Sydney Hotel & Travel Destination Guide

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Country Code: AU
Source: Fastcheck Arrival Guides

Population:
A little over 4 million

Currency:
Australian dollar (AUD), 1 = 100 c.

Opening hours:
Most Sydney shops are open 0930 h - 730 h, evening opening on Thursdays.

Many shops in Sydney city and the shopping centers such as The Rocks and Darling Harbour stay open until 2100 h most days, including the weekend.

Tourist information:
Visitor Centre
106 George Street, The Rocks, Sydney
City Info Line tel: (02)9265 9007
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Sydney

It was perhaps the Olympic Games in 2000 which placed Sydney definitively among the ranks of world-class cities. In advertisements Sydney quite rightly calls itself “sunny, sexy and sophisticated”. The old colony for deported convicts has been transformed into one of the world’s hottest capitals, where the Opera House is just one of many attractions.

Sydney City

It is almost inconceivable that it is just over 200 years since the British started building a colony for deported convicts in Sydney. Today this prison colony is a metropolis and a multiethnic magnet for people from around the world. Sydney Harbour is like an embracing arm of the ocean, and it is hard to imagine a more beautiful location for a city. Because detached living is so popular here, Sydney is very spread-out.

The City, or the Central Business District, CBD, is however compact. This is the area in front of the Circular Quay with the Opera House and the historic Rocks, where the gleaming glass and steel buildings of the business quarter reach skyward. Kings Cross houses a distinctive mix of worldly pleasures on the one hand and good restaurants and low-cost housing on the other.

The inner-city suburbs to the east of the City, like Darlinghurst and Paddington with its long Oxford Street, have some of the best shopping, pubs and entertainments and are known as relaxed, gay and free from prejudice. North of Sydney harbour, on the North Shore, lies Manly with its restaurants and beach life. Glebe is another, student-dominated “inner suburb”. In fashionable Double Bay (also known as Double Pay…) the houses are expensive and the shops exclusive. The opposite is to be found, among other places, in Redfern, poor and largely populated by aborigines, who are more or less invisible in Sydney’s more affluent areas.

Things to See and Do in Sydney

Sydney’s beautiful situation gives a gilt edge to many of the city’s sights. For the history enthusiast, of course, the place is a dream; from the aborigines’ maybe 60000-year history to the arrival of the colonists just over two hundred years ago.

The Opera House
Sydney’s Opera House at Bennelong Point is like the USA’s Grand Canyon in the way that mere pictures cannot convey its magnificence. Where once there were tram depots there now stands one of the 20th century’s finest structures and Australia’s most renowned symbol. It was inaugurated in 1973, after a planned building time of five years turned into 16 years and a budgeted cost of eight million dollars became 102 million. The Opera House comprises five principal auditoria each holding between 300 and 2700 seats for opera, films, theatre and concerts.
Address: Bennelong Point, Circular Quay
Phone: +61 (02)9250 7250 (guided tours) +61 (02)9250 7777 (tickets)
Internet: www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Cruise around Sydney Harbour
The magnificent siting of Port Jackson is one of Sydney’s great assets, and it is best viewed from the seaward side. There are a number of midday cruises to choose from. Ferries depart from wharves 4 and 5 at Circular Quay.
Phone: +61 (02)9241 1281

The Rocks
The oldest part of Sydney, where the colonists settled in the 1780’s. What was once dark, dirty dockland is now highly picturesque and very much a tourist hot-spot. Several of the city’s best hotels and restaurants are situated here.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
It is only in recent decades that the ancient culture of the aborigines has received serious attention, both from white Australians and the rest of the world. Here is not only the first permanent exhibition of aboriginal art, but also an important collection of modern Australian artists.
Address: Art Gallery Road, The Domain, near City
Phone: +61 (02)9225 1744
Internet: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
More info: Nearest train stations are St James and Martin Place. Both within 10 minutes’ walking distance.

