Sydney is the capital city of the south-eastern Australian state of New South Wales, situated on Port Jackson, which is more commonly known as "Sydney Harbor". With a population of just over 4.2 million, Sydney is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia, renowned worldwide for its beautiful harbor, beaches, climate, culture, fashion, lifestyle, unique architecture, food, friendly inhabitants and hefty, never-ending nightlife. It is has also been declared as one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world.
The city is also an important place for economical activity. Sydney was also the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, which raised the city's global profile even higher. Sydney is known throughout the world as the "Harbor City" or the "Emerald City", and is known in Australia as "Australia's New York" or "Sin City". Though Sydney is built up of a large population, it still retains many public spaces, and lush green parklands.
Districts
Sydney sprawls extensively around its Harbor in Port Jackson, up the Parramatta River to the west, along the adjacent coastlines (both north and south) and across the surrounding Cumberland Plain to the Blue Mountains. The city and its suburbs (many of which are cities in their own right) form a vast metropolitan area.
Owing to the city's size and variety, the districts of Sydney remain notoriously difficult to categorize.
Inner Sydney suburbs
Sydney City - the Central Business District (CBD) of Sydney, the historical centre of government, retail, culture and entertainment.
The Rocks - bordering Sydney Cove to the west includes the first colonial village of Sydney and the Harbor Bridge.
Darling Harbor - an extensive, but somewhat tacky leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the CBD.
Kings Cross - chic bars and clubs next to the traditional drugs, sleaze and backpackers.
Darlinghurst - once the site of countless brothels and speakeasies, now the site of chic eateries and the gay community.
Paddington - ranging from the camp (Darlinghurst end) to the posh (Woollahra end), Paddington is a must for fashion addicts and drinkers.
North Sydney - across the Harbor, linked to the CBD by the famous Harbor Bridge and the Harbor Tunnel, a major business and shopping district.
Eastern Suburbs - between the City and the sea, includes the world-famous Bondi Beach and other city beaches.
Inner West - Sydney's original suburbs are now bohemian, but still affordable. In particular, King Street, Newtown offers a hub of cheap eats, shopping and culture.
South Sydney - between Central Railway Station and Sydney Airport.
Outer Sydney suburbs
Aerial view of Sydney's extentthe North Shore - leafy suburbs stretching northwards from the Harbor.
Northern Beaches - from Manly to Palm Beach
Outer West is actually a huge swathe of Sydney stretching about two thirds of the way into the east. Some of the major attractions are in:
Parramatta - the historical core of western Sydney, now a thriving commercial and retail centre.
Homebush Bay - home the Sydney Olympics Park, providing venues for numerous sports and outdoor activities.
South West - Liverpool and Campbelltown and their surrounding, semi-rural districts
Sutherland and the Southern Beaches- the area to the far south east of the city center including Cronulla.
Satellite towns
Some of the areas on the far western edge of Sydney developed long before the expansion of the suburbs to their doorstep, and are still considered to some extent separate towns:
Richmond
Windsor
Understand
History
Sydney is the oldest European settlement in Australia, having been founded as a British penal colony on 26 January 1788 (now celebrated as Australia Day, a national public holiday, with major festivities around the city and the Harbor).
People
One of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet, Sydney has attracted immigrants from all over the world - Italy, Greece, China, Lebanon, Vietnam, Thailand, South Africa and various Pacific Islands are just some of the backgrounds strongly represented. Sydney's culture, food and general outlook reflect these contributions to the majority Anglo-Celtic cultural basis.
Sydney has a prominent 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 2000 Summer Olympics - officially announced by the IOC Chairman at the Closing Ceremony as "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 (if one of the smaller) of the 21st century.
