Sydney Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

Sydney Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

Brash and beautiful, Sydney sits nestled in the sandstone cliffs overlooking Sydney Harbor, basking in its role as a gateway for travelers, a mecca of culture and a playground for tourists and its 5 million residents alike.

Though the region was populated for 100,000 years by the Aborigines, captain Arthur Phillips sailed his First Fleet into Sydney Cove in 1788, bearing nearly 1,000 exiled convicts from British prisons. Settled as a colony of the crown and named "New South Wales," the country grew as more exiled convicts joined free settlers in forming the basis for the community that would become a major financial and cultural center of the Asia-Pacific region.

Today, Sydney abounds with modern interpretations of its colonial past. At waterfront Circular Quay, where Phillips first landed, street entertainers ply their trade along Writer's Walk, where famous writers' words about Australia are fixed in the sidewalk with gold medallions.

The Rocks region has evolved in truly contemporary fashion, from the site of Australia's first permanent European settlement to its current status as a leading shopping venue that offers some of the city's finest gifts, souvenirs, and native crafts. It is also known for great restaurants and cheerful pubs. The Victorian suburbs offer a living history lesson with their cobbled streets and alleyways giving a sense of the former seaport region's rich colonial past.

Home to the Harbourside dining and shopping complex, the National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbor invites visitors to enjoy free music and entertainment on weekends. Outlying beaches stretch for miles, and visitors join locals on the sparkling sand.

Vast and blue, Sydney Harbour is truly the city's jewel, crowned by the Sydney Opera House. Designed by architect Joern Utzon in 1955, the majestic structure seems to say, "Welcome to Sydney. Prepare to be swept away."

Sydney Attractions: Sydney Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

Sydney

Opera House

Bennelong Point, Circular Quay

(02) 9250-7111

Australia's most instantly recognized and enduring symbol, the Sydney Opera House appears to sail the harbor on billowing white wings. A world-class cultural center, the Opera House also hosts the city's symphony orchestra, ballet, dance and drama, and offers free concerts most Sunday afternoons along the outer walk. Hour-long walking tours are available on the half-hour, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.

Royal Botanical Gardens

The Domain

(02) 9231-8125

Cost: Free except for special exhibits

Hours: Daily 7 a.m. to sunset

Originally established as a farm by convicts transported to Australia by the First Fleet, the Royal Botanical Gardens is a lush grove of botanical wonders situated beside picturesque Sydney Harbor. A Tropical Center features the exploits of the Venus flytrap and other intriguing tropical plants that live in the glass-house environment (A$5 adults, A$2 children, A$12 family). Pungent plantings populate the Herb Garden.

Bondi

Beach

Campbell Parade, Bondi

Cost: Free

Pronounced bon-die, this magnificent stretch of sand is Sydney's most famous beach, the place to see and be seen either from the sand or from one of the many hip cafes across the street. Prepare for a carnival atmosphere as tourists and locals alike flock to Bondi for an anything-goes frolic in the sun.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Art Gallery Road, The Domain

(02) 9225-1744

Cost: Free, except for special exhibits

Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Featuring some of the finest Australian works, the museum is particularly proud of its display of Aboriginal art. The permanent collection also includes European, Asian and contemporary art and photography, as well as ever-changing special exhibits.

Star City Casino

80 Pyrmont Street

Sydney NSW2009

Located at the eastern end of Darling Harbour, Star City Hotel Casino Sydney is a part of the huge Entertainment and Shopping complex. The property is 10 minutes walk across Pyrmont Bridge, from the city as well as 5 minutes walk to Darling Harbour shops and entertainment complex
. Star City complex itself houses the casino, a theatre, shops and restaurants
.

Star

City is New South Wales' only casino and is Sydney's premier 24 hour entertainment facility located on the shores of Sydney Harbour, enjoying sweeping views of the harbour and city skyline. Star City has a huge TAB lounge and sports bar, Star Keno and 200 gaming tables featuring popular games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Mini Baccarat, Sic Bo, Big Wheel, Caribbean Stud Poker, Pai Gow and Pontoon.

Lyric Theatre

Star

City

Complex

The Lyric Theatre is located at the eastern end of the Star City complex.

Since opening in November 1997, the Lyric Theatre has presented a wide range of leading local and international entertainment events. With its superb acoustics and intimate design, audiences at the Lyric Theatre have enjoyed concerts by some of the world's leading entertainers.

The Lyric boasts an enormous stage and orchestra pit, and is acclaimed as the best commercial theatre in Australia for musicals, theatre, opera and ballet.

The Australian Museum

6 College Street

(02) 9320-6000

Admission charged. Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This natural history museum traces Australia's rich culture over tens of thousands of years. Its Aboriginal section explores the impact of white society on the first Australians. Other exhibits feature the flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea, native insects and fossils.