Royal Botanic Gardens
27 hectares with over 400 species of tropical plants sloping down towards Farm Cove - a wonderful park with winding walkways among flowers and palms. One of Sydney’s major sights. Perfect for picnics.
Address: Mrs Macquaries Road, City Centre
Phone: +61 (02)9231 8111
Internet: www.rbgsyd.gov.au

Sydney Tower
Also called AMP Tower Centrepoint. You can’t get any higher in Sydney - the tower stands a total of 305 metres high. A dizzying lookout point where you can see for yourself that the residential suburbs stretch literally as far as the eye can see. There is also a rotating restaurant here.
Address: 100 Market Street, City
Phone: +61 (02) 9231 1000
Internet: www.sydneyskytour.com.au

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
Australia’s leading museum for domestic and foreign contemporary art, housed in a magnificent art deco building. Large thematic exhibitions as well as individual exhibits, painting, sculpture, installations and multimedia.
Address: 140 George Street, The Rocks
Phone: +61 (02) 9250 8448
Internet: www.mca.com.au

National Maritime Museum
The sea has always played a major role in Australian history. The exhibits reflect many different eras, from the large sailing ships - including Cook’s “Endeavour” - to warships, submarines and refugee boats.
Address: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour
Phone: +61 (02) 9298 3777
Internet: www.anmm.gov.au

Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Sydney’s history in buildings from the time when the city was the destination for deportees from England. Between 1819 and 1848 Hyde Park Barracks housed thousands of deportees who worked in government service.
Address: Queens Square, Macquarie Street
Phone: +61 (02) 8239 2288
Internet: www.hht.net.au/museums

Eating in Sydney

Thanks to large-scale immigration all of the world’s cuisine is generally represented here. The current”typically”Australian cuisine, Mod Oz, blends fresh raw materials in a fusion of Asiatic and European culinary styles. And within a few decades Australia has earned a place among the world’s leading wine-producing countries.

“BYO”, Bring Your Own, means that you can take your own wine to a restaurant - even to some that are licensed to serve alcohol.

Altitude
Here you can have the pleasure of eating steamed lobster as you look out over Sydney harbour through five-metre-high windows on the 36th floor of the Hotel Shangri-La. Sober and modern Australian-European gourmet cuisine. Long wine list. Main courses from $35.
Address: Level 36, Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland St
Phone: (02)9250 6123
Internet: www.altitudesydney.com

Quayside Brasserie
Right on the water and in the middle of the “picture postcard” with the Opera House and city skyline. Some rock oysters and a glass of Pinot Gris in the twilight and the pieces in life’s jigsaw will fall into place. Fish and shellfish dominate, main courses from $30.
Address: Shop 1, Opera Quays, 2 East Circular Quay, City
Phone: (02) 9251 0122
Internet: www.quaysidecafe.com.au

Kam Fook
Don’t allow yourself to be fooled - you haven’t come to Hongkong. On Sundays yum cha lures around 800 guests at a time from their cars with dim sum and a bewildering array of other dishes.
Address: 3rd floor, 9 Hay Street, Haymarket
Phone: (02)9211 8988

Bistro Lulu
French bistro, Sydney style, good raw materials and a wine list with both Australian and French - at surprisingly good prices. Typical example of “Mod Oz”. Main course from $20.
Address: 257 Oxford Street, Paddington
Phone: (02)9380 6888
Internet: www.bistrolulu.com.au

Doyle´s on the Beach
The oldest pub in the Doyle´s chain is also Sydney’s best-known fish and shellfish restaurant. On the beach in Watsons Bay with views towards the City on the other side of the water. The fish´n´chips here have been a Sydney classic for generations. Main courses from $30.
Address: Watson´s Bay
Phone: (02)9337 2007
Internet: www.doyles.com.au

Blue Ginger
Relaxed and noisy at one of the best Asiatic pubs in West Sydney. Octopus, chicken, duck and barramundi with exciting seasonings. Simple, colourful furnishings. Main courses from $20.
Address: 241 Darling Street, Balmain
Phone: (02)9818 4662
Internet: www.blueginger.com.au

