Express" (the route number will start with an L or an X), make sure that the bus stops where you want it to. Limited stops services stop only at major stops so they may make you walk around 750 metres or so if they skip your stop. However, express services can run very far from the city without stopping at all, before resuming a normal stopping pattern. All normally numbered buses stop at all stops, so missing your stop or getting off one stop early is a less serious mistake.

From midnight to 5AM, most buses cease running with the exception of a few trunk routes that run at a reduced frequency including the 373, which runs 24 hours a day between the city and Coogee.

By train

Sydney has a vast suburban rail network operated by CityRail [14], covering 882 km of track and 176 stations. The train network will take passengers to the vast majority of the metropolitan area, with the exception of the north-west and northern beaches. Frequency is high in the City area and less the further out of the city one goes - expect a train every 3-5 minutes in the city, 10-15 in commuter hubs and 15-30 on most outer suburban lines. Peak times (7AM-9:30AM and 4:30PM-7PM) have more frequent and also crowded trains, as well as a lot more complicated stopping patterns. Expect severe congestion around Central and Town Hall.

It can be helpful to know that different trains run on the network, the oldest ones being R and S sets (differing only by number of carriages), followed by K, C, T, M and H sets, and the differences are significant. While the R and S sets have no special facilities or even airconditioning, the H sets have toilets, drinking fountains and emergency help points. Only the M and H sets are equipped with onboard destination displays and the announcements are often inaudible.

Outside of operating hours, between midnight (1AM on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5AM, NightRide buses are available on most routes within Sydney. Any CityRail train ticket is valid for the equivalent NightRide bus except a single. If you have no ticket, you must buy a NightRide single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. NightRide buses stop at most CityRail stations and a few additional stops, but they do not travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a NightRide bus home, check the NightRide route map on the back cover of each timetable or at the station while you are waiting for your train. NightRides are infrequent, expensive and on Friday and Saturday nights very crowded. Check the Sydney Buses timetables as some buses run later than when the train stops. Similarly some Sydney Buses services run all night, especially on routes not serviced by trains.

On weekends, check for trackwork before leaving for the station; CityRail will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for trackwork, and the process will add at least half an hour to a typical journey. Trackwork will be advertised at the station for about a week before it begins. You need a the same ticket for the trackwork buses as you would for the train.

You must always purchase a ticket for the entire journey before boarding a train from either the ticket office or from the ticket machines that are located on most stations as you cannot buy a ticket onboard or at the destination. Ticket offices have limited opening hours at suburban stations, and, outside of these hours, you will need to use a machine. The ticket machines accept up to $50 notes but will give only $19.90 in change (in coins) and accept only 10 coins. Ticket offices accept Visa or Mastercard for a total ticket value over $20. A number of ticket machines also accept Visa or Mastercard at major stations if you have a PIN. Ticket inspectors will not hesitate to fine you and accept no excuses--if you say the ticket machine was broken at the station that you boarded the train, they will check.

By ship

Cruise ships generally dock at the International Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at Darling Harbour.

Circular Quay is a spectacular place to dock, right by the Harbour Bridge, and you can walk off the ship into the centre of the The Rocks.

Darling Harbour passenger terminal at Barangaroo seems a little more remote when you disembark, but it is still easy walking distance to the main attractions, Wynyard Station, and Darling Harbour itself. The terminal is immediately adjacent (north) of the King St Wharf precinct, at Darling Harbour, but immigration makes sure you exit away from the water where you can't see it. Just turn right and follow the road, it is only a short walk. It is less than 15 minutes walk to the city centre and The Rocks. It is a 5 minute walk to Wynyard station.

White Bay in the Inner West is being developed as a new wharf for passenger arrivals, to replace Darling Harbour as Barangaroo is re-developed. Currently it is only used if their are already two passenger ships in the harbour. White Bay is not easy walking distance to anywhere. You could potentially walk up to Victoria Road and get a bus to the city, or you could walk over the Anzac Bridge into Darling Harbour. Expect the walk to take about an hour. Probably best to rely on the shuttle buses supplied arranged by the cruise company unless you are keen to save a few dollars.

Get around

By public transport

The public transport system in Sydney is huge, consisting of commuter rail, bus, ferry and light rail. Combined, they can get you virtually anywhere in the metropolitan area; unless going somewhere really REALLY isolated by taxi there's no such thing as bad connections. Even though all modes of transport have different operators the first three are within a single ticketing system: MyZone (see tickets section).

By train

Sydney has a vast suburban rail network operated by CityRail [14], covering 882 km of track and 176 stations. The train network will take passengers to the vast majority of the metropolitan area, with the exception of the north-west and northern beaches. Frequency is high in the City area and less the further out of the city one goes - expect a train every 3-5 minutes in the city, 10-15 in commuter hubs and 15-30 on most outer suburban lines. Peak times (7AM-9:30AM and 4:30PM-7PM) have more frequent and also crowded trains, as well as a lot more complicated stopping patterns. Expect severe congestion around Central and Town Hall.

It can be helpful to know that different trains run on the network, the oldest ones being R and S sets (differing only by number of carriages), followed by K, C, T, M and H sets, and the differences are significant. While the R and S sets have no special facilities or even airconditioning, the H sets have toilets, drinking fountains and emergency help points. Only the M and H sets are equipped with onboard destination displays and the announcements are often inaudible.

Outside of operating hours, between midnight (1AM on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5AM, NightRide buses are available on most routes within Sydney. Any CityRail train ticket is valid for the equivalent NightRide bus except a single. If you have no ticket, you must buy a NightRide single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. NightRide buses stop at most CityRail stations and a few additional stops, but they do not travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a NightRide bus home, check the NightRide route map on the back cover of each timetable or at the station while you are waiting for your train. NightRides are infrequent, expensive and on Friday and Saturday nights very crowded. Check the Sydney Buses timetables as some buses run later than when the train stops. Similarly some Sydney Buses services run all night, especially on routes not serviced by trains.

On weekends, check for trackwork before leaving for the station; CityRail will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for trackwork, and the process will add at least half an hour to a typical journey. Trackwork will be advertised at the station for about a week before it begins. You need a the same ticket for the trackwork buses as you would for the train.

You must always purchase a ticket for the entire journey before boarding a train from either the ticket office or from the ticket machines that are located on most stations as you cannot buy a ticket onboard or at the destination. Ticket offices have limited opening hours at suburban stations, and, outside of these hours, you will need to use a machine. The ticket machines accept up to $50 notes but will give only $19.90 in change (in coins) and accept only 10 coins. Ticket offices accept Visa or Mastercard for a total ticket value over $20. A number of ticket machines also accept Visa or Mastercard at major stations if you have a PIN. Ticket inspectors will not hesitate to fine you and accept no excuses--if you say the ticket machine was broken at the station that you boarded the train, they will check.

By bus

Sydney has an extensive bus network, including a free shuttle buses in the Sydney CBD and Parramatta. Buses are also common as feeders from suburban rail stations to more isolated suburbs.

Most of the buses in the inner city and inner suburbs are run by the government owned Sydney Buses [15] The outer network is run by private bus companies. These services rarely compete so you will usually have only one way of getting somewhere by bus. MyMulti travelcards are fully valid on private buses

You must flag down buses with an outstretched hand if you want them to stop for you--they will not automatically stop unless they need to pick someone up or drop them off.

A bus fare depends on many sections you are travelling in, with each section being about 1.6 km (1 mi). There are increasing parts of Sydney, such as the City area, Bondi Junction, Parramatta Rd, Norton Street, Anzac Parade, and Military Road where you can no longer buy tickets on the bus, and you must pre-purchase a ticket from a ticket agent (usually a newsagent or convenience store) or a transit shop. The metrobuses (red) and some other limited stop routes are also prepay in their entirety. All types of tickets, including MyBus single-ride, MyBus 10 multi-ride and MyMulti multi-modal tickets, are available from these agents. If you are not at a stop or taking a route that is prepay, you can just state your destination to the driver and pay the fare. Only single trip tickets are sold by drivers. To avoid confusion most Sydneysiders pre-pay anyway, even when it is not required as the rules for what buses sell tickets, and which do not, confuse even locals.

In order to buy the correct ticket from an agent you will need to know how many sections your journey will be, to know if you need a MyBus1, 2 or 3. You can find out how many sections your trip is by calling the transport infoline (131500), asking at a transit shop at Wynyard, Circular Quay, or the QVB, or by looking at the route map in the timetable (printed or online). A ticket reseller at a newsagent or convenience store will have no idea of the correct ticket to sell you for your destination. Every section you travel in counts as a section. For example, to travel from Wynyard to North Sydney Station is 2 sections because you travel in sections 2 and 3. If you boarded one stop before Wynyard and exited one stop after North Sydney Station, you would have travelled in sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, so you would need a 4 section ticket. A MyBus1 is for 1-2 sections, a MyBus2 covers 3-5 sections and a MyBus3 covers 6+ sections. As a guide, note that a MyBus1 will cover any journey within the CBD, and any journey of more than 10km/15 minutes will probably need a MyBus3.

Note however that MyMulti tickets do not work on the same numbers as MyBus. A MyMulti 1 ticket will work on any Sydney Buses bus anywhere on the network and also on any government ferry meaning that it can represent good value and less confusion, though greater cost than a MyBus ticket. Sydneysiders find this confusing as well.

Drivers may be able to give change for a $20 note, but it is best to use only coins and lower-denomination notes.

There are two main bus termination points in the CBD, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are separated by a one-stop commuter train trip. You will need to make this trip if connecting from buses arriving from north of the harbour bridge to buses heading east or west, or vice versa. Bus information centres are located at both Wynyard and Circular Quay.

Red metrobuses operate airconditioned, cross-city routes without a timetable, at 10-20 minute frequency depending on the time of day and day of the week. You can SMS the stop number on the bus stop to 0488 898 287 and, if you are lucky, you should receive a reply telling you when the next metrobus will arrive. This bus claims to have electronic next stop displays, but these are rarely working or available.

On most buses there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are at. There are no poster maps on the bus either. If you are not sure where you are getting off, pick up or print out the timetable, which has a route map on it and watch for landmarks as you pass. Also, if you take a bus marked "Limited Stops" or "Express" (the route number will start with an L or an X), make sure that the bus stops where you want it to. Limited stops services stop only at major stops so they may make you walk around 750 metres or so if they skip your stop. However, express services can run very far from the city without stopping at all, before resuming a normal stopping pattern. All normally numbered buses stop at all stops, so missing your stop or getting off one stop early is a less serious mistake.

From midnight to 5AM, most buses cease running with the exception of a few trunk routes that run at a reduced frequency including the 373, which runs 24 hours a day between the city and Coogee.

By ferry

- Sydney Ferries [16] central hub is at Circular Quay at the north of the CBD. Ferries run up the Parramatta River via Balmain and Olympic Park, across to Luna Park, around to Darling Harbour, and out to Manly, across to the Zoo and to Watsons Bay. Also, they also go to Garden island and Cockatoo Island. They run only within the harbour, so you can't get a ferry to Bondi. Ferries run to most destinations at least every hour, with additional peak services, and half hourly services to Manly and Darling Harbour.

More than just a utilitarian means of transport, the ferries are a great way to see the harbourside. The best ferry excursion for visitors is from Circular Quay to Manly. Be prepared to take a stunning photograph of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as you leave Circular Quay.

Trips to Balmain and Darling Harbour offer other great excuses to take a ferry trip under the Harbour Bridge.

At peak periods the Parramatta River ferries can fill to capacity, and you should ensure that you have an alternative for completing your trip. Passenger counts are strictly enforced. Peak periods are weekends around 4PM-6PM at Parramatta and Circular Quay, and school holiday weekdays 4PM-6PM at Darling Harbour (heading to Parramatta) (you are okay if you board at Circular Quay, where the ferry starts). The Manly and inner-harbour ferries can get busy, but it is very rare that they reach capacity.

By light rail

There's a single 7 km light rail line in Sydney [17] which is useful for travelling between Sydney City and western Darling Harbour, the casino, and Pyrmont, and runs from Central to Lilyfield, and an extension to Lewisham and Dulwich Hill suburban rail stations is planned.

By monorail

- The Sydney Monorail[18] runs on a 12-minute loop through connecting the Town Hall area of the city centre and Darling Harbour. The monorail is really only for tourists and is more a ride than it an effective means of transport. It is expensive ($4.90 per ride, though discounts are available), and if travelling to Darling Harbour it can be just as quick to walk as it is to catch the monorail.

Tickets

Basically, there are following tickets types for transport in Sydney:

- Single tickets are available for all forms of public transport, covering a single trip (one bus, one ferry, or until you leave the train station). Fares are based on distance bands. You can buy tickets for cash on all services except prepay-only buses. Single bus tickets (called "MyBus" and coloured blue) are also available at newsagents and convenience stores near bus stops. All bus stops within the Sydney CBD and major bus interchanges are pre-pay only on weekdays between 7AM and 7PM. If boarding a bus at any of these stops you will not be able to pay on the bus and will need a pre-pay ticket.

- Ten trip tickets are available for buses and ferries at a 20% discount over normal fares. They will be useful if staying in an area where you need to catch a bus or ferry to travel to and from the city for a number of day. You should ask for a "MyBus Ten Trip" or a "MyFerry Ten Trip" ticket respectively. Tickets are distance based, so the trips taken must be for the same distances on the bus or ferry (there are two distance bands for ferries, and three for buses). You can buy Ten-Trip MyBus tickets at many newsagents or convenience stores near bus stops, or at train station ticket windows, or on ferries, but not on buses. There is no equivalent ticket for the trains.

- Return tickets are available only on the trains. Prices after 9AM or on weekends are considerably cheaper than two singles. The return trip can be made at any time up to 4AM the following day or on a nightride bus the next morning. There are no return tickets on buses, and although ferry returns are available, they are the same as two single tickets). The off-peak discount is not available for single tickets. Children pay a maximum of $2.80 to for a return trip in Sydney on the trains off-peak (plus the airport gate fee for airport line stations).

- MyMulti Day card use of buses, trains and Sydney Ferries (not private ferries, the light rail or the monorail) in the entire greater Sydney region (which extends to the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Goulburn and the Hunter Valley) you can purchase a MyMulti Day Tripper ticket (adults $20, children $10).

- A weekly MyMulti card is highly recommended if you are using public transport for three or more days. MyMulti weekly tickets, which are coloured yellow, are based on zones. A MyMulti 1 ($41) will cover all buses and ferries (not private ferries) throughout Sydney and trains within within 10 km of the city centre. A MyMulti-2 ($48) covers everything the MyMulti-1 does and includes trains nearly to the outskirts of Sydney. A MyMulti-3 ($57) covers the entire metro area and beyond: if you are planning on travelling further afield from Sydney (for example, to the South Coast beaches, Newcastle, or to the Blue Mountains by train), this ticket may be well worth it. If you purchase the ticket after 3PM, you get the remainder of that day and the next 7 days.

- A SydneyPass tickets ($115/3 days), allows unlimited travel for up to 8 days including tourist services, and includes fares to and from the airport. [19]. Consider this only if you want to take the City Sightseeing Sydney Explorer services.

- A Family Funday Sunday Ticket. These tickets are to encourage family travel on public transport on Sundays. They are $2.50 each and allow unlimited travel across a wide area of central and suburban Sydney including Newcastle and Wollongong on buses, trains and ferries. The group must consist of at least one adult and one child related by family. Children under 4 years of age travel free. Tickets are available from ticket sellers and bus drivers. Better value than most other tickets on Sundays. Although there are many opportunities for unlimited exploring with this ticket on a Sunday, take care if planning to use outer suburban or regional buses, many of which run extremely infrequently or not at all on a Sunday.

If you feel like doing it, you can buy a separate day ($9) or weekly ($22) travelcard for the light rail. The light rail is admittedly convenient for western Darling Harbour and its sights, but you will most likely use it a lot less than other forms of transport. The tickets are also not valid on other forms of transport, as there are no tickets covering all four modes of transport, so if you only intend to buy one travelcard, you should certainly go for a MyMulti, as the light rail line is only 7 km long and almost all stations on it can also be reached suburban rail and bus.

Single tickets are divided into MyTrain (suburban rail), MyBus (buses), MyFerry (ferries run by Sydney Ferries) and light rail single tickets. Fares are set on distance basis and increase the further out you intend to travel. MyTrain tickets allow you to make as many transfers as required but you may not break your journey (leave a station) or your ticket will become invalid and you will have to pay again. Other forms of transport do not permit any forms of transfer, and you will need a new ticket for each and every trip.

Bus drivers will check you buy or validate a ticket on entry. Ferry hands will check tickets. Trains have ticket barriers at city and major suburban stations. Minor suburban stations have no barriers but you are still expected to purchase a ticket. Transit Police (in mid-blue uniforms) are renowned for their intimidating behaviour and will generally not accept any excuses. They issue a on-the-spot fines notices for $200 and post you a reminder to pay.

Children aged 15 years and under are entitled to a discount. Also, on ferries (except private ferries), buses, and trains, you pay for only the first child when accompanied by a parent or grandparent, the other children in the same family allowed for free. Usually, no family identification is ever required for those who are obviously children, so anything that resembles a family unit will have to pay for only the first child. Children 3 years and under travel free. Student and other concessions are only available to those issued with a NSW transport student identification card. This card is only issued to students enrolled and resident in NSW or the ACT. Seniors fares are available to anyone with an Australian Seniors Card. Accordingly, overseas visitors are not entitled to student or senior concessions.

CityRail train tickets allow you to make as many transfers as required but you may not break your journey (leave a station) or your ticket will become invalid and you will have to pay again. Other forms of transport do not permit any forms of transfer, and you will need a ticket for each trip or some form of pass ticket (described below).

Transport Infoline, 13 15 00, [20]. 24 hours. Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney. Available online and by telephone

TransitShops, Circular Quay (cnr of Loftus & Alfred Sts) or Wynyard under Wynyard Park. Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney, all travelpass and travelten sales, accepts credit cards

Access

Some suburban train stations are easy access, with lifts to all platforms and ramps operated by station staff to allow wheelchair access to trains. Some buses have disabled access. All light rail stations have lifts and level access to the car. Station facilities and bus times are available from the transport infoline, online or by phone.

By car

Travel times and routes

You can drive around Sydney reasonably freely, and, outside of peak times, travelling by car is usually at least as quick as any method of public transport. Congestion can be expected on roads to the city 6:30AM-9:30AM, and roads away from the city 4PM-6:30PM. Congestion is considerably worse heading away from the city during Friday afternoon peak.

Roads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route. Only a handful of cross-city met-roads are signposted by number.

Congestion can be expected around Bondi Beach, and the other eastern suburbs beaches on summer weekends.

Travel times from the city centre to the Sydney outskirts can take around 45 min in good traffic.

Tolls

Some motorways, tunnels and bridges charge tolls.

The M5 (towards the South West and Canberra and the Eastern Distributor Motorway from the airport to the city have tolls of $3.80 and $5 respectively. You can pay in cash, and change is given at the tollbooths. There is no toll payable on the Eastern Distributor heading away from the city towards the airport.

The Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, M7 and the Falcon Street northbound motorway entrance only use electronic tolling and if you use these you need to decide how you will pay the toll. You can easily avoid the Lane Cove Tunnel, M7 or Falcon Street on-ramp, however, it is hard to avoid the harbour crossings if you are going to Manly, the Northern Beaches or the zoo by car.

Your choice is to have a pass or a tag.

- A pass (also called an e-pass) is the simplest way to pay tolls. Just register your licence plate and credit card up to 48 hours after travelling on a toll road and tolls will be deducted automatically from your card. The Sydney Motorways website [21] provides links to pass providers. The cost is $1.50 to register online, and 75c on top of each toll as a processing charge. You cannot use an e-pass on motorways that accept cash: you must use the cash lane. Make sure you enter the dates you will be in charge of the car, so you don't end up paying for someone else's toll.

- A tag (also called an E-tag) is a transponder stuck to the inside of your windscreen. You can purchase a visitor's tag from any motor registry [22] before travelling on a toll road for $5 and set up an account linked to your credit card. Allow about 30 minutes at the registry to sort it all out. It is worthwhile considering only if you are staying in Sydney for a while or travelling on toll roads in Melbourne and Brisbane as well. You will end up ahead only if you need to pay six or more toll charges.

A capital 'E' marked on the lane indicates it accepts a tag and a lower case 'e' indicates it accepts a pass.

Not paying a toll incurs a $10-$15 administration fee in additional to the toll. If you are in a rental car, the rental car company will charge an additional fee for this to your credit card.

Some rental car companies, for example Avis, supply an etag with each car, and a service fee for each day it is used. You have no option to buy your pass or tag. Others, for example Bayswater, give you an option to rent one from them for a fixed fee, and you have a choice to obtain your own pass as an alternative. Check with your rental company.

Parking

Parking your car in the City Centre is always possible but very expensive. Expect to pay up to $70 per day or $25 per hour at some central parking lots and around $25 even with specials. Reduced parking charges are made for early bird parking, where you must enter and leave within prescribed times. For example you can park all day at the Opera House [23] for $16 provides you enter before 10AM and leave 3PM-7PM. There is no grace period, so you cannot get out even one minute before 3PM, and you will be charged the day parking rate of $42 if you are 10 s late. Most city parking lots offer reduced flat fees (around $15-$25) for evening and weekend parking.

Street parking in the CBD is generally only possible before 8AM and after 6:30PM. on weekdays and, even then, is almost invariably metered until 10PM at $2.20-3.30 per hour. On weekends, most parking spaces have a 4 hour limit, again metered at $1.10-2.20 per hour. All day street spots are sometimes available in the Domain/Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Hickson Road, but these spots are often taken up by commuters, and, since they are metered, an early bird deal may work out cheaper than the metered rate. Parking meters increasingly accept credit card payment, but have cash just in case. Similar prices are charged in North Sydney.

City hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests.

Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots. Usually parking within easy walking distance of these centres has a time limit restriction - often 2-3 hours. Shopping mall car parks usually have a similar restriction.

Some train stations have all day free commuter parking. At major stations, this can be full before 8AM. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. On weekends it is easy to find a spot in the commuter parking lots. The stations with commuter parking are marked on the Cityrail maps.

Parking at some beaches, on summer weekends, can often be almost impossible. Some beaches are in suburban neighbourhoods, without large car parking facilities. Check the appropriate destination guides for more information.

Parking fines in Sydney are $80 if you exceed the allowed parking time. Reloading the meter or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine. If you park illegally and wait with your car, you may find you have the licence place photographed and fined before you have the chance to move on, don't expect a warning. If you park illegally in a disabled spot, the fine is $375. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day so you might as well enjoy your parking spot.

Clearways are no-stopping zones on main roads during peak periods, marked with clearway signs and a broken yellow line on the kerb. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunites if you want to park just after 10AM.

Sydney driving speeds

Speed limits can change frequently, even on the same main road. Speed limits drop for areas of pedestrian activity, schools, as well as driving conditions. Every road in Sydney has a signposted speed limit, and in every case you will need to read the signs, as you cannot tell the speed limit just by looking at the road. The speed limit is usually 50km/h on residential streets, 60km/h or 70km/h on main roads, and 80km/h and above on freeways or freeway sections.

Some speed limits vary throughout the day. School speed zones (40 km/h) are enforced 8AM-9:30AM and 2:30PM-4PM on school days. Some have flashing lights, some just a sign. It is up to you to check the time and know if it is a school day or not. Some other roads have variable speed limits that drop during busy traffic times. Variable speed limits also drop for road maintenance. These areas are signposted, and you need to read and obey the signposted speed. Speed cameras monitor school zones, and enforce variable speed limits. For example, if there are roadworks in the Lane Cove Tunnel, the variable speed will drop, and the speed camera in the tunnel will enforce the lower speed. There are plenty of warning and reminder signs along the way.

Some police will randomly stop vehicles and accuse the driver of speeding, and hence give them a lecture on road safety. Most of the time they are not sure if the driver was actually speeding. If you are certain that you had not been driving over the speed limit, challenge the police by asking for a radar reading. Usually, if they were bluffing, they will let you go after a breath test (provided you have not been drinking over the limit of course). But other ruthless police may still issue a fine regardless of having no radar reading. Locals who have taken the case to court generally lose because the judges are confident that police have the expertise of judging speed with their naked eyes.

By taxi

Taxis are a convenient way to get around Sydney. They can also be the only transport option available to some locations late at night when the trains and regular buses stop.

It is usually easy enough to flag a taxi down at the kerb in the CBD, or catch one at taxi ranks located in most suburban centres. The availability of a taxi is indicated by an illuminated "taxi" sign positioned on top of the vehicle. If the light is on, it is available for hire; if the light is off, the cab is occupied.

Beware the 3PM change over and the Friday evening rush. It can be almost impossible to get a taxi 2:30PM-3:15PM. It is just as difficult 2:30AM-3:30AM, as almost all of the drivers change over their shifts at the same time. They are similarly scarce on a Friday and Saturday evenings. Booking in advance is no guarantee, as these jobs are simply offered electronically to drivers, who may or may not accept the job. It is easily possible to wait an hour or more for a taxi booked 24 hours in advance on a Friday and Saturday evening. Ringing the taxi company back and complaining will often help (if the operators can relate to your problem, they have the ability to offer a taxi driver an incentive to take your fare). Cancelling your job and ringing another taxi company in frustration never helps as the taxi companies have handover systems that have seen your job handed over if another company had more capacity. You will just end up at the back of the queue again. Evenings other than Friday and Saturday are usually fine.

During busy times, it is also common for a taxi driver to leave the door locked and ask where you are going through the window and drive off if the destination is too close or not on their way home, even though this is illegal.

There are two meter rates: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3.30, a distance rate of $1.99/km, a "waiting" rate of $0.85/min, and a booking fee of $2.50; and a night rate (rate 2 - applicable to journeys commenced between 10PM-6AM), which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it is set to 2, it is using the night rate. The so called "waiting" rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25km/h. For trips in congested traffic, it is possible for large amounts of the trip to be charged at the "waiting" rate. All Sydney taxis are metered and taxi drivers will charge the metered rate, adding the charges for tolls manually. Silver Service taxis are more luxurious vehicles, but they are charged at the same rate as standard taxis.

Taxis accept all major credit cards. They charge an extra 10% on top of the fare for this.

Passengers are required to pay all tolls for their trip. In addition, passengers who are taken north over the Harbour Bridge, for which there is no toll, are required to pay the driver's southbound toll for the return into the city (Time of day tolling applies, and the toll varies between $2.50 and $4). Drivers will usually take the toll roads unless you ask them not to. If you are unsure why they are asking for an amount above that shown on the meter, just ask.

Passengers have the right to control the air conditioning and the radio so ask the driver. Whilst most taxi drivers behave acceptably, there have been reported incidences of taxi drivers behaving inappropriately towards women: it is always safer to sit in the back of the car.

Tipping is not required or generally expected. However, rounding up a taxi fare to the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, if the driver rounds the fare down to the nearest dollar, accept with grace.

By bike

If you are a fit and experienced urban cyclist, used to riding on multi-lane roads in heavy traffic, then just get on your bike. Cyclists are permitted just about everywhere on Sydney's roads, except for of some freeway tunnels where bicycle signs will usually direct you to the alternative route. Kerbside lanes are often narrow, so ride assertively, be seen, and take the full lane when you know there is insufficient room to be passed.

The city centre is not particularly cyclist friendly traffic-wise. It is not flat either, and you can expect regular hills but no marathon uphill climbs. The weather is, however, usually good for cycling. Recent segregated bicycle routes have made the most famous tourist traps rather bicycle-accessible i.e. Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Chinatown areas

Areas off the beaten track such as the open Barangaroo space, Sydney Observatory grounds, Pirrama Park, Darling Island Wharf, Botanic Gardens, Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway, Milson's Point and Woolloomooloo from Finger Wharf to Surry Hills are now far more accessible, as are obscure places with excellent views of the Sydney skyline such as Embarkation Park and Sydney Park. A visitor should be able to work out a tourist-friendly route, otherwise, it is very much worth seeking out an experienced local rider as a guide. A view at the destinations offered by Bonza Bike Tours, a local bicycle sightseeing group, should provide an idea of which areas are reachable by a visitor on a bicycle, when guided.

If you are looking for a quieter ride, a number of quiet on-road and shared pedestrian/cycle paths are available, but can be hard to find. A good place to start is at Sydney Olympic Park where you can get your cycle legs on the extensive off-road trails; then, if you want to, you can follow off-road/quiet road trails out to Parramatta or following the Cooks River to Botany Bay in Southern Sydney. The Harbour Bridge has a dedicated cycle lane, suitable for all ages, but as soon as you get off the bridge you are back onto urban streets in Milsons Point.

It is illegal to ride bicycles on footpaths unless cycling with children under 12. In reality this is fairly weakly enforced out in the suburbs, but it is common for people to be fined for cycling through pedestrian malls in the city like Pitt St Mall or Martin Place. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night. Road rules applying to cyclists and maps of cycleways in the greater Sydney area are provided by the state government authority [24] but are not comprehensive, and indicated cycle routes can sometimes be busy roads with car-door lanes.

Bicycles can be taken on all Cityrail trains, but a child fare should be paid if any part of the journey is made before 9AM or after 3:30PM on weekdays. Check trackwork schedules on weekends [25], when buses replace trains and make taking bicycles more challenging.

Bike hire is available in many locations in Sydney. Unfortunately, bike hire for two bikes for a day usually costs more than hiring a small car and petrol for the day; however, for shorter periods some places may be reasonably priced (for example Sydney Olympic Park). Also, you have to consider the cost if the bikes are stolen or damaged. However, they are much easier to park, are greener and can be more fun. See the district articles for bike hire listings.

See

Landmarks

- The Sydney Harbour Bridge crosses the harbour from the The Rocks to North Sydney. There are many different experiences centred around the bridge. You can walk or cycle across, picnic under, or climb over the Harbour Bridge. See the details in The Rocks.

- The Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Opera House is simply one of the most famous structures ever built. It is in the city centre.

- Darling Harbour is a large tourist precinct and includes a range of activities, restaurants, museums and shopping facilities.

- Sydney Olympic Park. Home of the 2000 Olympics and now parklands and sporting facilities.

- Luna Park, 1 Olympic Dr, Milson's Point, tel. 02 9033 7676. Is a large theme park situated near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its mouth-shaped entrance can be seen from many areas of Sydney as well as the large Ferris Wheel.

- Sydney Tower also called Centrepoint Tower or AMP Tower. The tallest structure in Sydney, the tower contains a buffet, cafe and a rather large restaurant and attracts many visitors a year. The tower is in the City Centre

- St Mary's Cathedral. Sydney's main catholic cathedral. Corner of St Mary's Road and College St. The cathedral is in the City Centre.

- Royal Botanic Gardens- The Royal Botanic Gardens were first established in Sydney by Governor Bligh in 1816. The gardens cover 30 hectares and adjoin the 35 hectares making up the Domain, there are over 7500 species of plants represented here. The gardens are at the north eastern corner of the City Centre and overlook Sydney harbour.

Historical areas

- The Rocks has sites preserved from Sydney's early settlement.

- Parramatta to the west of Sydney is the site of many of Sydney's oldest buildings from colonial times.

- Macquarie Street in the City has a string of historical sites, from the first hospital in the colony, to the Mint to Hyde Park Barracks, to the Conservatorium which was the original government house stables. Sydney Hospital was first known as "The Rum Hospital", it was the first major building established in the colony.

- La Perouse, near Botany Bay, in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs contains the grave of an early French explorer, museum, and old fort.

- The walk from Manly to Middle Head passes many coastal artillery fortifications built into the cliffs of Sydney Harbour during the late nineteenth century.

- Mrs Macquarie's Chair and walk near the Botanical Gardens in the City

- Anzac War Memorial at the eastern end of Hyde Park in the City Centre. The memorial commemorates the memory of those Australians who lost their lives during war. It houses a small museum, an impressive statue and the Pool of Remembrance. Sydney's Anzac War Memorial was built in the 1930s.

Museums and galleries

Some of Sydney's museums are free to enter including the National Maratime Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art. You may be charged to enter certain exhibitions. Sydney Museums generally do not have 'free days' that you can find in other parts of the world but some historic houses may be free on certain public holidays, though tend to attract large crowds.

- The Australian Museum is much the old style natural history museum. Usually a special exhibition on as well. The museum is near Hyde Park in City Centre.

- The Australian National Maritime Museum has inside and outside exhibitions - much of the history of Australia is a maritime one, and much of it is in this museum in Darling Harbour.

- The Art Gallery of NSW has mostly classical, but some modern and Aboriginal art. Near the Botanical Gardens in the city centre.

- The Powerhouse Museum has some buttons to push, some technology, but some interesting displays of Sydney in the 1900s, in the City West in Ultimo, right on the boundary with Darling Harbour. Exhibits designed for children also.

- The Museum of Contemporary Art [26] in the city centre, near Circular Quay.

- The Museum of Sydney [27] in the city centre.

Or see one of the smaller chic Art Galleries in East Sydney.

Wildlife

In captivity

- Taronga Zoo Large zoo whose animals have the best view in the world, a short ferry trip from the City on the North Shore.

- The Koala Park Sanctuary in the Outer West.

- Sydney Aquarium [28] in Darling Harbour.

- Sydney Wildlife World' adjacent to the aquarium in Darling Harbour.

- Featherdale Wildlife Park in Western Sydney

and just out of Sydney, the

- Australian Reptile Park [29], about an hour north of Sydney, has kangaroos, wallabies, dingos, and more.

- Symbio Park in Helensburg.

In the wild

- Whale Watching see whales migrating the Pacific coast. There are boats from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay.

- Bats (Flying foxes) nest next to the fernery in the Botanic Gardens in the city, and fly to feed over the city buildings and Harbour Bridge at dusk, you can see them on the eastern side of the Opera House at sunset.

- Rainbow Lorikeets swarm around the trees in many suburbs at dusk, making a tremendous chatter Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are commonly seen in the leafier suburbs all day.

- Ibis are an unusual wader bird, that has made its home in the suburbs, especially in Hyde Park in the city

- Possums are a native marsupial at home in the urban environment. Look up carefully in tree lined streets, or in Hyde Park after dark.

- Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Rosellas. These can be spotted with patience in most of the Sydney National Parks, including the Royal National Park, ask the local rangers where they tend to be seen in the late afternoons. This is a great way to experience Australia’s native wildlife in their natural habitat compared to seeing these amazing animals confined in zoos, but requires considerably more time and patience.

Sydney Harbour

Sydney's large natural harbour was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the area, near what is now known as Circular Quay. It is now well developed, with skyscrapers, highrises, and houses all around its shores, but it is still very beautiful.

The harbour is served by ferry services that transport passengers around the harbour. An excellent way to see both the harbour and Sydney attractions is to take a ferry east from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo or Manly or west under the Harbour Bridge towards Parramatta. These are reasonably priced and a favourite for tourists. If time is short, for a shorter route, the ferry between Circular Quay and Darling Harbour will let you ride under the Harbour Bridge and see the central part of the harbour.

Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. Before returning to the Sydney CBD, walk from the Manly ferry wharf along the Manly Corso to famous Manly Beach. A great day, afternoon or evening out at a fraction of the price of a commercial harbour cruise.

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 [30] at breakneck speeds.

Sydney Harbour can be viewed from the city or from on of the many walks next to it, most of which are easily accessible by ferry or bus.