Climate
Sydney is perhaps best described as "sub-tropical" - although Sydney sides talk about "four seasons", it is truer to say that Sydney has but two seasons: a hot, mildly humid one (summer), and a colder one (winter). Others, citing indigenous traditions claim up to six seasons (not all in the same year): hot/dry, hot/humid, warm/dry, warm/humid, cool/dry, cool/wet. The city is generally comfortable for travelers to visit any time of year. The average annual temperature in central Sydney is 25°C (77°F). The city enjoys in excess of 300 sunny days each year - that said, when it rains, it really can rain, varying between days of grey drizzle to over a week of bucketing downpours with occasional localized flooding (although Sydney is currently in the middle of a years-long drought).
Summer can be extremely hot, with temperatures climbing to over 40 degrees Celsius for a number of days each year in summer, accompanied alternately by stifling humidity and searing dry winds. Sydney is generally well equipped with air conditioning in public buildings, however, and the beaches and harbor are only a short journey away -- just remember your sun protection, as the UV exposure risk is extreme in Australia! Hot summer days frequently (though not always...) end with a "Southerly buster", a cold front sweeping up from the south, bringing a clearly noticeable drop in temperature, driving rain and thunderstorms -- a "mini monsoon". Within hours, the storm can pass and the evening continues cooler. Summer is also the season when bush fires on the margins of the city are most prevalent. For this reason, in hot weather lighting of outdoor fires (non-gas BBQ's etc) is frequently banned (reported as a "total fire ban" during weather reports) and visits to National Parks can be hindered.
Winter in Sydney is generally cool, not cold - daytime temperatures drop below 13°C, but night-time temperatures can fall to below 8°C.
Most Sydney residents would agree that autumn and spring are the most equable times to visit. March and April, especially, tend to have clear, warm days with mild nights. Spring is very similar, though perhaps with the chance of more rain.
Sydney Metropolitan Weather Forecast
Sydney 128 km Radius Weather Radar
Getting in
By plane
Sydney has one major airport (SYD, Mascot, or Kingsford-Smith) and one smaller airport (Banks town):
Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) is Sydney (and Australia's) largest and most important international and domestic airport, located 8 km from the city centre at Mascot in South Sydney.
Multiple daily flights link Sydney with key city destinations in the Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America. The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Tokyo are particularly well-served, as are various European centers via Asia. Multiple flight links also exist with New Zealand. In addition, the west coast of the US and Hawaii are popular inbound / outbound destinations.
Travelers from Europe and the Middle East tend to travel into Sydney via Asia, whilst travelers from South America fly via either North America or New Zealand.
In addition to the international terminal, the Sydney Airport has two terminals dedicated to domestic air traffic: one terminal shared between several domestic airlines, the other terminal dedicated to Qantas domestic flights alone. The twin domestic terminals are located a little distance from the International Terminal: transferring passengers, if not transferred by their airline, can transfer using Kingsford Smith Transport buses (tel 02 9666 9988) or via the rail link.
You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you will usually 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, a little less from Canberra and just under four hours from Perth.
Several transport options to the City exist from Kingsford-Smith:
A train service known as Airport Link connects Sydney Airport and the CBD; single fares are about $12. Airport Link connects with the City rail commuter rail system and shares a ticketing system (though you may want to avoid using the train during the morning peak hour [especially 07:30-09:30] as trains that service the Airport also carry commuters to the City).
Several mini-bus operators will drive a group of passengers to the city and deliver them to their hotels - a typical charge is $8-$10 per passenger
Taxis to the city centre should cost approximately $25, a little more to other Sydney destinations (North Sydney $35, Manly $50, etc.) From 1 November 2004, a $2 airport toll is also payable by all passengers taking a taxi from any of Sydney Airport's taxi ranks (added to the fare. Vehicle rental is available at all Sydney Airport terminals from a variety of rental companies. Local Buses operate from Sydney Airport to the suburbs, but there is no longer a direct service to the City. The route 400 bus runs to Bondi Junction and Burwood. Cost is under $5 or $32 if you purchase a "Red" bus/train/ferry travel pass.