Aesop´s
A Greek island which landed on the other side of the world, complete with mediterranean cooking, Zorba’s dance and smashing crockery. Views towards the Royal Botanic Gardens. Main courses from $21.
Address: 131 Macquarie Street, City
Phone: (02)9247 5422
Internet: www.aesops.com.au

Sydney Fish Markets
Peter´s Fish Market and Doyle´s are two of the restaurants at the city’s fish market, where around 100 species of fish are available. Fish auction at 7 o’clock in the morning.
Address: Pymont, under Anzac-bron.
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 4pm
Phone: (02) 9550 1611
Internet: www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au
More info: Train from Central Station, Star City and the Exhibition Centre.

Sydney Cafes

The café heart of Sydney lies on Victoria Street between Darlinghurst and Kings Cross.

Tropicana Café
Film people and locals are drawn here by the excellent coffee and calorie-packed desserts. This is where the short film festival Tropfest was born, which is nowadays a national event. See: www.tropfest.com.au
Address: 227 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: (02)9360 9809

Bar Coluzzi @ Darlinghurst
One-time boxer Gigi Coluzzi’s legendary café is a meeting-point for all types of Darlinghurst residents. Nice atmosphere and really good coffee.
Address: 322 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: (02) 9380 5420

3 JJJ Café
Popular restaurant in Bondi. Here you can eat a Sloane Burger or just enoy a cappuccino.
Address: 108 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi
Phone: (02)9130 1402

Sydney Bars and Nightlife

From old-fashioned pubs to cool cocktail lounges. In Sydney everyone can find a favourite from among the watering holes. But don’t order a “pint” at the pub, here a large draught beer is called a “schooner”. Jazz clubs, rock clubs and night clubs are to be found in nearly every quarter. But if you want to be certain of finding a really hot dance palace and disco you would be best advised to make for Kings Cross, Darlinghurst and the area along Oxford Street. This is Sydney’s traditional entertainment district, whilst Taylor Square is the heart of gay Sydney.

Moog Wine Food
The patio mix with tapas, expensive cocktails and bottled wine draws people who like to be seen.
Address: 413 Bourke Street, Surry Hills
Phone: (02)8353 8201

Bayswater Brasserie
The cocktail bar at “The Bayz” retains its popularity after years as one of the best and most congenial watering holes in Kings Cross.
Address: 32 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross
Phone: (02)9357-2177

The Hero Of Waterloo
On one of the city’s oldest streets lies one of its oldest pubs, built in 1843 by deported convicts. Rustic with open fire, pub food, music and plenty of people.
Address: 81 Lwr Fort St, Millers Point, The Rocks
Phone: +61 (02)9252-4553

Oaks
A good-sized beer garden which is just made for a warm Sydney evening and a number of Foster´s, VB’s XXX´s.
Address: 118 Military Road, Neutral Bay
Phone: (02)9953 5515

Home
One of Sydney’s hottest and largest night spots. Three floors, several bars, terraces, huge dance floor, extreme hi-fi system and DJs. Fri -Sat. 23-06
Address: Tenancy 101, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Park
Phone: (02)9266 0600

The Basement
Jazz institution at Circular Quay which also tolerates music from around the world. All you have to do is swing along.
Address: 29 Reiby Place, Circular Quay
Phone: (02)9251 2797

The Oxford Hotel
A landmark in Darlinghurst with three bars, two of which are open night and day, all week long. Noisy and for ravers. Gilligans is “the Official Mardi Gras Film Festival Lounge”.
Address: 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: (02)9181-1229

Sydney Shopping

Sydney offers fantastic shopping opportunities. It doesn’t matter what you are looking for, you will find it here. Most shops are open between 9am and 5:30pm on weekdays but on Tuesdays you can do evening shopping until 9pm.