The world famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins every year on Boxing Day, on Sydney Harbour. Thousands of spectator craft take to the water to farewell the yachts as they set off on their grueling journey to Hobart. Seaworthy craft can follow the yachts through the Sydney Heads into the open ocean. You can also see the race from a harbour vantage point like Watsons Bay. where you can see them sail towards you across the harbour, and then cross to the gap to see them sail down the coast.

You can visit the Harbour Islands by ferry or water taxi.

Swing by the Royal Botanic Gardens [31] and the Art Gallery of New South Wales [32] on the edge of the gardens. While you're in the area visit Mrs Macquarie's Chair for a picture postcard view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in one picture. You may have to compete with the numerous wedding couples on weekends.

- Scenic Flights Adventures and Flight Training, +61 2 9791 0643 (contact@redbaron.com.au) [33]. A fantastic way to see Sydney Harbour is from the air. Red Baron Adventures do scenic flights over Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches most days of the year (weather permitting) in an open cockpit Pitts Special bi-plane. They also have heart stopping Aerobatic Flights available for the more adventurous (note: these are not done over Sydney Harbour). Flights range from $440 to $660 and go for between 45 min and 80 minutes.

Aboriginal Sydney

Far from being confined to the inland areas, Aboriginal people extensively occupied the Sydney area prior to the arrival of European settlers.

- Rock Carvings, can be seen in the Royal National Park - catch the train and ferry to Cronulla and Bundeena. There are extensive carvings in Kuringai National Park, near West Head that are accessible only by car. Closer to the city, there are examples at Balls Head and Berry Island, near to Wollstonecraft station. There is an interpretive walk at Berry Island.

- Meeting of Civilisations. Interpretive centre is at the site of the landing place of Captain Cook, at Kurnell.

- Bangarra Dance Theatre, is a modern dance company, inspired by indigenous Australian themes.

- Aboriginal Art. A wander through The Rocks and you will find many places exhibiting and selling contemporary Aboriginal art. The Art Gallery of New South Wales the City Centre has an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Gallery, which is free to visit.

Do

Swim

- Swim at one of Sydney's many surf beaches. Try Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Cronulla or Wattamolla, or get off the tourist trail at one of the other beaches in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs or Northern Beaches.

Cycle

- Cycle around Centennial Park in the Eastern Suburbs or Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park

Kayak and Canoe

- Sydney's Waterways offer great canoeing and kayaking, and you can explore Sydney's bushland, history, and exclusive waterfront properties. There are lots of places to hire them from, or to even go on a guided tour.

- Drive a dodgem car at Luna Park in North Sydney

Sports fixtures

- Winter: The winter football season generally begins with trial matches in February, before the season proper kicks off in March and runs to late September or early October. Sydney's most popular winter football code is rugby league (often just called 'football' or 'footy' by locals - although never just 'rugby', which refers to rugby union). Nine teams from the national competition are based in Sydney and the sport is an important part of the city's culture - many teams play at least some of their games at intimate grounds in their suburban heartlands, and this can be a good way to experience the traditional heart of the sport. Other major sporting teams playing in Sydney over the winter are the Sydney Swans (AFL), the NSW Waratahs (rugby union) and the Sydney Swifts (Netball).

- Summer: Sydney's primary summer sport is cricket, which you'll find being played (in somewhat modified form) on beaches and in backyards across the city. The professional stuff is largely based at the Sydney Cricket Ground close to the CBD: the traditional New Year's Test, between the Australian team and whichever foreign team is touring at the time, commences around the 3rd of January and runs for four to five days. Later in the summer, international one-day and/or Twenty20 matches are held at the SCG.

The primary domestic tournaments, contested between Australian state teams, are the Sheffield Shield (first-class), Ford Ranger Cup (one-day) and KFC Big Bash (Twenty20): they are usually sparsely attended and so are much cheaper to attend than internationals. Some one-day and Twenty20 matches are played at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park rather than at the SCG, but the cavernous stadium is far inferior to the grand old ground if you really want to get a feel for cricket culture. Australia's professional soccer tournament, the A-League, runs over the summer and struggles to attract a great deal of public enthusiasm; Sydney's team is Sydney FC, which plays out of the Sydney Football Stadium.

Walk

Sydney has a huge amount of green space, much of it beside the sparkling harbour or ocean, so walking is a great way to experience the city's parks, reserves and remnant bushland. There are also great walks through the more built-up areas, allowing you to check out the city's modern architecture and its colonial heritage. The following are just a few of the better-known routes.

- Across the Harbour Bridge from The Rocks on the south side to Milsons Point on the north side (or vice versa).

- Coogee Beach to Bondi. Following the eastern coastline past several of Sydney's beautiful beaches - stop off for a swim if you get too hot.

- Manly to the Spit. Along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour [34].

- Bradleys Head. Take a ferry to Taronga Zoo wharf and then head to your right along the promontory. There's pristine bushland (almost unchanged from the time of European colonisation), quiet beaches, and knockout views across the harbour, and in the warmer months you'll spot plenty of Eastern Water Dragons, a type of large lizard. Once you reach the tip of the headland, you can either amble back to the wharf or - if you're feeling more ambitious - follow the track several more kilometres to Clifton Gardens, ogling the gigantic houses along the way. From there, you can either hike all the way back to Taronga or get a bus to a ferry wharf.

- Circular Quay and surrounds. Start underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, then walk past The Rocks, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair. For an extended tour of the city centre, covering these and other major sights, see Walking tour of Sydney.

Skate

Sydney has three indoor ice skating centres in the suburbs. The closest to the city centre is:

- Macquarie Ice Rink. Macquarie Ice Rink is in the vast expanse of Macquarie Shopping Centre in North Ryde. Activities include training sessions, birthday parties and casual visits. Skates are available for hire (usually a bit worn and not necessarily sharp), or bring your own. Phone to enquire about public session times as the ice is shared between many other users (like hockey teams) and may not be available for the whole day. It is located within a 2 minute walk from Macquarie University railway station.

Performance Art

Sydney has three theatres which show major international productions, the Capitol Theatre in Haymarket, the Theatre Royal under the MLC Centre in the CBD and the Lyric Theatre in Star City in Pyrmont Bay. Usually one of the latest theatre blockbusters will be on show at these theatres. Slightly more on the cutting edge, with more locally produced drama can be found at the Sydney Theatre Company, in Walsh Bay in The Rocks, or occasionally at the Opera House Drama Theatre. Similar productions are often on at the Seymour Centre next to Sydney University just off Broadway on City Road. Smaller theatres, some with lesser known performers, featuring new and local writers can be harder to find. Try the Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills in City East, or the Newtown Theatre in the Inner West. Amateur theatre, especially musical theatre, proliferates in Sydney, with over 30 amateur musical theatre companies providing a fun night of theatre for around $20 per ticket in the suburbs. Check the Riverside Theatre in Parramatta, the Zenith Theatre in Chatswood on the Lower North Shore, or the Sutherland Entertainment Centre in Sutherland.

For classical music fans, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra plays at the Opera House and at [35] Angel Place Recital Hall [36]. If the Sydney Symphony aren't playing, the Recital Hall may have other performances of interest. Conservatorium of Music often hosts performances on a smaller scale. [37].

Opera Australia perform at the Opera House in the City Centre.

A handy guide for performing arts in Sydney is the Spectrum liftout, which you'll find in the Sydney Morning Herald's voluminous Saturday edition. It contains reviews and features on all things cultural, as well as fairly comprehensive listings towards the back.

Cinema

Sydney has mainstream movies showing on multi-screen cinema complexes all around Sydney, including the City Centre and Moore Park. The two main operators are Event Cinemas http://www.eventcinemas.com.au] and Hoyts [38].

For arthouse, or more obscure movies, try the Chauvel, Verona and Academy Twin cinemas on Oxford Street in the City East, or the Dendy near the Opera House in the City Centre or in Newtown, or Cinema Paris at the Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios at Moore Park in the City East.

Many of the larger cinema complexes offer premium seating and services for a premium price.

There is one drive-in movie left open in Sydney, at Blacktown in the Outer West.

The IMAX Theatre, which provides a movie experience with the largest cinema screens in the southern hemisphere in Darling Harbour.

Festivals

Sydney is home to a number of major and minor festivals and calendar events each year. Listed chronologically these are:

January

- Sydney Festival (Festival Of Sydney), [39]. An arts festival aiming to be international in reach, inviting acclaimed international artists to exhibit their work or perform in Sydney. A number of free outdoor events are held alongside the festival including the hugely popular Jazz in the Domain, Symphony in the Domain, and Festival First Night. Concerts held in the Domain and Hyde Park in the City Centre. The Bacardi Latin Festival in Darling Harbour is held in early January as part of the Sydney Festival, and contains a week of Latin dancing and music.

- Field Day Festival. January 1. Attracts the infamous Sydney NYE party-goers as well as rested Sydneysiders. The festival offers an exemplary cross section of leftfield bands, artists and DJ's for the true music lovers' delectation. Past artists have included The Presets and Kaskade.

- Big Day Out, [40]. An Australia-wide rock/alternative music festival with a side of dance, plays to up to 60 000 Sydneysiders at a time for one or two days in late January (normally on the January 26th public holiday). Past acts have included Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Muse, the Chemical Brothers and Marilyn Manson from overseas, and Powderfinger, Regurgitator and Gerling from Australia. It normally sells out the day of ticket release.

- St. Jerome's Laneway Festival, [41]. An alternative/indie music festival held in January/February each year (see website for upcoming dates), where bands play in laneways around the city, this this festival a rather unique vibe and atmosphere. The Festival attracts both international and domestic artists, which has included such artists like Feist, Architecture in Helsinki and Born Ruffians. If you're interested in getting involved in the Sydney 'underground' or alternative/indie scene, this festival is a good start.

- Sydney Fringe Festival, [42]. Features fringe art in the form of film, TV, performance and sport.

February

- Good Vibrations Festival, [43]. A multi-genre festival held in February every year attracting major international acts like Fatboy Slim, Cypress Hill, Kanye West, Beastie Boys and Snoop Dogg.

- Future Music Festival. Held in late February every year, drawing in an enviable array of international and domestic artists like Paul Oakenfold, Basement Jaxx, N*E*R*D ft. Pharrell Williams, and CSS.

- Chinese New Year. Widely celebrated by Sydney's Chinese community, with the centre of festivities being at Chinatown. Look out for Lion dancing, Dragonboat races at Darling Harbour, and of course plenty of good food.

March

- Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, [44]. A festival organised by and for the gay community. It includes sports, cultural and arts events that run throughout February, culminating in the Mardi Gras parade in Darlinghurst on the first Saturday of March each year. The festival began as a street protest, and has grown into a huge celebration.

- Royal Easter Show, [45]. Is the major agricultural show in New South Wales, and is held around Easter each year at Sydney Olympic Park. Farmers from all over the state come to show their prize produce. But it isn't just an agricultural show: a huge number of amusement ride operators set up for the show as well, together with vendors of the worst kind of child baiting junk food: fairy floss and deep fried hot dogs (known as "dagwood dogs" or "pluto pups").

- Sydney French Film Festival (The Alliance Francaise French Film Festival), [46]. Offers an impressive and ambitious panoramic view of contemporary French cinema, screening the films at Palace Academy Twin in Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Verona in Paddington & Norton Street in Leichhardt.

- V Festival, [47]. Showcases a huge array of international and domestic musical acts. Previous artists have included The Pixies, Beck, The Rapture, Groove Armada, Phoenix, The Pet Shop Boys, Jack Johnson, The Killers, Snow Patrol and The Human League.

- Cockatoo Island Festival. 25-27 March. Where lots of friendly people enjoy a fabulous mixture of music and culture while discovering one of Sydney's best kept secrets.

April

- Sydney German Film Festival (Audi Festival of German Films in Australia). Shows contemporary German films.

May

- Sydney Spanish Film Festival, [48]. Showcases the best that Spanish cinema has to offer.

- Biennale of Sydney, [49]. A contemporary arts and multimedia festival held in winter in even numbered years.

June

- Sydney Film Festival, [50]. Shows over 200 movies in 16 days, including an enormous number of Australian movies, most of which will premiere at the festival.

September

- Lavazza Italian Film Festival, [51]. Showcases the finest that Italian cinema has to offer, picking contemporary films from the vibrant Rome International Film Festival to the more established events such as the prestigious Berlinale and the world-famous Cannes Film Festival; and a selection of Italian Classics from the archives of the Cinecittà Studios in Rome.

October

- Sydney International Food Festival (Formerly October Good Food Month), [52]. Showcases the city's best restaurants, established and up-and-coming young chefs, food and wine culture. Events which were part of the Good Food Month will still be held, including "Let's do lunch" (set-menu lunch specials at Sydney's notable restaurants at $35), "Hats off dinners", the night noodle markets at Hyde Park, and hands-on cooking classes.

- Musica Viva Festival, [53]. Sydney's premier chamber music festival. The festival presents a rich feast of masterworks and musical treasures played by some of the world's finest practioners, interspersed with music of different cultures. It will be first held in October 2008.

- Sculpture by the Sea, [54]. Join tens of thousands of Sydneysiders as they take a leisurely walk between Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach to admire the numerous larger than life sculptures set up at both beaches and along the walk. Bring a camera to take snaps of the weird and wonderful exhibits.

December

- Homebake, [55]. A rock/alternative/dance festival featuring only Australian acts. It is held in the Domain in the city centre.

- Carols in the Domain, [56]. Held annually in the Domain in the city centre on the last Saturday before Christmas. Attracts around 100,000 people (so plan to get in there early for a good spot) with candles sing along as night falls.

- New Year's Eve. Features massive displays of pyrotechnics around Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge (including fireworks shot from the bridge itself). There are two shows, a "family show" at 9PM, and the major fireworks display at midnight. Immediately following the 9PM Family Fireworks, the spectacular Harbour of Light Parade begins. Over 50 vessels make a majestic passage on a 15km circuit around the Harbour, featuring illuminated emblems representing the Sydney New Year's Eve theme, glittering either on their hulls or masts. Many of the hotels and bars near the Harbour hold special parties with high cover charges, and boat cruises sell for a premium. Or get in early for the free alternative with some cheese, fruits, wine, picnic blanket and some friends on a warm summer night by the harbour. Save some sympathy for Northern Hemisphere cousins freezing in Times Square waiting for all the excitement of a ball dropping by a couple of metres.

Learn

You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, or take computer or business classes at City of Sydney Library, where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their café as well.

Buy

See the Sydney District Pages for things to buy in the City, and other Sydney districts.

Most stores will accept VISA/Mastercard credit cards, and only a few take only cash. American Express is generally accepted only at larger stores.

Currency exchange

As with the rest of Australia, currency exchange offices operate in a free market, and the small convenient exchange booth you pass on George Street, by the Opera House or at the airport can charge 15% or more over the best rate you can obtain elsewhere. As always, check rates and commission carefully. Know today's rate and be prepared to walk away if the amount of money they calculate isn't what you would expect. Banks typically offer much better rates, but are only open business hours on weekdays.

You may find it better to pay by credit card and use ATM withdrawals and have the certainty of getting the rate and fees provided by your bank.

Opening hours

Main department stores and speciality stores open around 9am and close around 6pm, staying open until 9pm on Thursday. On Sunday expect them to open around 10am in the suburbs, and around 11am in the city centre, and to close at 5pm. There are a few locations where you will find shops opening a little later, such as Darling Harbour which is open until 9pm every weeknight.

Large supermarkets will be open from 6am until midnight.

Many convenience stores, fast-food restaurants and petrol stations within the Sydney metro area are open 24 hours a day.

Banks will usually only open weekdays, with only an occasional branch opening Saturday morning. Travel agents (not including booking agents in tourist areas) close on Sundays.

Souvenirs

Those quintessential Aussie souvenirs - stuffed koalas and kangaroos, various "Australiana" knick-knacks - can be found in any souvenir store around the city, as well as in airport shops. Authentic Aboriginal/indigenous arts and crafts, such as traditional paintings, hand-made didgeridoos, are expensive, and the range in Sydney is much smaller than in Alice Springs. For those who only wish to take home a replica, as a memento of their trip to Australia, head to Paddy's Markets [57] in the Haymarket area of the southern end of the city. The markets also sell a huge range of souvenirs at much better prices than regular souvenir stores. Dollar shops (see "Food and Essentials" below) also sell souvenirs at bargain-basement prices, albeit at a much reduced quality.

Fashion

Australia's unique style and creativity means Sydney is developing on the international fashion circuit, as designs from Australians such as Wayne Cooper, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Lisa Ho, and Easton Pearson are seen around the globe. In fact, around 60 Australian labels are currently exporting their designs to boutiques and department stores in Asia, Europe and the United States.

The greatest concentration of clothing and accessories stores are to be found in the northern half of the CBD, starting from the Town Hall precinct, neat the Queen Victoria Building.

- Queen Victoria Building [58]in the City Centre is a renowned, beautifully maintained, 19th century sandstone building, home to over 400 stores. The stores in the building are laid out in a hierachial style- literally. The basement level has cheap, casual-fashion stores with a food court, the street level mid-range brand-name chains and level 3 is where various Australian designers, some European labels and Italian shoe stores are located. It is one of Sydney's more photogenic pieces of architecture. Located on George St adjacent to Town Hall.

- Castlereagh Street in the City Centre is lined by many of Sydney's most expensive European-label boutiques and jewellery stores.

- Department stores. There are only two of these in the City Centre, Myer [59] and David Jones [60], located practically next door to each other near the Pitt Street Mall, and joined by an above-ground covered pedestrian walkway. Both offer your standard department-store range of goods.

- Pitt Street Mall is a pedestrian mall in the City Centre. It is one block long between Market Street and King Street and is one of Australia's busiest and most cosmopolitan shopping precincts. Despite the areas small size, it is home to many flagship chain stores. However, many of the stores along The Mall is currently closed (June 2009) as they undergo renovation/construction.

- Oxford Street just east of the city is lined with shops, bars and nightclubs. The section between Taylor Square and Queen St, Woollahra is particularly good for mid-high end Australian fashion designers and boutiques. Some of these boutiques and other fashion retailers sell at Paddington Markets [61], which are held in the grounds of the Paddington public school every Saturday from 10am.

- Queen Street in Woollahra also east of the city is an upmarket shopping destination with high-end boutiques, food and homewares stores.

- Westfield Shopping Centres [62] Large shopping malls at Bondi Junction, Chatswood, and Parramatta. The Bondi Westfield offers the most upmarket experience, with many European fashion labels available. All are easily accessible by car and public transport, see the district articles for details.

- Birkenhead Point - A multi-story factory outlet in Sydney's Inner West. Short bus ride from the City Centre. Also accessible from the city centre by ferry from Circular Quay, though the usual trip time is far greater than the equivalent bus trip.

- DFO [63] is a place to shop for brand name fashions at discount prices. It is located near Sydney Olympic Park at the corner of Homebush Bay Drive and Underwood Road. By public transport, take the 525 bus from Strathfield Station to the last bus stop on Underwood Road.

- Warringah Mall [64] is a large cheerful mall on the Nothern Beaches on a sprawling complex that includes dolphin-featured waterfalls and sunny courtyards

Food and essentials

Prices are inflated in convenience stores and in tourist areas, and it is worth seeking out the supermarkets - even in the city centre. The main Supermaket Chains in Sydney are Woolworths [65], Coles [66], Franklins [67] and Aldi [68]. See the local guides for locations.

Postcards

Sydney postcards are least expensive at post offices (AUD 0.75), where you can buy stamps from as well. Convenience and souvenir stores may sell a wider range of (more expensive) postcards, but generally they do not sell stamps. An overseas stamp for a postcard costs AUD 1.40 [69].

Eat

Prices

Prices in Sydney's restaurants vary. A main meal in a mid-range restaurant is around $25 - $35. Upper mid-range averages around $35 - $45. At the real top-end places a dinner for two with wine can run up to $400-500 and beyond.

For the more budget-conscious, go for the "multicultural" restaurants, especially the Asian ones. Many restaurants also offer "lunch specials". For example, a good Korean "set lunch" can be found for less than $15.

Eating times

Cafés serving breakfast start opening at 6AM and breakfast is usually served until 11AM, or occasionally all day. Orders for lunch start at about noon and continue until about 3PM. Many cafes will start closing late afternoon, although a few may remain open for dinner.

Restaurants usually open for dinner around 5PM-6PM and while there are exceptions (usually concentrated in areas with active nightlife), last orders for dinner are typically taken around 10PM. Restaurants in business areas open for lunch as well. It is common for restaurants in suburban locations to sometimes be closed on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday nights.

It is more expensive to get a sit down meal in the evening, than it is for lunch.

Eat streets

Just about every suburb of Sydney will have a restaurant or two, a cafe or coffee shop, and a place that sells takeaway food.

However, there are are a number of places in Sydney where you can window shop through many restaurants, and take your choice.

All of Darling Harbour is like this, there are restaurants of every variety all along the waterfront. East Circular Quay in the City Centre is similar, along with the International Passenger Terminal on the west of Circular Quay.

In the east of the city, Victoria St in Darlinghurst and Crown St in Surry Hills (between Oxford and Cleveland Sts) have a large range of restaurants ranging from cheap Asian take-aways to mid-high end restaurants.

King Street, Newtown, centred on the railway station, has a constantly changing selection of good value restaurants, cafes and bars. Not at all touristy.

On the Lower North Shore Willoughby Road at Crows Nest, has honest and consistently good Indian, Thai, and other choices. Parramatta has a eating strip, many with alfresco options.

Splurge

There are luxurious hotels that can be found all over Sydney. The most expensive hotels are generally located in the CBD and the Rocks district, near the business hub of Sydney, close to many restaurants, often featuring spectacular harbour views. Some other high quality hotels are located in Darling Harbour.You may check the list below for specific locations.

Please visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.

Modern Australian

Thanks to Sydney's (or rather, Australia's) multicultural mix, "modern Australian" is usually characterised by a fusion of cuisines. Think entrees spiced with a Thai-inspired chilli dressing, mains with a hint of a Chinese-style ginger-based marinade or sunny Tuscan flavours- all in the same menu. Many of Australia's celebrity chefs are of ethnic backgrounds, and many have trained overseas, bringing with them a world of experience back home.

- Visit the Sydney Fish Markets in Pyrmont (within walking distance of Darling Harbour) for a lunch of fresh seafood of almost any description.

- Hit a steakhouse and try Australia's world-famous prime Angus beef. Easily accessible upmarket Sydney city steakhouses include I'm Angus [70] at Darling Harbour and Kingsley's [71] in Woolloomoolloo in the City East.

Alternatively, many CBD pubs offer $6 to $10 steak "meal deals", provided that you also order a particular alcoholic drink at the same time. You can also go to Phillip's Foote [72] at The Rocks to cook your own steak on a BBQ.

Multicultural

For those who are after authentic multicultural culinary experiences, there are unique "food districts" scattered around the greater city. The range of food available is huge and isn't necessarily expensive. It is usually possible to find a restaurant of any nationality, specialising in almost any cuisine.

- Yum cha in Chinatown is very good, arguably even better than Hong Kong since many of their best chefs moved to Sydney in the 1990s. Yum Cha is an entire meal comprising many small dishes called "dim sum" (Mandarin: dian xin). It's similar to Spanish tapas in serving style- but the food moves in roving, heated trolleys around the restaurant.

- Eat Chinese (Cantonese) in Chinatown Chatswood on the North Shore. "Noodle markets" are also held in Chinatown every Friday, starting from around 5:30PM. Many Chinatown restaurants hold open-air stalls, selling everything from finger food, to stir-fry noodles, to Chinese-style desserts. For more northern Chinese flavours, including Shanghainese and Pekingnese, head to Ashfield and Strathfield in the Sydney/Inner West- both easily accessible via public transport. Some outer suburbs are particularly known for their Chinese restaurants - recommended examples are Eastwood (north-west), Parramatta (west) and Hurstville in Sydney's southern suburbs which all have a number of restaurants offering more home-style Chinese food. They are all accessible by public transport.

- Eat Uyghur on Dixon Street, Haymarket (Chinatown)- fiery, flavour-bursting food originating from the Turkic regions of Central Asia.

- Eat Thai in one of the many low priced Thai outlets in Newtown's King Street in the Inner West.

- Eat Italian in one of the restaurants in Leichhardt's Norton Street, or nearby Ramsay Street, Haberfield in the Inner West. Or in Stanley St in East Sydney - a walk from the CBD.

- Eat Spanish in Liverpool Street in the city.

- Eat Portuguese in Petersham in the Inner West.

- Eat Indian in one of the many restaurants in the Outer West with all types of Indian cuisine (North Indian, South Indian, Vegetarian, meat, etc.)

- Eat Korean in Liverpool & Pitt St in City, Strathfield, Eastwood and Campsie.

- Eat Japanese in Neutral Bay or Crows Nest.

- Eat Nepalese in Glebe Point Road, Glebe, in the Inner West.

- Eat Turkish in Auburn (Outer West). Closer to the city, there try Enmore Rd Enmore / South King St Newtown in the Inner West. Get your Sucuklu and Pastirmali here.

- Eat Lebanese in Cleveland Street. Baba Ghanouj, Lahem Begin and Baclawa here. Salam Alaikum.

- Eat Vietnamese. The most authentic Vietnamese can be experienced in Cabramatta.

- Eat Kosher in Bondi. Many great restaurants throughout the area.

- Eat Indonesian in Anzac Parade, Kingsford & Maroubra.

Many of the areas mentioned above also sell produce related to the original nationality of the locals. CityRail also has a section for eating your way round Sydney by train. Organised by each train line, you will find a range of places to eat out often within easy walking distance of stations [73].

Take away

Take away food in Sydney can be as cheap as buying the ingredients and making it yourself, and many stores specialise in take-away food. There will usually be a picnic table, park or beach nearby to eat whatever you can select. Quintessential Aussie takeaways include the meat pie (minced beef with gravy sauce in a crusty pastry shell) and sausage roll (sausage mince in a puff pastry casing), usually topped generously with tomato sauce/ketchup.

Most restaurants will do take-away food as well, but almost certainly at a premium to the cost of buying food from a take-away. Outside of the city an occasional restaurant may offer a 10% discount for take-away.

Vegetarian and special diets

Vegetarians are well catered for. Every restaurant will usually have at least one vegetarian dish. Indian retaurants can be relied upon to provide a wider selection. Maya Sweets on Cleveland St is a must visit for vegetarians and Wafu does Japanese with lots of vegan and vegetarian options. The trendy East Sydney and Inner West suburbs have many choices, Cabramatta in the western suburbs have many Asian Buddhist cuisine resturants that are vegan and vegetarian.

There is an awareness of gluten-free and dairy-free diets in Sydney, and again the more trendier inner city suburbs are more likely to cater for these diets.

Food festivals

It seems every weekend, there is a food festival on in one of the suburbs of Sydney. Usually the idea is that restaurants take part, providing smaller portions of their signature dishes around $7-$12 a plate.

The largest good festival, the Sydney International Food Festival, [74] which showcases Sydney's food culture is in October, which includes the night noodle markets operating in Hyde Park in the City Centre

Tipping

Most bars and clubs in Sydney will simply return your change, and no tip is expected. Some more upmarket bars will return your change on a tray. Most Sydneysiders will simply collect the change from the tray, however feel free to leave the coins on the tray if you would like to tip. Working out a percentage of the drink cost, or tip per drink is never required.

Drink

Sydney has an enormous number of places to drink and party. A limited number of venues have 24-hour licenses, however the majority close before 3AM and some as early as 11PM, particularly if there are nearby residents.

Busy venues will have door staff checking photo identification to determine that you are over 18. Admission is also commonly refused to those who seem visibly drunk. More popular venues have discriminatory door practices, the most common of which is refusing entry to groups of men who are not accompanied by women. Some pubs and most clubs will admit children accompanied by adults as long as they don't approach the bar or enter an area where there is gambling. Check with staff at the venue. Some pubs don't provide a nice environment for children some nights.

Many places have at least a basic dress code, enforced all hours in the city, and usually after 7pm in the suburbs. For most generic pubs, men should wear closed toe shoes (not running sneakers), full-length pants, and a shirt with sleeves (not a singlet). For clubs, men should don neat business-style shoes. In almost all cases, women can dress more freely, but a small number of places require closed shoes or dressy sandals or high heels.

Many pubs are called hotels, but only very few can ever offer you a place to sleep. Hotel pubs are usually found on a street corner with at least one ground-floor bar, and are usually a few floors high (though not all floors may be open to the public).

Entry charges for live music or DJs are usual and range from $5 to $30 depending on clientèle. Entry charges are rare if you're going into a pub for a drink.

There is a taxi shift change at 3AM, and it is notoriously difficult to catch a taxi anywhere between 2:30AM and 3:30AM. Also beware that there is currently a government enforced lockout at many establishments between 2 and 5AM - which means that you need to stay inside or you won't be able to get back in - even if you go out for a cigarette (smoking is illegal inside). Ask the bouncers or some locals if you're unsure and they will tell you which places are affected by the lockout and which aren't.

Some types of nightlife are concentrated in particular areas:

- Backpackers drink near the hostels, and will find a lot of fellow budget travellers in pubs in the Eastern Suburbs Beaches like Bondi Beach and Kings Cross in the City East

- In some ways Irish pubs are a global phenomenon, but they've certainly taken Sydney by storm. Irish pubs are concentrated in both The Rocks area and the southern area of the city. They are outrageously popular on the 17th March for St Patrick's Day.

- Business pubs also cater to the city crowd: lawyers, financiers and brokers and are very busy Friday nights when the city workers are let loose for the week.

- Large nightclubs are concentrated in the Darling Harbour area.

- Sydney's large gay scene is concentrated on Oxford Street in City East although it still has a large range of pubs and clubs for all ranges of sexuality and is a prominent nightspot for many party-goers. Sydney's queer community also can often be found on King Street in Newtown which offers a more relaxed place to gather and far less yobs.

- Sydney's students drink in the Inner West. Try student bars Manning at Sydney Uni, the Roundhouse at UNSW and the Loft at UTS which all offer pleasant, hassle free environments, and noone checks if you're a student. The Clare opposite UTS on Broadway, though very ratty looking, is a similarly popular place for students.

- Some nightclubs and Sydney's younger party-goers are found in North Sydney.

- Sydney's microbreweries are in the Rocks and the City Centre.

There are many great nightclubs in Sydney, unfortunately they are very spread out so it would be a good idea to get an idea of were you want to go. Check guides in Friday's newspapers, or the free guides available in music stores and youth clothing stores.

Tipping

Most bars and clubs in Sydney will simply return your change, and no tip is expected. Some more upmarket bars will return your change on a tray. Most Sydneysiders will simply collect the change from the tray, however feel free to leave the coins on the tray if you would like to tip. Working out a percentage of the drink cost, or tip per drink is never required.

Sleep

Sydney Accommodation Statistics

- Total number of hotels: 353

- 3 star and below price range: $23 - $189

- 4 star price range: $63 - $304

- 5 star price range: $74 - $428

Price in US Dollars. Statistics aggregated from 30+ major hotel reservations websites. Updated Aug 2008.

Sydney has hundreds of accommodation options in the central sydney area to consider, from backpackers hotels to five star hotels with harbour and Opera House views. However, there are options out of the city centre too.

If you are travelling on business, there may be business style accommodation near to where you are working, and there is usually no need to stay in the city. There are options around the commercial areas at the airport in Southern Sydney, around Macquarie Park in the North West, and at Parramatta.

If you are travelling with a car, then finding a place to park, and getting into and out of the city can be a hassle. The Hume Highway in Sydney's South West has the standard roadside motels where you can park by your room, with the service station or fast food outlet next door.

If you are into camping, the closest camping to the city centre is on the Cockatoo Island in the harbour. You can pitch a tent in Lane Cove National Park, less than 10km from the city centre, and a train station around 750m from the closest train station.

If you are into the beach, the Manly and Bondi are the two obvious places to consider. From Manly 25 minutes on the ferry has you right in the centre of Sydney. Some of the lesser known suburbs have accommodation options. Cronulla has beachfront accommodation, facilities and is the only beachside suburb of Sydney with a train station (45 minutes from downtown).

Budget

Sydney has a wide range of backpackers' hostels - popular districts for these include the southern half of the CBD and Haymarket , Glebe and Kings Cross, the Eastern Suburbs(Bondi, Coogee) and the Northern Beaches (Manly).

Mid-range

You find many mid-range accommodation providers within the CBD (mostly in the southern Haymarket end), and within a short distance of the city by public transport, including in North Sydney, the Inner West and the North Shore. Sometimes a cheaper motel style accommodation can be obtained on the roads leading into Sydney, particular in South Western Sydney

Splurge

There are luxurious hotels that can be found all over Sydney. The most expensive hotels are generally located in the CBD and the Rocks district, near the business hub of Sydney, close to many restaurants, often featuring spectacular harbour views. Some other high quality hotels are located in Darling Harbour.You may check the list below for specific locations.

Please visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.

Serviced apartments

Serviced, short-term apartments are widely available throughout Sydney and are available for stays as short as one night. Amenities typically include kitchen, washer and dryer, and separate bedrooms. A range of properties exist from budget to five-star.

Please visit one of the various Sydney districts described in the Districts section above to see the accommodation listings.

Read

- Robert Hughes, The Fatal Shore - The early chapters in this fantastically evocative treatment by a born and bred Sydneysider is a real eye-opener to Sydney's convict beginnings. Highly recommended.

- John Birmingham, Leviathan, The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney - A history of Sydney from its beginnings as a penal colony to contemporary times. Non-fiction, it discusses incidents and themes in an anecdotal fashion. Definitely not your usual historical work.

Stay safe

The Australia-wide emergency number is 000, with the ambulance service, fire department and police being available through this number.

Theft

Sydney has similar crime issues to most large western cities. Be on the lookout for the usual big city petty crime problems.

Sydney has a large number of beggars, even for a city so large. You should keep your wits about you at all times day and night. People begging may ask for money or cigarettes, but they are generally harmless. They will often make up elaborate stories about needing a train fare etc. Simply say "Sorry, no" and they will usually leave you alone. More persistent beggars may swear at you, harass you or otherwise continue to both you, but usually this will not escalate if, after a 'no sorry' you do not engage with them in any way.

Many smokers do not smoke in the street to avoid being asked for cigarettes (it's almost guaranteed in some parts of Sydney, especially around Central Station or in parks). If you don't feel comfortable with this it is better to smoke down side streets.

Alcohol-fuelled violence

Take care walking around George Street, The Rocks or Oxford Street especially on Friday and Saturday nights as there are many drunk people around who can get into fights. Usually fights with drunks are not completely random, and start with some sort of engagement. Avoid trouble, and don't hesitate to call police if you feel threatened.

Other violent crime

There are few complete no-go areas in Sydney.

The Block on Eveleigh Street in Redfern, directly opposite Redfern station, is still to a certain extent an area demonstrating urban Aboriginal disadvantage. It is slowly being redeveloped, and the murals, vandalism, drugs and hopelessness being bulldozed. Common sense would tell you to avoid this area, unless you have a desire to see this side of Sydney, in which case take extra care.

Some areas of South Western Sydney, like Cabramatta, Lakemba, Liverpool, Hoxton Park have a reputation. The reality is that the risk of violent crime to travellers is no greater here than in the city, especially during the day, when they are busy, vibrant centres. However, avoid going to these areas at night, as the risk of violent crime increases considerably.

Be careful in the red light area of Kings Cross at night. Although the main street in this area has been cleaned up immeasurably by the police, crime does still occur and pickpocketing or mugging can happen to the unwary, especially in quiet laneways. Women should take extra care at bars and keep an alert companion at hand, especially in the central hostel area, and take precautions against spiked drinks.