Banks town Airport - located in the mid-west of Sydney, Banks town Airport is Sydney's second airport and is primarily dedicated to commuter and private aviation
By car
Sydney is within a reasonable driving distance (minimum 10 hours driving) of Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Melbourne - Sydney = 862 km via Albury-Wodonga (Hume Highway).
Adelaide - Sydney = 1422km via Mildura or 1659km via Broken Hill (National Highway 32).
Brisbane - Sydney = 938 km via the coast (Pacific Highway) or 961 km via Armidale (New England Highway).
By train
All major train links to Sydney terminate at Sydney's Central Station in the south of the CBD area. Travelers can transfer to City rail trains or the light rail service to Darling Harbor, as well as to taxis.
Australia's long distance train service Country Link (ph 13 22 32 within Australia) runs daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of New South Wales including the North Coast, New England, the Central West and the Southern Highlands. Traveling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours. Fares range between $30 and $100 for standard class seats.
The Indian Pacific train service (ph 13 21 47 within Australia or 08 8213 4592 internationally) runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide and Broken Hill. Adult fares from Perth are $1250 for a sleeper cabin and $513 for a seat. Children's fares are $805 for a sleeper cabin and $139 for a seat. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. Note that these fares are much higher than return plane fares to Perth; this journey is really for train journey enthusiasts who want to see the interior of Australia.
The City rail network runs services several times a day from close regional cities: Newcastle via the Central Coast (New South Wales), Goulburn via the Southern Highlands, Nowra via the South Coast and Lithgow via the Blue Mountains. Fares on these trains range from $4 - $25 for adults.
Get around
Sydney has a good public transport system, especially in areas closer to the city area where many attractions are. You can find out timetables, fares, and routes by phoning 131 500 within Australia for the cost of a local call, or by visiting 131500.info. The further away from the city you travel, the less reliable public transport services will tend to be.
The cheapest way to use the buses, trains and ferries is to purchase one of the many travel cards: multi-use tickets typically sold at a 10-20% discount. Some (for trains, buses or multi-modal) are unlimited use within a time limit (e.g. 1 day or 1 week), others (for buses and ferries only) let you travel for ten trips but have no time limit. Information about the discounted commuter tickets and leisure tickets is available from City rail; otherwise a quick visit to the Transit Shops in Circular Quay (cnr of Loftus & Alfred Sts) or outside the Queen Victoria Building or the information booth at Central Station will get you all the info you need. Most newsagents also stock travel cards. If you are in Sydney for a week or more, or even planning a busy day on the ferries then one of these passes will save you a few dollars, maybe even enough for an extra cold beer at the end of your travels at one of Sydney's many pubs.
Of particular interest to short-term visitors are the City Hopper ticket ($6.80 adults and $3.40 children, cheaper if bought after 10am) which allows unlimited train travel for a day in the center of the train network; the Day Tripper ticket ($15 adults and $7 children) which allows unlimited travel on all metropolitan City rail trains, Sydney Bus services and Sydney Ferry services; and the longer term Sydney Pass tickets, allowing unlimited travel for up to 8 days including tourist services. An alternative is the week-long Red Travel Pass which includes all trains, buses and ferries in the inner Sydney area for around $30.
Note that there are private buses and ferries away from the city that do not accept the abovementioned travel cards and will require the purchase of cash tickets.
By car
Apart from peak hour, you can drive around Sydney reasonably freely. The car is a good option if you want to travel between parts of the city other than the CBD, since almost all train lines travel in and out of the CBD. Many outlying areas are now served by motorways, most of which charge tolls: a typical toll [2005] ranges from $2 to $6. On most toll ways there is the option to pay in cash (you will find it faster if you have exact change) but on the newest toll ways, the Cross-City Tunnel (which passes underneath the CBD area), and the West link M7, the western orbital motorway bypassing Sydney, are exclusively electronic toll ways. Tolls may only be paid by purchasing an electronic pass from the toll way management up to 24 hours before or after using this road. It is expected that this system will eventually be introduced to all toll ways in Sydney.