The Australian National Maritime Museum

Darling

Harbor

(west)

(02) 9552-7777

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

National Maritime Museum

Australia

's history is vitally linked to the sea, and the museum explores those connections with its exhibits of antique racing yachts, WWII destroyers and an America's Cup champion. There is a replica of the Ship Endeavor (the ship in which Captain James Cook made his historic voyages in which he charted the waters around New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii)

Powerhouse

Museum

500 Harris Street

(02) 9217-0111

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Housed in the shell of an enormous, abandoned power station, the museum presents more than two dozen exhibits themed around applied art, science and technology. Here, find a whole floor dedicated to steam engines, airplanes, computers and decorative arts. The museum also includes a NASA space station and a 1930s cinema exhibit.

Sydney

Harbor Bridge

(02) 9247-3408

Admission charged for Pylon Tower

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Completed in 1932, this bridge remains an engineering feat even today. At 1,650 feet, the bridge is the city's most-revered landmark after the Sydney Opera House. Affectionately called "The Coat Hanger," the bridge contains 8 vehicle lanes, 2 railroad tracks, a cycleway and a walkway. The southeast column of the bridge contains a museum that documents the bridge's construction; walk 200 steps up the Pylon Tower for a magnificent view of the harbor and cityscape beyond.

The Sydney Aquarium

Darling Harbor

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Home to the most extensive collection of Australian marine life, the Aquarium features crocodiles, seals, fairy penguins and platypuses, as well as an enormous collection of sharks that lurk in its Open Ocean exhibit.

Taronga

Park

Zoo

Bradley's Head Road

(02) 9969-2777

Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission charged.

One of the world's great zoos, Taronga lets its guests visit nearly nose-to-nose with some of Australia's most spectacular and exotic creatures - native koalas, of course, but also kangaroos, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and wombats. Scary creatures crawl through their Reptile House habitat. A Zoo Pass includes unlimited passages on the scenic gondola that meanders the 75-acre compound.

Centennial

Park

Oxford Street, Paddington

(02) 9331-5056

Cost: Free

Hours: Daily, but hours change seasonally

A prime spot for athletes and nature-lovers alike, Centennial Park's 550 acres boast a wealth of wildlife that coexists beside miles of walking, cycling and horse trails. Visitors can picnic while they watch classic films shown at the amphitheater during summer months.

Sydney

Tower

100 Market Street

(02) 9231 9300

The highest observation deck in the whole of the southern hemisphere, and visited by one million people each year, the turret's 9 levels are designed to hold 1,000 at a time. Skytour, at the podium level, provides a multimedia journey around Australia. Three restaurants with spectacular views occupy 3 levels of the edifice.

Luna

Park

Milson's Point

(02) 9922-6644

Hours: Rides open weekends and school holidays; call for seasonal hours

Admission charged.

Built in 1935, modeled after Coney Island's Luna Park and set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, this is a loud, brash, in-your-face amusement park that features a variety of classic rides. Visitors enter beneath the ghastly, grinning face of a painted clown, who has evolved alongside the park's collection of attractions.

Sydney Events: Sydney Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

January 1 (December 31)

The Festival of Sydney, which includes concerts, street theater and fireworks.

January

The Great Ferry Boat Race

January

Australia Day Concert

January

Chinese New Year (late January or early February)

January

Cricket Test Match

February/March

Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival (whole month of events)

March

St.

Patrick's Day Parade

March or April

The Royal Easter Show (week preceding Good Friday)

June

Sydney Film Festival

Mid-June

Darling Harbour Jazz Festival

August

City to Surf Run

September

Rugby

League Grand Finale

September

Bondi Beach Festival of the Winds

October

Manley Jazz Festival

December

Sydney

to Hobart Yacht Race

December 31

New Year's Eve Sydney Harbour Parades and Street Parties

Sydney Facts: Sydney Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

Country:

Australia

State

: New South Wales (NSW)

Population

: 5 million

Time Zone:

The time in Sydney is 14 hours ahead of the time in New York City. When it is 12:00 Noon in New York, it is 2AM of the following day in Sydney.

Average Temperatures:

When to Visit: Sydney enjoys a warm temperate climate with no cold season. It has warm to hot summers and rainfall equally distributed throughout the year. The weather can be changeable at times, and droughts and heat waves sometimes occur in the summer.

Since Sydney is "down under," its seasons are opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere; the city boasts 340 sunny days a year. During springtime (late October to December) and autumn (late February though May), Sydney is sunny and warm with only a few sprinklings of rain. Even in the coldest part of winter (June through August), the average temperature ranges from 48 to 52 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in the summer months rarely exceed 80 degrees.

Holidays

January 1 New Year's Day

January 26 Australia Day

First or second Monday in March Labor Day

April (dates vary) Good Friday, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday

April 25 Anzac Day

2^nd Monday in June Queen's birthday

Last Thursday in September Melbourne Show Day

First Tuesday in November Melbourne Cup Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 Boxing Day

Getting There:

Sydney

is the country's main international gateway and has good transport connections with destinations around Australia.

By Air

Sydney is a good spot to get a cheap domestic flight up and down the coast with good deals to Brisbane and Melbourne.

Sydney Airport (tel (02) 9667 9111 is located about 8 km south of the city centre and is easily accessible by Train from Central Station. The airport is split into domestic and international terminals that are located several kilometres apart. The international terminal is all contained in one building, while the domestic terminal is comprised of separate buildings that are used for Qantas, Rex and Virgin Blue flights.