Public transport after dark

After 9PM, smaller outer suburban stations can be very quiet, and many are totally unstaffed after this time. The trains can also be empty when they get towards the end of the line at this time. Don't expect a taxi to be waiting at every station--only the major ones will harive a well patronised taxi rank.

Travel in the carriage closest to the guard's compartment, which is marked with a blue light on the outside of the train. Drunk people are common on trains late at night, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. If you ever feel concerned for your safety on any Cityrail train, you can call 1800 657 926 to speak with Cityrail security, then can sometimes arrange for a transit patrol to board the train and provide assistance. It is generally more advisable to seek assistance from the guard however as Transit Officers are few and far between. In more modern trains, you can press the button in the entry area to speak with the guard. Every train station has an orange emergency help point monitored by CCTV that connects to Cityrail security, usually towards the centre of the platform.

Nightride buses, which replace trains after midnight, can arrange for a taxi to meet you when you get off. Ask the driver.

Beachgoing

If you are going to the beach, take the same precautions as you do anywhere in Australia. See Beach going.

Sydney has no really dangerous jellyfish. Bluebottles (Portugese Man-Of-War) are blueish-purple stingers that hit the Sydney beaches a couple of days every summer, when the wind direction is right. They have an air-bladder that floats on the water, and stinging tenticles. Often the air-bladder can be no bigger than a coin. You will see the evidence of them with their air-bags washed up on the beach if they are present. They can give a painful sting - even when on the beach - but it won't keep everyone out of the water. Apply a heat pack if you can, or ice, or salt water. The best way to remove the pain is to run the affected area under the hottest water you can stand. Vinegar is useless. Sometimes small transparent jellyfish appear in the harbour and estuaries. You can usually avoid any groups of them, but they are mostly harmless. More rarely larger purple jellyfish are in the harbour and other estuaries. If you see these in the estuaries, best to stay out of their way. Probably more of an issue to water skiers than to swimmers.

Sydney ocean beaches all have shark mesh nets around 100 metres out to sea, and are regularly patrolled by air for sharks. A shark alarm will sound if any are sighted, and you should get out of the water. The risk of shark attack swimming on a patrolled beach between the flags is virtually nil. Shark attacks are rare on Sydney beaches, but they have occurred, although there have been no fatal attacks for 45 years. Advice is to avoid swimming in murky water after storms, or at dusk or at dawn, and to swim in the netted enclosures within the harbour and other estuaries.

Other risks

Take note of the general issues regarding staying safe in Australia.

Stay healthy

If you need an ambulance, call 000.

Medical centres with general practicioners are available for minor ailments without an appointment around the city and suburbs. Expect to wait around an hour or so to see a doctor. Upfront charges are usually around $50 for a standard consultation, and most centres accept credit cards. Many medical centres remain open until 10PM or so, and a few remain open 24-hours. Those with an Australian Medicare card will find many medical centres in Sydney that "bulk-bill".

Most hospitals in Sydney have emergency departments, but check before attending as some do not. Those emergency departments are open 24-hours. See the Australia article for more details on health charges.

Many pharmacies stay open after normal business hours, often in proximity to medical centres, and there are a few that stay open 24-hours. You can call +61 2 9467 7100 to find the location of your closest after hours pharmacy.

Contact

See the Sydney district guides for local information, or the Australia guide for broader options.

Cope

- Custom Luggage Repair Center, 317 Sussex Street, 02 9261 1099. Offers luggage repair services.

- Newspapers. Sydney has two major dailies: The Sydney Morning Herald, a broadsheet[76], which is considered the city's newspaper of record, and a populist, generally right-leaning tabloid, The Daily Telegraph[77]. Leafing through the Herald can be a good way to get an idea of what's happening in the city, and of attempting to understand the complicated morass that is Sydney politics. Newsagents also stock The Australian[78], a right-leaning national broadsheet, and The Australian Financial Review[79], as well as one or more local suburban papers (usually weekly, although larger ones publish more often). Finally, you'll see mX being handed out on weekday afternoons in the CBD - this is something of a rag containing little hard news, focusing instead on pop culture and 'offbeat' stories.

Get out

There are a number of good one or two day trips from Sydney:

- Drive across the Bell's Line of Road over the Blue Mountains to the Western Plains. Buy produce (apples, pears, chestnuts and berries) from the orchard vendors at the side of the road if driving over in autumn. A few of these orchards also offer pick-your-own. Towns to stop by include Lithgow, which is at the foot of the mountains; Bathurst, home to the Mount Panorama motor racetrack, and Orange (3 hours from Sydney), a beautiful rustic town with a great (cold climate) wine district and several fantastic restaurants by eminent chefs, and which is fast becoming a wine-and-foodie region of New South Wales to upstage the Hunter Valley.

- Travel up into the wilderness area of the Blue Mountains. There are a number of good day walks in the Katoomba area, or you could tour Jenolan Caves. These are easily accessible on the Cityrail network to Katoomba.

- Royal National Park, in the south of Sydney and accessible by train has nice 1 to 2 day walks.

- Newnes Glen in Wollemi National Park.

- Kanangra Boyd National Park.

- Take a tour of the Hunter Valley wineries.

- Wollongong is a lovely small city south of Sydney, accessible by driving down the F6 freeway or taking an hourly Cityrail train.

- Head up to Gosford or Woy Woy for some quieter, but picturesque beaches. Both of these towns are accessible by the Central Coast and Newcastle Cityrail lines.

- Head up to the regional city of Newcastle by Cityrail train and take in some of the Victorian architecture and fantastic city beaches.

Or if you are moving on:

- Travel to Melbourne, Australia's second city (although don't mention that when you get there).

- Its 1000km closer and often cheaper to get to Auckland than it is to get to Perth.

- 3000km drive to Alice Springs. At least a 3 night trip, stopping at Hay, Adelaide & Coober Pedy.

District City Centre Table of Contents

• Get in

By train

By bus

By ferry

By monorail

By car

Parking

By bike

• Get around

By foot

By bike

Bike hire

By bus

CBD free shuttle

Public buses

Hop-on Hop-off

By train

By car

• See

Landmarks

Museums and Galleries

Historic sites

Parks and gardens

Sydney Botanic Gardens

Other City Parks

Architecture

• Do

Harbour cruises

Theatre

Music

Cinema

• Buy

George Street

Pitt Street Mall

St James

Castlereagh Street and Martin Place

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Bars

Pubs

Nightclubs

Gig guides

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Stay safe

• Contact

Internet

Phone

• Get out

Get in
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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 Infoline, 13 15 00, [1]. 24 hours. Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney. Available online and by telephone

By train
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The City Circle is a two way train loop of five stations.

- Town Hall. Centrally located. Best for shopping, Pitt St Mall, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney Tower.

- Wynyard

- Circular Quay. Opera House, Ferries, Harbour Foreshore, Botanic Gardens

- St James. Hyde Park, St Mary's Cathedral, State Library, Art Gallery

- Museum. Hyde Park War Memorial

There is also a station at Martin Place

Avoid getting off at Central, in the City South for the City Centre, it is really only Central as far as the train network is concerned.

When buying a ticket, you can just press the City button on the ticket machines, or ask for a ticket to the City at any ticket window. You can get off at any city stations above. If you are travelling from the North Shore to Wynyard, get a ticket to Wynyard which will often be cheaper.

By bus
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Direct buses to the city centre are available from many inner suburbs, and some outer regions.

Sydney provides a free bus shuttle (route 555) around the CBD from 9:30AM to 3:30PM weekdays (or to 9PM Thursdays and 9:30AM-6PM on weekends [2] connecting Central Station in the City South and the City Centre.

If you are travelling from the CBD by bus on a weekday from 7AM until 7PM, you have to purchase a ticket before you get on the bus. Tickets can be purchased though from hundreds of shops around the city.

By ferry
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The most pleasant way to arrive in Sydney city or to get out and see the harbour or north shore, is by ferry [3].

Most Sydney Ferry routes (from 41 wharves around the harbour suburbs) start or finish at Circular Quay, at the northern end of the CBD.

Take a ferry to Manly, Watsons Bay in the East, or Parramatta in the west, all for far cheaper than taking a tour.

There is a train station and major bus terminus for connections to other parts of the city.

By monorail
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A one way monorail loop links the City Centre with the City South and Darling Harbour. Stations are at the World Square, City Centre and Galleries Victoria retail complexes, from where you can link to Town Hall. One ride will cost $4.80 per person with no discount for children. [4]. It is more of a tourist ride than a common form of transport around the city. There are all day tickets available.

By car
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The city is accessible to private vehicles. It is 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.

Parking
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Garage Parking can vary from around $18 to over $70 for a day on a weekday. Doing a little research and arriving and leaving at the right times can save you over $50 on a weekday. 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.

- Opera House Car Park, at the end of Macquarie St, $14 on weekdays entering before 10AM, and exit after 3PM and before 7:30PM. ($42 otherwise for day parking, or $32 if you enter after 5PM). $15 on weekends, provided you exit before 5PM.

- Queen Victoria Building Car Park, $27 enter before 9:30AM, exit after 4PM and before 7:30PM. $50 all day otherwise. $15 Sunday parking.

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. Some 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 expensive.

By bike
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One of quietest approach to the city is from the west at Darling Harbour and Pyrmont. The 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.

Maps and other information for cyclists around the inner city are provided by the local government. [5].

Get around
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Looking for the Bridge? Don't follow Bridge St

Bridge St is one of the major east-west roads in the city centre, running just behind Circular Quay. It goes nowhere near the Harbour Bridge. The road is one of the earliest in the colony of New South Wales, and the site of the first government house, very near the first settlement. It was also the site of the first bridge built in Sydney, over the Tank Stream, which was Sydney's first water supply. The Tank Stream has long since been buried and become an underground drain. The name Bridge St remains.

The city has a very rough grid system, with George St being the major city street running all the way from Central Station in the south to Circular Quay and The Rocks in the north, with Pitt and Castlereagh St running parallel through the city centre. City blocks are small.

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

By foot
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Most of the attractions below are within a 1.5 km radius, and are easy to walk around.

By bike
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There are no off-road cycleways around the city, and you can be fined for using the footpaths and pedestrian malls. You will see a few other cyclists, and cycle couriers cycling around the city, but you will be in heavily outnumbered by cars, buses and taxis. If you leave your bike unattended, even briefly, then ensure that you secure it well, including both wheels as bike thefts are common.

Bike hire
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- Sydney By Bike, [6]. Delivery to city hotels

By bus
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CBD free shuttle
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A free air-conditioned green-and-white-coloured bus service, numbered 555, run a continuous loop in both directions around the central city area. The route travels north and south along Elizabeth and George St, crossing east-west between the them at Bridge St in the north, and Eddy Avenue at Central Station in the south, making just a small diversion to travel via Circular Quay. There are bus stops every hundred metres or so along the route - look for the green 555 indicator on the bus stop.

The westbound Eddy Avenue/Central Railway Station bus stop is on the traffic island at the traffic light crossing outside the Eddy Avenue Central Station exit. The eastbound station is at the bus terminal on the other side of the St (Stand C).

The free shuttle runs from 9:30AM to 3:30PM on Mon, Tues, Weds and Fri; from 9:30AM to 9PM on Thurs (for extended shopping hours) and from 9:30AM to 6PM on weekends. There is no bus timetable for the 555. Its frequency varies from one every 10 min during peak usage period (Thursday evening extended shopping hours, weekends) to every 20 min during other times.

The buses can fill up, and the drivers won't overfill them, particularly along George St heading south. Don't make them your only transport option if you have a deadline. If it is a nice day, consider planning your day to walk the Sydney CBD and avoid this bus. You will save time spent waiting and in traffic, as well as crowds and frustration. The green buses run other routes outside of their operating hours, so check the destination and number.

Public buses
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All are numbered on their indicator boards at the front and on the left side of the bus. 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 (ie. to/from Circular Quay via George Street and to/from the Inner West). The ones starting with a "5" run along George St between Circular Quay and Town Hall before heading north west.

Every bus doesn't stop at every stop. The major bus interchanges (Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall) have multiple stops labelled alphabetically. See the guide at the stops. Not all buses stop at all stops - you may have to walk to the previous/next stop.

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

By train
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Trains run both ways around the city circle 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 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line and has services every 10 min to Town Hall and Central.

Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place and St James stations are located within 1km of each other, so unless you are feeling particularly energetic, catching the train or bus between them will take longer than the walk.

By car
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It is unusual to drive between city centre attractions, and it can be problematic if you are unfamiliar with the area. Attractions in the city are not signposted from the city roads. The only directional signs you will see will point you out of the city, across the harbour bridge or to the west or east. There is a one way system and few right hand turns are permitted. Some right hand turns are legally possible, but are difficult to find breaks in traffic. The quickest route from where you are to your city destination will not always be apparent from a map, and even the best GPS will struggle in the canyons of the city.

If you are driving into the city, best to navigate straight to a parking lot nearby. If you are going between multiple desinations in the city, walking is usually the quickest way.

See
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Landmarks
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- Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Circular Quay (At the northern end of Macquarie St), +61 2 9250 7111 (information) or ☎+61 2 9250 7777 (ticket bookings), [7]. The Sydney Opera House in the north east of the city is one of Sydney's most beautiful and unusual buildings; its sail shaped structure, designed by Jørn Utzon, is world famous. The Opera House is also host to most of Sydney's major classical music and opera events. You can walk all around the building, and some of the foyer areas free of change. Guided tours of the inside are available for $28 and leave every 30 min and take about one hour. There are some tours run in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Depending on ongoing rehearsal or performances not all parts may be visited. (-33.85722,151.21526)

- Circular Quay. Is the hub of the Sydney Harbour and is a vibrant, bustling place home to many buskers, the ferry terminal, overseas passenger terminal, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. It is pronounced Circular Key, not Circular Kway (-33.85146,151.21110)

- Sydney Tower (Centrepoint Tower), (Entry from Westfield Centrepoint, on Pitt St Mall), [8]. Towering above the city of Sydney since 1981, when it became the tallest structure in the city, the Sydney Tower reaches a total height of 305 m - great views are available from the 250 m high viewing level. The tower is Australia's tallest free-standing structure and the second highest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere after the Sky Tower in Auckland) (-33.87053,151.20904)

Museums and Galleries
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Historic sites
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Parks and gardens
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Sydney Botanic Gardens
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Other City Parks
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Architecture
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Do
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Harbour cruises
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Theatre
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Music
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Cinema
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Buy
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George Street
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Pitt Street Mall
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St James
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Castlereagh Street and Martin Place
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Eat
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Budget
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Mid-range
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Splurge
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Drink
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Bars
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Pubs
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Nightclubs
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Gig guides
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Sleep
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Budget
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Mid-range
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Splurge
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Stay safe
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Contact
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Internet
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Phone
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Get out
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District The Rocks Table of Contents

• Get in

• Get around

• See

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Historical sites

Museums and galleries

• Do

Theatre

Tours

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Mid-range

Splurge

• Stay safe

Get in
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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).

The closest train station is Circular Quay, but Wynyard is only a little further away, and saves a change of train if you are coming from the North Shore, or the west.

Bus routes routes 431, 433 and 339 stop at various locations within The Rocks, but just about all other City buses stop at Circular Quay or Wynyard, which is only a short walk away.

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.

The Rocks isn't signposted as a destination on city roads if you are driving. 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 area, 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.

There are no ferry wharfs in the district, the closest is at Circular Quay.

Get around
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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.

See
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Sydney Harbour Bridge
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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 Australian's largest city is unrivalled. There are many ways to see an experience the bridge. The bridge doesn't go to nowhere. 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 gig, 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 in the Rocks, all way from Circular Quay that continues under the Harbour Bridge. The walk goes in front of the International Passenger Terminal, and will take around 45 minutes. The walk is free.

- You can walk over the bridge. The views are great and admission is free. On the southern side the entrance 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, but 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. You can also get the lift up to the Cahill Expressway from Circular Quay, and walk around in about 10 minutes. Don't follow the road signs or any roadway on to the Bridge. Doing this will hopefully get you stopped by police before you meet a worse fate with the traffic. The entrance at the northern side is easy to find, about 30 metres south of the Milsons Point Station. There is no way to access the bridge without stairs. There are many flights at Milsons Point and Cumberland St, and two flights from the Cahill down to the bridge platform. 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. There usually available 2 hour metre parking near the northern entrance at Milsons Point. The walk is 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 climb up the the Bridge Pylon to the Pylon Lookout. Entrance is from the pedestrian walkway. A small "museum" of sorts is found in the pylon, describing pictorially the history of the bridge. The view here is just as good as from the Centrepoint tower. You are out in the open air, next to the harbour, and you didn't come to Sydney to see another Skyscraper did you? +61 2 9240 1100. The pylon is open 10AM to 5PM every day except Christmas Day. Admission is $9.50 adults, $4 children under 13, and free for children under 7.

- You can have a picnic under it. Their 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 too, sheltered high above by the bridge platform.

- You can cycle over it. There is a cycle lane on the western side of the bridge, dedicated to cyclists. However, the cycle will only take you a minute or two, before returning you to the city roads. The distance is more suited to walking.

- You can climb to the top of the arch of the bridge. For those who are good with heights and enjoy an spectacular view of the harbour, there are organised climbs to the top of the bridge. +61 2 8274 7777, fax +61 2 9240 1122 [1] [2]. This climb is more demanding than climbing a set of stairs (although it is not so demanding as the name implies): you will be fitted with special climbing suits and secured and you must be 10 or over to climb. The climb takes three and a half hours and a climb leaves every ten minutes. You can climb during the day, at twilight and at night. Book your climb as early as possible as the climb is very popular. Loose items including cameras are prohibited on the climb; Bridge Climb staff will take a photo of you, but you may not take photographs yourself. Standard rates are $160 adults and $100 children (Monday to Thursday, day and night climbs), $185 adults and $125 children (Friday to Saturday, day and night climbs), and $225 adults and $175 children (all week, twilight climbs). Peak rates are in place between the 25th December and 9th January and are $195 adults and $125 children (day and night climbs) and $250 adults and $175 children (twilight).

Historical sites
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- Cadman's Cottage [3], 110 George Street North (harborside, below street level), open daily Mo-Fr 9.30AM-4.30PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4.30PM, closed Christmas and Good Friday, free admission. The last relic of the small, relatively plain buildings that once ringed Sydney Cove in the early colonial period, this small sandstone cottage was built 1815-1816. The building has survived largely because of constant Government or institutional ownership, first as a barracks, then as Cadman’s residence as superintendent of Government Craft (1826-45). From 1845-64, the cottage served as the Water Police Headquarters, and, from 1865-1970, the Sydney Sailors’ Home Trust. Restoration began in 1972 and the building is now used as an information centre by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Cottage was originally built by the water side - with reclamation over the years, the shoreline of Sydney Cove is now 100 meters distant.

- The Argyle Cut. Follow Argle St through this historic sandstone road cutting made between 1843 and 1867.

- The Garrison Church. The Garisson Church was the colony's first military church.

Museums and galleries
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- Sydney Observatory, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, +61 2 9921 3485, [4]. 10AM–5PM. Australia's oldest observatory. It has a variety of exhibitions, a “beanbag planetarium” and, of course, telescopes. The parks and views of the harbour from the Observatory Hill are exceptional, and its worth a visit even if you have no interest in astronomy, and you aren't even going into the building. You can also book a night tour [5] (Adults $15, children $10), guided by an astronomer, which you get to use the telescope, and see what is visible on the night. The old telescopes here aren't the most powerful around, and the portable telescopes they have set up are just as powerful as the large ones in the domes. Still, it makes for a fun, informative night out. Children are catered for in both the daytime and evening sessions. Daytime admission is free.

- Susannah Place, 58–64 Gloucester Street, +61 2 9241 1893 (fax: +61 2 9241 2608), [6]. Sa–Su 10AM–5PM, daily during January, Tu–W booked group visits only (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday). . Built in 1844, Susannah Place Museum preserves a row of four terrace houses that incorporate a re-created 1915 corner store, providing a rare opportunity to construct patterns of domestic working class life from the mid 1840s to the late 20th century. It is evidence of the richness of community life that once existed in The Rocks. The modest interiors and rear yards illustrate the restrictions of 19th century inner city life. Adult $8, child/concession $4, family $17.

- Colonial House Museum. A restored colonial terrace house with a vast photographic and artifacts museum.

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

Theatre
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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 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.

- The Wharf Theatre, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. Situated on an old, renovated finger wharf. There is a bar and restaurant open during the show and at intermission. Booking for the restaurant is a good idea.

- Sydney Theatre [7]. A larger, more modern theatre across the road from the water, and around 300m further up Hickson Road. Again, it has a bar open before shows and at intermission. It is a larger theatre than the wharf theatres, seating nearly 1000.

Tours
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- Bonza Bike Tours, +61 02 9247 8800 Email Bonza Bike Tours. Offers a range of guided bicycle tours that start in The Rocks and take in various precincts throughout Sydney. Bicycle hire and bike rentals are also available.

- The Rocks Ghost Tours, 1300 731 971[8]. Tours depart 6:45PM (April-October) or 7:45PM (November-March), Wise to book ahead. Mo-Su, $34.

Buy
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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.

- The Rocks Market [9], far northern end of George Street, open every weekend, Sa-Su 10AM-5PM, managed by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, info tel +61 2 9240 8717 - With over 150 stalls under colourful canopies, pick and choose from art and crafts, jewellery, photography, indigenous artwares and tasty food stalls.

Eat
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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
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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.

Mid-range
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- Phillips Foote, 101 George St (in the center of The Rocks Area), +61 2 9241 1485, [10]. Select your steak or fish from the display, and cook it yourself on the large BBQ grills in the courtyard. Add some salad, grab a beer from the bar and you are all set. If the steak isn't cooked to your liking, complain to the chef. $28.

- Pancakes on the Rocks, 10 Hickson Road, +61 2 9247 6371, [11]. A Rocks institution since 1975, serving mouth-watering pancakes stacked high. This restaurant can still draw queues that go right along the stairs, and have waiters that hand out menus to the people in the queue. The popularity likely as much due to the scene, as to the food, and certainly popular with the teenage crowd.

- Löwenbräu Keller, corner Playfair and Argyle Streets, +61 2 9247 7785, [12]. An authentic Bavarian German restaurant located in a convict-built cellar. Has a good vibe, usually with a combination of a visitor and local crowd, and usually a few noisy groups. Serves steins of a variety of beers in the German genre. If you want a sensible credit card bill at the end of the night, be careful not to get carried away with how many steins you have. They may taste good, and go down easily, but you'll be left with one serious bill to add to your headaches the next morning.

- La Renaissance Patisserie Francaise, 47 Argyle St, +61 2 9241 4878[13]. A sweet little cake shop serving the finest handmade cakes, pastries, savouries and chocolates in The Rocks. Also does Teas and Coffees.

- Sailors Thai, 106 George St, The Rocks, [14]. Mon-Sat noon-10pm. One of the Thai restaurants owned by David Thompson, probably one of the best Thai chefs in the world. Sydney Thai is unique, combining Thai flavours and spices with the quality ingredients available in Australia. The canteen upstairs is casual with a long shared table, but there is a more formal restaurant downstairs. Also has a branch in Potts Point (71a Macleay St).

Splurge
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- Rockpool, 107 George Street, +61 2 9252 1888 (fax: +61 2 9252 2421), [15]. Neil Perry operated restaurant. Fine dining in the Rocks since 1989, sophisticated seafood with an Asian fusion influence, winner of the prestigious mains starting from $54-$70.

- Pier, (At the Overseas Passenger Terminal).

- Quay, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, (02) 9251-5600, [16]. Quay has won the Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year several times and has truly spectacular food, service and views (of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House). The cuisine is Modern Australian and the produce used is top quality. Set menu for $155 per person before wine, but don't expect too much change from $400-500 including wine and tip.

Drink
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The Rocks pubs get busy most nights. It is a popular night spot for tourists and locals alike.

- The Orient, +61 2 9251 1255 (fax: +61 2 9247 4569), [17]. Housed in an historic building of the 1850s.

- The Mercantile Hotel, 25 George St, tel +61 2 9247 3570 - One of Sydney's premier Irish pubs, Guinness on tap.

- Hero of Waterloo, 81 Lower Fort St, +61 2 9252 4553. Built in 1843, this sandstone and timber pub has a great colonial ambiance

- The Lord Nelson, sandstone building on the corner of Kent Street and Argyle Street - Established in 1842, a micro-brew pub, with a variety of beers brewed on the premises. Nice bread and cheese, pie and peas. Popular, but usually not so crowded on a weeknight that you can't get a table.

- The Argyle, 12-18 Argyle St. The Rocks. Raw timber columns shoot to the ceilings among the daybeds which are set against a backdrop of sandstone walls. The venue has five bars and is a great evening all up. Often holds big functions on Friday and Saturday night, so it can be difficult to get in.

- Blu Horizon, Shangri-la Hotel Level 36, 176 Cumberland Street - Amazing views of Sydney Harbour.

- Harbour Bar, Park Hyatt Hotel, 7 Hickson Rd - Cosy, comfortable bar with a quieter ambience and views. Pricey.

- The Australian, 100 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, +61 2 9247 2229 [18]. The Australian boasts a prodigious range of Australian beers, and very good gourmet pizzas (ranging from vegetarian to crocodile). Can be hard to get a table between around 6PM and around 9PM.

Sleep
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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.

Mid-range
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- Old Sydney Holiday Inn [19], 55 George Street. ☎ +61 2 92520524, (fax: +61 2 92512093), (bdm@oldsydneyholidayinn.com.au). Rooms from $184.

- The Russell Hotel [20] 143a George Street. ☎ +61 2 9241 3543. (info@therussell.com.au) Boutique Bed and Breakfast in the heart of the Rocks. Rooms from $250 per night twin share.

- Harbour Rocks Hotel [21] 34-52 Harrington Street. ☎ +61 2 8220 9999.([22]) 4-star, boutique hotel housed in a 150 year old hertitage listed building which is on the site of Sydney's first hospital. Rooms from $179.

Splurge
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Hotels on Circular Quay are listed under City Centre.

- Observatory Hotel 89-113 Kent Street ☎ +61 2 9256 2222 [23]. The Observatory Hotel in Sydney has a European feel to it. Located on a quiet part of Kent St, a couple of min to walk to the Rocks, across from the Observatory park.

- Park Hyatt Sydney, 7 Hickson Road, The Rocks (under the Sydney Harbour Bridge), +61 2 9241 1234 (sydney.park@hyatt.com), [24]. Quite possibly Sydney's best hotel, the Park Hyatt has a superb setting, positioned on the harbour shore at Dawes Point next to the Harbour Bridge and directly opposite the Opera House situated across Sydney Cove. If you get a harbour view room, the view probably doesn't get any better. Rooms start from about $800/night and are rarely if ever discounted.

- Sebel Pier One Sydney Hotel, [25] 11 Hickson Road. ☎ +61 2 8298 9999. Low rise, absolute waterfront hotel, just to the west of the Harbour Bridge. Has panoramic Sydney Harbour views a contemporary chic hotel based on a heritage wharf. Rooms cost approx $300-$400 a night.

- Shangri-La Hotel 176 Cumberland Street. ☎ +61 2 9250 6000, (fax +61 2 9250 6250, slsn@shangri-la.com) [26]. A high-rise, modern hotel if you want to splash out. Beautiful views over the harbour, fantastic service, located at the Quay. Double rooms approximately $300 per night. The corner suites are spectacular, ideal for honeymoon accommodation.

- Quay Grand Suites Sydney 61 Macquarie Street, East Circular Quay. ☎ +61 2 9256 4000 [27] Named the South Pacific's Best Luxury Hotel in the TripAdvisor 2010 Travelers' Choice Awards and also voted one of the top 5 Luxury Hotels of the World. The Quay Grand is luxury accommodation at it's best superbly located in Sydney's Circular Quay.

- Quay West Suites Sydney, 98 Gloucester Street. ☎ +61 2 9240 6000. Views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Stay safe
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The Rocks is a busy area, with late trading, and a comfortable feeling. Late at night, the concentration of pubs can inevitably lead to some 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.

District Darling Harbour Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

Walk

By train

By light rail

By monorail

By car

By ferry

By bus

• Get around

• See

Attractions

Harbour cruises

Events

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

King St Wharf

Cockle Bay

Harbourside

• Drink

• Sleep

Moderate

Stay Safe

• Cope

• Get out

• Contact

Understand
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Darling Harbour is extensive area almost completely dedicated to entertainment and tourism. For many decades the core of the working port of Sydney, Darling Harbour was developed for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. It has a large exhibition space, a convention centre, the National Maritime Museum and aquarium.

Darling Harbour is a small inlet, ringed by attractions and pedestrian boardwalks facing the water. The Pyrmont Bridge is a wide pedestrian-only 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 a fountain.

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 neighbouring suburbs of Pyrmont and Ultimo, just 200 metres or so from the waters 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.

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

- From the Pitt St Mall: From the northern side, 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 (following the monorail track overhead) to the Pyrmont Bridge.

- From Town Hall walk downhill (west). Follow the signs from Town Hall Station and the Kent St Arcade.

- From Chinatown and central station walk west (downhill) past Paddy's Markets and the Entertainment Centre into south Darling Harbour.

- From Pyrmont or Star City just keep the water on your left past the Maritime Museum.

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
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Catch Cityrail [2] to Central or Town Hall stations. From Town Hall follow the Darling Harbour signs out of the station. Walk downhill (west) for two blocks to the eastern edge of Darling Harbour. From Central walk up into Haymarket (Chinatown) and then walk west to the south end of the Darling Harbour district.

By light rail
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The light rail [3] is ideal to access the Exhibition Centre, Convention Centre, Star City Casino or the Fish Markets.

You can catch it from its starting point at Central station. or catch in on route at Capitol Square or Paddy's Markets in Haymarket.

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 will drop you the other (western) side of Harbourside, and you will have to walk back. Walk, or take the monorail instead.

There is level access at all light rail stations.

By monorail
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Catch the Sydney Monorail [4] near Town Hall station and get off at Darling Park, Convention, Harbourside or Powerhouse Museum. Services are frequent and the cost of a single trip ($4.80) is probably less than a taxi fare for one person. Think of it as ride more than a utilitarian form of transport. Family day-passes cost $23.00.

There are lifts to all monorail stations, and access to the monorail is completely flat with a very small gap between the car and the platform.

By car
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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.

By ferry
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If you are travelling from Circular Quay you have an option of the Sydney Ferries [5], the government owned standard green ferries, or the Matilda Rocket ferries [6].

Sydney Ferries depart Circular Quay wharf 5. They accept Multi tickets, or a single ticket will cost $5.30. They stop at the Aquarium wharf on the eastern side of the bay, and at Pyrmont Bay Wharf at the very northern tip on the western side, past the Maritime Museum. Ferries depart approximately every half an hour, and run from 6:45am to 10pm Mon-Fri, and 8am to 10:15pm on weekends and public holidays.[7]

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 s single ticket and issue their own tickets. They don't accept the Multi (but do issue their own, just for their ferry). 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. Go to wharf 5 directly if you want the Sydney Ferry.

Ferries arrive and depart about every hour to and from Parramatta at Pier 3 at King St Wharf. Even though these ferries continue on directly to Circular Quay (and get there quicker than the standard ferry) you are not allowed to catch them between Darling Harbour and Circular Quay.

Again, if your interest in getting in is purely utilitarian, it may be quicker to walk. 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 an reason to take to the harbour on a ferry, then this is the perfect excuse!

By bus
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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.

The 443 bus from Circular Quay and George St goes to the Star City Casino, and the Maritime Museum lower level road. It doesn't stop at the Darling Harbour stops at the Sydney Explorer.

Get around
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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.

There is a little motorised train that does a loop around precinct, useful for tired little (or big) legs. At $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children one-way, this makes it one of the most expensive one-way trips for children anywhere in Sydney, so it's best to think of it as a ride rather than a form of transport. It does go all the way from the far side of Tumbalong Park to the Aquarium, so it can save some walking, but is slow and won't save much time compared to walking, if any.

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 the are going, will usually be quicker than meandering around the landscaping.

See
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Attractions
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- Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street (just by the western side of the Pyrmont Bridge), +61 2 9298 3777 (fax: 02 9298 3780), [8]. Two floors of internal exhibits, outlining the maritime role in Australia's history. Houses significant full scale exhibits. Outside there are ships and submarines to explore. Free entry to core galleries; charges for the large ships and special events.. (-33.872386,151.202255)

- Sydney Aquarium, 1-5 Wheat Rd (eastern side of Darling Harbour just to the north of the Pyrmont Bridge walkover), +61 2 9262 2300, [9]. 9AM-10PM daily. A massive aquarium. In addition to various display tanks (penguins, seals, platypus, various fish species), it has three underwater walks where visitors walk in glass corridors underneath and between the dugongs, sharks, rays and tropical fish. Consider going on a weekday evening, to avoid some of the crowds. Adults $31.95, child $17.95, various concessions and family tickets available. Save 10% online, but pay $4 booking fee. (-33.869517,151.202500)

- Sydney Wildlife World, Aquarium Pier, +61 2 9333 9288, [10]. 9AM-6PM daily (last ticket sales at 5PM). If you don't have time to get out to the zoo, then this offers the chance to see Australian wildlife close to the city. adult $29.95 (save 10% online, but pay $4 booking fee). (-33.8698220,151.201306)

- Chinese Garden of Friendship, (southern end of Darling Harbour, near the Sydney Entertainment Centre and adjacent to Chinatown), +61 2 9240 8888 (chinesegarden@shfa.nsw.gov.au), [11]. 9:30AM-5PM. Modelled on the typical private gardens of the Ming Dynasty, the garden offers an insight into Chinese heritage and culture. Adults $6 children $3. (-33.877338,151.201706)

- IMAX, 31 Wheat Road (On the water at the tip of the bay), +61 2 9281 3300, [12]. Largest rectangular IMAX screen in the world. Plays a selection of new release IMAX movies in 3D and big screen. Check the details when you arrive so you can see the movie of your choice

- The Pyrmont Bridge, +61 2 9299-7541, [13]. Opens weekends and public holidays at 10:30AM, 12PM, 1PM, 2PM and 3PM (weather permitting). The Pyrmont Bridge is an old swing bridge, that historically was a main thouroughfare into Sydney. Now it only carries pedestrians across the harbour and the monorail. See the centre span swing and a tall ship leave the bay. Tours of the control cab by appointment.

- Sky View (Ferris wheel), (just south of Tumbalong Park). adults $10, children $9.

- The city skyline at night. Darling Harbour is a great place to view the city lights at night time

Harbour cruises
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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.

- All Occasion Cruises (AO Cruises), [14]. All Occasion Cruises operates Private bookings on Sydney Harbour dinner with food and beverage packages to suite all budgets.

- Magistic Cruises, [15]. Magistic Cruises has Sydney Harbour dinner cruise,wine cruises, lunch cruise and sightseeing cruises.

- Sydney Show Boats, [16]. Showboat Cruise has dinner with live cabaret show performances and comic magician.

- Captain Cook Cruises, [17]. The Sydney Harbour Explorer Cruise allows hopping on and off at a number of attractions, or a 1 1/2 hour cruise of the harbour. Coffee cruise departs at 10AM and 3PM

- Matilda Cruises, (Wharf is next to the aquarium entrance), [18]. Departs 12:15PM daily. Seafood lunch cruise.