As with the rest of Australia, driving is on the left hand side of road. Travel times from the CBD to outlying suburbs can range from 30 minutes if you use motorways to 60+ minutes if tolls are avoided. As an indication, traveling between Sydney CBD and Penrith, one of the furthest West suburbs at the base of the Blue Mountains takes approximately 60 minutes if using the M4 toll way outside of peak hour. Speed limits are given in kilometers.
By taxi
Taxis are a convenient way to get around Sydney if you don't know it. They can also be the only transport option available late at night when the trains and buses stop. All Sydney taxis are metered: it's rare for drivers to forget to turn the meter on, but it's important to check the meter because there are two meter rates: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $2.75, a distance rate of $1.56 a kilometer, a waiting rate of $0.68 a minute and a booking fee of $1.45; and a night rate (rate 2) which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. The night rate applies between 10pm and 6am: check the meter of your taxi at other times for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it's set to 2, reminds your driver to switch to the day rate.
Passengers are expected to pay all tolls for their trip. In addition, passengers who are taken north over the Harbor Bridge, for which there is no toll, are expected to pay the driver's southbound toll for the return into the city (currently $3). Drivers will sometimes take toll roads without asking you, and will simply add the toll amounts before quoting the fare. Do ask if you are unsure why they are asking for an amount above that shown on the meter.
Multiple taxi companies provide services to potential passengers; Taxis Combined (tel 131 008) perhaps provide the most extensive coverage.
Tipping is never expected anywhere in Australia, but it might be nice if you round a taxi fare up to the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare).
By train
Sydney has a patchy suburban rail network operated by City Rail. Sydney trains are often very crowded in peak hour, but at other times a City Rail train is the fastest way to get to the CBD. The complex rail network frequently experiences delays, especially during rain.
In addition to the discounted tickets discussed above, City rail has single trip and return trip tickets valid until 4am the day after purchase. There are discounted single and return trip tickets for children, students and pensioners. A return trip ticket is much cheaper than two single tickets if you purchase it after 9am (called off peak).
Outside of operating hours, between 12am (1am on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5am, Night Ride buses are available on most routes within Sydney. Any City Rail train ticket is valid for the equivalent Night Ride bus except a single. If you don't have a ticket, you'll need to buy a Night Ride single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. Night Ride buses stop at most City Rail stations and a few additional stops. They don't travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a Night Ride bus home, check the Night Ride route map on the back cover of each timetable or at the station while you are waiting for your train.
On weekends check for track work before leaving for the station; City Rail will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for track work, and the process will add about half an hour to a typical journey. Track work will be advertised at the station for about a week before it begins. Train tickets, single, return or travel card, are valid on track work buses between the same stations.
You must always purchase a ticket before boarding a train or track work bus from either the ticket office or from the ticket machines that are located on most stations. There is no opportunity to buy a ticket onboard. If you are caught by an inspector traveling without a ticket the fine is at least $200 and up to $550. If you are found with a student or pensioner ticket and you don't have the appropriate authorization card, the same fine applies. Be aware that the ticket machines may accept $50 notes but usually give less than $20 in change.
Within the city area there is a light rail system run by Metro Light Rail. It connects Central station to Darling Harbor, Star City Casino and the inner western suburbs.
By bus
Sydney has an extensive bus network. Most of the buses in the inner city and inner suburbs are run by the government owned Sydney Buses. Their buses are mainly blue and white, with the exception of the red Sydney Explorer loop bus. The Explorer visits 26 stops around the city, and a ticket ($36) allows unlimited rides for one day; services run every 20 minutes. The rest of the commuter network is run by private bus companies. These services don't compete so you'll usually only have one way of getting somewhere by bus.
Outside of the city and inner suburbs, private bus companies provide services to varying degrees of frequency and reliability (but generally significantly less frequent during off-peak period sand weekends). They do not accept tickets from government buses or multi-modal tickets, although single fares cost the same.