The easiest way to the airport is the new Airport Train line that gets you to the airport in around ten minutes. Trains leave from Central Station and less frequently from other stations on the City Circle line.

You can combine your airport Train ticket with a Day Tripper or TravelPass ticket, which works out considerably cheaper than buying the tickets separately
.

Bus route 400 connects the airport with Bondi Junction station. This is the cheapest way to and from the airport and is handy if you're staying at Bondi Beach.

By Ship

Cruise ships dock in Sydney Harbor near Circular Quay and the Ferry Terminal. All local transportation is available in the immediate area.

Bus

Sydney has good bus connections to the rest of the country with the majority of buses departing from Eddy Avenue near Central Station.

Train

Central Station is Sydney's hub for Train travel with long-distance services departing upstairs from the bus station in front of the SLR tram stop. The station has all the facilities that you would expect including bars, shops, fast food outlets and lockers.

Countrylink and CityRail both offer intercity Train services although CityRail's network extends only as far south as Goulburn and Nowra, west to the Blue Mountains and north to Newcastle and Scone. Countrylink goes further afield within New South Wales and also runs a few interstate services. Really long-distance Train journeys are operated by Great Southern Railway and include the Indian Pacific to Perth (via Broken Hill and Adelaide) and the Ghan to Alice Springs and Darwin (also via Broken Hill and Adelaide).

Getting around:

Many of Sydney's prime attractions (The Rocks, Darling Harbour, The Opera House) are all located within a relatively small area and are best explored on foot. Travelers to the city will find Sydney's public transportation welcoming, efficient and economical.

Ferries run to 30 docks all along Sydney Harbour, allowing spectacular sightseeing as travelers reach their destinations. The monorail is another excellent mode of transportation, but it runs only between the city center, Darling Harbour and Chinatown.

Taxis roam throughout the city to take visitors to outlying attractions; water taxis are also available. A three-day Sydneypass allows unlimited travel on any public bus or ferry, including the Airport Express Bus, connections to Bondi Beach, and three sightseeing tours. Driving a car around Sydney is not recommended.

Sydney Kids Activities: Sydney Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Sydney Travel & Tourism, Free Sydney Travel Guide Online

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Art Gallery Road, The Domain

(02) 9225-1744

Cost: Free, except for special exhibits

Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Every Sunday afternoon at 2:30, families can enjoy special performances on various topics, including art appreciation, dance and storytelling. During school holidays, the museum schedules storytelling and performances, often in mime or Aboriginal dance, for children aged 6-12. Children can also participate in occasional hands-on art workshops.

The Australian Museum

6 College Street

(02) 9320-6000

Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For children under 5, Kids Island is gaily decorated with a model hot-air balloon and features a slippery side and a shipwrecked boat with interesting cubbies to explore. The museum's dinosaur exhibit appeals to children aged 5-12. A Science and Discover Room, with microscopes, specimens and reference books, allows children to conduct their own "research."

The Powerhouse Museum

500 Harris Street

(02) 9217-0111

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The museum's many interactive displays are geared to peak the interest of smaller children. A NASA space station will entice their older siblings. Occasionally, the museum offers supervised children's activities from crafts to storytelling, free with entry

Sega World

Darling Walk, Darling Harbour

(02) 9273-9273 (note: this number is correct)

Admission charged.

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Children love the virtual-reality underwater trek and outer-space war games offered by this high-tech indoor theme park. Rides include dodgem cars, a roller coaster, and a haunted house that lets adventurous children hunt ghosts with a ghost-zapper. An arcade is populated by over 200 video games, and the Magic Motion Theatre requires viewers to strap into their seats for a wild sensory ride.

Australia

's Wonderland

Walgrove Road, Rooty Hill

(02) 9830-9100

Admission charged.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional later hours on summer Saturdays

Featuring more than 80 rides in seven "fantasy lands," Australia's Wonderland guarantees screams from the Space Probe, a free-fall plummet of 23 stories that reaches speeds in excess of 75 mph. Kids can cool off at The Beach, a manmade stretch of sand complete with waterslide.

Luna

Park

Milson's Point

(02) 9922-6644

Hours: Rides open weekends and school holidays; call for seasonal hours

Built in 1935, modeled after Coney Island's Luna Park and set against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour, this is an energetic amusement park that features a variety of classic rides. Visitors enter beneath the ghastly, grinning face of a painted clown, who has evolved alongside the park's collection of attractions.

Taronga

Park

Zoo

Bradley's Head Road

(02) 9969-2777

Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission charged.

Taronga lets children visit up close with some of Australia's most spectacular and exotic creatures - native koalas, of course, but also kangaroos, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and wombats.

Centennial

Park

Oxford Street, Paddington

(02) 9331-5056

Cost: Free

Hours: Daily, but hours change seasonally

Rent children's bikes and rollerblades to help youngsters burn off excess energy in the park's beautiful setting. A nearly Equestrian Center offers horseback rides, and guided nature walks are available during school holidays.

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