Events
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- Tumbalong Park. At first look, appears a bit like an oval, but is actually a large open space with a stage for outdoor performances. Something going on here most weekends, and a good place to lay out a picnic blanket free.

- Sydney Entertainment Centre, 35 Harbour Street, Darling Harbour (south of tumbalong park and the fountains), +61 2 9320 4200 (fax: 02 9281 2682), [19]. he Entertainment Centre is one of Australia's largest indoor entertainment venues and events frequently include shows by major Australian and international acts. (-33.877804,151.202602)

Do
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- Play on the free children's playground.

- Jump through the fountains and run up and down the spiral fountain outside the Convention center.

- Strike Bowling Bar, King St Wharf, [20]. Bowling, Karaoke, music, drinks

- Gamble (Star City), 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, 1800 700 700 (within Australia) or +61 2 9777 9000, [21]. Gambling, a choice of bars. Mostly inwards facing and doesn't make the most of its views of locations. Some parts are kitsch. Still offers a good choice of bars, cocktails, sports bars and food open until late. No significant access to under 18s.

Buy
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- Harbourside at Darling Harbour has a large collection of souvenirs, and other Australiana. Its open until 9PM most nights, when the rest of the City shopping usually closing around 6PM. There is also a selection of fashion, arts & crafts, and music.

Eat
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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 a 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 many of the outdoor alfresco bars and eating areas overlooking the water. Sitting inside means that you won't get bothered by cigarette smoke, but you also miss the best locations.

King St Wharf
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King St Wharf [22] 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.

- I Thai, King Street Wharf, 19 Lime Street, Sydney, +61 2 9299 8999. Upstairs and waterside seating. Basic, tasty food, and a selection of set menus for around $30-40 per head. Fully licenced, and good coffee for Thai place. Mains $25.

- The Malaya, King Street Wharf, 39 Lime Street, Sydney, +61 2 9279-1170 (fax: +61 2 9279-2570). Large serves of spicy Malay food. Try the salt and pepper prawns Mains $25-$35.

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

- Ice-Cube. Eat in cafe, bar, and takeaway. Fish and chips takeaway for $7.50, just eat them by the water a couple of metres away.

- Blackbird Cafe, Balcony Level, Cockle Bay Wharf, +61 2 9283-7385 (fax: +61 2 9283-7381), [23]. Moderately priced and popular cafe one level up at Cockle Bay Wharf.

- Chinta Ria (Temple of Love), (First floor, Cockle Bay). Indian influence. Great food and value for the location. Casual atmosphere, with kitch chairs, incense, and a large Buddha at the entrance. mains $17.

- Nick's Seafood Restaurant, (On the waterfront promenade, Cockle Bay), [24]. Seafood focus, as the name suggests. mains $30-$40.

- Lindt Chocolat Cafe, Shop 104, Cockle Bay Wharf (Near the fountain), 02 92678064, [25]. 10AM to 7PM Mon to Wed, 10AM to 10PM Thu, 10AM to 11:30PM Fri to Sat, 10AM to 8PM Sun. The Lindt Chocolat Cafe is a concept store and cafe featuring Lindt chocolate and cakes and hot chocolates made with it. The hot chocolates are particularly indulgent, arriving with their own small jug of molten chocolate to mix in.

- Coast. Fine dining restaurant, with modern Australian cuisine. Seats arrange to all face the view. Price tag to match.

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

- Food Court, (In the centre, by the arch). Good for quick meal, offers the usual range of fast food, Indian take away, sandwiches, pies, pizza, coffee and ice-creams. Expect to pay a little more than the food courts in the city (til 9PM,)

- Jordons Seafood Restaurant, 197 Harbourside (Ground level, outside, at the southernmost tip of Harbourside), +61 2 9281 3711, [26]. Jordons is the mainstay of premium seafood dining at Darling Harbour. Its been there since opening, and continues fo be popular. Once, clearly the premium restaurant in the area, the competition now is fierce.

- Zaaffran, 345 Harbourside (Upstairs in the centre of Harbourside), [27]. open lunch and dinner. A premium Indian restaurant, upstairs in Harbourside. Great for a banquet, but not cheap.

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

- Bungalow 8, King Street Wharf.

- Cargo Bar & Lounge, King Street Wharf. With a waterside location, Cargo has become one of the most hottest locations in town. Be sure to grab a drink there at sunset for some impressive views. Caters for a diverse crowd, from younger party-goers to after-work business types, and tourists. Hard to feel out of place there.

- James Squire Brewery, King Street Wharf, [28]. A range of James Squire beer on tap, and a good wine selection. Vibey place, good water views from the front, and a quaint pool table and pinball machines inside (no gambling machines here). Food available. Busy most nights, but very busy Fri nights.. mains $20-$30.

- Pontoon Bar, Cockle Bay, next to the bridge, [29]. Nice views, good on a summer afternoon or warm evening. Busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Basic Australian barbecue food, not to pricey, sausages and salad, etc. Upstairs from Pontoon is the Wallaby Bar, but there is no wildlife, just tributes to the Australian Rugby Union team all around the room. However don't expect a quiet place to watch the rugger, its is very busy location, with a young crowd, and queues Friday and Saturday nights.

For a more traditional pub feel try:

- Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, 96 Union Street, Pyrmont (Just continue off the western side of Pyrmont Bridge and its is right in front of you), +61 2 9660 4933. Simple, no fuss establishment, popular with the locals and hospitality workers in the area as well.

- Slip Inn, (Just up from Darling Harbour on the edge of the CBD), +61 2 8295 9999 (slipinn@merivale.com, fax: 02 8295 9949), [30]. Very popular pub. Serves food as well, but worth making a reservation if you intend to eat there.

- Pumphouse Tavern, (Between Tumbalong Park and the Entertainment Centre). Around 10 beers draught on tap, and around 100 available in total. Modern faux-rustic in style, attracts a young after work crowd. Generally busy, but even more before events at the Entertainment centre and after work on a Friday evening. Balcony restaurant upstairs. Pizza served in the bar area. View out onto the courtyard, good for people watching but no water views. Beer from $6 to $30 bottle, pizza around $15, mains in restaurant around $30.

For nightclubs try:

- Home, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Park, +61 2 9266 0600, (fax 02 9266 0611, email mailto:info@bigbeat.com.au) [31]. Purpose-built "international super nightclub". Big and international with a cover charge of at least $10 to match.

Sleep
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Moderate
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- Carlton Crest Hotel, 169-179 Thomas St, Darling Harbour (A hort distance from the southern end of the Darling Harbour precinct). Ideally located in the theatre district, Carlton Crest has over 251 rooms, with guests having access to a rooftop bar, heated pool and acclaimed restaurant.

- Four Points by Sheraton, 161 Sussex St, Darling Harbour, +61 2 9290 4000, (fax 02 9299 3340). Australia's largest hotel, with 630 rooms at a location on the CBD side of Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour at the door, and a short walk to the city centre.

- Hotel Ibis Darling Harbour, 50 Murray Street, +61 2 9563 0888, [32]. Economy international hotel, right on the western edge of Darling Harbour, near Harbourside $129-$169 a night..

- Medina Grand, Darling Harbour, [33]. Great location, right next to King St Wharf on the city side of Darling Harbour.

- Novotel Sydney Hotel on Darling Harbour, +61 2 9934 0000, [34]. great views and the convenience of three modes of public transportation at your doorstep. $200-$400 a night.

- Star City Hotel, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, +61 2 9777 9000. . Hotel located in the Star City casino complex.

Stay Safe
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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 there is 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 young children don't fall in. Ladders are located at regular intervals, and life rings are scattered around as well.

Cope
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Toilets are located 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 several other locations as well. Baby change facilities are available there too.

Get out
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Star City Casino overlooks the neighbouring Pyrmont Bay, and is only a short walk, or a couple of stops further on the light rail, from Darling Harbour. It has everything you would expect from a casino, tables, gambling machines, buffet restaurants and sports bars, as well as more than just a little kitsch.

The Powerhouse Museum is close to the Entertainment Centre, and is immediately adjacent to Darling Harbour in Ultimo. There are signs directing you there from all around the precinct. It isn't quite a science museum, and not quite a natural history museum, but its not drab or boring. There are interesting parts of Sydney's modern heritage, as well as lots of buttons to press, and plenty of how things work displays.

The Sydney Fish Markets are also close by. again just a couple of stops further on the light rail, or a 10 minute walk from Harbourside. It is a good spot for lunch, or to buy some shrimp (prawns) for the barbecue.

Contact
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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 you conference organisers about Wi-Fi access in the convention centre.

There is a McDonalds 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.

District City South Table of Contents

Orientation

• Get in

By train

By light rail or monorail

By bus

By foot

By car

• Get around

• See

• Do

• Buy

Markets

Specialty

Electronics

Food and supplies

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Stay safe

• Contact

Internet cafes

• Get out

Orientation
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The City South district is to the south of City Centre, to the east of Darling Harbour and City West and also adjoins both City East and Eastern Suburbs toward it's eastern boundaries. It has three main lineal axis, Pitt Street, George Street and Sussex Street.

Get in
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By train
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Central and Town Hall stations are best. 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 or monorail
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The Light Rail and monorail both have stops at Haymarket. If you are coming from Pyrmont or the Casino its a good option. If you are coming from the City or Darling Harbour is probably just as quick to walk.

By bus
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- Buses running from Railway Square north to the City all stop along George St. Get off near Hay St. The free city shuttle serves the area too.

- 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.

By foot
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- From Darling Harbour Chinatown is on the southernmost edge. Walk past Tumbalong Park and the Entertainment center. About 20 minutes from Harbourside.

By car
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Some streets in the Haymarket area gets 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 or the Entertainment Centre carpark is also an option. 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.

Get around
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See
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- Dixon St. Starts in front of the markets on Hay St and runs just over two blocks to Goulburn St in the north. Dixon St is a malled pedestrian area and closed to traffic. It is decorated in traditional Chinese style and is home to many shops and restaurants.

Do
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Stroll around the district exploring the colourful Chinese meets Australian culture.

Buy
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Markets
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- Paddy's Markets, (on Hay St just off George St), [1]. W-Su 9AM-5PM. A famous, large market place in the Haymarket. Lots of clothing, sunglasses, souvenirs, and food. Probably not too many bargains to be had, however. Closest station is Central. Closest bus stop is corner of George and Hay. Light rail stop just outside the door. Parking in Market City.

Specialty
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- World Square, Corner of George St and Liverpool St, [2]. A large shopping precinct on George St, with many specialty stores, including a Sony Store

Electronics
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- Capitol Square. If the Sony store looks a little out of your price range, there is a maze of small electronic stores around the distict. Many get most of their sales from web front ends or ebay, but it is a very competitive environment to buy electronics

Food and supplies
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- Chinatown contains a modern shopping center, restaurants, boutique shops, and a cinema complex. The area is particularly famous for its Chinese stores, mainly in Dixon Street, selling imported clothing and homewares, Chinese herbs, and exotic foodstuffs such as pressed duck, Asian greens and dried mushrooms.

Avoid the convenience stores for food and supplies. Coles in World Square is a good place to shop for supplies.

Eat
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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.

- BBQ King, 18-20 Goulburn St, 9267 2586. Entrees $4.40-8.80, mains $8.80-26. Open 11.30AM-2AM. As the name suggests, you come here for barbecue, and a lot of people would agree that this place is king. It's old-school, with laminex tables and folding chairs. There may be a queue, but it won't last long, and the great duck is worth the wait. Try the spinach with garlic, too.

- Lam's Seafood Restaurant, 35-7 Goulburn St, Haymarket, 9281 2882. Entrees $4-23.80, mains $15 - market price seafood. Open noon-4AM. Quick lunch? Luxurious banquet? You can do both here. Popular with locals, visitors and anyone in-between, Lam's has an extensive menu and staff who know a thing or two about getting the most out of the kitchen.

- Marigold Citymark, Levels 4 & 5, 683-9 George St, Haymarket, 9281 3388. Dim sum $2.40-4.60, yum cha specials $5.70. This 800-seat yum cha palace serves lunchtime yum cha daily and has an extensive menu of other dishes. Join the hordes.

- Golden Century Seafood Restaurant, 393-99 Sussex St, Haymarket, 9212 3901. Open noon-4AM. With lots of fish tanks displaying your nervous-looking dinner, this place is a favorite late-night eating spot for many of Sydney's chefs and hotel workers. The flavors are exotic and engaging, the service fast and slick.

- Silver Spring, Level 1, 477 Pitt St, Haymarket, 9211 2232. Entrees $5-15.80, mains $13.80-market price seafood. Open 10AM-3PM (yum cha), 5.30PM-11PM (a la carte). Something of a yum cha mothership on weekends, this place offers a mind-boggling array of dishes from the a la carte menu too. Get a group together and have a feast.

- Dragon Star Seafood Restaurant, Level 3, Market City, 9 Hay Street, 9211 8988. Dishes $11 - market price seafood. Open 10AM-5PM (yum cha) daily, 5.30PM-11PM Su-Th, until midnight F, Sa. This enormous place can seat about 800 people, and regularly gets filled to capacity for its yum cha sessions. Ask the waiter to recommend dishes and you'll be duly rewarded with succulent offerings. As you'd expect, shark fin is the specialty.

- Chinese Noodle Restaurant, Shop 7, Prince Centre, 8 Quay Street, 9281 9051. Dishes $6-8.80. At this intimate, busy eatery decorated with grapes and Persian rugs, the noodles are handmade in traditional northern Chinese style - and the crowds are glad of it.

- Emperor's Garden BBQ & Noodles , 213-5 Thomas St, 9281 9899. Dishes $3.50-9. This is a popular Chinese eatery specializing in meat and poultry dishes (marinated duck tongue $6) and has a great little window area where you can choose your takeaway goodies.

- Harbour Plaza Food Court, Corner of Dixon & Goulburn Sts, Haymarket. Dishes $5-8. Open 10AM-10PM. The pagoda-style Harbour Plaza has a wide range of cheap Asian meals available.

- Market City Shopping Centre, Level 3, 2-13 Quay St Sydney, 9212 1388. Dishes $3.50-10. This mammoth place has a fresh produce market on the first level, a factory outlet on the second level and more food from more places than you can imagine on the third level. You'll find Paddy's Markets and Kam Fook here too.

- Sussex Centre, 401 Sussex St Sydney. Dishes $5-7. Open 9AM-10PM. The food court here has a range of cheap, tasty dishes, making it a sensible choice for those who want to eat and run.

- Dixon House Food Court, Corner Little Hay & Dixon Sts, Haymarket. Dishes $5-8. This food court offers a selection of about 20 vendors, with low prices.

Drink
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- Covent Garden Hotel. A local institution. Usually busy, a mix of the after work crowd, tourists, and people in town for a night out. Gets very busy before some shows at the Entertainment centre. Recently renovated in modern style, and struggling a little to recapture the former vibe.

Sleep
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Budget
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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.

- Eco Lodge - Sydney, Chalmers St, (5 min from Central Station). (chalmersstreet@gmail.com) Guest house for environmentally conscious, house has compost, worm farm and 9 chickens. Single Rooms from $40 per night.

- Nomads Westend Backpackers hostel, 412 Pitt Street, +61 2 9211 4588 (free-call within Australia 1800 013 186, bookings@westendbackpackers.com), [3]. Nearby to Haymarket, Chinatown and Central station. Beds in a shared dormitory room from from $23 a night, doubles from $70.

- Maze Backpackers Hostel, 417 Pitt St, 1800 813 522 [4]. Beds in a dormitory room from $21 per night, single room $45, double $60.

- Sydney Central on Wentworth, 75 Wentworth Ave, +61 2 9212 1005, [5]. In a landmark heritage building. 24 hr reception, coin-operated laundry, guest kitchen, free guest internet kiosk, and subsidized payment for parking in the nearby Wilson Car Park in Goulburn Street. From $38.

- Sydney Central YHA 11 Rawson Place, ☎ +61 2 9281 9111 (fax +61 2 9281 9199, ([mailto:sydcentral@yhansw.org.au sydcentral@yhansw.org.au]) [6]. (Across the road from Central railway station). Beds in a dorm room for non-members are $36 per night, private rooms for non-members are $120 with ensuite.

- Wake Up, 509 Pitt St (Opposite Central railway station), +61 2 9288 7888 (askup@wakeup.com.au, fax: +61 2 9288 7889), [7]. Side Bar is open from 4PM until late every night of the week. The onsite cafe serves budget conscious breakfasts, lunches and dinner. A/C rooms, internet cafe, 24 hr reception, security key card access, storage lockers in dorms, coin operated laundries and a guest kitchen. Dorms from $32 a night, private rooms from $98.

Mid-range
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- Mercure Sydney Hotel 818-820 George Street, +61 2 9217 6666 (Fax +61 2 9217 6888) [8]. 4 star Sydney hotel with 517 rooms, adjacent to Central Station. Easy access to Darling Harbour, Sydney's shopping and retail center and major attractions. Between $149-$300 per night.

- Rydges Capitol Square Hotel Cnr George & Campbell Streets, 1300 857 922. [9]. Incorporated within the Capitol Theatre complex. Near Darling Harbour, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Central Station and Chinatown. Rooms from $78-$120.

- Leisure Inn Sydney Central 28-30 Regent Street, (Opposite Sydney's Central Train Station, ☎ 1800 060 954. [10]. Leisure Inn Sydney Central is a modern, fully refurbished hotel featuring brand new guest rooms. A short walk to the city centre. Rooms from $95.

Splurge
toc

- Citigate Central Sydney, 169-179 Thomas Street, +61 2 9281 6888 (reservations@ccs.mirvac.com), [11]. A hotel close to Darling Harbour, Central Railway Station, Chinatown and Sydney's CBD.

Stay safe
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The George St area between Town Hall and Central can be a little rough very late at night. 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 and homeless people.

Central Bus Station isn't the best introduction to Sydney late at night.

Contact
toc

Internet cafes
toc

There are many Internet cafes around the area, of every kind you could imagine. Small shops 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).

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

Expect to pay a couple of dollars to check email, or try to get around $6 for an hour of usage.

Get out
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Wander westwards to Darling Harbour

District City East Table of Contents

• Understand

Orientation

• Get in

• Get around

• See

Museums and Galleries

Other attractions

Parks

Events

• Do

Other attractions

Movies and Theatre

Live Music

Swim

Sports Fixtures

• Buy

Oxford Street

Crown Street, Bourke Street, South Dowling Street

• Eat

Kings Cross

Darlinghurst & East Sydney

Woolloomooloo

Oxford Street & Paddington

Surry Hills

• Drink

Kings Cross

Woolloomooloo

Oxford Street

Nightclubs

Bars and Pubs

Darlinghurst & East Sydney

Paddington

• Sleep

Kings Cross

Oxford Street

Surry Hills

• Contact

Australia Post

• Cope

Fitness

Yoga

Health

• Stay safe

• Get out

Understand
toc

Orientation
toc

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

Kings Cross
Kings Cross is the city's red light district, busy all hours of the day and night. The area, which is referred to by locals simply as "the Cross", is actually a tiny unofficial locality within the larger surrounding suburbs of Potts Point, Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney
Darlinghurst & East Sydney is the area lying between Oxford St and William St. Good eating, including Sydney's original "Little Italy". The Darlinghurst section of Oxford Street including Taylor Square is the centre of Sydney's world famous gay scene.

Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo is on the harbour, and a rough naval areas is now gentrified, with finger wharf apartments and modern Australian bars and restaurants in an historical setting.

Paddington
Paddington is one of the Sydney's premier boutique shopping areas. Everyone will enjoy a daytime stroll through the area, with great it's coffee shops and pubs.

Surry Hills
Surry Hills is terraces and quaint parks, and an ideal place to fraternise with the locals in the many down-to-earth pubs. The Crown St area has some of Sydney's best eating - tapas, Asian, Middle Eastern and Indian food. Great for a night out.

Moore Park
Moore Park is for sports, and the entertainment quarter - football, cricket, movies, shopping, markets, circus and restaurants.

Get in
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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 nearly all time restricted 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 club, bar, restaurant, fashion boutiques and other retail activities running it's 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, 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, 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 [1], which is only 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, 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
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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.

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.

See
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Museums and Galleries
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- Australian Museum, 6 College Street, East Sydney (Opposite Hyde Park on the corner of William St and College St), 9320 6000, [2]. 9.30am to 5pm daily (except Christmas day). With an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions, the Australian Museum was established as Australia's first museum in 1827 with unique and extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts. There is a cafe next to the entrance, that you can access without requiring payment for admission to the main exhibition area. general admission adult $10, child / concession $5, family $17.50, temporary exhibitions attract an additional fee.

- National Art School Gallery (Old Darlinghurst Gaol), Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, (nasgallery@det.nsw.edu.au), [3]. Monday to Saturday 10 am - 4 pm.

- Australian Centre for Photography, 257 Oxford Street, Paddington, +61 2 9332 1455 (info@acp.org.au), [4]. Tue-Fri 12PM-7.00PM, Sat & Sun 10AM-6PM. ACP established in 1973. The ACP initiated the first major retrospectives of work by photographers such as Max Dupain, Olive Cotton and Merv Bishop, and organised the early public displays of photographs by Bill Henson, Tracey Moffatt, William Yang and Trent Parke and has presented works by international photo-artists such as Bernd & Hilla Becher, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Larry Clark, Joan Fontcuberta, Nan Goldin, Roni Horn, George Platt Lynes, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Duane Michals, Pierre Molinier, Erwin Olaf, Martin Parr, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans and William Wegman. Admission to the Gallery is Free.

Please see the City Centre article for more comprehensive details on The Art Gallery of NSW 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.

- Hogarth Galleries (Aboriginal Art Centre), 7 Walker Lane, Paddington NSW, +61 2 9360 6839 (info@hogarthgalleries.com, fax: +61 2 9360 7069), [5].

- Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery (off Hampden Street), 8 Soudan Lane, Paddington, +61 2 9331 1919 (oxley9@roslynoxley9.com.au, fax: +61 2 9331 5609), [6]. Tuesday-Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday: 11am-6pm. The gallery currently represents over thirty highly esteemed artists, who have had significant shows and whose works are held in major collections nationally and internationally. This gallery has supported work that is both challenging and at the forefront of contemporary art practice.

- Blender Gallery (also incorporates The Just Shoot Lomography Shop), 16 Elizabeth Street, Paddington (off Oxford Street in the centre of Paddington), +61 2 9380 7080 (info@blender.com.au), [7]. tuesday to saturday: 10AM - 6PM. Exhibition space over several levels in a typical Paddington terrace. Blender is an outlet for both Australian and international photographers, collectors and enthusiasts.

- Brettt Whitley Studio (Look for the big burnt match), 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills (Down a couple of back lanes, best approached from Devonshire Street near Ray Hughes Gallery, left into Davies St and left into Raper St), +61 2 9225 1892 (Mon-Fri), 9225 1881 (Thu-Sun), 1800 679 278 (brettwhiteleystudio@ag.nsw.gov.au, fax: +61 2 9225 1842). Studio of the late Brett Whiteley is now an art museum that is managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The museum is a tribute to the life of Brett Whiteley, considered by many to be one of Australia's most gifted, best known and controversial artists.

- Ray Hughes Gallery, 270 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (between Crown and Bourke Streets), +61 2 9698 3200 (email@rayhughesgallery.com, fax: +61 2 9699 2716). 10am to 6pm tuesday to saturday. This established gallery has a wide range of interesting work from many artists spanning several cultures and styles including works on paper, canvas and others.

- Sydney Jewish Museum, 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9360 7999, [8].

Other attractions
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- El Alamein Fountain, Fitzroy Gardens entrance (at the top of Darlinghurst Road). Designed by Robert Woodward and erected in 1961 as a memorial to the Ninth Division during World War II. The fountain is somewhat iconic in Sydney, a "dandelion head" sphere of mist at the top of a tall stem and has been imitated globally on many occasions. A favourite meeting place for many travellers and locals alike.

- Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Cnr Oxford Street and Oatley Road, Paddington, [9]. Newly opened, interestingly designed gardens built in the old reservoir.

- Elizabeth Bay House (Historic Houses Trust), 7 Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay, +61 2 9356 3022 (info@hht.net.au, fax: +61 2 9357 7176), [10]. Open Tu-Su 10AM–4:30PM, closed M (except for public holidays), Christmas Day and Good Friday. Built between 1835-1839 and once "the finest house in the colony", this colonial mansion preserves the lifestyle of some of Sydney's wealthiest early settlers, Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay and his family. Designed by the most fashionable and accomplished architect of the day, John Verge, Elizabeth Bay House is a superb example of colonial architecture and is elegantly and authentically furnished in the style of 1839–1845. Guided tours are available on request. Prices: adult $7, child / concession $3, family $17.

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

- Moore Park (City east precinct), +61 2 9339 6699, 24-hour Ranger assistance: +61 412 718 611 (info@centennialparklands.com.au), [11]. The main body of the park is open 24 hrs/7 days per week however some areas may be restricted or annexed as venue sites or parking areas during major events. To the south east corner of this part of Sydney, this 115 hectare open park area has sport fields used by local the local community, bike and walking tracks run through the park area and Kippax Lake, a small lake near the sports stadiums is a pleasant area for picnicing or relaxing on days without major functions in the adjoining facilities. There is one gas-operated barbecue located on the western side of Moore Park near South Dowling Street. This park is part of a green zone connecting thru to the Centennial Park a little further to the east and the greater Moore Park area to the South east. Moore park adjoins the Sydney Football Stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Fox Studios entertainment quarter. This section of the greater Moore Park area often hosts large performance events such as concerts, exhibitions and Big Tent Circus events. Open access to all park areas except for groups of 50 or more persons requiring registration and fee payments. Special events may have entry prices fixed by the event managers and special event car parking may attract charges.

- Rushcutters Bay Park, Adjacent to Royal Cruising Yacht Club and extensive private mooring facilities at Rushcutters bay. (Turn off New South Head Road and park on New Beach Rd). Open access all hours. Busy on weekends with walkers, people excercising their dogs, picnicers and local people playing informal ball games. The park has a cafe located toward the centre near the water that serves light meals, drinks and other refreshments.

- Green Park, 301 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst. A small pleasant area just opposite St Vincents hospital.

- Beare Park, Ithaca Rd, Elizabeth Bay. A picturesque spot looking out onto Elizabeth Bay, this is a popular place for a bit of inner-city sunbathing.

- Trumper Park Oval, Cnr Glenmore Road and Hampden Street, Paddington. Primarily used for cricket (turf pitch), Trumper Park is also a good quiet spot to relax or get some sun.

- Embarkation Park, Victoria Street, Potts Point. Great views of the CBD skyline and parts of the harbour. This is one the most popular places in the Inner East to watch the New Years Eve fireworks shows.

In addition to those listed above, some of Sydney's largest and most popular parks and gardens lie in close proximity 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.

Events
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- Gay and Lesbian Mardi-Gras. Oxford street is the focus for the annual march, but many other related activities take place in the festival before the parade.

Do
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Other attractions
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- Oxford St Rock and Roll Walk of Fame, Oxford St, Darlinghurst & Paddington, [12]. Download the podcast from the City Of Sydney website and do a walking tour of past and present landmarks from the Sydney rock'n'roll scene.

- Spa and sauna at the Ginseng Bathhouse, The Crest Hotel, Level One, 111 Darlinghurst Road. tel +61 2 9356 6680, fax +61 2 9356 2348 [13]. The Ginseng Bathhouse has separate men's and women's facilities, each with a hot bath, a cold bath, a ginseng spa, a wet sauna and a dry sauna. You can also get Korean treatments, massages and beauty therapy. Children from 5 years old are welcome. Open 9:30AM to 9:30PM weekdays and 9AM to 9:30PM weekends. Entry to the baths is $25, entry combined with treatments from $53.

- Entertainment Quarter (formerly known as Fox Studios), 122 Lang Road, Moore Park, [14]. contains an open air shopping strip, bars and cafes, weekend markets, cinemas, and a number of live television events. This used to house the Fox Studios, but no longer. However the nearby entertainment facilities include cinemas, restaurants, bars and promenade areas that are open to the public. There is no entrance charge to access the entertainment quarter. Ample parking in multi-story carpark. (-33.89456,151.22547)

Movies and Theatre
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- Chauvel, Oxford Street, Paddington, [15]. Two cinemas in the old Paddington Town Hall. Focus on alternative and arthouse.

- Palace Verona and Palace Academy Twin, 3a & 17 Oxford Street, Paddington, [16]. Two separate cinemas on Oxford st focussing on arthouse and foreign films.

- Hoyts Cinema Paris, Building 215, Entertainment quarter, Lang Road, Moore Park, +61 2 9332 1633, [17]. Four auditoriums with cinemaxx size screen, facilities for wheelchair and hearing impaired. Also provides venue for international and local film festivals and events

- Hoyts IMAX and EQ, Building 206, Entertainment quarter, Lang Road, Moore Park, +61 2 9332 1300, [18]. Hollywood blockbusters converted into the IMAX format, also educational documentaries in both 2D and IMAX 3D. EQ offers large screens and extra comfort.

- Hoyts La Premier, Building 206, Entertainment quarter, Lang Road, Moore Park, +61 2 9332 3726, [19]. Large screens and gallery style seating giving unobstructed views from private two seater sofas. La Premiere has a dedicated concierge and reservation service

Live Music
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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.

- Hordern Pavilion, The Entertainment Quarter, Lang Rd, Moore Park, [20]. With a capacity of up towards 10,000, the Hordern is a common choice for touring bands. It has played host to the likes of Sigur Ros, Interpol and many others. See website for upcoming shows.

- Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, [21]. Indie and underground venue, capacity 500-600.

Swim
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Sydney is well known for it's beach culture but inner city dwellers and city workers do not have to go all the way to one of iconic Pacific ocean beaches 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 [22] entrance. Several of these Public baths or swimming centres are directly adjacent to the City east precinct or are within walking distance.

- Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre (opposite the north eastern corner of Hyde Park near St Mary’s Cathedral), 4 College Street, Corner William Street, East Sydney, _61 2 93260444 +61 2 9356 3877 (admin.cookandphillip@ymca.org.au, fax: +61 2 9326 0599), [23]. Monday to Friday: 6AM to 10PM, Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 7AM to 8PM, closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day. Centre provides world-class swimming, fitness, sporting and recreational facilities including a gym. Sited within a picturesque parkland setting. Swimming facilities include an eight lane 50-metre heated indoor pool and a wave machine. Adult: $6.00, Concession: $4.50, Family: $16.00, Additional Family Member: $2.00, Spectator: $2.70.

- Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool, 1C Mrs Macquaries Road, The Domain, Sydney, (Access from below at the western end of Wooloomooloo bay or from Art Gallery Road), (abc@belgravialeisure.com.au), [24]. 1 Sept 2009 – 30 Apr 2010, Non Daylight Saving: Mon-Sunday: 6AM to 7PM, Daylight Saving: Mon-Sun: 6AM to 8PM. A famous yet paradoxically little known location overlooking Wooloomoloo bay and near to the Botanic gardens. It was a popular swimming location with Indigenous Aborigines before the arrival of Europeans to Australia. The pool was also the venue for the sporting triumphs of Australian swimming legend Andrew Boy Charlton in the 1920's and is believed to be the birthplace of the Australian Crawl or freestyle swimming stroke. Adult: $5.50, Concession: $4.10, Family: $15.30, Additional Family Member: $2.00, Spectator: $2.70.

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

Sports Fixtures
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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 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 Roosters [25] (formerly Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club) play in the National Rugby League. Games from March to September.

- New South Wales Waratahs play in the Super 14 rugby union competition. Games from February to May.[26]

- Sydney Swans play in the Australian Football League. Games from March to September.[27]

- Sydney F.C. play in the a-league soccer competion during summer.

Buy
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Oxford Street
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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.

- Paddington Fresh, 242 Oxford St (Just across the road from the Church in Paddington), +61 2 9380 9988. Fresh produce markets.

- Paddington Markets, 395 Oxford Street [28]. Every Saturday 10AM-5PM. Held in the grounds of Paddington Uniting Church, just off Oxford Street, Paddington Markets has been in operation since 1973 and is a stylish stall venue for designers, jewellers and craftsmen. Not many true bargains to be had, but perfect for unusual gifts and clothing, as well as some mainstream items. Fantastic for people-watching.

- The Bookshop [29], 207 Oxford Street, +61 2 9331 1103, open Mo–We 10AM–10PM, Th 10AM–11PM, Fr–Sa 10AM–midnight, Su and public holidays 11AM–11PM — Trading for over 20 years, the Bookshop is one of Sydney's premier retailers of gay and lesbian books, magazines, calendars and DVDs. Great for a browse.

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

- Wheels and Doll Babies, Crown St, Surry Hills/Darrlinghurst (Just around the corner from Oxfrod Street at the first side street). edgy biker and hooker style alt club and street clothing

Eat
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Kings Cross
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- Aperitif, 7 Kellett St, Kings Cross, +61 2 9357 4729. 6PM-3AM. Hidden away in a leafy corner of Kings Cross. With the kitchen open until 2AM most nights of the week, this is one of the few options in Sydney for a late night meal that doesn't involve standing and looking up while ordering. Spanish menu featuring tapas and other plates best for sharing.

- Bootleg Bar and Italian Food, 175 Victoria St, Potts Point, +61 2 9361 3884, [30]. Good simple Italian food in cosy but trendy surrounds. Eat or just enjoy a drink or two at the bar.

- Doma Bohemian Beer Cafe [31], 29 Orwell Street Potts Point, Bookings +61 2 9331 0022. Open 7 days M-S noon-midnight, Sun, noon-10PM. Their Bohemian platter has large portions of Central European cuisine. Selection of European beers.

- Haradokei - Brown Rice Organic Cafe, 58A Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay, Ph +61 2 9360 2342. Open 6 days Mon-Fri 12PM-8:30PM, Sat 12PM-9:30PM, Sun closed. Home style Japanese cooking using organic ingredients. The restaurant is small and intimate, with a range of Western and Japanese journals to read while you wait. They offer the choice of brown (gen-mai 玄米) or white rice.

- Jimmy Liks, 186-188 Victoria St, Potts Point, +61 2 8354 1400, [32]. 6PM-11PM. Modern Thai food and cocktails. They only accept bookings between 6PM-7PM and the communal tables can fill up fairly quickly after this, especially on weekends.

- Lotus Bar and Bistro, 22 Challis Ave, Potts Point, +61 2 9326 9000, [33]. Restaurant and cocktail bar located just off Macleay St towards the quieter end of Potts Point. The food is modern Australian style with a slight Asian influence.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney
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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.

- A Tavola, 348 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9331 7871 (reservations@atavola.com.au), [34]. 6PM-late. Italian pasta restaurant. Patrons sit at a huge communal table which dominates the room. Good food and service.

- Bar Reggio, 135 Crown St, East Sydney, (+61 2 9332 1129, [35]. L&D 7 days. Popular East Sydney pizza and pasta restaurant from early evening until late at night. Can be very noisy, but lots of fun for larger groups. Pizzas $20-24, pastas $13-18.

- Bill and Toni's, 74 Stanley St, East Sydney, +61 2 9360 4702. 11am-10pm. One of the original restaurants of Little Italy on Stanley St. Pastas, but the schnitzel with cheese is a highlight. Have your post-prandial coffee and gelato or cake in the San Siro coffee lounge downstairs. Under $15.

- Tastevin, 292-294 Victoria Rd, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9356 3429, [36]. We-Mo L&D. French-style bistro and wine bar. Selection of Australian and French wines. From $19, mains $29.