Oxford Street
One of the best shopping districts can be found along Oxford Street through Darlinghurst, Paddington and Woollahra. Designer shops, galleries, tattoo parlours, booksellers, furniture shops wall to wall - and an abundance of cafés to boot. On the clothes racks you will find Japanese and Belgian sizes as well as Australian brands like Gary Castles and Nine West. Collette Dinnigan’s store is at 33 William Street, and a couple of doors further along, at number 39, there is Belinda Serper’s super-coola shoes and bags. Buses 378, 380, 382 to Paddington Town Hall.

Pitt Street Mall and George Street
Pitt Street Mall right in the centre of the city - at Sydney Tower - leads to several large shopping centres, such as The Strand, Centrepoint, Mid-City Centre, Sky Garden and Sydney Central Plaza with the city’s largest food court. More shops than you can manage in a week. One passage leads to Queen Victoria Building, an elegant shopping and restaurant mall in a palatial one-time vegetable market dating from 1893 which now houses designer clothes and quality souvenirs. Galeries Victoria, 500 George Street, is one of the newer shopping temples.

Myer & David Jones
Shopping malls and small stores are the mainstay of Sydney’s shopping scene, but these two large department stores are holding their own.
Address: Myer at 436 George Street David Jones, 86-108 Castlereagh Street
Phone: (02)9238 9111 (02)9266 5544
Internet: www.myers.com.au www.davidjones.com

Boomalli Aboriginal Artists
The shapes and the colours from aboriginal art are used in every coneceivable context as décor and on souvenirs, and original works are sold in many galleries and shops. Boomalli is run by an aboriginal co-operative and sells paintings and books.
Address: 55 -59 Flood St, Leichhardt
Phone: (02) 9560 2541,
Internet: www.boomalli.org.au

Flea Market
Paddington Bazaar on Saturdays is the most popular flea market with an unrivalled collection of quality, bric-a-brac and pure junk. Address: 395 Oxford Street, Paddington. At Bondi Sunday Market local designers and craftsmen sell their own work alongside other more or less valuable antiques and second hand items. Sundays till 1700 h during the summer season. Bondi Beach Public School, Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach.

Sydney Hotels

Luxury Sydney Hotels

Quay Grand Suites Hotel
The waterfront Quay Grand Suites in Sydney, Australia is positioned near the Sydney Opera House and is adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Set on the eastern shore of the Circular Quay, the hotel also offers scenic views of the city’s skyline and Sydney Harbour. In addition to the Opera House, the hotel is central to other cultural sites such as the Museum of Sydney, within walking distance, and the Museum of Contemporary Art less than one-half kilometer from the hotel. The hotel is close to the historic Rocks area and places to shop and eat. Darling Harbour, a short cab ride south, features museums, cinemas, and the Sydney Zoo and Aquarium.
Address: 61 Macquarie St, East Circular Quay, Sydney 2000

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Shangri-La Hotel
All you could want and a bit more too - here the idea of a “room with a view” takes on new meaning. 563 rooms, bars, restaurants, fitness gym etc, right in the historic heart of Sydney. Rooms are available from $280, but if you want the magic view it will cost more.
Address: 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks

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Good Value Sydney Hotels

Central Regent Hotel Sydney
Central Regent Hotel is a bold departure from the staid cookie-cutter hotel products of the modern day. With its distinctive ‘Marrakech Red’ facade and panoramic windows, the hotel is a stand-out amongst its peers. Owing to an extensive refurbishment during which the building was completely re-fitted and refurbished, the hotel now comprises some 50 brand new guest rooms each with its own unique charm.
Address: 28 Regent St, Sydney 2000

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Hyde Park Inn Sydney
Apartment-style hotel occupying 3rd to 15th floors in office building near city center, overlooking the harbour & Hyde Park.
Address: 271 Elizabeth St, Sydney 2000

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Cheap Sydney Hotels

Sullivans Hotel Sydney
Excellent location in Paddington, on one of Sydney’s best shopping and entertainment streets. Three-star, congenial, clean rooms, bicycle included in the price for exploring Paddington’s meandering side streets.
Address: 21 Oxford Street, Paddington, Sydney

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