When you are waiting at a bus stop, you must raise your arm and wave to the bus to tell the driver to stop.
Unlike many cities, a Sydney bus fare depends on how far you are traveling measured in "sections" of about 1.8 kilometers. It is usual to simply name your destination and the bus driver will work out the number of sections. There are some points on the network where you can transfer from one bus to another free of charge (you purchase a ticket from the first driver all the way to your destination) but typically you pay each time you board a bus. There are no return tickets. You don't have to pay exact fare, but the bus driver may not be able to give you change for a $50 or even a $20 note. They will usually make the effort, but this situation can end in your being unable to travel on the bus. If using buses and paying cash, try to have a good supply of coins and smaller notes.
From late night to dawn, most buses cease running with the exception of a few trunk routes that run 24-hours (but at a reduced frequency).
By ferry
Sydney Ferries run all around the harbor and up the Parramatta River. The central hub is at Circular Quay at the top of the CBD. More than just a utilitarian means of transport, the ferries are a great way to see the harborside. 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 Harbor Bridge as you leave Circular Quay.
By bike
If you want to see a particular area of the city, a bicycle may be suitable. However, Sydney is a reasonably hilly city and many parts of it are not at all cyclist friendly. It is illegal for adults to ride bicycles on footpaths unless they are especially marked for cyclist or shared cyclist/pedestrian use: only children fewer than 12 may ride on unmarked footpaths, adults must ride only on marked bicycle tracks or on the road with cars. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night.
Bonza Bike Tours. tel 02 9331 1127. email info@bonzabiketours.com, Bonza Bike Tours offers bike hire/rental for full and half days. They offer top of the line equipment, and hire/rental includes a bicycle (men's or women's), helmet, bike lock, bike mounted bag (for smaller items), and secure storage for larger bags while you are out. Bonza can provide you with information on some of the best areas to visit.
See
The city as seen from North Sydney at night
Sydney Opera House
Landmarks
The Sydney Harbor Bridge: The harbor bridge, briefly the longest in the world after its construction in the 1930s, crosses the harbor from the city to North Sydney.
The Sydney Opera House: Located in the city, millions of tourists a year throng the building just to see it, even if they have little or no interest in Opera. The Sydney Opera House is easily one of the most famous structures ever built.
Darling Harbor is a large tourist precinct and includes a range of activities, restaurants, museums and shopping facilities.
Sydney Olympic Park: Home of the 2000 Summer Olympics (known as "the best Games ever"!), in Home bush.
Luna Park: Is a large theme park situated near the Sydney Harbor Bridge, it's mouth shaped entrance can be seen from many areas of Sydney as well as the large Ferris Wheel.
Sydney Tower: also called Centre point Tower. The tallest building in Sydney, and also the tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere, the tower contains a buffet, cafe and a rather large restaurant and attracts many visitors a year.
Historical areas
See The Rocks in the city.
Museums and galleries
Museums and galleries are concentrated in the city and in Darling Harbor. Here are a few of the highlights:
The Australian Museum in the city.
The Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbor.
The Art Gallery of NSW in the city.
The Powerhouse Museum in Darling Harbor.
The Museum of Contemporary Art [16] in the city.
Wildlife
Taronga Zoo in North Sydney.
The Koala Park Sanctuary in the Outer West.
Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbor
Feather dale Wildlife Park, in western Sydney.
Australian Reptile Park, about an hour north of Sydney, with much more than just reptiles.
Sydney Harbor
Yachts in Sydney Harbor; business district in background Sydney’s large natural harbor, usually called Sydney Harbor (correctly Port Jackson), was the reason that the original penal settlement was established in the area now known as Circular Quay, rather than further south at Botany Bay as James Cook recommended after mapping the coast in 1770. While it is now very built up (and Sydney sides will pay a premium for views of the water) it is still very beautiful.