- Thada Thai Cuisine, 245 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9360 6455‎. Thai food that's always fresh, good and quick. Takeaway or eat in the casual and bustling restaurant. One of several Thai places in the immediate vicinity.

- The Bunker, 399 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst. Tiny cafe in the middle of Darlinghurst, coffee, snacks, breakfast and lunch.

- Tigerbakers Cafe, 292 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, [37]. Relaxed and welcoming. The walls and tables feature the work of local artists and are constantly changing.

- Tropicana Caffe, 227 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, [38]. 6AM-late 7 days. A Sydney institution, with Ferrari-driving Eastern suburbs socialites rubbing shoulders with taxi drivers. Breakfasts, foccacias, salads, pastas, main dishes, cakes and coffee. The Tropfest short film festival started in this cafe in 1993. Decide what you want from the menu board first, spot a free table and tell the cashier your table number when you order and pay.

Woolloomooloo
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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 occassional media or sporting celebrity. Beautiful views of the Sydney skyline and Woolloomooloo Bay.

- Akis, Woolloomooloo Wharf, [39]. Fine Indian food.

- China Doll, Woolloomooloo Wharf, [40]. Asian/Chinese cuisine.

- Harry's Cafe de Wheels, [41]. A piece of Sydney history, right on the water at Woolloomooloo. Stand up against the van, and grab a pie, peas and mash. There are another couple of franchises open now, in Capitol Square and at the airport. Ignore them, this is the original, and it isn't about the pies. Open early, and late.

- Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse, Woolloomooloo Wharf, [42]. Surf'n'turf. Don't forget your expense card.

Oxford Street & Paddington
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- The Pink Peppercorn, 122 Oxford Street,, +61 2 9360 9922. Informal, calm and minimalist. Anouvong Kaseum's beautifully presented dishes fuse Lao flavors (think Thai with less kick) and a modern western influence.

- Betty's Soup Kitchen, 84 Oxford Street Darlinghurst. Provide a selection of soups.

- Balkan Seafood Restaurant, 217 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9331 7670 (fax: +61 2 9331 7279), [43]. Closed Monday. Croatian cuisine with an open kitchen and grill area. Serves seafood, Mediterranean style and continental dishes. Famous for its grill menu.

- Perry Lane CafeArtStudio, Rear 264 Oxford St via Perry Lane Paddington NSW 2021 (Down Perry lane Behind the Oxford Store), +61 2 8354 1222 (atperrylane@live.com.au). From 8AM. 20m from Oxford St. Suitable for a group lunch. 3 level courtyard cafe with wifi available. The ArtStudio hangings are rotated fortnightly. Largely caters for vegetarians. Max price is around $15.

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.

Surry Hills
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There are a huge number of restaurants on Crown St between Oxford and Cleveland Sts and down some of the side/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 cheap but tasty South Indian restaurants on Cleveland St between Bourke and Crown Sts.

- Toko Restaurant & Bar, 490 Crown St, Surry Hills, +61 2 9357 6100, [44]. A good local sushi restaurant. The dishes are light and tasty, but not particularly large. Beautifully fitted-out interior. They don't accept dinner bookings so arrive early or be prepared to spend up to 1 hr at the bar on busy nights.

- Maya Sweet House, 468-472 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (Just east of the intersection with Crown St), +61 2 9699 8663, [45]. Delicious and cheap South Indian vegetarian restaurant that specialises in thalis, dosas, idlis and other treats. Also has a good range of Indian sweets such as gulab jamun and a range of burfis. There is a tandoori (ie. non-vegetarian) restaurant upstairs. Mains $8-15.

- Marque, 355 Crown St. Fine dining on Crown St. Degustation menu $145pp + wine.

- Bills, 359 Crown St, Surry Hills (just south of Foveaux St), +61 2 9360 4762, [46]. 7am-10pm 7 days. Cafe renowned for its scrambled eggs, sweet corn fritters and ricotta hotcakes. A Sydney favourite when it comes to brunches. Also has branches in Darlinghurst (433 Liverpool St) and Woollahra (Queens Court, 118 Queen St) Expect to pay $40-50 for two with coffees and juices.

- Billy Kwong, 3/355 Crown St, Surry Hills, +61 2 9332 3300, [47]. Mo-Su dinner from 6pm. The signature restaurant from TV chef Kylie Kwong, this is definitely a cut above most other Chinese restaurants. Produce is seasonal and mostly organic. No bookings, so get there at 5:45PM to line up or leave your mobile number and have a drink or two at the Dolphin hotel across the road. Entrees.

- Bird Cow Fish, 500 Crown St, Surry Hills (between Foveaux and Devonshire), +61 2 9380 4090, [48]. B Sa-Su, L 7 days, D Mo-Sa. Modern Australian food in a bistro setting. The chef here is very creative. From around $18, mains $32-38.

- Jazushi, 145 Devonshire St, Surry Hills, +61 2 9699 8977 (sales@jazushi.com), [49]. Japanese/European food. There's an open air bar up from the restaurant section with nice seating although a limited selection. Mains $20-$40.

- House, 202-210 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills, +61 2 9280 0364. Noon-midnight. Authentic north-eastern Thai cuisine. There is a nice outdoor area and an adjacent pub where you can wait for your table. Price is around $30 pp.

Drink
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Kings Cross
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Kings Cross is the red-light district, but don't let that put you off it 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. Due to the licensing laws the drinks on sale are limited and expensive, and the entertainment on stage is very much the focus. They also tend to be a bit dingy, where the nightclubs and pubs in the area generally are bright, with a vibe. Weave your way past the touts at the doors of the strip clubs and you'll find a slice of eclectic Sydney in the many bars and hangouts.

- Goldfish Bowl.

- Hugos Lounge, Level 1, 33 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross, +61 2 9357 4411‎, [50]. Situated right in the middle of the Cross, Hugos tends to attract a reasonably young and sometimes pretentious crowd. It's been around for over 10 years and is still a favourite place for trendy Sydneysiders to see and be seen.

- Melt, [51].

- Soho Bar and Lounge, 171 Victoria Street, Potts Point, tel +61 2 9358 6511 [52]. Open until 6AM. The lounge bar of choice for celebrities, trend setters and those-who-aspire since the 1980s. The Soho Bar is spread over 2 levels just off the main drag down from Kings Cross, combining dance and cocktails in a consistently stylish, up-to-date manner.

As the sun begins to think about rising, about 4-5AM many of the nightclubs start to close It could be time to move on to one of the day clubs, which have their crowds arriving around 5AM and continue until the afternoon. Try Spice for an international party crowd. Move back to the pub in the afternoon to round off 24 hours in the Cross.

Woolloomooloo
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- The East Sydney Hotel, Cnr of Crown & Cathedral Sts, Woolloomooloo, +61 2 9358 1975, [53]. They call themselves the last "Country Pub" in Sydney and are proud to have no poker machines in the building. Nothing fancy here, but the place is relaxed and down-to-earth. Good drinking.

- The Tilbury Hotel, 12–18 Nicholson St, Woolloomooloo, +61 2 9368 1955, [54]. A popular spot with the CBD after-work crowd during the week, while on weekends the upstairs balcony is a good place to enjoy some quiet(ish) drinks and music. Food is served in the contemporary style, Italian restaurant downstairs or eat at the bar from the cafe menu.

Oxford Street
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Nightclubs
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Some gay venues on Oxford St were affected by a 2AM-5AM lockout policy. The official lock out ended in late 2009 however some venues may choose to uphold it.

- ARQ [55], 16 Flinders Street — One of the premier gay night clubs in town. Upstairs features trance and hard house on Friday, Sat and Sun, while downstairs has funkier music and shows on Thurs and Sun nights. The venue often has short live performances in the middle of the night. Usually open from 10PM-dawn, often still going at 10AM. The last Fri of every month Arq hosts on of Sydney's biggest lesbian nights, named Moist.

- Nevermind, 163 Oxford St - a newly gay venue featuring drag shows and special performers on Fri nights (Disgraceland) and Sat nights (Saturday F*cking Nights).

- The Midnight Shift, [56] 85 Oxford St. A gay venue that has a newly refurbished leather bar upstairs, and a bar downstairs. The downstairs bar is open daily and hosts popular drag shows on Wed-Sun. Upstairs has a cover charge and downstairs is free.

- Spectrum, [57] 34 Oxford St. An intimate live music venue, with a capacity of 250 people, catering to the the rock and indie crowd. A good place to see up and coming local talent. After the band are over DJs play pop, rock and indie hits till the early hours.

- The Stonewall Hotel, 175 Oxford Street (Between Crown St and Taylor Square), [58]. Drag shows, dancing and cocktails. Spread across 3 floors. The bottom floor tends to play the camp 80s/90s hits and hosts the drag shows, whereas the top two floors play dancier music.

- Q Bar, 44 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, [59]. Long running Sydney institution and has been running for over 20 years. These days it plays host to DJ nights, live music and burlesque performances attracting a mixed crowd ranging from the glamourous to the trashy.

Bars and Pubs
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- The Columbian Hotel, 117 Oxford Street (on the corner of Crown St. One of the most popular gay bars in the area, especially with straight people. The beautiful people sit at the open table facing the street to be seen.

- 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.

- Palms, 124 Oxford St. Gay bar/dancing area located underground. Music is anywhere between the 70s and today. Attracts a mixed, generally unpretentious crowd. Very small, so expect long queues on Saturdays.

Darlinghurst & East Sydney
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- Royal Sovereign Hotel (Darlo Bar), 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, +61 2 9331 3672, [60]. Trendy retro-styled pub with a couple of bars and a bottle shop. A good place for a quiet drink or to get a big night started.

Paddington
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- The London Tavern, 85 Underwood St, Paddington, +61 2 9331 3200, [61]. Cosy local favourite tucked away in amongst the terrace houses of Paddington.

- Royal Hotel, 237 Glenmore Road, Paddington, +61 2 9331 2604, [62]. Located in a prime position at the Paddo Fiveways, the Royal is a good spot for a drink before having a meal at one of the surrounding restaurants, or at the hotel itself.

Sleep
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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 MECCA 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.

Kings Cross
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The Kings Cross area is one of the main backpacker hubs in Sydney.

- Jolly Swagman Backpackers Sydney Hostel (Backpackers Sydney Hostels), 27 Orwell Street, 1800 805 870, [63]. The best located hostel in Sydney, Jolly Swagman Backpackers Sydney is famous for providing safe, clean, cheap accommodation with free breakfast, pick up, 24 hour internet access, social life and a Sydney backpacker experience not to be missed. Close to Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, all of Sydney's tourist attractions and events are on your doorstep. Friendly staff. See website for online accommodation room bookings, help with work, Sydney day tours and travel including bus passes, east coast packages and more.

- Funkhouse Backpackers, 23 Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross, [64]. Funkhouse is a unique, upbeat hostel famous for it's friendly social atmosphere and funky murals.

- Lido Suites, 2 Roslyn Street, 1800 060 954, [65]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 10:00. Lido Suites is right amongst all the action of King Cross’ famous nightspots, clubs, restaurants and cafes. Studio rooms with basic kitchenettes give guests choice flexibility. From $99. (-33.87365805753277,151.22440338134766)

- Vibe Hotel Rushcutters, 100 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay (Entrance off New South Head Road heading east), +61 2 8353 8988 (vhrs@vibehotels.com.au, fax: +61 2 8353 8999), [66]. Modern hotel with well appointed rooms, next to a park with good access to the city centre, walking distance from Kings Cross and Sydney Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutters bay, large secure car park under hotel, has a rooftop pool with a view of Sydney Harbour.

- Roslyn Gardens Serviced Apartments, 4 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay, ph +61 2 9358 1944. fax +61 2 9357 7939. email stay@roslyngardens.com.au. [67] Studio apartments with secure undercover parking. 5 minutes from the centre of Sydney. Close to public transport. Single studio $99/night, family studio $145.

- inhouse Potts Point, Apartment 2, 8 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point, (inquiries@inhouse.net.au), [68]. A chic, luxury, full-floor apartment in a grand townhouse in Potts Point. Good location just a short walk to some of Sydney's best restaurants, or to the harbour.

Oxford Street
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- Sullivans Hotel, 21 Oxford Street Paddington (situated on the main drag between Paddington and Darlinghurst), +61 2 9361 0211 (sydney@sullivans.com.au, fax: +61 2 9360 3735). Visitors suggest trying to get a courtyard facing room, as those facing Oxford Street can be noisy Standard rooms from $135 a night.

Surry Hills
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- The Sebel Surry Hills Sydney, 28 Albion St, +61 2 9289 0000. Newly refurbished rooms.

- Cambridge Sydney Hotel, 212 Riley St (turn south of Oxford Street), +61 2 9212 1111 (reservations@cambridgeinn.com.au, fax: +61 2 9215 5111), [69]. approx $110-$190 per night.

Contact
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Australia Post
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- Post Office (Potts Point), 50-58 Macleay St, Potts Point, 2011, [70].

- Post Office (Corner of Oxford St and Wentworth Ave), Suite 1 Gnd Flr 1 Oxford St. Darlinghurst, 2010 (opposite South east corner of Hyde Park), [71].

- Post Office (Paddington), 246 Oxford St. Paddington, 2021, [72].

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

Cope
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Fitness
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- City Gym Sydney, 107–113 Crown Street [73]. Heading north out of Darlinghurst is one of the premier gyms in east Sydney.

- Golds Gym Sydney, 23 Pelican St [74]. Part of the international chain of gyms, located in Darlinghurst, just off Oxford St near police station. Popular with locals & International guests. Involved with the local gay and lesbian community.

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

- Mind Body Life, Level 1, 55 Forveaux Street, Surry Hills., +61 2 9211 4111, [75]. Vinyasa Yoga integrates yoga postures and breath to effect your body, mind and spirit

- Ashtanga Yoga, 17 Oxford Street, Paddington (Verona Centre), +61 29360 7602.

- Bikrams Yoga College of India, 256 Crown Street, Darlinghurst (Nearby to Oxford street on the corner of the little lane running parallel), +61 2 9356 4999,Mobile +61 419 232990 (fax: +61 2 9356 4955), [76]. Created to build a strong body and nervous system, classes are conducted in a room heated to 38 Deg C

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

- Darlinghurst Medical Centre, 213-219 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst, +61 2 8302 1111. 24-hour medical clinic just a few minutes walk south of Kings Cross down Darlinghurst Road. Offers general practitioners, minor accident/emergency treatment and other services. No appointments.

- St Vincent's Hospital (for accident and emergency (see Sydney Childrens Hospital listing for paediatric A&E services)), Victoria St, Darlinghurst (Follow the signs at the Accident and Emergency entrance of the Hospital), +61 2 8382 1111, [77]. 24 hours ER and serious trauma. NSW Health Department.

- Sydney Children's Hospital (for paediatric accident and emergency care), High St, Randwick, +61 2 93821111, [78]. 24 hours ER and serious trauma. NSW Health Department. Please see Eastern suburbs article for more detail including Royal Hospital for Women, Randwich for maternity care

Stay safe
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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 have a problem. 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 arond Taylor Square to Liverpool Street/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 is a has a light, residential feel, and you should have no problems. At night there are quiet laneways, and overall the area is quiet. Stay on main roads and visible.

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, 131444 for NSW Police Service, non-emergencies.

- Surry Hills Police Station (Level 3, Sydney Police Centre), 151-241 Goulburn Street, Surry Hills (Turn off Oxford St into Riley St and the Police Centre is on your right hand side at Goulburn St. The large police centre is impossible to miss), +61 2 9265 4144 (fax: +61 2 9265 4104), [79]. Open 24 hours.

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

Get out
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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 and the inner Sydney area 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 monorail.

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 now containing, art galleries, exhibition spaces, apartments and restaurants.

District City West Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

• Get out

Get in
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The light-rail system that skirts the western side of Darling Harbour, and then runs past the Casino and the Fish Markets. It is an easy way of accessing the area if you are coming through Central Station, where the line commences.

If coming from the City Centre, the 443 bus is your friend. The bus travels from George St in the City Centre, doing a loop around the entire Pyrmont and Ultimo area, before returning to the City Centre. Get back on where you got off. The bus runs every 10-15 minutes from around 6am until midnight.

If you are enthusiastic, the whole area can be walked from most points in the City Centre in 30 minutes or so, and less from Darling Harbour.

See
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- Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo (If walking, follow the signs from Darling Harbour near the Exhibition Centre. If driving, access via Harris St), +61 2 9217 0111, [1]. 10AM-5PM daily. The Powerhouse Museum is a large museum, essentially of popular culture. It has displays on the history of fashion and transport, decorative arts, music, and space exploration exhibits. It also partly plays on a sci-tech theme, with interactive hands-on and discovery displays of technology, design and industry There is usually a special exhibition on as well. There are in-depth displays for all ages, but also displays especially created for young children to discover and play. $10 adults, $5 children.

Do
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Buy
toc

- Fish Markets

Eat
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- Sydney Fish Market, Bank Street, Pyrmont, +61 2 9004-1100 (fax: +61 2 9004-1177), [2]. Wholesale auctions from 5:30AM, retail from 7:00AM daily. The Fish Market is both a trade market for retailers and a place for the general public to get their hands on the day's catch. The fish market has a number of vendors who will cook your fish for you, and a cooking school. An early lunch at the fish markets is a local institution.

- Viva Goa, 2-4 Scott Street, Pyrmont, +61 2 9566-1311. A small Goan restaurant. Try their vindaloo, and ask for a table outside if the weather is right, because it gets noisy inside. Mains $15.

- The Little Snail, 50 Murray Street Pyrmont, +61 2 9212 7512. Where else can you have Kangaroo marinated and cooked in a French mustard sauce? Try the snails for starter Does a 3 course lunch menu, including escargot, for $32.

Drink
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- Star City Casino

- Pyrmont Arms

Sleep
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Darling Harbour is just next door, with a selection of upmarket accommodation.

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

Star City has the obligatory large hotel rising above the Casino. Don't expect the kind of accommodation deals you would find in Las Vegas however, unless you quality for admission to the Inner Sanctum.

Contact
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Get out
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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.

District Bondi Beach Table of Contents

• Understand

Harbourside

Oceanside Areas

• Get in

By bus

By train

By car

• See

Parks and gardens

Centennial Park

Moore Park

Harbourfront parks

Historical Sites

Ocean beaches

Harbour Shoreline

La Perouse and Botany Bay

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Cope

Health

Understand
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The Eastern Suburbs enjoys extensive frontages on the Harbour, the Ocean beaches and extensive towering sandstone clifftops. This part of Sydney has a choice of over 20 different beaches. Sydney's eastern suburbs connect through to the City Centre through the City east precinct and adjoin the City south precinct toward the south of the city and on further toward the Kingsford Smith International airport at Mascot.

Harbourside
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The eastern suburbs lines the southern side of the harbour from the city to North Head, with some of Sydney's finest views, and most expensive houses. Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay almost form part of Central Sydney. Rushcutters Bay, Darling Point, Double Bay, Rose Bay, and Watsons Bay and North Head.

Oceanside Areas
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- Bondi Beach - World famous beach and beach culture.

- Bronte

- Clovelly

- Coogee

- Maroubra

- Malabar

- Little Bay

Get in
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By bus
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- Sydney buses operates a hop-on hop-off bus touring the Eastern Suburbs called the "Bondi Explorer," [1] which travels east along the southern shore of the harbour to south head, through Double Bay out to Watsons Bay and South Head before tracking down the coast through Bondi Beach then south along the beaches to Coogee, before heading directly back to the city. $39, also includes the Sydney explorer and other public transport.

- Sydney Buses [2] runs extensive services throughout the Eastern Suburbs. Most originate from Circular Quay in the city. There are three main bus routes from the city:

- Anzac Parade (to Clovelly, Randwick, Coogee, Maroubra and La Perouse)

- Oxford St (to Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach)

- William St/New South Head Rd (to Rose Bay, Double Bay, Vaucluse, Watson's Bay)

By train
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The Eastern Suburbs Line goes to Kings Cross, Edgecliff and terminates at Bondi Junction, where passengers can interchange with buses. The train does provide a speedy alternative to taking a bus all the way from the city.

By car
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Most places in the Eastern Suburbs are accessible by car. However travelling to and parking at popular beachside locations during summer weekends and holidays can be frustrating and time consuming.

See
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Parks and gardens
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Centennial Park
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- Centennial Park, Oxford Street, Centennial Park (Several entrances, see their website for details), +61 2 93396699, 24-hour Ranger assistance: +61 412 718611, (info@centennialparklands.com.au, fax: +61 2 93604215), [3]. April: 6.AM-6PM, May to August: 6:30AM-5:30PM, Sept to Oct: 6AM-6PM, Oct to April: 6AM-8PM. Paddington Gates (exit gate) is the last to close every day. This is a large formal park in Sydney eastern suburbs with it's own internal road and walking trail system, grand avenues, historic buiildings, lakes and many groves of shady trees dotted with picnic areas. Bike and walking trails, horse trails and equestrian facilities, some restaurant, cafe and kiost facilities are available. This park is both a playground and a giant green lung for the city. Popular all days but especially on the weekends. Centennial Park covers 220 hectares and draws more than 3.6 million visitors annually. There are no access charges to the park, however some sporting facilities and formal activities may attract fees.

- Moonlight Cinema (is held during the summer months), Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park (See the Moonlight Cinema website for special entry and admission charge information), [4].

- Cycling. The main circuit is 4km in length, and there is a separate, much smaller circuit, for children just learning to ride. Cycle hire is available from Centennial Park Cycles, 50 Clovelly Road, Randwick ☎ +61 2 93985027

- Roller-blading (Centennial Park is a venue for all levels from children to club competitors), Centennial Park. You can hire blades from Roller Bladers Total Skate, 36 Oxford Street, Woollahra ☎ +61 2 9380 6356 or Centennial Park Cycles, 50 Clovelly Road, Randwick ☎ +61 2 93985027.

- Horse riding track (Centennial Park is a popular site for horse riding), Centennial Park (Pavilion B, Corner of Cook and Lang Roads, Centennial Park), +61 2 93605650 or 1300 764000 (enquiry@centennialstables.com.au), [5]. Centennial Park has a 3.6km horse riding track and the Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre is nearby.[[6]] Leisure rides and group lessons (both $55 per hour) are available from '''Centennial Stables.

- Restaurant, Cafe and Kiosk, Banksia Way, Centennial Park, +61 293809350 (enquiry@cpdining.com.au), [7]. Centennial Parklands Dining incorporates a restaurant, café, kiosk and several outdoor areas. Contemporary style menus

For maps of the Centennial park precincts and facilities visit Centennial Park maps[8].

Moore Park
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- Moore Park (the greater Moore Park area), _61 2 93396699, 24-hour Ranger assistance: +61 412 718611, (info@centennialparklands.com.au), [9]. The main body of the park is open 24 hrs/7 days per week however some areas may be restricted or annexed as venue sites or parking areas during major events. To the south east corner of this part of Sydney, this 115 hectare open park area has sport fields used by local the local community, bike and walking tracks run through the park area and Kippax Lake, a small lake near the sports stadiums is a pleasant area for picnicing or relaxing on days without major functions in the adjoining facilities. This park is also the site of Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School, the ES Marks Athletics Field, an 18-hole Group One Championship Public Golf Course and Driving Range, tennis courts and netball courts and is a green buffer zone connecting thru to the Centennial Park a little further to the east. Moore park adjoins the Sydney Football Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground. Open access to all park areas except for groups of 50 or more persons requiring registration and fee payments. Special events may have entry prices fixed by the event managers and special event car parking may attract charges.

Harbourfront parks
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- Rushcutters Park, is adjacent to Royal Cruising Yacht Club and extensive private mooring facilities at Rushcutters bay. (Turn off New South Head Road and park on New Beach Rd), +61 2 9391 7000 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm), after hours service (Ranger or emergencies): +61 293917000, [10]. Busy on weekends with walkers, people excercising their dogs by throwing balls and frisbees to them, picnickers sit about on the lawns and local people play come together to play informal ball games. The park caters for community sports such as cricket, rugby union and soccer. The park has a cafe and kiosk located toward the centre near the water that serves light meals, drinks and other refreshments. Open access all hours.

- McKell Park, at the northern end of Darling Point at the end of Darling Point road, +61 2 9391 7000 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm), after hours service (Ranger or emergencies): +61 293917000, [11]. Park gates are open from dawn to dusk (ie. approximately 7.00am - 7.30pm) Access is available to ferry services. This small pretty park is the location of the Darling Point ferry wharf. The park comprises grassed landscape terraces stepping down to the harbour foreshore and the public ferry wharf. Set in the grounds of the original McKell mansion people picnic and relax amongst the footings and small remnant walls of the old mansion. It has become a popular site for weddings. The park was established in 1983-1985 with the heritage listed Canonbury Cottage becoming the centrepiece of the Park. Free entry with bookings and fees payable for Weddings and events.

- Neilsen Park, Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse (Finding a car park can be challenging at busy times). Established as a public reserve in 1911. Nearby is a 1.5-km 'Hermitage Foreshore' walk through park and bushland running along the western edge of Vaucluse between Nielsen Park and Bayview Hill Road. Has a scenic harbour swimming beach protected by a shark net during the summer months, picnic areas, meals and refreshments available at the Nielsen Park kiosk. Entry is free.

Historical Sites
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- Vaucluse House, [13]. (Historic Houses Trust) - first built in 1803, Vaucluse House is one of Sydney's oldest residences on a grand scale. The house and gardens are open to the public.

Ocean beaches
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Swim, surf, walk or explore the eastern suburbs beaches.

From North to South

- Bondi Beach. World famous surf beach. Pretty beach, nice for swimming, walking, with plenty of food and accommodation places lining the shoreline. Parking and car access can be extremely difficult summer weekends, and challenging even at other times. Public transport access is bus from the City, Bondi Junction, or Watsons Bay. [14]

- Tamarama Beach. A small surf beach 2km south from Bondi Beach. Worth a walk along the cost from there. The walk, although nice, is not quite as pretty as walking from Clovelly. Only kerbside parking. Public transport is by direct bus, or walking from the bus at Bondi Beach. [15]

- Bronte Beach. A nice surf beach around 3km walk south from Bondi Beach, much smaller than its northern neighbour. Good for walking. Nice ocean rock pool for swimming. Nice beachfront park with barbeques. Popular with surfers. Car access and parking can be difficult summer weekends - get there early or late if you want to drive. Public transport access is very easy from Bondi Junction, with very regular buses stopping right at the beach. [16]

- Clovelly Beach. Clovelly is a beach like no other in the area. There is a long bay, a breakwater, and calm swimming. It is a great location for walking, with headland walks heading north and south. The walk north to Waverley Cemetery popular and spectacular. The kiosk is now a upmarket cafe, so a good place to pack a picnic for. Parking can be difficult, at peak times, but it is usually possible to find a spot somewhere. Public transport access is by bus. [17]

- Coogee Beach. Very pretty and popular beach. A little smaller than Bondi, but not a small beach, and it has a bit of a similar feel to it. Nice for swimming and walking, with a rock pool at the southern end of the beach. Plenty of facilities surrounding it, Coogee has pubs, restaurants and takeaway places. Parking and car access can be difficult. Public transport access is by bus [18]

- Maroubra Beach. A long popular beach, with good facilities. You will always find a spot on the sand at Maroubra, but gets crowded swimming between the flags. Large parking lots, which do fill up summer weekends. Probably a little less scenic than the beaches further north, as it lacks the cliff headlands, therefore probably not as good for walking. A cafe and kiosk on the beach, open even during winter. Public transport access is by bus. [19]

- Malabar Beach. Sheltered at the end of Long Bay, Malabar is not the beach for surfers. It is a smaller, quieter beach, often not crowded at all. It is not patrolled by lifeguards. Parking is usually available. Public transport access is by bus. [20]

Harbour Shoreline
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See the different aspects of the harbour to walk, admire the views. take a swim in the Sydney Harbour.

From the city to the heads

- Rushcutters Bay (Royal Cruising Yacht Club and extensive private mooring facilities are situated at Rushcutters bay), New South Head Road and New Beach Road (Turn off New South Head Road and park on New Beach Rd or nearby. Buses run along New South Head Road from the City and inward bound from further east.[http:/www.131500.info]). Rushcutters Bay has many small parks the largest and most popular being at the southern end of Rushcutters bay. These parks are busy on weekends with walkers, people excercising their dogs, picnicers and local people playing informal ball games. Rushcutter Park at the Southern end has a cafe located toward the centre near the water. To the north west the bay sweeps toward Elizabeth Bay. Further along the bay on the eastern side New Beach Road passes the Yacht club and marina complexes have restaurants, cafes, shops and boat servicing operations catering to local boaters and visitors. Parking can be difficult at times. Toward Darling Point there is more parkland lining the shoreline. The bay was originally called Blackburn Cove honouring the Master of HM Armed Tender Supply and still has a small Naval depot. The area was popular for cutting the reeds often used as roof thatching in the early days of the colony. The name hence became established as the 'Rushcutting Bay'. The bay was fed by a creek with two arms; one rising in present day Darlinghurst and the other, Glenmore Brook, rising in Woollahra and which passed through lower Paddington. This lower valley of Paddington also carried the name Lacro. If you walk further north and toward the east to Darling Point there is a ferry wharf there to catch a ferry to the City or onwards eastward along the harbour shoreline.[21] Some of the marina and dock areas have restricted access.

- Double Bay. Best known for its shopping, restaurants, and cafes. A marina and a ferry wharf dominate the harbourfront. Swimming isn't popular here, and the waterfront park is a little worn. There is an enclosure further east, but you can't walk to it along the harbour front. The shopping district used to be irreverently referred to as "Double Bay-double pay due to the range of upmarket and exclusive boutiques situated there. The bay itself has extensive mooring areas for private water craft. Public transport access by ferry[22] or bus. [23]

- Rose Bay. See the seaplanes take off and land. This was the original international airport for Sydney when the airlines operating toward the Pacific, SE Asia and onward to Europe used sea-planes. The old seaplane terminal and airport administration building has been converted into use a waterfront restaurant. The water landing strip remains in service and is generally used for light seaplanes doing charter work and scenic flights northward to Palm Beach. Scheduled operations for the large seaplane flights ceased in the 1970's when the seaplane operations servicing pacific islands to the east were replaced with land based aircraft operated from the main international and domestic airport at Mascot toward the south of the city. Look at the harbour views. Not really a swimming place and can feel a bit like a harbourside transport hub at times due to the ferries and the buses coming and going. There is an enclosure for swimming at the headland on the east of the bay, which is nice to cool off. The bay has extensive mooring areas for private water craft. Parking is tight. Public transport access by ferry[24] or bus. [25].

- Sydney/South Head|Watsons Bay. Famous for its seafood, city and harbour views. Immensely popular on summer weekends, it can be impossible to park anywhere close. Visit Neilsen Park[26] and the famous Gap above the sandstone cliffs at South Head, it has stunning views and is part of an extended coastal walkway. Sadly the Gap also has a macarbre history as the site of many mysterious deaths and many suicides Public transport access by ferry[27] or bus. [28]

- Harbour Bridge to South Head and Clovelly-walking routes, (There are signs but the pathways are fairly obvious, you just follow the beaches, bays and clifftops.), [29]. A development of the Sharing Sydney Harbour Access Program (SSHAP) including the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and NSW Maritime and Department of Planning. A shared vision to improve public access and enhance the recreational enjoyment of Sydney Harbour and its tributaries for the people of Sydney and visitors to the City. Extensive information and downloadable maps and brochures are available at the website. This program has established pathways to follow the coastline and access many of the smaller parks and reserves that line the harbour shoreline. Brochures are free and all access to the program is free..

La Perouse and Botany Bay
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La Perouse was the site of some of Australia's earliest European influenced history. Jean François de Galaup de Lapérouse, a French sailor, landed there in 1788 only days after the first fleet of convicts arrived in Australia. King Louis XVI of France had commissioned Lapérouse to explore the Pacific (L’expédition de Lapérouse, 1785-1788, réplique française au voyage de Cook[30]). Lapérouse departed Brest, France, in command of L’Astrolabe and La Boussole on 1 August 1785 on a scientific voyage of the Pacific Inspired by the voyages of Cook. In April 1770 Cooks expedition had sailed onto the east coast of Australia whilst exploring the south Pacific searching for Terra Australis or ‘Land of the South’. La Perouse is named after the leader of the French expedition.

Lapérouse appeared in Botany Bay on January 26, 1788, just a few days after the arrival of Captain Phillip and the First Fleet. Lapérouse was directed by the French government to go to Botany Bay to observe the founding of the British Colony by the First Fleet. On 26 January 1788 Lapérouse arrived at Botany Bay, just as the British were leaving for Port Jackson. The commander of the Fleet, Captain Phillip, ordered that two British naval vessels, Sirius and Supply, meet the French. Contrary to popular belief, the French did not have orders to claim Terra Australis for France and the arrival of the French ships L’Astrolabe and La Boussoleand and their meeting with the ships of the British expedition was cordial and followed normal protocols. The last official sighting of the French expedition was in March 1788 when British lookouts stationed at the South Head of Port Jackson saw the expedition sail from Botany Bay. The French expedition was wrecked on the reefs of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands during a cyclone sometime during April or May 1788, the circumstances remained a mystery for 40 years. [31]

The French stayed at Botany Bay for six weeks and built a stockade, observatory and a garden for fresh produce on the La Perouse peninsula. In Samoa there had been a skirmish wth the inhabitants, Langle, commander of L’Astrolabe and 12 other members of the French expedition were killed, Father Reçeveur, expedition naturalist and chaplain, was injured in that skirmish and later died at Botany Bay. He was buried at Frenchmans Cove below the headland that is now called La Perouse. The place was marked by a tin plate but the local Aborigines quickly removed it. The British replaced it with another and tended the site. Reçeveur was the second European to be buried in Australian soil, the first was Sutherland from Cook’s 1770 expedition who is buried at nearby Kurnell on the other side of the Botany Bay headlands.

The La Perouse area has also been an aboriginal reserve, as well as home for hundreds of homeless Sydneysiders during the Great Depression. It has also been used a a defence site. Much of the area is now national park, and there cliffs, inlets, bays, and walking trails to explore. Visit on a summer Sunday, and you will see Sydney in full recreation mode, with boomerang throwers, kite fliers, beach goers, fishermen, walkers, and picnic blankets with fish and chips. You might even catch the snake man showing Australian native snakes, all for a dollar in the hat at the end of the show.

- Frenchmans Beach at La Perouse This is a swimming spot on Botany Bay. It is a fairly average beach, but has an interesting westerly outlook which allows you see the sun setting over the bay, which is very unusual in Sydney, where looking over the water usually means you are facing east. Accessible by car or bus. [32]

- Kamay Botany Bay National Park [33] [34] at La Perouse has a museum explaining the interesting history of the area. The Kamay Botany Bay National Park takes it's name from the Kamay people (the Spear people) of the nearby Cook's river and Botany Bay. There are walks and great views over the ocean and the bay. The park contains rich marine environments and remnants of the heathland vegetation which Banks and Solander, Cook's botanists, first studied in 1770. You can explore the Banks-Solander track, with its fascinating insights into the once-widespread vegetation communities that Cook's botanists explored in 1770. Or learn about Australia's Aboriginal history and European Colonisation, told in the Lapérouse Museum and the Visitor Centre. Enjoy the Cape Baily Coast Walk, with its windswept heaths, historic sites and spectacular coastal views. All easily accessible by car or bus [35].

- Bare island Fort was built to protect Botany Bay and is open for tours on Sundays.

- La Perouse Congwong Bay Beach. Little Congwong Beach is an unofficial & secluded clothing optional beach located at La Perouse, which is reached only by walking through the Botany Bay national park. Little Congwong Beach has been used peacefully by naturists for more than 40 years. Make your way to La Perouse on Botany Bay and park in the car park just north of Bare Island. Walk down the steps to Congwong Beach then left across the rocks to Little Congwong Beach, the second bay. This beach is very popular on summer weekends. Little Congwong is small, and has been described as the most beautiful, beach oasis in Sydney.[36]

Do
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- Moonlight Cinema, in the warmer months at Centennial Park and also the nearby Botanic Gardens in the City.

- Picnic in Centennial Park, just go relax in the wonderful expanse of this sprawling park

- Play golf in Moore Park[[37]].

- Go to the Cinemas at Double bay, the historic Ritz Cinema [[38]] at Randwich or to the Fox Studios[[39]] site for movies and many other entertainment venues

- Go to the beach. Pick any one of the iconic eastern suburbs beaches and enjoy the sand, surf and parade of Australian city beach culture.

- Hang out with the tanned set at Double bay.

- Watch the harbour go by at Neilsens Park near Vaucluse or at pretty McKell Park [40] at Darling Point.

- Take a walk. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk - Barrenjoey to Royal National Park, this seven day walk traverses the great urban coastal walk of Sydney. The walk can be broken into distances and times of one’s own choosing and may be walked in either direction south from Palm Beach or north from Cronulla. There is no need to do the whole walk and a visitor can just access any part of the coastal walk they choose to experience either for a few metres or a few kilometres. For full details information and brochures see details for walks including Harbour Bridge to South Head & Clovelly and Clovelly to Cronulla. There are additional details available for Sydney Harbour coastline walks.[41]. See also the The best of Sydney walks.[42]

- Learn to Surf (Surfs Up Surf School), 34 Murray St, Bronte 2024, (02) 9340 1411, [43]. 8am- 8pm. Surfs Up Surf School is a fully accredited surf school which runs year round. Learn to surf on a day trip, weekend overnight camp or on a Sydney to Byron Bay surf tour. Local pickups daily in Bondi Beach, Coogee, Bronte, Kings Cross and Central. Lessons from $89 for a full day surf tour. Includes transport, equipment, lunch and instruction. 89. (33° 54' S,151° 15' E)

Buy
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- Antiques. Stores in Woollahra.

Eat
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- Doyles Watsons Bay.

- Danny's Seafood Restaurant, 1605 Anzac Parade, La Perouse NSW 2036 (By car follow Anzac Parade until it reaches then end where it will loop around La Perouse. By bus take the 394 bus until it terminates at La Perouse.), +61 2 9311 4116. Good seafood restaurant with outdoor balcony and views of the sunset over Botany Bay.

Drink
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- The Eastern Hotel at Bondi Junction is popular with young crowds on Wednesday nights, one of the more renowned mid-week venues in Sydney. Expect to pay at least $10 in cover charge.

- Around the beaches, there are many modern pubs, such as the Clovelley Hotel, Beach Road Hotel Bondi, and Coogee Beach Palace, which serve food and alcohol, as well as having gaming facilities and live entertainment. Other large, well-renovated pubs sit a little further back from the beach, such as the Royal Hotel in Randwick, and the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington.

- The Coogee Bay Hotel has a reputation for violence but has become safer due to licensing laws, and is generally a good place to drink or enjoy a meal. There's an outdoor beer garden which is popular in summer, and kept warm in winter by outdoor heaters; live bands play inside, and there's a sports bar and gaming lounge as well.

- Cheaper drinks can be found at RSLs, which will always have bistros and gaming, as well as various other facilities - try Coogee RSL on Carr St.

- Around the University of New South Wales, pubs and bars serve the student population - the campus bar serves cheap drinks, especially at Happy Hour (5-6, 5-7 on Wednesday). The Regent Hotel in Kingsford is also a popular student haunt.

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

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

The Prince of Wales Hospital is the major Public Hospital servicing the Eastern suburbs. It is located on a large Randwick campus which also incorporates The Prince of Wales Private Hospital, The Royal Hospital for Women and Sydney Children’s Hospital with The University of New South Wales located on an adjoining campus. If your need is closer in toward the city centre and inner east further accident and emergency services including treatment for major trauma is also provided by St Vincents Hospital in Darlinghurst, please see City east article. The area surrounding the hospitals have many private clinics providing general practice, specialist mediical and also ancillary services such as pathology and medical imaging. The precinct also includes The Prince of Wales Hospital Private Hospital. see map at [[44]]

- Prince of Wales Hospital, High Street & Avoca Street, Randwich (look for signs directing to Accident and Emergency department), +61 2 93822222 (fax: 61 2 93822033), [45]. The Public Hospital has 440 beds and almost 3,000 staff. The Prince of Wales Hospital has a relatively small but highly complex caseload with more than 30,000 acute patients admitted and about 40,000 patients treated in the Emergency Department annually. Provides a full range of service including one of the largest interventional cardiac services, renal transplantation on site, HIV medicine, Infectious Diseases, a Thalassaemia Service, comprehensive epilepsy service, spinal medicine and the state’s Hyperbaric Chamber.

- Sydney Children's Hospital (for paediatric accident and emergency care), High St, Randwick (Accident and Emergency department entrance is on High Street, Randwick.), +61 2 93821111, [47]. 24 hours ER and serious trauma. NSW Health Department.

- Royal Hospital for Women (Maternity services), Barker Street, Randwick, +61 2 93826111, [49]. The Royal Hospital for Women has been one of Australia’s foremost specialist hospitals for women and babies, since its early beginnings as New South Wales first ‘lying-in’ hospital for women in 1820. As a principal teaching hospital of the University of NSW in the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology and neonatology the Royal has a history of innovation in women’s health care services, teaching and research.

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

District Southern Sydney Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Botany Bay

Georges River

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Sydney Airport

Botany Bay

• Contact

Get in
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- By rail, the western extent of this region is served by CityRail's [1] Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line. The Airport and East Hills line has premium-priced stations [2] serving the airport and adjacent area.

- By bus, from the city, Sydney Buses [3] routes 309 and 310 access the Mascot and Botany area. The daytime high-frequency Metrobus M20 (prepay only) connects Mascot to the city and over the harbour to the Lower North Shore. Brighton-Le-Sands area is served by the 303 bus from the city.

- When driving via the Airport Tunnel, be aware that tidal flow lane control operates during morning peak hour. Be sure to look at the electronic overhead signs and lane markings and not blindly follow your GPS!

See
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Botany Bay
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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 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 10km 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. [4]

Georges River
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- Oatley Park - one of the finest examples of Australian remnant bushland about 30 minutes drive of the CBD. Features bushwalking, swimming, bike trails as well as play equipment for children. The lookouts over the Georges River are also well worth a look. There is plenty of parking in the park, or it is about 2km walk west of Oatley Cityrail [5] Station.

- Cruises - Bass and Flinders [6] cruise the Georges River every Sunday. The wharf is just adjacent to Captain Cook Bridge in Sans Souci. Plenty of parking, or catch the bus heading towards Miranda from Rockdale.

Do
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- 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.

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

- Sydney Luggage Centre, 1147 Botany Rd, Mascot, +61 2 9669 6381, [7]. Mon-Fri 8:30AM to 5:00 PM (Sat to 3:30 PM, closed Sun). Made it all the way down under and that wheel has fallen off your suitcase? Come here to get the spare, or buy a sturdier replacement. This long-established luggage retailer is one of the largest in Sydney (CBD store also). Service over the phone can be limited.

Eat
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- Hong Ha, 1151 Botany Rd, Mascot, 9667 2069, [8]. This tiny Vietnamese bakery is an institution. Visit the original store, which gets queues down the street at lunchtime, and order their famous chicken roll (with optional fresh chilli).

Drink
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- South Sydney Graphic Arts Club, 182 Coward St, Mascot (Between Botany Rd and O'Riordan Streets), +61 2 9667 4321, [9]. Opens 10AM (Mon-Fri), 12PM (Sat-Sun), closes 10PM (midnight on Wed-Sat).. This is a members' club, but not if you live more than 5KM away, so take advantage of this little secret for cheap drinks & eats. Tuesday nights have even cheaper meals.

Sleep
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Sydney Airport
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- Hotel Formule 1 Sydney Airport, 5 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot, +61 (0) 2 83391840, [10]. checkin: 12:00 PM. Closest hotel to the domestic terminals T2 and T3, this is a basic budget hotel with convenient access to 24 hr Krispy Kreme and McDonald's next door.

- Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel, Cnr O'Riordan & Robey Streets, Mascot, +61 2 9317 2200, [11]. A short walk north from the domestic terminals T2 & T3. This is a well-appointed 4* hotel. Tip: Ask for an upper-level airport view room, it's one of the best outside the control tower!

- Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, Cnr O'Riordan St & Bourke Rd, Mascot, 1800 899 960, [12]. checkin: 2:00 PM; checkout: 11:00 AM. A longer walk (10-15 min) from the domestic terminals, this hotel has the advantage of being very close to Mascot Cityrail station, providing quick and cheap access to Sydney CBD.

- Mercure Sydney Airport, 20 Levey Street, Wolli Creek (walk west from the terminal over the bridge along Marsh Street), +61 2 9518 2000, [13]. The only hotel within walking distance from the international terminal (T1). Formerly known as the Hilton. A taxi to the international terminal costs about $7-8, there is also a shuttle bus which costs $6.

Botany Bay
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- Novotel Brighton Beach, (opposite the beach at Brighton le Sands), +61 2 9556 5111, [14]. By far the largest hotel in the district, linked to Brighton Beach by a footbridge. Situated in the heart of the restaurant area along Bay Street.

Contact
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District Sydney Olympic Park Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By bus

By ferry

By light rail

By train

• See

• Do

• Buy

Markets

Books

Shopping malls

• Eat

Burwood/Concord

Balmain

Glebe

Leichhardt

Newtown

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

• Cope

Understand
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The Inner West suburbs are amongst the oldest parts of Sydney. They developed along Parramatta Road, the road that links the City of Sydney with the City of Parramatta, at the source of the Parramatta River. The architecture of the Inner West ranges from terraced houses to small mansions and reflects its development in the Victorian (1840-1900) and Federation (1901-1914) periods. The area is quite culturally diverse. Its proximity to the Sydney central business district makes it ideal for city commuters and an alternative base for business.

Get in
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By bus
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The main form of public transport to this district from the city is bus, with numerous and frequent Sydney Buses routes leading to the Inner West. Route numbers in this area of Sydney begin with 4 or 5; useful routes include the 431-434 to Glebe/Balmain, the 436-440 and Metrobus 10 to Leichhardt, 422-428 to Newtown, the 480-483 to Strathfield Station and the 500 buses which travel up Victoria Rd past the suburb of Drummoyne. Note that some buses may be marked "Prepay Only", you must buy tickets from ticket outlets such as newsagents or convenience stores as they are not available for sale on buses.

By ferry
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Ferries from the city provide a scenic route to the area via the inner harbour and Parramatta River, stopping at various wharves along the way. The most useful for travellers are the wharves at Balmain. Access to the ferry services is from Circular Quay.

By light rail
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Another possible means of access to the Inner West is on the Metro light rail service, which travels from Central station via Darling Harbour to Glebe and Lilyfield (near Leichhardt). This is an interesting way to travel, as it follows the old goods (freight) lines which serviced Sydney's ports.

By train
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Only the more southerly parts of the district are served by rail lines:

- The Cityrail [1] Inner West line passes through this district, stopping at Macdonaldtown, Newtown, Stanmore, Petersham, Lewisham, Summer Hill, Ashfield, Croydon, Burwood and Strathfield.

- The Cityrail Bankstown line stops at Erskineville, St Peters and Marrickville.

Both lines are served regularly: about once every 15 minutes outside of peak hour, with services commencing at about 5AM and ending about midnight.

See
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- The Enmore Theatre, 130 Enmore Road, Newtown. ph 02 9550 3666. fax 02 9550 2990. email boxoffice@enmoretheatre.com.au. The Enmore Theatre is one of Sydney's premier smaller live venues. International acts who have performed here include the Rolling Stones, Ani Difranco, Flaming Lips, Eels, the White Stripes and Asian Dub Foundation, Joe Cocker, Michelle Shocked, Dandy Warhols, Jethro Tull, and Mars Volta.

- The Annandale Hotel, corner Parramatta Rd and Nelson St, Annandale ph. 02 9550 1078 is another of Sydney's best pub venues. It hosts many of Australia's best known indie bands and international acts. Cult Movie night ('Cult Sinema) on Mondays.

- Newtown's main street, King Street is architecturally probably the best preserved Victorian high street in Sydney. Neglect preserved it in the first place - no money was to be made by knocking things down in the twentieth century, and now regulation more or less ensures that more is being conserved and restored rather than demolished. Along its length you'll find the usual mix of shops in a major city's boho zone: second hand book shops, over thirty (at last count) Thai restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants, cafes, clothing shops and an assortment of odd quirky little places.

- New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown, [2]. New Theatre is one of the oldest continuously producing theatre companies in Australia with a proud history that is intertwined with much of Sydney's social development and Australian theatre history. From our beginnings as a political workers' theatre, we have grown to become one of Sydney's leading independent community theatre companies. Our productions range across drama, comedy, musicals, gay theatre, family shows, political cabaret and specialised education programs. We have revisited classic texts with bold new interpretations and premiered some of the finest contemporary writing.

Do
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- Newtown Festival is held annually in November and features local bands, crafts, food and cultural activities. Camperdown Park, Newtown.

Newtown and Enmore are also home to Reclaim the Streets, Under the Blue Moon [3], zine and comic fairs, Walk The Streets, and other alternative festivals and activist events during the year.

Buy
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Markets
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- The regular markets in Glebe and Rozelle (near Balmain) are a great place to shop with the locals and look for unusual bargains. Held in the grounds of the local public primary schools the Glebe markets are on every Saturday and the Rozelle markets both Saturday and Sunday.

- The Camperdown Bowling Club also hosts markets on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month - starting on February 13th 2010. Have some fun playing barefoot bowls and check out the markets while you're there.

Books
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- Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (new books) and 191 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (second hand books). ph 02 9660 2333 (new book store) and 02 9552 2526 (second hand). [4] For booklovers, Gleebooks is Sydney's premier independent bookshop catering for a wide variety of readers. There is also a Gleebooks bookshop in the inner-west suburb of Dulwich Hill.

- Gould's Book Arcade 32 King Street, Newtown. ph 02 9519 8947. [5] Gould's is likely the most chaotic used bookshop in the world. Specialties include Marxism, Labour history, magazines, and Australian history. Open until midnight daily.

- Sappho Books Cafe & Wine Bar [6] is a large general second hand book store. It is located next to Gleebooks, with an upstairs area and incorporating a cafe in its leafy courtyard which becomes a wine and tapas bar at night. Sappho is quickly gaining prominence both as a great book store and for the quality of its coffee. 51 Glebe Pt Rd, Glebe. Ph 02 9552 4498.

- Better Read Than Dead, In the heart of Newtown. This is arguably one of the Inner-west's largest book stores with a large selection of biographies and hard to find titles. The store also has an ABC shop upstairs.

Shopping malls
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- The shopping complex at Birkenhead Point contains a large number of designer factory outlets for fashion on the cheap. Currently being redeveloped, and a little messy, and doesn't make the most of its spot by the harbour. It can be accessed by ferry or buses along Victoria Road.

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

Burwood/Concord
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- Thai Style, 16 Burwood Rd Concord (cnr Parramatta Rd and Burwood Rd), 9745 4405. Great Thai food at great local prices, eat in, book a party or get takeaway.

Fuji Teppanyaki Japanese restaurant, 246 Burwood Rd, Burwood, ☎ +61 2 9745 3188. Not only do they serve the usual sushi and sashimi, their specialty is hot-plate style cooking show (teppanyaki), which the chef cooks and serve all the fresh produce in front of you.

If you are not in the mode for Asian cuisine there are also a range of cafes in Burwood towards the northern (Westfield Shopping Center) end. Or alternatively Concord, has a small italian quarter, where you can find a range of Italian restaurants serving wood oven fired pizza and home made pasta. Best of all the gelato shops runs all year round, serving home made desserts. Take bus 464, 466 from opposite side of Burwood train station.

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

- Rosso Pomodoro, Shop 90-91, 24 Buchanan St, Balmain (White Bay), 9555 5924, [7]. 6PM-10PM, Tuesday-Sunday. This is a bit further out of Balmain in a more residential area, but they serve excellent authentic Italian pizzas.

- Pomegranate Thai, 191 Darling Street, (02) 9555 5693. Excellent and authentic modern thai food.

- Riverview Hotel, 29 Birchgrove Road, Balmain, 02 9810 1151. Bar: Mon-Sat 12-12, Sun 12-10. Dining room: Fri-Sun 12-3, Mon-Sun 6-10. You can choose to eat in the dining room upstairs but you can also choose from a selection of the same menu and eat in the bar. The menu is Modern Australian and courses are well thought through and executed. The bar also offers tasting plates and pizzas. Prices - Bar menu: Tasting plates $10, Pizzas $18. Dining room: Entries around $20, Mains $ 25-30.

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

- Badde Manors, 37 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, +61 2 9660 3797, [8]. 7.30AM-Midnight (until 2AM Fri/Sat). Cozy vegetarian cafe with great desserts.

- Inferno, Broadway Shopping Centre, 2 Bay St, Broadway, +61 2 9211 4141. One of a small chain of family friendly gourmet wood-fired pizza joints. Favourites include the Inferno pizza and the Rising Sun pizza. They have a nice brucshetta too. Keep an eye on them when they open wine for you: they're a bit cavalier about the cork. Mains $15-$20.

- Saigon Saigon, 97 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, +61 2 9660 3888. 6PM-11PM. Vietnamese restaurant with a nice low-key atmosphere and soft lighting. Try the salt and pepper squid.

- The Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay, Located at the end of Ferry Road (From Pyrmont Road turn right at Taylor Street and then right again at Ferry Street and continue to the end of the road. The Restaurant is by the water), (02) 9518 9011, [9]. Lunch Thurs- Sun from noon, Dinner Tues-Sun from 6 pm. Fine dining, Modern Australian, specialising in seafood. Prices approximately $27 for starters and $ 40 for mains.

- Glebe Point Diner, 407 Glebe Point Rd, (02) 9660 2646. Lunch Fri-Sun from noon, Dinner Mon-Sat from 6 pm. Modern Australian with french influences with a carefully selected seasonal menu. Fine dining feel but a relaxed and un-pretentious atmosphere. Prices around $18 for starters, $25-30 for mains.

- Almustafa, 23 Glebe Point Rd, (02) 9660 9006. Sun-Thur 5.30-11pm, Fri-Sat 5.30-12. Authentic Lebanese family friendly restaurant with cosy atmosphere. Great for vegetarians. BYO wine. Prices around $10-15 for starters, $14-28 for mains.

Leichhardt
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Norton Street is Sydney-speak for Italian, although the food here is generally pricey and mass-prepared. As a rule, avoid restaurants in the Italian Forum as they're generally touristy. Thai, Brazilian and Lebanese restaurants have also recently opened in Leichhardt. For more Italian options go to nearby Haberfield.

- Braza Churrascaria, 13 Norton Street, Leichhardt, +61 2 9572 7921. Popular Brazilian BBQ restaurant recently opened in Leichhardt - all you can eat for $38. Extremely busy on weekends, so bookings are advised. Not recommended for vegetarians!

- Bar Italia, 169 Norton Street, Leichhardt, +61 2 9560 9981. A Leichhardt institution renowned for their award winning gelato - which attracts lines that go out the door on Friday and Saturday nights (and constantly increases the price). Bar Italia also have a strict rule of nothing but regular milk in your coffee - so if you want soy or skim get your coffee elsewhere. Staff can sometimes be abrupt and rude, but it's well worth it for the gelato.

- Martini, Level 1 99 Norton St, Leichhardt (enter through Palace Cinemas), +61 2 9568 3344. This place sells the typical woodfired pizza and pasta, but go here for the movie meal deals where you get a pizza or pasta and a movie ticket for around $15 - almost the price of an adult movie ticket.

- La Disfida, 109 Ramsay St, Haberfield, 9798 8299. Excellent authentic Italian pizza. In Haberfield, which is down the street from Leichhardt. A bus from Norton St or Marion St can get you there in about 5 minutes.

- Pasticceria Papa, 145 Ramsay St, Haberfield, 9798 6894, [10]. This place is famous for their ricotta cheesecake, but they also serve hot foods such as foccacia, arancini, etc.

- Ocean Foods, 154 Lyons Rd (Cnr Gipps St), Drummoyne, +61 2 9181 4336. Some people claim (including the shop) that this is the best fish and chips around. Prepare for a queue if you come on a Friday night or the weekend.

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

- Green Gourmet, 115 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9519 5330, [11]. Lunch 12PM-3PM; Dinner 6PM-10PM. A specialist 100% vegan Chinese restaurant and grocer. They do an all vegan buffet - but beware, they charge according to the weight of food on your plate and include the (very heavy) plate's weight.

- Guzman Y Gomez, 175 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9517 1533, [12]. 11.30AM-10PM. Great fast food style Mexican.

- Izote, 6 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 8084 9651, [13]. 5.30PM-Late, Tuesday-Sunday. Nice Mexican food, down the Sydney Uni end of King St. One of the only places in Sydney where you can get ceviche, and they also serve a decent chicken mole.

- Kilimanjaro, 280 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9557 4565, [14]. 12PM-3PM weekdays, 12PM-late weekends. This African restaurant has good tasty meat dishes. Be prepared to squint a bit at the chalkboard menu when you go in, and be sure to order side-dishes: the mains are not very large. They don't really cater to vegetarians. Mains approx $15, sides $5. Nearby sister-restaurant Lat-Dior (see website) is open for dinner.

- Thai La-ong, 89 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9550 5866. Thai La-ong has some of the spicier dishes among Newtown's many Thai restaurants. Their yellow curry and pad see eiw are worth a special mention. The restaurant is not air-conditioned and can be a bit uncomfortable on hot Sydney summer nights. Mains approx $10, but daily lunch specials include a plethora of generous mains for $6.

- Crispy Inn Bakery, 203 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9557 3910. 24h. Across the road from yet another 7-11, and much more interesting. They're always baking, so there's always something fresh. They have a variety of pies, cakes, rolls, and loaves.

- Bitton Café, 37a Copeland St, Alexandria, +61 2 9519 5111, [15]. open from 7AM, closes 5PM (Sat/Sun) or 7PM (Mon/Tue) or 9PM (Wed-Fri). A small gourmet cafe opposite Erskineville Park, mixing French Cuisine with Indian spices. Their homemade speciality jams are sensational. A popular breakfast spot for locals, expect to wait for seating on weekends. Mains $15-20.

- Thai Pothong, 294 King Street, Newtown (50m from Newtown Station), +61 2 9519 8050, [16]. Lunch 12-3PM (Tue-Sun) Dinner 6PM-10/11PM (7 days). One of Sydney's premier Thai Restaurants with understated black and white decor and awesome but relatively pricey food. This place won Thai Restaurant of the Year for several years running many years ago, and one taste of the food will show you why. It has since expanded three times and incorporates a Thai gift shop. Mains $15-$29.

- Guzzle Tandoori, 453 King Street, Newtown, +61 2 9557 3537. 5.30PM-midnight. Excellent authentic Pakastani meals, typically about $15/person. Save some room for the dessert naan, delicious!

- Sumalee Thai @ The Bank Hotel, 324 King Street, Newtown (Next to Newtown Station, enter through the main bar and go down stairs), +61 2 8568 1988, [17]. This institution of Newtown was completely rebuilt in 2006. Its secret beer garden - Sumalee Thai - has probably the best Thai in Sydney, although some dishes are very spicy. The menu looks expensive but each dish will be enough for two people. Finish the night at the cocktail bar upstairs (see listing in "Drink").

- Linda's on King St ((formerly Linda's Backstage)), 341 King St, Newtown (50m south from Newtown Station), (02) 9550 6015, [18]. Tue-Sat from 6PM. "Contemporary cuisine giving classic dishes a modern twist." Not many tables so be sure to make a reservation. Top quality for Newtown. Mains $28.

- Rowda Ya Habibi, 101 King Street, Newtown. 10:30 AM-midnight. This dingy looking store is far and away the best place for a take away doner kebab in Newtown. Unlike other Newtown kebab stores, which seem to largely cater to drunk people stumbling out of pubs, Ya Habibi's kebabs are fairly authentic (the tabouleh and sauces are made by the owners, and they include a very tasty pickled red cabbage), and at $5.50 AUD for a falafel roll or $6.50 for chicken or lamb, are actually a little cheaper. Also worth checking out are their dolmas ($1.50 each) and their large, soft and delicious pieces of turkish delight (80 cents each or $5 for a box, but most of the time the box is worse value).

Drink
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- AB Hotel (formerly The Ancient Briton), 225 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. ph 02 9660 1417. This hotel has just undergone major renovations and is looking great with a Russian theme inside. The AB claims to have Sydney's coldest beer on tap. It's a large and not terribly crowded local pub with pool tables, couches and a bar made out of a fishtank. Cajun food is served daily, about $15 mains including Jambalaya, fried chicken, fish cakes and sweet potato pie.

- The Bank Hotel, 324 King Street, Newtown. ph 02 9557 1692. This is an enormous pub only 2 minutes walk from Newtown train station. It has a Thai restaurant (see listing in "Eat") as well as a bar. Wednesday night is lesbians' night. Look out for half-priced cocktails early in the night and cheap jugs of beer. Level access and lift, disabled toilet on lower ground floor.

- The Town Hall Hotel, 326 King St Newtown. ph 02 9557 1206. Dirty, noisy and seedy, this pub is otherwise known as The Townie and is the best place in Newtown. Older residents of Newtown and horse race punters drink downstairs, everyone else heads upstairs to Platform 8. Home to most of Sydney's indie band scene at one time or another.

- The Imperial Hotel, Erskineville Road, Erskineville (next to BP service station). [19] The Imperial, 5 minutes from the heart of Newtown is a gay and lesbian pub and nightclub which features entertainment late THU-SAT. This pub featured in the opening scene of 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'.

- The Sydney Rowing Club, 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford. 02 9712 1199. [20] Sydney's Original Rowing Club, established in 1870, is a historic site with a chic and contemporary venue on a glorious riverside setting, just 20 minutes ferry ride from Circular Quay. With fresh seafood available everyday for lunch and dinner, an expansive beverage list and live music on the riverside deck Thursday, Friday and Sunday, it's the ultimate setting for the archetypal Sydney experience.

Sleep
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- Harbour Breeze Lodge, 5 Collingwood Street, Drummoyne. ph (02) 9181 2420. fax (02) 9799 0738. email jeff@harbourbreezelodge.com.au. Clean, quiet, budget accommodation especially suited to holiday-makers, business-people, working-travellers and students who require affordable three-star accommodation just minutes from Sydney CBD by ferry or bus. The stately Victorian building has a leafy rear garden, bright and spacious rooms, and an upstairs guest balcony that attains fresh gentle breeze off harbour waters. Rates: $60/night for single, $80/night for twin or double, $90/night for family. Weekly rates are available for all lengths of stay.

- The Abbey On King, 379 King Street, Newtown. 379 King Street, Newtown offers backpackers and budget minded travellers a friendly atmosphere and a clean, secure place to stay in the heart of cosmipolitan Newtown. Predominantly dormitory style accommodation with some single and double rooms. Features include a internet lounge with fast connections, a fully equipped kitchen and dining facilities, laundry and ironing facilities, free linen, large showers, crystal clean amenities, free pay TV, storage lockers and safety deposit boxes.

- Billabong Gardens, 5-11 Egan Street, Newtown. ph 02 9550 3236 or 1800 806 419 (freecall from within Australia). fax 02 9550 4352. email book@billabonggardens.com.au. Located in a quiet side street off bustling King Street, Billabong Gardens is a purpose built hotel/motel offering excellent quality accommodation no matter what your needs. From comfortable doubles with private bathroom to multi-configuaration family rooms or even hostel beds, Billabong offers a complete range of options for the budget traveller looking for true value for money. Facilities include a solar heated pool surrounded by a tropical courtyard with bbq area; large fully equipped communal kitchen; laundry; TV lounge with free internet terminals; free Wi-Fi in all rooms, on-site security parking (fee); and all just a 5 minutes by bus to the city, close to all Newtown live venues (including the Enmore theatre) and 5 minute walk to the RPA Hospital.

- Glebe Point YHA, 262-264 Glebe Point Road, Glebe. ph 02 9692 8418. fax 02 9660 0431. email glebe@yhansw.org.au. A backpacker hostel located on the major Glebe Point Road food area. Dorm beds $24-$28 per night. $68 per night per double or twin room.

- Dulwich Hill YHA, 407 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill. ph 02 9550 0054 or 1800 671 795 (free call within Australia) fax 02 9550 0570. email dulwichhillyha@oranalodge.com.au. A hotel/hostel in the outer suburbs of the Inner West, just over half an hour to the CBD by bus. A truly charming Victorian-era building in a quiet setting. Dorm beds $20-$27 per night; twin rooms $70 per night, $80 per night with ensuite.

- Broadway University Motor Inn, 25 Arundel Street, Glebe. ph 02 9660 5777. fax 02 9660 2929. This motel has basic rooms in the usual motel style: double beds, television, small private bathrooms. It is within easy walking distance of Glebe Point Road, and is also on several major western bus routes. It is located about 10 minutes bus ride from the city. Double room $140 per night for two people.

- Annam Suites Cascata, 5 Croydon Street in Petersham. ph 02 9569 0547 - A boutique executive apartment building located just 10 minute drive from the CBD. Architecturally designed with many features like the striking steel and glass waterfall tower lift and magnificent views of the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge from most of the Executive Apartment Suites. The apartments feature all the latest in stainless steel appliances, 2 Bathrooms one with a bathtub, 32’’ LCD TV and a beautifully appointed interior design furniture package.Rates 2br $220 per night 3br $300 per night minimum 3 night stay.

Contact
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Cope
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- The Marrickville Metro shopping centre (34 Victoria Road, Marrickville) has two supermarkets, a Kmart and a typical range of specialty stores. [21]

- Church Street Medical Practice (Church Street, Newtown) is one of the best general pratice clinics in the Inner West.

District Lower North Shore Table of Contents

• Understand

History

Geography

• Get in

By train

By bus

By car

• See

• Do

Harbour parks, walks and picnics

People Watching

Cinema

• Buy

Shopping Malls

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Cope

Stay healthy

Understand
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History
toc

Geography
toc

The Lower North Shore consists of the district from North Sydney to Chatswood.

It includes North Sydney which is is a sizable commercial center in its own right (it has more office accommodation than the Adelaide CBD), and the trendy harbour side suburbs of Neutral Bay, Cremorne, amd Mosman. There is considerable high density accommodation in this area and it is a good base for travellers staying in Sydney for any length of time. Many workers commute by ferry into the city.

Further north on the train line and Pacific Highway are the adjacent suburbs of St Leonards and Crows Nest, mixed commercial and residential.

Travellers will appreciate the area as a convenient, and comfortable - base from which to explore the wider city, as well as containing many shopping opportunities, and parks, gardens, and views.

It is also a good area to visit by bus or train for a night out at one of the many high quality restaurants in the district.

Get in
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By train
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A regular Cityrail [1] trains run betwee Milsons Point to Chatswood on the North Shore line. These are extremely busy at peak hours, but not at other times. Trains for the North Shore depart from Central, Town Hall and Wynyard stations in the city. Use Milsons Point to access the harbour, the bridge, and Luna Park. North Sydney and Chatswood stations both have bus interchanges.

Trains also run to and from Epping regularly. The Epping, North Shore, Northern and Western lines all run through Chatswood regularly.

By bus
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Regular State Transit [2] buses run from the city throughout the Lower North Shore. From Chatswood there are regular bus services to the City, North Sydney, Crows Nest, Bondi Junction, Parramatta, Eastwood, Ryde, Macquarie Uni/Centre, Gladesville, Northbridge, Mosman, and the Northern Beaches.

By car
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Lower North Shore suburbs are all within 20 minutes of the City Centre by car.

See
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- Luna Park, 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point (walk straight down the hill from Milsons Point station and follow the signs), +61-2-9922-6644, [3]. Luna Park is an amusement park on the harbour's edge. The huge grinning face over the entrance is a Sydney icon.

- Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman (Taronga Zoo has its own ferry service departing Circular Quay), 61-2-9969-2777 (tz@zoo.nsw.gov.au), [4]. 9AM to 5PM. is Sydney's major zoo and houses both Australian and exotic animals. Worth the trip for the views back to the city and Opera House. Don't miss the Bird Show where various native birds fly free over the heads of visitors. $100 for 2 adults and 2 children, $43 adults, $21 children 4-15 years, $30 concessions, free for children under 4 years. If you catch public transport you can buy a ticket which includes train, ferry and admission to the zoo. There are family tickets for entry to the zoo, and every child after the first travels free on Sydney public transport. You will have to do the math for yourself, but it is not always cheaper to buy a joint ticket if you have 2 or more children.. (-33.842441,151.243847)

- Wendy Whiteley's garden, Foreshore, Lavender Bay (Downhill from Clark Park on Lavender Street). Wendy Whitely, the widow of famed Australian landscape painter Brett Whiteley, has cleared out disused railway land in Lavender Bay to create a large, unofficial park, packed dense with Australian and exotic flowers.

- North Sydney Oval, Miller St, North Sydney (Walk 15 minutes up the road from north sydney station). Great old cricket and rugby ground. Northern Suburbs (Shute Shield), North Sydney Bears (NSW Cup)use the ground regularly,with some NSW one-day cricket games played there in summer

Do
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Harbour parks, walks and picnics
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Harbour views from parts of the district are spectacular. In addition to the normal views, Sydney Harbour has occasional fireworks displays, the most impressive of which is the New Year displays at 9pm on New Years Eve and at midnight on New Year's Day. Visitors hoping to watch the New Year fireworks from a North Sydney vantage point need to be prepared to arrive at around midday on New Year's Eve to claim a spot in one of the public parks. The area is frequently restricted access on New Year's Eve and visitors may not be allowed to bring alcohol into the area.

- Blues Point Reserve, Blues Point Road, McMahon's Point (walk down to the most southerly end of Blue's Point Road; from the city, catch the Darling Harbour Route ferry to McMahons Point from Circular Quay and walk around to the park). Blues Point Reserve is a small grassy area right on the water, affording perfect views of the Bridge. It is the most popular area in the district to watch the fireworks at New Years' Eve.

- Balls Head Reserve, Ball's Head Road, Waverton (follow Bays Road and then Balls Head Road to the south-west of Waverton Station). Two points to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Balls Head is a large park and picnic area with extensive harbour views.

- Bradfield Park, Alfred Street South, Milson's Point (head directly down the hill from Milson's Point station; or head east from the Milsons Point ferry wharf). Bradfield Park is directly adjacent to the Harbour Bridge's northern approach. However, the very south end has the best view of the city on the other side of the harbour.

- Cremorne Reserve, Milson Road, Cremorne Point (head down Murdoch Road and Milson Road from Military Road, Cremorne, or catch bus route 225 to Cremorne Wharf. From the city, take the Mosman Bay ferry and get off at the first wharf (Cremorne Point).). Cremorne Reserve is a small park along the water near Cremorne Wharf, with sweeping views southwest to the city and Harbour Bridge. A good place to watch the sunset on a summer night with a picnic dinner.