The harbor is served by a dedicated ferry service which transports passengers across the harbor. An excellent way to see both the harbor and Sydney attractions is to take a ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo, Manly or Parramatta.
There are a number of islands in the centre of the harbor which you can visit for a picnic: Shark, Goat, Clark and Rodd Islands. These are very beautiful and have magnificent views of sailing boats on the harbor and of Sydney's harbor side buildings. At most times of the year they will be nearly deserted. You will need to reserve a place and pay a fee of approximately $5 per head to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (ph 02 9960 6266 or fax 02 9960 3965). You also cannot moor a boat at any of these islands. Goat, Rodd and Clark islands are not served by ferries, so unless you can arrange for a private drop-off, you will need to charter a water taxi at a cost of approximately $20 per head. Contact Water Taxis Combined by phoning 02 9247 5033 or faxing 02 9241 3303. Shark Island is served by an hourly Matilda Cruises ferry on weekends; the price of $16.00 roundtrip per adult includes the National Park landing fee.
You can arrange a guided tour of the islands by contacting Cadmans Cottage, 100 George Street, and The Rocks. Ph 02 9247 5033. Fax 02 9241 3303.
Fort Denison is another, more popular, island on the harbor. Its entire area is a large fort, completed in 1857 and built to defend Sydney against Russian attack. The National Parks and Wildlife Service runs a half-hour guided tour for $22 per adult, $18 per child and $72 for a 4 person family. They also run a morning brunch for $47 adults and $43 children. Contact Cadmans Cottage as above.
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, the 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 Harbor Bridge, among many others. Skyscrapers in Sydney are also large and modern such as the Sydney Tower, which dominates the Sydney skyline.
Itineraries
Walking tour of Sydney
Do
Swim at Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Cronulla or Wattamulla
See a movie at Fox Studios (now called "The Entertainment Quarter" [20]) in the Eastern Suburbs, or a performance at the Opera House.
Swing by the National Botanic Gardens, the Australian and Powerhouse Museums, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art
Cycle around Centennial Park in the Eastern Suburbs
Drive a dodgem car at Luna Park in North Sydney
Go to a football match. Football (Soccer) August to February - Sydney FC are currently the reigning champions in the A-League, starring Dwight Yorke (ex Man U) and David Carney (ex Everton), home ground Aussie Stadium at Moore Park. Other codes of football played in Sydney are Australian Rules (AFL / VFL), Rugby Union and Rugby League (March to September).
Walk the foreshore of central Sydney from underneath the Sydney Harbor Bridge past the The Rocks, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, the National Botanical Gardens and Lady Macquarie's Chair.
Catch a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. Before returning to the Sydney CBD, walk the 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 harbor cruise.
A great alternative to the standard bus/boat/walking tour is a guided bicycle tour. A bike tour allows you the freedom to get up close to the attractions, while ensuring that you will have time to see all that you want to see (which you certainly couldn't do by foot in a single day). Bonza Bike Tours offers really fun guided bicycle tours, including the "Sydney Classic" which covers many of Sydney's most popular sites. It is a great way to see that entire city has to offer. The ride is easy and is especially perfect for someone that is in Sydney for a just short period of time. The Sydney Classic tour rides two times a day and costs $60 for adults and $45 for children/students/backpackers. (info@BonzaBikeTours.com, +61 02 9331 1127, http://www.bonzabiketours.com/tours.aspx)
Kayak Sydney Harbor. Because of wind and waves kayaking is easier in Sydney Harbor than in the oceanside suburbs. Kayaks can be rented from Sydney Harbor Kayaks at the Spit Bridge (info@sydneyharborkayaks.com.au, +61 2 99604389, http://www.sydneyharborkayaks.com.au)
Sydney Harbor Bridge
The Sydney Harbor Bridge has an excellent view of the city, especially at dawn and dusk, although the drivers and train passengers relegated to the middle of the Bridge don't see it. There are four things to do on the Bridge:
Cross it on one of the protected lanes on either side of the bridge accessible from Milsons Point in North Sydney or the Rocks in the city. The eastern side is reserved for pedestrians and the western side for cyclists and there is no toll.
Climb to the Pylon Lookout on the south east pylon. Ph 02 9240 1100. Fax 02 9241 2151. email pylonlookout@bridgeclimb.com. See the bridge climb view for less time and money, with a little less excitement. The pylon is open 10am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day. Admission is $8.50 adults, $3 children under 13, and free for children under 7. http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/
Bridge Climb, 5 Cumberland Street, The Rocks. ph 02 8274 7777. fax 02 9240 1122. email admin@bridgeclimb.com. Climb to the very top of the Bridge. Note that this climb is more demanding than climbing a set of stairs: you will be fitted with special climbing suits and secured and you must be 12 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. 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). http://www.bridgeclimb.com/
The Bridge Climb teams now also do Centre Point Tower climbs.
Festivals
Sydney is home to a number of major and minor festivals and calendar events each year:
The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is a huge festival organized by and for the queer community. It includes sports, cultural and arts events that run throughout February, culminating in a huge Mardi Gras parade in Darling Hurst on the first Saturday of March each year. The festival began as a street protest, and has grown into a huge celebration. http://www.mardigras.org.au/
The Sydney Festival is an arts festival held in January each year. It aims 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 and Symphony in the Domain concerts held in the Domain in the city. http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/
The Bacardi Latin Festival in Darling Harbor is held in early January as part of the Sydney Festival, and contains a week of Latin dancing and music.
The Biennale of Sydney is a contemporary arts and multimedia festival held in winter in even numbered years. http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/
The Royal Easter Show is the major agricultural show in New South Wales, and is held in the two weeks before Easter each year at Sydney Olympic Park in the Outer West. 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"). http://www.eastershow.com.au/
The Sydney Fringe Festival runs from mid-January to mid-February each year, and features fringe art in the form of film, TV, performance and sport. http://www.loud.net.au/projects/fringeTV/main.htm
The Sydney Film Festival is held in June each year and shows over 200 movies in 16 days, including an enormous number of Australian movies, most of which will premiere at the festival. http://www.sydneyfilmfestival.org/
The Big Day Out, an Australia-wide rock/alternative music festival with a side of dance, plays to up to 60 000 Sydney Sides 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, the Chemical Brothers and Marilyn Manson from overseas, and Powderfinger, Regurgitator and Gerling from Australia. It normally sells out about a fortnight in advance. http://www.bigdayout.com/
The Homebake festival is a rock/alternative/dance festival featuring only Australian acts. It is held in the Domain in the city each year in December. http://www.homebake.com.au/
The Carols in the Domain are held annually in the Domain in the city on the last Saturday before Christmas. 100 000 people with candles sing along as night falls and the show is also telecast live. http://www.carolsinthedomain.com/entry.html
Fashion
While cities such as London, Milan, Paris, and New York City are traditionally regarded as the fashion centers of the world, these days Australia's unique style and creativity means Sydney is also mentioned as 'must-visit' centers on the international fashion circuit. When it came to fashion, Australia used to be seen as isolated and out-of-touch. That notion is now out-of-touch itself, 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.
Eat
You never have to go far to find food in Sydney. As a rough guide, cafes serving breakfast menus 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. Orders for dinner start from 5:30pm, and while there are a small number of exceptions (usually concentrated in areas with active nightlife), last orders for dinner are typically taken around 9pm.
Sydney is an amazing multi-cultural city. The range of food out there is huge and isn't necessarily expensive:
Eat at some of Sydney's finest restaurants in the city.
Yum cha in Chinatown in the city is very good - arguably even better now 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. Dim Sum (actually Dian Xin) means small snacks e.g. spring rolls.
Visit the Fish Markets in Darling Harbor.