- Berry Island Reserve, (Walk down Shirley Road from Woolstonecraft station.). Berry Island first connected to the mainland with a causeway from Wollstonecraft farm in the 1800s. Later quarried sandstone made a permanent land bridge to the island. The land bridge is now lawns with a playground, and a loop walk circles the island, which will take around 20 minutes. There are interpretive signs about the Aboriginal heritage of the area. The last part of the walk can be done rock hopping along the sandstone rocks on the coastline. There is an aboriginal carving there, but it basic, and quite hard to make out. There is a lookout at the end of the point, with views across the harbour to Balmain and Birchgrove. You can also see across to HMAS Waterhen Naval Base. free.

- Extensive walking opportunities are available in Lane Cove National Park. Lane Cove Park is developed, with well formed walks, cafe, etc. Entry fee is payable for cars to enter. Cyclists and pedestrians are free.

- Headland Park [5] at Middle Head, is bushwalking for the latte and chardonnay set. Take middle head road from Mosman - follow the signs to the Zoo, and then turn left at the roundabout onto Middle Head Road. The site offers spectacular vies over the harbout, and the city. Well formed bushwalks, picnic areas, and swimming at Chowder Bay and Balmoral beaches on the harbour. There are several well placed cafes and restaurants within the park, if you don't feel like carrying a picnic basket, including Ripples [6] near Chowder Bay. Buses 244 and 288 service the area on weekdays. On weekends, buses connect with the Taronga Zoo Ferry. Alternatively there is a connecting walk to Chowder Bay around Bradleys Head from the Taronga Zoo Ferry. Entry and parking is free.

- Tambourine Bay Reserve in Riverview, has a park adjacent to it with a variety of bbq facilities. The park is also a peculiar meeting place for dogs and their owners. On most days, usually between 2-5pm, a group will gather and the dogs will play while the owners socialise. Not far from the park is a distinctive mangrove swamp and a reserve with many bush walking trails. Notes on these trails and sights to see can be obtained from [7]. The bay is picturesque with its yachts and native vegetation in the foreshore. A sea scouts clubhouse is located in the area, and is popular with rowers and sailors alike. Also nearby is the historic St Ignatius (Catholic) college, a prestigous seconday school in Sydney. The school has football fields and outdoor basketball courts that are often used freely by members of the public.

- Walk around the foreshore from Kirribili to Lavender Bay along the Luna Park promenade.</do>

- Mosman walks, [8]. Walk on beautiful shorefront trails through trees and "bushland" in Mosman.

People Watching
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- Chatswood's Victoria Street Pedestrian Mall, very close to the train station, has regular musical performances, an ethnic food market on Thursdays, and occasionally performances from buskers.

Cinema
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- Chatswood Cinemas [9] Chatswood has two multi-screen cinema complexes, in Westfield and in the Mandarin Centre. In addition to mainstream movies the Mandarin Centre often features Asian films, including Japanese Anime, and films from Bollywood and China.

- Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, 380 Military Road, Cremorne, +61-2-9908-4344, [10]. The Orpheum shows mainstream and art house films in beautiful refurbished theatres.

- Natural Wanders, Milsons Point, +61-4-2722-5072, [11]. Natural Wanders offers guided sea kayak tours of Sydney Harbour leaving from Lavender Bay. The minimum distance is 5.5km. No kayaking experience is required but a reasonable level of fitness is needed. from $65.

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

Most other North Shore suburbs have street shopping strips oriented towards locals and their needs.

Eat
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- Gourmet Pizza Kitchen, 60 Archer Street Chatswood, (02) 9411 8000. AU$15-AU$25. The Gourmet Pizza Kitchen is a family restaurant which serves thirty different gourmet-style pizzas.

- The Genghis Khan Mongolian Barbeque Restaurant, 77 Archer Street Chatswood, (02) 9411 1147. AU$20. The Genghis Khan is a self-serve restaurant. Your meal is cooked on a large hot plate by a flamboyant chef.

- Cha for Tea, 389 Victoria Ave Chatswood, (02) 9884 7668. Serves light meals, snacks and a wide range of (mostly tea-based) beverages. The leafy courtyard out the back is a very pleasant place to relax on a sunny afternoon.

- Seri Malaya Restaurant, 56-62 Chandos St, St Leonards, (02) 9438 1233. Small and unpretentious, serving quality Malaysian, Thai and Chinese cuisine. Singaporean and Malaysian favorites added to the menu on F and Sa. Fully licensed and BYO. Lunch M-Sa 11am-3pm, dinner M-Sa 5:30pm-10pm.

- Qmin, Shop 5, 207B Pacific Hwy St Leonards, (02) 9966 5557. Tucked away between Pacific Highway offices and the Royal North Shore Hospital, this Indian restaurant is in a surprisingly pleasant setting. Excellent food and service.

- Curry Lane 110 Longueville Rd Lane Cove ph: (02) 9428 2922. Indian sit-down & takeaway restaurant with a range of flavorsome curries, naan bread, snacks, drinks & lassi. Great food & service. Of particular interest is reading the little philosophies on life srawled on the walls.

- Makoto Sushi Bar 336 Victoria Ave, Chatswood Tel +61 2 9411 1838 Fax +61 2 9411 1835. Open 7 days, with dinner starting from 6pm. At a much higher quality than your standard sushi-bar, Makoto offers sushi, sashimi, along with a range of small cooked dishes. The service is authentically Japanese, and the cooks work in full view of the client, enclosed by the sushi conveyor.

Drink
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- Gilroy's, 75 Christie Street St Leonards, (02) 9439 2213. Friendly Irish Pub catering to a mostly professional clientèle. The upstairs restaurant serves large meals, has comfortable seating and TV screens to keep an eye on the current sporting event.

- Great Northern Hotel, 522 Pacific Highway (cnr Mowbray Rd) Chatswood. (02) 9419 4555. The Great Northern has a friendly outdoor beer garden, and serve generous steak dinners.

- Chelsea Hotel, 10-14 Railway Street Chatswood, (02) 9411 4995. Mostly catering to the after-work crowd and locals, has low priced meals.

Sleep
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- Sovereign Inn, 220 Pacific Highway Crows Nest, Sydney, [12]. checkin: 31/12/2010; checkout: 1/1/2011. Each fully air-conditioned room at Sovereign Inn Crows Nest has its own toilet and bath with a shower and tub, cable TV, in-room Internet connectivity, direct dial phone, hairdryer, ironing board, radio, coffee and tea-making facilities. Best rates on official website start at AU$125.

- Ascot Motor Inn, 18 Ingram Road, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia, +02 9487 3455 (fax: +9489 7559), [13]. The Ascot Motor Inn provides a modern, comfortable standard of accommodation at an affordable price. It is very close to the Australian Reptile Park and the Koala Sanctuary. Best rates on official website start at AU$68.

- Park Regis Concierge Apartments, 287 Military Road, Cremorne NSW 2090, 1800 006 922, [14]. checkin: 2pm; checkout: 10am. Ideally located amidst the relaxed village atmosphere of Cremorne - a short drive to the attractions of Sydney's city centre. The hotel's city fringe location gives leisure visitors numerous sightseeing and entertainment options on the North Shore. The hotel features fully self contained studio and one bedroom apartments some with harbour views. The apartments feature modern decor, climate controlled air-conditioning, TVs, direct dial phones with internet access and full kitchen and laundry facilities. The hotel is situated near numerous dining options with a restaurant and bar next door. From $99. (-33.8287,151.2293)

- The Sebel Residence Chatswood, 37 Victor Street, +61 2 9414 1600, [15]. North Sydney Hotel moments from Chatswood's shopping and business districts. Apartment-style North Sydney accommodation a short walk to Chatswood railway station and a 10 minute train ride to Sydney's CBD.

Cope
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Stay healthy
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- Royal North Shore Hospital, Pacific Highway, St Leonards. tel 02 9926 7111. fax 02 9926 7779. The Royal North Shore Hospital is a fully equipped public teaching hospital. It has an emergency room.

- Chatswood Medical & Dental Centre, 270 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood. tel 02 9413 2222. No appointments, just turn up. Payment by cash or credit card. They are used to seeing travellers there. Open 8am - 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

- Forum Medical Centre, Pacific Hwy, St Leonards (cnr Herbert St). tel 02 9437 1883. Open 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday; 10am - 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

District Upper North Shore Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Understand
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The Upper North Shore, generally reckoned to start around Chatswood and stretching all the way north to the Hawkesbury River, consists of mainly residential and bushland suburbs with relatively low density housing.

As one of the older residential areas of Sydney, the North Shore is also 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 trees.

Get in
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See
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- Rose Seidler House[1], 71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga, tel 02 9989 8020, fax 02 9487 2761, mailto:info@hht.net.au, open Su only 10am-5pm, admission adults $8, child/concession $4, family $17. The first building designed by the renowned Australian architect Harry Seidler. This famed piece of Australian modernist architecture, built in 1948-1950, has been preserved in its original condition and features panoramic views of Kuringai National Park.

Do
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- Roseville Cinema [2] regularly shows movies not released in larger cinema chains, tel 9416 8555.

Buy
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Eat
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- Khob Khun Thai, 308 Pacific Highway Lindfield, (02) 9880 8020. A$10-15. Serves light Thai meals super fast! You have barely had time to sit down, or grab some BYO alcohol from the shop around the corner before the food is ready. It is popular with university students from the nearby campus of the University of Technology, Sydney.

- Food & Plonk, 366 Pacific Highway Lindfield, (02) 9416 5026. A$25-35. Food & Plonk serves French meals with a modern twist. The price is quite high for the area but the service is good. The mashed potato is so smooth it glides down your throat.

- The Claypot Restaurant, 788a Pacific Highway, Gordon, tel 02 9418 2599, fax 02 9880 2749. Entreés $15-$20, mains $21-$35. The Claypot is a Greek restaurant specializing in stews cooked and served hot in large clay pots. The restaurant is small with a crowded atmosphere, but it is usually quieter than many similar Sydney restaurants. The food is bursting with every kind of Greek flavor. Fully licensed and BYO wine only.

Drink
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Sleep
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- Killara Inn Hotel and conference center, 480 Pacific Highway, Killara. Great 4 star hotel on the Pacific Highway with friendly service and clean and comfortable rooms.

Contact
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District Palm Beach Table of Contents

Districts

Beachside Suburbs

Forest Suburbs

• Understand

• Get in

By ferry

By bus

By car

• Get around

By car

By ferry

• See

Ocean Beaches

Pittwater Beaches

Close to the Beach

Forest Areas

• Do

Cinema

Spectator Sports

• Buy

Beaches

Forest

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Beachside

Forest

Other destinations

Districts
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In general, the suburbs that fall within the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater local government areas are considered the "Northern Beaches".

Beachside Suburbs
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- Manly - The major tourist centre, destination of the famous Manly ferry.

- Palm Beach

- Curl Curl

- Dee Why

- Collaroy

- Narrabeen

- Mona Vale

- Warriewood

- Newport

- Avalon

Forest Suburbs
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Located on the hilly areas and plateaux immediately behind the beach suburbs, are the so-called "forest suburbs", so named because of the large tracts of natural bush land which feature in this area. These include:

- Frenchs Forest - The major centre of the forest area.

- Forestville

- Belrose

- Davidson

- Terrey Hills - A quier suburb with a laid back community

- Beacon Hill - The highest point in the area.

Understand
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The Northern Beaches is surrounded on all sides by either water or forest areas, causing some locals to call the area "the Peninsula".

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

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

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

By ferry
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The Northern Beaches are serviced by a regular ferry service between Manly and Circular Quay (Sydney Centre). These services are operated by Sydney Ferries [1].

The Palm Beach Ferry [2] operates a ferry service between Palm Beach and Ettalong (on the Central Coast).

By bus
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Regular State Transit Authority [3] buses run from the city to Palm Beach, and from Manly to neighbouring suburbs. Suburbs in the Forest area are serviced by a private bus company, Forest Coachlines.

By car
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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 drive through natural bushland.

The spit bridge is a gridlock point for traffic. Many commuters try to use the T3 (transit 3) lanes, which are for carpooling. Northern beaches carpools are also available [4].

Get around
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By car
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With the exception of the hassle of parking at the beaches on summer weekends, a car is a flexible and easy way to travel around the areas.

By ferry
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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 [5] provides services on Pittwater between Church Point and Scotland Island.

See
toc

Manly and Sydney/Palm Beach have many things to see. Read about them in the articles on those areas. Outside of those centres:

Ocean Beaches
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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.

- Sydney/Manly. The Harbour beach and long Ocean Beach, connected by the Corso, with shops, cafes, restaurants, and surrounded by many other attractions.

- 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. [6]

- 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 [7]

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

Close to the Beach
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The Baha'i temple located on the top of a hill on Mona Vale Road, is highly visible from many parts of the Northern Beaches.

Forest Areas
toc

The highest 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
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Manly has a range of beachfront and harbourfont activities and beaches, and is the premier tourist destination.

- Sydney/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

Cinema
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There are cinemas in Manly, Brookvale, Collaroy, Warriewood and Avalon.

Spectator Sports
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- Rugby League. The major sporting team of the area is the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Manly plays 12 home games each season (March to September) at Brookvale Oval, which is on Pittwater Road near Warringah Mall. There is seating both in covered grandstands and on the grass in the area known as the hill. Manly Sea Eagles website [8]

- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Football Club - [9], Pittwater Road, Brookvale

- 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.

- Rugby Union. The Northern Beaches boast two main rugby union sides: Manly [10], based in Manly itself, and Warringah (affectionately known as 'the Rats'), based in Narrabeen

Buy
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Beaches
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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.

Forest
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- Forestway Shopping Centre [11] offers a popular suburban shopping amenity.

Eat
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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.

Drink
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There are many public hotels on the Northern Beaches. Sydney/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.

Sleep
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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
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- Sydney Beachouse YHA, 4 Collaroy Street, Collaroy; tel. 02 9981 1177 fax. 02 9981 1114 (email mail@sydneybeachouse.com.au) [12]. Dorm beds $20-$26 per night; double or twin rooms $64 per night; $84 with ensuite.

Forest
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- Checkers Resort & Conference Centre, 331 Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084 Australia, +02 9450 2422 (fax: +02 9450 2778), [13]. Nestled in the bushland surrounds of Terrey Hills, Checkers Resort and Conference Centre offers a stunning location for business or pleasure and a range of accommodations to suit all needs and budget. Best rates on official website start at $99.

Other destinations
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- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

District Hills District Table of Contents

Macquarie Park and North Ryde

The Hills

Official Tourist Information

• Get in

By car

By train

By bus

• Get around

• See

• Do

• Buy

Local produce

Shopping Malls

Antiques

Nurseries

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

• Get out

Macquarie Park and North Ryde
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Macquarie Park and North Ryde share the same postcode but the two areas are significantly different. Macquarie Park is generally regarded as the newer area around Macquarie shopping centre and extending towards the city including the area around the western end of Delhi rd. Macquarie Park includes the Australian offices of some very large companies including Microsoft, Optus and Canon. Macquarie Park would be regarded as being bounded by Epping rd, the M2 motorway, Macquarie University and Lane Cove National Park. Macquarie Park was officially designated a suburb and assigned the name on the 5th of Feb. 1999. Northern Suburbs Cemetery (circa 1922) abandoned it's earlier name in October 2003 to become Macquarie Park Cemetery. Lane Cove River Tourist Park, also known as Lane Cove Caravan Park, is also an early establishment in the Macquarie Park area having been a camping ground since the 1940s. A common problem for older locations in Macquarie Park is the confusion caused by being known as North Ryde and Macquarie Park. North Ryde is one of the oldest areas of Sydney and includes the traditional residential areas of the postcode 2113.

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

Official Tourist Information
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- Sydney Hills Visitor Information Centre [1] - located at 'The Pines' (which includes the 1856 Roughley House) 656A Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-4411. Free tourist information about the area.

Get in
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By car
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The area is connected to Sydney City by the Gore Hill Freeway, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 Motorway. Travel outside of peak hour if possible, as the roads get congested during the commute hours into Sydney. If you don't have your own vehicle then you can rent one from 1car1. Based in Artarmon they might even be able to drop one off to you free of charge. Ask when you call to book.

By train
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CityRail [2] runs three train lines into Sydney's North West.

Trains on the Northern Line connect the city to suburbs as far south as Meadowbank on the northern side of the Parramatta River, up to Epping, Pennant Hills and Hornsby in the North of Sydney, with trains every half hour and more frequently in peak hours. The suburbs of Eastwood and Epping are also served by regular intercity trains on the Newcastle and Central Coast Line which connect Newcastle and the Central Coast with Sydney.

The suburbs of Carlingford, Telopea and Dundas in the west of the Northern Districts are served by the Carlingford Line. Carlingford Line trains do not run directly to and from the city. To get to these suburbs, take a Western Line train to Clyde and change to platform 1. Note that Carlingford Line trains only run once an hour.

The Macquarie Park and North Ryde area is served by a shuttle train service running between Chatswood and Epping, and also stopping at North Ryde (the stop for Lane Cove River Tourist Park) Macquarie Park, and Macquarie University(the stop for Macquarie Shopping Centre).

There is no train service out further. To access the residential areas of Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, and further afield, you will need to catch a bus from Pennant Hills Station, or Parramatta station.

By bus
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Buses from the city(departing from the Queen Victoria Building near Town Hall train station also departing from wynyard station and central station) travel frequently out to Macquarie Park, Epping, and the Macquarie Shopping Centre. The 545 bus also travels between Chatswood train station and Parramatta on a very regular basis.

Outer areas such as the Hills District are less well serviced.( except for all the city buses. 610 610x 612 612x 619 etc etc. but other than that there arent many ways to get to the exact same place.in fact short of 4am you can get a bus from the centre of the cbd to the middle of the hills area about 1 every 10 minutes )The most convenient railway station for the is located at Pennant Hills, however, in general, it's much more convenient to have your own car for traveling around the area. Hillsbus [3]] services the area. It runs connecting buses to stations at Paramatta, Seven Hills, Pennant Hills. It also runs services directly to the Sydney City.

The transport infoline [4] will calculate the end-to-end trip details for you.

Get around
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See
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- Ambarwell Studio & Gallery - 120 year old building with working pottery studio and gallery (in Japanese tradition) at 12 Garemyn Road, Middle Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1361.

- Dural Galleries [5] - Local, rare and investment art at 937 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-2196.

- Dural Musical Society [6] - Dural Soldiers Memorial Hall at 604 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: 0413-441-813.

- Kenthurst Galleries [7] - Fine art plus outdoor sculptures at 39 Kenthurst Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-2258.

- Koala Park [8] - If you don't have time to go out a look in the bush by yourself, you can get up close and personal with a koala or kangaroo at the Koala Park Sanctuary. You can see the koalas being fed at 10:20am, 11:45am, 2:00pm and 3:00pm. Admission is $18 adults and $8 children. 84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills, NSW 2120. Tel: +61-2-9484-3141. Fax: +61-2-9484-8009.

Do
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- Berowra Valley Regional Park [9] - Walking trails leading to the Great North Walk [10] can be entered at the very end of Quarry Road, Dural, NSW 2158. No motorcycles or dogs allowed.

- Cumberland State Forest [11] - Walking trails through a eucalypt forest, picnic areas, information centre and forest shop, kiosk and coffee shop, native plant nursery. Free admission. Dogs welcome. 95 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills, NSW 2124. Tel: +61-2-9871-3377.

- Sydney Ice Arena. Conveniently located just 5 minutes from the M2 Motorway and next door to Norwest Markettown Shopping Centre. Sydney Ice Arena is the fun place to go ice skating with unrivaled facilities. It is located at 11 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills.

- Calma Connections - 2 Kenthurst Road, Round Corner (Dural Mall). Tel: +61-2-9651-5755. Bowen Therapy, remedial massage, various therapies and meditation sessions. ATMS accredited.

- Dural Golf Driving Range - 260 New Line Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1999. Two tiers of driving bays and lots of parking. Children and families welcome.

- Dural Putt Putt Mini-Golf [12] - 2 mini golf courses plus coffee shop in a garden setting at Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1334.

- Dural Squash and Fitness Centre - 895 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651- 2511. Lots of facilities for keeping fit. Includes yoga classes.

- Hills Leisure Centre [13] - Children's playland, indoor climbing, gymnasium, day spa and ten-pin bowling at 10 Hudson Avenue, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Tel: +61-2-9766-0200.

- Muirfield Golf Club [14] - at Barclay Road, North Rocks, NSW 2151. Tel: +61-2-9871-1388.

- Swami Sarasvati Health Farm - Yoga, meditation, stress management and Tai Chi with one of Australia's foremost instructors at 183 Pitt Town Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-9029. Set on 60 acres of bushland, with a spa, pool, gym and tennis facilities.

- Lane Cove National Park, Plassey rd North Ryde (Enter from Lane Cove rd, Lady Game Dr, Delhi rd or Plassey rd), 0298889133, [15]. A beautiful national park located close to the city with Lane Cove River running through the heart of it. Ideal for bush walking, cycling and exploring nature. An abundance of native wildlife and historical features.

Buy
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Local produce
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- Berry Good Farms - Hydroponically-grown strawberries at 53 Arcadia Road, Galston, NSW 2159. Tel: +61-2-9653-1511.

- Galston Strawberries - Grown by the Barba family at 359 Galston Road, Galston, NSW 2159. Tel: +61-2-9653-1082.

- Warrah Farm Shop [16] - Bio-dynamic and organic produce grown and sold to support charity, at 20 Harris Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-3869. Open Monday through Friday.

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

- Castle Towers Shopping Centre [17] - Huge shopping centre in the centre of Castle Hill at 4 Castle Street, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Tel: +61-2-8858-9700.

- Macquarie Centre

Antiques
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- Dural Antiques - 857 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-2113. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Stewart Antiques - 934 Old Northern Road, Glenorie, NSW 2157. Tel: +61-2-9652-1662. Open Wednesday to Sunday.

Nurseries
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- Dural Orchids - 702 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1294. Closed Wednesdays.

- Geranium Cottage- A nursery growing geraniums and petargoniums at 828 Old Northern Road, Middle Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9652-0475.

- Hargraves Nursery - 630 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1833.

- Highland Rose Nursery - 859 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1243.

- Nati Brothers Roses - 790 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1375. Open seven days since 1966.

- Swane's Nurseries [18] - One of Sydney's most famous plant nurseries, in business 84 years, with coffee shop and gift shop, at 490 Galston Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1322.

- Virginia Farm Woolworks - Fibres, yarns and spinning equipment for the handspinner, felter and weaver at 112 Annangrove Road, Annangrove, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-1219.

Eat
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- Amaroo Seafood Restaurant [19] - 233 Annangrove Road, Annangrove. Tel: +61-2-9679-0790. Lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday. Breakfast Saturday and Sunday. (On the site of the former Amaroo Park Raceway.) Seafood restaurant.

- Black Stump Restaurant - 243 New Line Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1143. Steak house, not recommended for vegetarians!

- Butterfly Cafe - Has private gardens and running waterways in a rainforest setting. 628 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158 (next to Hargraves Nursey). Tel: +61-2-9651-1868. Open only Thursday through Sunday.

- Buoni Amici Italian Seafood Restaurant - 83 Annangrove Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-0222. Alfresco dining and take away. Pizza and pasta home delivery.

- Cafe Belle Fleur - 609 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9899-7783. Located inside the Flower Power Nursery. Open seven days.

- Cristina's Pizzeria - 14 Kenthurst Road, Round Corner, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-9651-2840. Eat in, take-away and home delivery.

- Dural Country Club [20] - 662 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-4272. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Entertainment by local and international artists.

- Dural Terrace Chinese Restaurant - off the "Roundabout" at 268 New Line Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-2271.

- Gallery Two Cafe - 1 Porters Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-2233.

- Ironbark Cafe -- within Swanes Nursery at 490 Galston Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9653-9051. Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday.

- Journey to India Restaurant - 632 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-3700.

- Mother Earth Cafe - 1A Annangrove Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-1423. Located within plant nursery in an unusual mud brick building with a waterfall cascading off the roof! Open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

- Nobles Restaurant and Bar [21] - Located within The Hills Lodge Grand Mercure at corner of Windsor & Salisbury Roads, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Tel: +61-2-9680-3800. Offers buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Log fire, courtyard, children's menu.

- Puddle Cottage - Located within the Hills Garden and Landscape Centre at the corner of Sedger and Annangrove Roads, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-3068.

- Regals' Rendezvous Restaurant - Located in 100 year old cottage at 249 Annangrove Road, Annangrove, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9679-0175. Indoor and outdoor dining, plus bar.

- Secret Garden Cafe - 658 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-1188. Located inside the Dural Garden Centre. Open seven days for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

- Tandoori Sizzler Indian Restaurant - 524 Old Northern Road, Round Corner, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-4451.

- Waratah Cottage Cafe - Has a log fire in winter and alfresco dining year round at 272 Old Northern Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-5690. Open seven days a week.

- Ranch bistro and hotel, Epping rd North Ryde (Near Macquarie Shopping Centre). Great family orientated place to eat with a very large and popular bistro. This place is more bistro than a pub.

Drink
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- Hillside Hotel, 273 Old Northern Road Castle Hill, (02) 9680 8788, [22]. Hillside Hotel offers patrons both an indoor and outdoor drinking and dining experience with great live entertainment. Relax over dinner in the bistro, grab a quick bite to eat before or after the cinema or simply catch up with friends over a glass of wine. Comfy leather lounges and chilled out background music. Upstairs sleek cocktail lounge. Modern decor.

- Dural Hotel Motel, 271 Old Northern Road, Dural, +61-2-9651-1811. Cozy pub that offers a bottle shop, sundeck bistro, gaming lounge. Has motel accommodation.

- Bull and Bush Hotel, Windsor Road, Baulkham Hills. A relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Casual drinking. Basically, your classic Aussie pub.

Sleep
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- Crown Plaza Norwest [23] - 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153. Tel: +61-2-9634-9634. 132 rooms and two restaurants. Located within the new Norwest development. 24 hour reception desk. Wi-Fi internet in parts of complex. Multi-lingual staff.

- Dural Gardens Bed & Breakfast [24] - 24 Sagars Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9654-1424. Beautiful modern Georgian style residence set on 5 acres with formal gardens.

- Dural House at Round Corner - Bed and breakfast at 679 Old Northern Road, Round Corner, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-5777.

- Dural Village Cabin & Caravan Park [25] - Self-contained units and cabins as well as sites for caravans and tents, plus swimming pool, kiosk and laundry. 269 New Line Road, Dural, NSW 2158. Tel: +61-2-9651-2555.

- Hotel Ibis - 200 Pennant Hills Road, Thornleigh, NSW 2120. Tel: +61-2-9481-7500. 105 rooms and air conditioning. Wireless internet.

- Lauders Loft Bed and Breakfast [26] - 14 Blacks Road, Arcadia, NSW 2159. Tel: +61-2-9653-2422.

- The Hills Lodge Grand Mercure [27] - Boutique hotel at corner of Windsor & Salisbury Roads, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. Tel: +61-2-9680-3800. Includes restaurant and bar.

- Views at Kenthurst [28] - Bed and breakfast at 182 Pitt Town Road, Kenthurst, NSW 2156. Tel: +61-2-9654-9170. 2 rooms with ensuite. Views to Blue Mountains.

- Lane Cove River Tourist Park, Plassey Rd Macquarie Park NSW (Epping rd end of Delhi rd. Plassey rd is opposite Julius av), 0298889133, [29]. checkin: 1400; checkout: 1000. Voted the best Caravan Park & Campground in Australia 2008 by the National Tourism Industry. Only 10kms from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and located within the Lane Cove National Park. 300 caravan, campervan and tent sites. 28 fully self-cantained cabins with all linen and towels supplied. Fantastic public transport links. Very friendly and helpful staff. $34 to $145. (33º 47' 19.56S,151º 8' 34.14 E)

- Ranch Hotel, Epping Rd North Ryde (Near the Macquarie Shopping Centre). Great family orientated place to eat with a very large and popular bistro. This place is more bistro than a pub.

Contact
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Get out
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- Cattai National Park [30] - First Fleet surgeon Thomas Arndell's 1821 Cattai Farm and surrounds has grassy picnic areas, barbecues and shelter sheds beside the Hawkesbury River, and car-based camping is available year round (bookings essential). Tel: +61-2-9995-5000. Lots of walking tracks and the ruins of a windmill thought to be the oldest industrial building in NSW. About 30-40 minutes drive from the area, located north of Windsor.

- Marramarra National Park [31] - Well worth a visit, only about a 15 minute drive north of Dural, at the junction of Hawkesbury River and Berowra Creek. Canoeing, camping, bushwalking, picnicking or birdwatching. Tel: +61-2-9995-5000.

- Scheyville National Park [32] - near Windsor, is about a 30 minute drive. Conserves endangered ecologicial communities and species of the Cumberland Plain and Hawkesbury River catchment. Some colonial remnants and relics from old farms. Tel: +61-2-9995-5000.

District Parramatta Table of Contents

• Understand

Climate

• Get in

By car

By train

By bus

By ferry

By bicycle

• Get around

By bus

By foot

By train

By car

• See

Historical Landmarks

Open to Visit

Historical Properties Now Used for Commercial Purposes

Historical Properties Now Used for Public Purposes

Parks

Cemeteries

Churches

Other Places of Worship

Bridges

• Do

Events

Walks

Cinemas

Culture

Sports

To Watch

To Play

• Buy

Shopping Malls

Markets

• Eat

Eat Street

Phillip Street/George Street

South Church Street

Harris Park

Parramatta Park & Westmead

• Drink

Pubs

Night Clubs

Clubs

• Sleep

City Centre

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Apartments

Near Rosehill

Near Westmead

• Contact

• Get out

Understand
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Rich in colonial history, Parramatta is a district of elegant parks, with a vibrant multicultural community and a centre for sport, shopping, dining and entertainment. It is also a thriving legal, educational and health care centre and home to some of Australia's biggest corporations and government agencies.

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

Parramatta is on the upper reaches of the Parramatta River, that flows into Sydney Harbour. It was inhabited by aborigines of the Barramatugal tribe, and the Parramatta name is perhaps an anglicised version of Barramatugal.

Parramatta was the first European settlement outside of Sydney. These days it is very much a suburb of Sydney but it still retains parts of its distinctive identity. It may not be the first place you would think to visit in Sydney (with its surfeit of beaches and scenic outlooks) but if you have a spare day it is worth a scenic ferry trip to explore the real Sydney and experience some of its history.

Climate
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Parramatta is warmer and drier than Sydney CBD, that's because coastal showers do not penetrate inland. In summers, the temperature can rise up to 40. Winter nights can be quite cool, and they are mostly cooler than Sydney nights.

July is the driest month, and at the same time it is also the coolest. However, September is also a quite dry month, but it is warm. So that would be the best month to visit Parramatta hence it is dry and also warm, unlike July. February is the wettest (128mm) and the most humid month. If you hate being wet and sticky, you would avoid coming in that month.

Get in
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By car
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Parramatt is located next to the M4 motorway (Metroad 4). Parramatta is well signposted from the motorway. Surrounding suburbs also have signposted exits from the city. A toll is payable on the motorway travelling to or from Sydney city, and it can be paid in cash.

If you are in no hurry you can use Victoria Rd or Parramatta Rd and avoid the toll. 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
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Parramatta is well served by rail connections [1], and is around 30 minutes from the Sydney CBD. Passangers can travel the Western Line, the cumberland line or the Blue Mountains Line, with services running frequently. From the City, fares cost $4.00 one way for an adult; alternatively, a MyMulti-2 will cover train trips to and from Parramatta.

Penrith, the Blue Mountains, Blacktown, Richmond and Strathfield are also on the Western Line, making connections to these centres quick and simple.

Connections to Campbelltown and Liverpool can be made directly along the Cumberland line (which has only limited peak hour services) or by changing at Granville. Sydney Olympic Park can be reached by changing at Lidcombe for the "Olympic Sprint" train.

By bus
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Parramatta is a hub for many buses, which operate from a bus interchange near the station. If you coming from the city, or near a train station, the train will usually be quicker and cheaper than the bus. A MyMulti-1 will cover a bus trip to and from Parramatta (although a train trip requires a MyMulti-2.

- Routes L20 and 520 [2] operate frequently every day from Circular Quay via Victoria Road. The trip takes over an hour.

- The 545 bus [3] offers a frequent service to Chatswood via North Ryde, but again, if you are doing the entire trip from Chatswood, probably quicker and cheaper to get the train.

- The North-West T-Way [4] links Parramatta to Rouse Hill, and the Liverpool-Parramatta T-Way links Parramatta with Liverpool via Bonnyrigg.

- Veolia [5] offers a service from Hurstville in Southern Sydney, that again takes around an hour.

- Hillsbus [6] offer a variety of services to the Hills District.

By ferry
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The Rivercat ferry service [7] runs between Circular Quay to the Charles Street Wharf. Its a very pretty and relaxing way to for a traveller to visit. It takes a fair bit longer and costs twice the price of the train, if you have already "done" the harbour.

At $7.70 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. If you are going both ways, consider a daytripper for $16, for an extra 60c gives you unlimited travel on trains, buses and all ferries for the day. A MyMulti-1 will also cover ferry travel to and from Parramatta (although not a return train trip from Parramatta).

By bicycle
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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, before passing over a ridiculously steep footbridge and an industrial areas to the outskirts 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.

Although not as scenic, the Parramatta to Liverpool Railtrail links Parramatta with Liverpool on largely off-road paths.

Get around
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By bus
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- The Loop [8] is the City Council's free bus (this and the route 555 City Loop in the Sydney CBD are the only free transport in Sydney). 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 7AM till 6:30PM Mon-Fri, 8AM till 4PM Sat., and stops at:

1. Parramatta Station (Darcy Street, other side of the station from Westfield).

2. Westfield (Argyle Street) Westfield shopping Centre, Church Street Mall/

3. Law Courts (Marsden Street - south) Parramatta Park

4. Cathedral (Marsden Street - north) St Patricks Cathedral, Prince Alfred Park, Riverside Theatres

5. Leagues Club (OConnell Street) Parramatta Swimming Centre, Parramatta Stadium and Leagues Club, Parramatta Park

6. Church Street North (Church Street - north)

7. Prince Alfred Park (Church Street - mid) Prince Alfred Park, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Heritage and Visitors Centre

8. Lennox Bridge (Church Street - south) Eat Street, Riverside Theatres, Parramatta Heritage and Visitors Centre, River Walk

9. Phillip Street (Phillip Street - west) Retail, Eat Street and Dining

10. The Wharf (Phillip Street - east) Parramatta Wharf -Rivercat Terminal, River Walk, Harris Park Heritage Walk

11. Charles Street, Commercial Offices

12. Macquarie Street, Post Office, Commercial Services and Retail, Lancer Barracks and Military Museum

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

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

Westmead station is on the Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train west from Parramatta. Harris Park and Granville are also on the Western Line and can be accessed by taking a train east from Parramatta (towards the city). Rosehill is on the Carlingford Line and requires taking a train east from Parramatta to Clyde station and then changing trains one stop to Rosehill. Note that although Rosehill is closer to some attractions like the Rosehill Racecourse, the Carlingford Line is only served hourly by trains outside of peak times.

By car
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There is a general shortage on 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.