Eat Chinese in the city's Haymarket area. Qing jin!
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 in the Inner West. Benvenuto!
Eat Spanish in Liverpool Street in the city. ¡Hola!
Eat Portuguese in Petersham in the Inner West. Bom dia!
Eat Indian in one of the many restaurants in the Sydney/Outer West suburb of Parramatta with all types of Indian cuisine (North Indian, South Indian, Vegetarian, meat, etc.) Namaskar!
Eat Nepalese in Glebe Point Road, Glebe, in the Inner West.
Eat Turkish in Enmore Rd Enmore / South King St Newtown in the Inner West. Get your Sucuklu and Pastirmali here.
Eat Lebanese in Cleveland Street in South Sydney. Baba Ghanouj, Lahem Begin and Baclawa here. Salam Alaikum.
Name any nationality you can think of, Sydney has a great restaurant for you. Seriously.
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. Most 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 to the staff. 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.
Most places have at least a basic dress code. If you're not sure where you're headed and want to get into most generic pubs and clubs you come across, men should wear a collared shirt, neat full-length pants (not jeans) and business-style shoes. Cheaper pubs have looser requirements, and of course different groups follow different fashions. This recipe won't work for entry to a goth club. In almost all cases, women can dress more freely, but a small number of places require closed shoes.
Entry charges for live music or DJs are usual and range from $5 to $30 depending on clientele. Entry charges are rare if you're going into a pub for a drink.
Note that there is a taxi shift change at 3am, and it is notoriously difficult to catch a taxi anywhere between 2:30am and 3:30am.
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 Southern Beaches
In some ways Irish pubs are a global phenomenon, but they've certainly taken Sydney by storm. Irish pubs are concentrated in the Rocks area of the city, and are outrageously popular on the 17th March when the St Patrick's Day parade is held.
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 Harbor area.
Sydney's large gay scene is concentrated in Darling Hurst
Sydney's students drink in the Inner West
Some nightclubs and Sydney's younger partygoers are found in North Sydney
Stay safe
Sydney has similar crime issues to most large western cities, but that being said, it is a reasonably safe place to visit. Be on the lookout for the usual big city crime problems such as pick pocketing, and exercise caution on the rail system late at night. It is generally advisable to travel in the carriage closest to the guard's compartment, which is marked with a blue light on the outside of the train.
Whilst in late 2005 some ethnic tension between white Anglo-Celtic residents and Middle Eastern residents spilled over into rioting at Cronulla Beach, Sydney is generally a tolerant place. Ethnic violence is unlikely to come looking for you if you do nothing to provoke it yourself. However, people of Middle Eastern, South Asian or Aboriginal appearance may find it difficult to hail a taxi or be served at some shops or restaurants.
Budget
Sydney has a wide range of backpackers' hostels - popular districts for these include the southern half of the CBD, Glebe and Kings Cross, the Southern Beaches (Bondi, Coogee) and the Northern Beaches (Manly).
Mid-range
You find many mid-range accommodation providers within a short distance of the city by public transport, including in North Sydney, the Inner West and the North Shore.
Splurge
Sydney's most expensive hotels are generally located in the CBD and the Rocks district, near the business hub of Sydney, close to many restaurants, and with excellent harbor views. Some other high quality hotels are located in Darling Harbor.
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 5 star.
Southern Cross Apartment Rentals - offers a wide range of serviced apartments throughout Sydney.
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! ISBN 0091842034, Random House, 1999.
Get out
There are a number of good day trips from Sydney.
Drive across the Bell's Line of Road over the Blue Mountains to Lithgow. Buy some apples from the orchard vendors at the side of the road if driving over in autumn.
Travel up into the populated area of the Blue Mountains. There are a number of good day walks in the Katoomba area, or you could tour Jenolan Caves.
Royal National Park, just south of Sydney and easily 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 Illawarra/South Coast line Cityrail train.
Head up to Gosford for some quieter beaches.
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