See
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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
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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 perspectives. The oldest buildings here date to the colonial settlement in the early to mid 1800's. Old Government House, and Elizabeth Farm are the two primary historical sites. (Topp Tours conduct guided tours of Parramatta landmarks[9] as does Past Times Tours[10])

Open to Visit
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- Old Government House, (02) 9635 8149, [11]. 10AM-4PM. The site of the residence of early colonial governors. It was especially important during the term of office of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. adult $8.

- Elizabeth Farm, 70 Alice Street, Rosehill, 02 9635 9488, [13]. Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9.30 – 4PM. Commenced in 1793, Elizabeth Farm contains part of the oldest surviving European building in Australia, built as the home of John and Elizabeth Macarthur. As such, it was the birthplace of the Australian wool industry and was an important social, political and cultural centre of the early colony. Elizabeth Farm's deep shady verandahs (inspired by colonial homes in India) became the prototype for the Australian homestead. The interiors contain reproductions of furniture, portraits and objects belonging to the Macarthurs, allowing a 'hands-on' experience of early 19th century life. Elizabeth Farm is situated in a recreated 1830s garden and contains early plants from the Macarthurs' time. adult $8.

- Experiment Farm, 9 Ruse Street Harris Park, 02 9635 9488, [14]. 11AM-3.30PM, closed Mondays.. First private farm in Australia, set up as an experiment to see if the colony could become self sufficient. adult $6.

- Hambledon Cottage, 63 Hassall Street, 02 9635 9488, [15]. Wed-Sun 10AM until 4PM.. Hambledon Cottage was built by John Macarthur in 1824 and formed part of the Elizabeth Farm estate. adult $4.

- Brislington House, (George Street on the corner of Marsden Street), 02 9635 9488, [16]. Open 2nd & last Thursday of every month. Closed during December & January. formerly a residence built in 1821. It is now a museum of the medical and nursing history of Parramatta, with photographs and memorabilia. Opposite stands the Court House Tower all that remains of Parramatta's first court house, built in 1890.

- The Lancer Barracks, 2 Smith Street Parramatta (On the north side of Parramatta station), [17]. Historic army barracks, home of the Royal NSW Lancers and contains The Linden House Museum

- Parramatta Town Hall, 182 Church Street Mall, [18]. Built in 1883. The town hall is still used by council and includes the Charles Byrnes Room [19]

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

Historical Properties Now Used for Commercial Purposes
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- Perth House, 85 George Street, Parramatta [20]. Built in 1831, and now a cafe. Have a coffee, and a slice of history.

- Harrisford, George Street. Original site of the Kings School

- Murphy House, located at Marist Place, Parramatta [21]

- Oatlands House, located at Dundas [22]

- Kia Ora House, located 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)

- Deskford, located on Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead [23], now a retirement village.

- Woolpack Hotel, located at the corner of George & Marsdens Streets, Parramatta [24] The hotel was licensed and founded in 1796 and is the oldest hotel in Australia still functioning.

Historical Properties Now Used for Public Purposes
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- Female Orphan School, located within the Parramatta Campus (Cnr James Ruse Drive & Victoria Rd) of the University of Western Sydney (UWS). It was the first purpose-built charitable institution in Australia, and is Australia’s oldest three-storey masonry building. [25]. The UWS campus also contains the Whitlam Institute and Whitlam Reading Room[26]. You can catch the train getting off at Rydalmere station or via bus from Parramatta City - Sydney Bus Routes 520, 523 and 524 operate between Parramatta railway station and the campus.

- Female Factory- Australia's first convict establishmnet foir 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.[27]

- Parramatta Goal - Parramatta Correctional Centre is Australia's oldest serving Correctional Centre. Parramatta Gaol was formally 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. As a functioning jail it is not open to the public.[28]

- Old Kings School - dating from 1836 these Georgian buildings on the Bank's of the Parramatta River are now used by the NSW Heritage Office.[29]. The buildings are located between Marsden Street and Marist Place and include a walk along the river front.

- Cumberland Hospital - this is a vast site of historic buildings. Next to the Female Factory, it is divided into a east and wset 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, Formerly the hospital superintendent’s residence, this grand building now houses the museum of the Cumberland Hospital. The hospital grounds also contain the Wisteria Gardens which adjoin Parramatta Park. West Campus[30] and East campus maps [31]are here

Parks
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- Parramatta Park, Cnr Macquarie & Pitt Streets, (02) 8833-5000, [32] including the Tudor Gatehouses on Macquarie St and George St, Governor's Bath House, Old Dairy and Boer War Memorial. There is also a substantial cycling track, and walks. The park has two restaurants, the upmarket Lachlans [33], located within Old Government House and the less Expensive Parramatta Park cafe, located right on the river [34]. As well as a number of historical buildings the park includes the Rumsey Rose Garden, which has a significant heritage rose display, Wisteria Gardens, which are part of Cumberland Hospital (and are only open to the public for the last 2 weeks in September and may be entered either through the park or the hospital), and Murray Gardens, a small garden next to O'Connell Street and the Tudor Gate House.

- Queens Wharf Reserve, [35]. This is the first place that Governor Phillip landed in Parramatta and is included on the Harris Farm Heritage walk. It also incorporates the memorials to all the ships from the Royal Austrlian Navy that have borne the name HMAS Parramatta [36] and has the stern of the first HMAS Parramatta. The bow is at Garden Island, around 30km towards the heads. Catch the ferry to see both ends in one day.

- Prince Alfred Park, (located opposite St Patrick's Cathedral and bounded by Church Street, Market Street, Victoria Rd and Marist Place), [37]. It was named after Prince Alfred who visited the colony in 1867. It was the site of the colony's first gaol. Today it is an shaded, open space taking up one city block close to the centre of Parramatta. Community events are held here

- Lake Parramatta, (Slightly further afield, accessible via Church Street, Barney St, Iron St, Bourke St, Lackey St & Illawong Drive - A car is best to visit the park, as the entrance is about 2km north of Parramatta CBD. A 549 bus will take you to the corner of Church St and Barney St, which is about 1km from the dam.), [38]. dam and popular recreation spot formed by damming one of the creeks which flows into the Parramatta River. Recently opened for swimming on certain Council-sponsored event days. A few bushwalks to choose from around the lake.

- Belmore Park,Located in North Parramatta at 1a Pennant Hills Road, it contains Richie Benaud oval named after one of Australia's most famous cricketers who grew up in the area.[39]

Cemeteries
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(Destiny Tours conduct Ghost tours of the Parramatta Cemeteries[40] as does Past Times Tours[41])

- St John’s Cemetery in O’Connell St,between Argyle and Campbell Sts, is Australia’s oldest Christian cemetery. The oldest surviving grave is Henry Dodd (1791). The Reverend Samuel Marsden is also interred here. OPEN: Daily in daylight hours.

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

- All Saints Cemetery [42](Fennell Street) contains the grave of noted explorer Gregory Blaxland, who led the first expedition across the Blue Mountains.

- Mays Hill Cemetery[43] Land grants were made in 1839 and 1849 to establish Presbyterian and Baptist cemeteries which soon expanded to include burials for other denominations. Regular tours are held by the Friends Of Mays Hill Cemetery.

Churches
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- St Patricks Catholic Cathedral, Marist Place [44]. This is the cathedral church for the catholic diocese of Parramatta, which stretches from Granville in the east to Mount Victoria in the west. Although the cathedral was only built in the 1930s it is interesting because it was burnt down in 1995 and rebulit in 2003. The new cathedral incorporates the old church with a new wing designed by Romaldo Giurgola who designed Australia's Parliament House in Canberra. Closest Hotel would be The Sebel.

- St Johns Anglican Cathedral, Hunter Street, [45]. The cathedral was built over many years but work commenced at the time of Governor Macquarie. It is Australia's oldest continually functioning church. There is a tour of the chapel available on Thursdays and Fridays

- All Saints Church, Corner of Victoria Road and Elizabeth Street, [46]. It was completed in 1847 and is of a "Victorian Academic Gothic" style of architecture

- Leigh Memorial Church, 119 Macquarie Street. It was originally a Methodist church. It was completed in 1885 it was dedicated to Samuel Leigh, the first Methodist Minister in Parramatta

- Our Lady Of Lebanon, 40 Alice Street, Harris Park [47]. The church was built in 1970. It is home of Sydney's Maronite catholic community. The church is adorned with a 5 metre high statue of the virgin Mary. The statue has caused much controversy and was replaced by the current smaller statue in 1980.

Other Places of Worship
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- Murugan Temple, 217 Great Western Highway Mays Hill[48]. The temple is dedicated to the Tamil Hindu deity.

- Gallipoli Mosque, 15 - 19 North Parade, Auburn [49]

Bridges
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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 -

- Gasworks Bridge, Macarthur Street near its junction with George Street [50]. The bridge was built in 1885. It is supported by large sandstone piers and was a significant bridge construction when built. See Riverside walk below.

- 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.

- Elizabeth Street Footbridge, Elizabeth Street [51]

- 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.

- Lennox Bridge, Church Street [52]. This bridge is the most famous, and is one of the oldest in Australia. It was built by the colony's first superintendent of bridges (David Lennox) in the 1830s. It is on the site of the first recorded crossing point on the Parramatta River. The bridge has been classified by the National Trust. See Riverside walk below.

- 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.

- Bernie Banton Bridge, O'Connell Street, named after a famous Australian asbestos victims rights campaigner.

Do
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Events
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Foundation Day [53] in early November celebrates (appropriately enough) the foundation of Parramatta.

Parramasala [54] - the Australian Festival of South Asian Arts

Walks
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- 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 indigineous perspective, featuring indigineous interpretive art. [55]. 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.

- Life Along The Riverbank - download the podcasts here[56], walk along the riverbank and experience life in the 1800s

- DigiMacq- download the podcasts here[57]and walk through Governor Macquarie's Parramatta. This was developed as part of the Lachlan Macquarie Bi-Centenary in 2010

- Harris Park Heritage Walk[58] - a walk through Harris Park passing many of the historical sights of the area such as Experiment Farm, Elizabeth Farm and Hambledon Cottage. Best to start the walk at the Parramatta ferry wharf, and follow the signs, or print out the map before you start, or continue on from the Riverside Walk above.

Cinemas
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- Cinema - Greater Union Multiplex - cinema mulitiplex including gold class cinemas, located at Westfield Parramatta

Culture
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- Riverside Theatres [59]. A popular Sydney theatre, showing a mix of amateur productions and professional shows. Ticket prices usually compare favourable with the downtown theatres.

- Pavilion Theatre Castle Hill[60]The Pavilion Theatre is a non-profit theatre located in the Hills District, Sydney. It is home to The Castle Hill Players, one of the most respected amateur theatre companies in Australia

- Parramatta Artists Studio[61]. An artists studio with an Art Gallery, open weekdays from 12 noon until 4PM. Located at 45 Hunter Street Parramatta

- Heritage Centre [62]. Has a permanent exhibition on the Burramatta Aboriginal people as well as temporary exhibitions on the settlement of the Area

Sports
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To Watch
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- Parramatta Stadium [63]. Home to the local Parramatta Eels football (Rugby League) team. Games on every second weekend during the winter.

- Rosehill Gardens Racecourse [64] Home of the Golden Slipper, the world's richest race for two year olds ($3.5m) held in April. Also regular race meetings throughout the year.

- Parramatta Raceway [65]. Home of monster trucks and demolition derbys. Be there!

To Play
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- Golf, at Parramatta Golf Course, Ryde Parramatta Golf Course [66] or *Fox Hills Golf Course [67]

- Swimming at Parramatta & Granville Swimming Pools are outdoor swimming pools, in a more old fashioned Australian style.[68]. Parramatta pool is located adjacent 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.

Buy
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Shopping Malls
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- Parramatta Westfield [69] is one of the largest shopping malls in New South Wales. Its easily accessible to the train, and like Chatswood offers an easily accessible alternative to city shopping. It has two department stores (David Jones & Myer), Target, K-Mart, Supermarkets, and loads of specialty and fashion stores, as well as food court, restaurants and cinemas.

- 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

- Merrylands Mall[70]is located adjacent to Merrylands station. Its feature tenant is a large Kmart as well as target. Whilst it has recently almost been completely rebuilt it is similar to many shopping malls found around the Sydney suburbs.

- Westfield North Rocks[71]

Markets
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- 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 7AM to 1PM. Entry by donation to Rotary charities. Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children (carpark), North Rocks Road, North Rocks (opposite Westfield Shopping Centre)

- Parramatta Farmers Market[72] - The markets are located in Church Street Mall, near the Town Hall, the site of the first markets in Parramatta. There are about 20 stalls selling organic primary produce, during the hours of 8AM and 2PM each Saturday, weather permitting.

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

- City Extra, Church Street, Open 24 hours(Cafe style). Still busy after midnight. A bit of a institution for a late night burger when McDonalds just won't do. Expensive for what it is though - so save it up for the late night option.

- Criniti's[73], (Italian) 291 Church Street

- The Bite,[74] Church Street - modern Italian and Pizzas

- The Meat & Wine Company, Cnr Church Street & Market Street[75]

- Positanos, Cnr Church & Phillip Street

- El Phoenician,[76] on Church Street, modern Lebanese

- Elevate, [77]312 Church Street

- Istana (Malaysian) 277 Church Street

- Kouzina Greco[78] (Greek) 16 Phillip Street

- Liana's, (Italian) 306 Church Street

- Lilian's Cafe de Hong Kong, (Hong Kong Cuisine) 15 Taxation Street

- Montezumas[79], (Mexican), 311 Church Street

- Prospero's[80] (Italian), 310 Church Street

- Sicilian, (Italian), 292 Church Street

- Two Forks, [81]in the Sebel Hotel, 350 Church Street

- 3one7, [82], Mediterranean inspired. 317 Church Street

- Mars Hill cafe[83] Mars Hill Cafe is a local music and art cafe with a Bohemian atmosphere at 331 Church Street

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

- Barnabys, Phillip Street, (modern Australian) [84]. Barnabys has an outdoor eating area overlooking the river

- Courtneys,70 Phillip Street (modern Australian)[85]. Courtneys is located in an historic cottage

- Sabatinis, (Italian) Phillip Street, [86].

- Sahra, (Lebanese) Phillip Street [87]

- Inside Out, Phillip Street, [88]. Upmarket restaurant, catering to the business crowd.

- Port Bar, (Italian)with a bar overlooking the river and Ferry Wharf. It is located on the corner of Phillip & Charles Street

- La Bella Vista, (Italian) 40 Phillip Street, [89]

- Temasek(Singaporean/Malaysian) 71 George Street

- Monkey Drum(Thai)52 George St. Attached to the Roxy complex

- M&J Thai, located in the Woolpack Hotel at 19 George Street

- Bavarian Bier cafe, Bavarian themed restaurant on the corner of Marsden and Phillip Streets

- In the Mood for Thai, (Thai) 50 George Street

- River Canyon (Modern Australian), 96 Phillip Street [90]

- Khawa, (Japanese), 30 Charles Street. This is located in the Westport arcade

- Open Kitchen, 55 Phillip Street

- Lighthouse[91] (Seafood), 68 George Street

- Mezzanine[92]located in the ParkRoyal hotel,modern Australian 30 Phillip Street

South Church Street
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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.

- Toscanis, (Italian) Church Street [93]

- Bamboodle, (Thai)159 Church Street

- Max Brenner's, [94]Chocolate Bar, Shop 2187, Level 2, Westfield, 159-175 Church Street, Parramatta NSW

- Tomadachi (Sushi), Argyle St

- Sahara (Turkish), Argyle St

- XIC LO (Vietnamese), Argyle St

- Ichiban Teppan-yaki, (Japanese), 9 Wentworth Street

- Twenty-one Fifty, located in the Marriott Hotel at 18 Anderson Street

- Ivory, [95]located in the Mantra Hotel at Cnr Parkes & valentine Avenue

- Gallaghers Steak House[96]loacted in Gallaghers Irish Pub at corner of Church & Parkes Street

Harris Park
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Harris Park is located 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.

- Peronis, an Italian Restaurant at 48 Station Street [97]

- Ginger, an Indian restaurant at 94 Wigram Street [98]

- Billus, an Indian restaurant at 62 Wigram Street [99]

- Indian Chop Sticks, an Indina restaurant at 77 Wigram Street [100]

- The Olive (Greek), 44 Marion Street, Harris Park

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

- AJ's Cafe, [101]located at 175 Hawkesbury Rd, opposite Westmead Hospital. AJ's is part of the Wesley Lodge Hotel

- Thai Westmead. 163 Hawkesbury Rd

- Lachlan's***[102], located in Old Government House, Parramatta park

- Parramatta Park Cafe, [103], located within the park, overlooking the Parramatta River

- Treetops Cafe[104], located within Parramatta RSL. The cafe overlooks the Murray Gardens in Parramatta Park

- Tingha Palace[105],(Chinese)located within Parramatta Leagues Club

Drink
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Pubs
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There are Pubs galore in Parramatta

- Albion Hotel [106] 135 George Street. Located near the Gasworks Bridge, the new Sentry Box and Queens Wharf. It includes acentral courtyard 'Garden Bar'and also the Gasworks Nightclub.

- PJ Gallaghers, [107]74 Church Street. This is an Irish themed pub and includes a steak house. It is located in the south Church Street area near 'Auto Alley"

- Collector Hotel,[108] 100 George Street. It includes a Thai restaurant and a nightclub

- Rose & Crown, 11 Victoria Rd. It is located near All Saints Church

- Commercial Hotel, [109]Cnr Hassall and Station Street. it is located next to lancer Barracks and near the railway station. it includes a bistro

- Westmead Tavern, 24 Railway Parade, Westmead

- Vauxhall Inn[110]284 Parramatta Rd. This is loacted at the Granville end of Auto Alley

- Woolpack Hotel[111]19 George Street. Founded in 1796, the Woolpack is one of the oldest Hotels in Australia. The hotel is close to Parramatta Park and has a thai restaurant

- General RW Bourke, 76 Church Street

- Hotel Parramatta, 10 Darcy Street

- Royal Oak Hotel, 387 Church Street

- Tollgate Hotel,[112] 625 Church Street

Night Clubs
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- Roxy Nightclub [113]

- One World Sport Nightclub [114]

- Mykonos[115], Greek Night Club - Cnr Macquarie & Marsden Street

- Gasworks[116] located in the Albion Hotel at 135 George Street

Clubs
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- Parramatta Leagues Club [117]- this is the home of the Eeels Rugby League Football club. Includes the Tingha Palace Chinese Restaurant and a number of cafes (Cafe 88 and Cafe Tahoe)

- Tingha Club [118]

- Workers Club [119]

- Parramatta RSL Club [120]

- Wentworthville Leagues Club [121]

Sleep
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City Centre
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HOTELS & MOTELS

Budget
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- Parramatta Central Motel, 32 Station Street Harris Park

Mid-range
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- Parramatta City Motel, [122], The hotel is on the corner of Great Western Highway & Marsden Street. It is very close to Westfield Parramatta and Auto Alley

- Clarion-on-the-Park, [123], 18 Anderson Street. Close to Harris Park and Auto Alley

Splurge
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- ParkRoyal Parramatta[124] n(formerly the Crowne Plaza), 30 Phillip Street ph 61 2 9689 3333 - Situated in the heart of Parramatta's commercial area. Just 5 minutes walk from Westfield Shopping Centre and Parramatta Train Station. Even closer is Parramatta's main restaurant and entertainment strip on Church St.

- The Sebel Parramatta,[125]. + 61 2 9630 4999, 350 Church Street.Upmarket accommodation, very centrally located, near Church St and the river.

Apartments
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- Mantra[126]located on the corner of Parkes Street & Valentine Street Parramatta

- Meriton[127]

- Skyton, located at 31 Hassall Street Parramatta,[128] about halfway between Rosehill and the city centre, close to Our Lady Of Lebanon Church

- Waldorf, North Parramatta, 18 Bellevue Street North Parramatta [129]

Near Rosehill
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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

HOTELS

- Rydges Parramatta Sydney [130], 116 James Ruse Drive ph 1300 857 922 - Rydges Parramatta is in Parramatta.

- Mercure [131]

APARTMENTS

- Quest, Apartment style accommodation, a little out of town.[132]

- Waldorf, [133].

- UWS Village, [134], located next to the University of Western Sydney, this venue specialises in group Accomodation

Near Westmead
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- Best Western Westmead, [135]

- Hotel Formule 1, [136]337 Great Western Highway Wentworthville

Contact
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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.

Get out
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- If you are staying in Parramatta you have a thirty minute headstart to the Blue Mountains over those staying in the city.

- Within easy reach of Parramatta,

Cumberland State Forest [137]which is an urban forest located at 95 Castle Hill Road Pennant Hills.

Koala Park Sanctuary [138]which has displays of koalas and other Australian animals

District Cronulla Table of Contents

• Understand

• Get in

By train

By car

By bicycle

By bus

• Get around

By car

By public transport

• See

Parks and Gardens

History

Natural environment

Arts and Culture

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Cheap and Take Away

Moderate

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Internet Terminals

Wifi

Understand
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Sutherland Shire is primarily a residential area. Its primary 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.

Many people refer to this area of Sydney as "the Shire". And certainly almost all of the residents of the area do.

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. It has numerous opportunities for uncrowded swimming, boating, bushwalking, and exploring the parks, gardens and history of the area.

The Sutherland Shire would be 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.

Get in
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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
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Cityrail [1] runs trains to the district every 15-30 minutes. The journey takes around 30-45 minutes. There are 13 Cityrail stations within the Sutherland Shire district.

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 platforms 24/25.

From Sydney airport change at Wolli Creek station.

By car
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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
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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/hr road to Kurnell. Sydney cycle routes are generally 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. Sharkbike [2] is the Sutherland Shire Bicycle User Group.

By bus
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There are bus [3] connections to Miranda direct from Hurstville and from Rockdale. Both are slower and more expensive than the train.

Get around
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By car
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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
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Public transport is available, but it doesn't run with the frequency of services closer to the city. Expect Cityrail [4] trains to run every 30 minutes all week connecting the major centres. Expect buses to run about every hour to most places on weekdays, up to 3 hourly on a weekend, and to stop running around 8pm.

- Sydney Buses [5] only runs one bus, to Miranda Fair from Rockdale. It services Taren Point on route.

- Veolia [6] is the largest bus company operating in the District, services the areas away from Cronulla. It services Sutherland, Grays Point, Gymea Bay, and over the Menai.

- Veolia now also incorporates the bus services linking Miranda, Caringbah, Cronulla and Kurnell. The timetables are up to date on their website, but their maps are not yet updated. Some of the buses still have the Buslink livery.

- Caringbah Bus [7] services Lilli Pilli from Caringbah.

Sydney Transport Infoline [8] 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.

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

Other sights in the Sutherland Shire include:

Parks and Gardens
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- E.G. Waterhouse National Camellia Garden, President Avenue, Caringbah (2 minutes drive/20 minutes walk from Caringbah along President Avenue). 9am until 5pm. A large garden area, with many varieties of flowers. Playground, artificial creeks and waterfalls, and a duck pond. Ducks are fat and usually very well fed. Teahouse in the gardens, popular spot. free.

- Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve, Garnet Avenue, Kareela (Entrance is hard to find, take Bates Drive from Princes Hwy (signposted to Kareela), left on Alpita to end, Left on Garnet to end, left on Manooka to end). until 4pm. A large collection of native plants, paved walks, barbecues well stocked with wood, and water views. This place is unknown to most, and is never crowded, except when hosting and occasional wedding. Lots of Australian plant species, and well worth grabbing some sausages, some matches, and heading over for a barbecue. free.

- Peace Park/Japanese Garden, Eton Street Sutherland. A small, unassuming garden in Sutherland, celebrating the sister city relationship between the Sutherland Shire and Chuo in Tokyo. Cherry blossoms flowering in the spring. Possibly a nice place to visit for any homesick Japanese tourists in the area. free.

- Como Pleasure Grounds, Cremona Road, Como (Walk down the hill from Como Station, turn left on Cremona Road, and follow until the end). Historically Como was a popular recreation ground for Sydneysiders on the steam train for a day out by the water. Today, it is still a popular park. There is a swimming pool, swimming enclosure on the Georges River, a cafe on the waters edge, playground, barbecues, picnic tables. Its popular with teenagers on weekends to hang out, eat, swim. There is a marina where you can hire small motor boats to explore the Georges River. There is also a Thai restaurant, with a take away kiosk, serving Thai and Australian food. free.

History
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- Captain Cook's Landing Place, Captain Cook Drive, Kurnell (Over Captain Cook Bridge, and along Captain Cook Drive, or train to Cronulla station and a 987 bus to Kurnell), [9]. Sunrise to Sunset. You can stand on the rock where Captain Cook first stepped ashore, starting the process of European settlement. The landing place is also now next to a large oil refinery. There is a monument walk here, and an interpretive visitors centre. The area is never crowded with visitors, and many Sydneysiders have never visited. There are usually plenty of available and well maintained electric barbecues and picnic tables by the water. Buses can be a couple of hours apart so check the times. [10]. Sutherland Shire used to be named the birthplace of modern Australia, referring to European settlement. Now the aspects of the Aboriginal and European settlement interaction are emphasised, and interpreted in the visitors centre in the park. There is a National Park Admission fee ($11/24hr) to drive into the Park. If you only want to visit the monuments and see the landing place you can easily park just by the beach outside the park and not incur any fee to walk along the monument track from the other end. Foot or bicycle access is always free..

- Sydney Tramway Museum, Rawson Pde, Loftus (Adjacent to Loftus Railway Station, no entry from Metroad 1 heading south), [11]. Sundays 10am until 5pm. They have an old Bondi tram, overseas trams, and tramrides, including rides to the Royal National Park. They also have a large display area Adult $15 Child $8.

Natural environment
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- Botany Bay National Park, Captain. After visiting the landing place, there are several walks and drives within the park. One of the better ones is the walk to Cape Solander. The cliff aspect is nice, and views right out to see and across Ctonulla. You also lose the industrial view on this walk as well, which is so noticable on the monument walk.

- Towra Point Wetland, Captain Cook Drive. The Towra point wetland is an imporant resource for migratory birds, with mangroves and inter-tidal mud-flats. It is a protected area, and mostly not open to visitors. The National Park Visitors Centre at Kurnell does organise tours every month or so. There are three points available to view over the wetland, each off Captain Cook Drive, and worth stopping at if you are on the way to Kurnell. Between November and March you may spot the migratory Eastern Curlew, which spends the other half of the year in Russia. Take your binoculars.

Arts and Culture
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- Hazelhurst Regional Gallery, The Kingsway, Gymea (Exist from the station, and proceed straight ahead), [12]. 10am-5pm. Very much a community art gallery, surrounded by pretty gardens. Nice coffee shop in amoungst it all. free.

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

- Dive, Shiprock Point Marine Reserve, [13]. Shiprock point in Dolans Bay has a marine reserve. Some tropical fish can even be seen here in the summer months, when the water is warm in February mainly. You can see many fish varieties snorkelling along the rocks all the way around from Lilli Pilli point to Shiprock. Watch out for fishermen outside the reserve, and watch out for speedboats in the channel. Shiprock dive can hire equipment or do training courses.

- Swim in the Port Hacking, Lilli Pilli Point, Gymea Bay, Grays Point. The Port Hacking River lies along the Southern Boundary of the Sutherland Shire, and separates it from the National Park. The Port Hacking is a clean waterway, nice for swimming (except for possibly the day after heavy rain). There are enclosures (nets) for swimming along the waterway, usually uncrowded. You can swim outside the enclosures if want to. The biggest threat is jetskis, sharks are very rarely seen. From Lilli Pilli Point, there is a large sand spit you can swim out to at low tide. There are some little sting rays out there that can sting you if you tread on them. It hurts, but it not otherwise dangerous.

- Boat on the Georges RIver. The Georges River is navigable all the way from Botany Bay to Liverpool, and there are lots places to launch your boat in the area. There are beaches, parks, inlets and river more than enough for a day or two on the river. The Woronora River flows into the Georges at Bonnet Bay.

- Como Marina, (park at Como Pleasure Grounds, and walk down to the marina, or ten minutes walk down Cremona Road from Como Station), [14]. You hire a motor boat by the hour, a explore the Georges River and Woronora River waterways or take a picnic and make a day of it. You can hire pontoon with BBQ for up to 10 people. from $30/hour.

- Kayak on the Woronora, Woronora (By the old Wororora Bridge, if driving follow the signs to Woronora, or it is about 15 minutes walk steep downhill from Sutherland Station. You can catch the bus back up, but they run infrequently on weekends. Check the timetable [http://www.connexnsw.com.au]). The Woronora is a easy river for kayaking or canoeing for an hour or whole day. Boat traffic is slow, and the river is usually protected and calm. In an hour you can kayak from the boatshed up to the Woronora Bridge or vice-versa. For a longer trip (if you are fit) you can go all the way up to the Needles, which is really the limit of navigation of the river, and a nice swimming spot. You can hire a kayaks everyday from Woronora Boatshed. Prices are $15 for the first hour, and $10 for each hour after that. There usually is no requirement to book. , and explore the many inlets around Bonnet Bay, or if you are fit, even go upstream to the needles. Take sunscreen, covering clothing, and a hat.

- Star Boatshed, 131 Prince Edward Park Rd, Woronora (Just over the creek bridge, on the right). Hires kayaks, dingies, canoes. Has coffee and milkshakes

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

- Miranda Fair, The Kingsway, Miranda (Immediately adjacent to Miranda train station), [15]. Mon-Sun 8:30am 5:30pm, Thu open until 9pm. Food Hall open until 7pm nightly. One of Sydney's largest undercover shopping malls.

Eat
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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 aronnd $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.

Cheap and Take Away
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- Miranda Fair Food Halls, Kingsway, Miranda (adjacent to Miranda Station). open until 7pm, and 9pm Thursdays. Cheap food, including the major chains. Lots of choice, a place to eat, but no ambiance.

- Mr India, Old (50m east of Sutherland Station). Open for lunch and dinner. Eat in or take away, Mr India will give you a very tasty Indian meal for well under $10. The Naan is cooked fresh to order, and is best used to soak up the Lamb Korma.

- Pauls Hamburgers, Princes Hwy, Sylvania (Just south of the Tom Uglys Bridge). Wednesday-Sunday. A local institution, was serving hamburgers through a hole in the wall 40 years ago. Any resemblance to the chain hamburgers is entirely coincidental, this is a different animal. Order one with the lot, and a Pina Colada milkshake, and walk down to the river and eat it under the bridge.

Moderate
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- Gymea Bay Road (North), Gymea Bay Road (Just north of Gymea train station, turn right out of the station). Lots of great cafe food in Gymea. Modern Australian Cuisine

- Moshka, Box Rd, Jannali (Just east of the train station at Jannali). Moderately priced Indian restaurant with flair, and really tasty food. If you don't feel like Indian, the Thai Tiger, is next door down, and Little Italy is on the corner. You will need to book on Friday/Saturday nights, but other times just walk in.

- The Big Mexican Rancho, the corner of Casaurina Rd and Gymea Bay Rd. Tu-Sa dinner. This restaurant has open at the same place for well over 20 years. Food not really authentic or unique, but decent serves of tasty food, consistently popular locally. mains $20.

Splurge
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Drink
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- Historic Como Hotel (Como Hilton), Cremona Rd, Como (from Como station walk down the hill to Cremona Road, and turn left. Short walk to the hotel.), [16]. The original Como Hotel burnt down in 1996. See the original burnt door still in the Hotel. The new hotel looks even more historic than the old one did, and has a great balcony overlooking the bay and the cricket oval. There is a barbecue on the balcony most weekend lunchtimes.

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

Also in the Sutherland Shire there is:

- Abcot Inn, Princes Hwy, Sylvania Heights (On the left hand side of the Princes Hwy heading south, about 2km after Tom Uglys Bridge), [17].

- Metro Motor Inn, Jackson Pde, Miranda (Opposite the entry to Miranda Fair car park on Jackson Ave), [18].

- Sutherland Motel, Aldgate St, Sutherland, [19]. Motel style accommodation, easy walking to the pool, and about 1.5km from the station

Contact
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Internet Terminals
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All Sutherland Shire Libraries [20] provide full Internet access for $3.30 per hour to travellers. 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. Bookings are taken, and you may need to book at peak times.

Wifi
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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 Fair shopping mall, courtesy of the McDonald's restaurants there, as well as at the McDonalds in Kirrawee and Sylvania.

The libraries have Wi-Fi for $2 for 2 hours - buy a card from the counter.

District South West Table of Contents

• Get in

By car

By train

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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By car
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The M5 is the major Sydney freeway to the southwest. Parking is generally available throughout southwest Sydney, and congestion is limited to peak commute hours.

By train
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The southern rail line offers frequent and quick services to Liverpool. Quicker services to Campbelltown are via the East Hills Line.

See
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Do
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Buy
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Eat
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Drink
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Sleep
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- El Toro Hotel & Motor Inn Liverpool NSW [1] offer accommodation and entertainment for guests in Sydney's South West Suburb of Liverpool. With a bistro, three bars, a bottle shop and convention facilities (two function rooms appropriate for business meetings and conferences). Relax in the spa, or take a dip in the swimming pool. There is a guest laundry and plenty off street parking. El Toro Motor Inn - Homepride Avenue - Liverpool, NSW 2170 Ph: 02 9602 7077 or Toll free 1800 810 027

Contact
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District Blue Mountains Table of Contents

• Get in

By car

By train

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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By car
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Road access from Sydney to the Outer West is via the M4 motorway, which is accessed from Parramatta Road, the main western exit from the CBD. The M4 connects with the M7 Westlink motorway, which in turn connects to northern Sydney's M2 and southern Sydney's M5.

Access from the Blue Mountains is via the Great Western Highway which traverses the mountains to cross the Nepean River just west of Penrith or the Bells Line of Road which terminates after crossing the Hawkesbury River at Richmond. Access from Singleton and the Hunter Valley is along the Putty Road which terminates at Windsor. The Northern Road provides access between Penrith and Camden/Campbelltown to the south.

By train
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Catching a train on the Cityrail [http:/www.cityrail.info] can be a way accessing the outer west for travellers. All trains stop at the major centres of Paramatta and Blacktown, before proceeding either to Penrith or Richmond. Express services to the Blue Mountains can be a much quicker way of getting to Penrith, if you are central around the time one is leaving.

See
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- Koala Park Sanctuary, 84 Castle Hill Road, West Pennant Hills, 02 9484 3141, [1]. $19 adults and $9 children. If you don't have time to go out a look in the bush by yourself, you can get up close and personal with a koala or kangaroo at the Koala Park Sanctuary. You can see the koalas being fed at 10:20am, 11:45am, 2:00pm and 3:00pm

- Featherdale Wildlife Park, 217-229 Kildare Road, Doonside, NSW 2767 (near Blacktown), (612) 9622 1644, [2].

- Bennets Wagon, Hackett Drive & Gt Western Highway St Marys. In the south creek park see an example of a Bennett Wagon. Bennett's were a famous St Mary's wheelwright.

- "Knapsack Viaduct" [3]- a railway viaduct at Lapstone Hill. it was built in 1867 by John Whitton (the 'Father'of the NSW railways). It is signposted from the Emu Plains exit of the motorway

Do
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Buy
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Eat
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Drink
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- Panthers [4] is a hub for entertainment in the west. Including Dining, Music, Accommodation, Sports Bars, Video Games Arcade, Slot Machines (Pokies) etc. Panthers is also home to the Panthers Rugby League team. It has a variety of outdoor entertainments and fast food outlets.

Sleep
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Contact
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