Sydney
When you think of Australia you will probably picture the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, and Bondi beach among others. These things reside in the beautiful city of Sydney
The Eora tribe once occupied the land which is now known as Sydney and is now home to many people of different ethnicity including Chinese, Middle Eastern and Anglo- Mediterranean. Sydney can be divided into two distictive parts, north and south of the bridge. North Sydney has its own CBD, which amazingly is the third largest CBD in Australia after Sydney central and Melbourne. However, most places of interest can be found in the city centre on the south side of the bridge. You have Circular Quay where you will see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, as well as the Rocks. To the west is Darling Harbour. Down Pitt Street or George Street from Circular Quay is the city centre as far as Central station. To the east are the Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park. The main suburbs would be Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Bondi and Coogee. The airport is to the south in Mascot.
Sydney is quite safe but don't take risks. Don't walk alone at night, don't get drunk on your own, don't flaunt your money. Kings Cross is great fun but be aware when on a night out here. It is awash with drugs, prostitution, and some very dodgy people. Stay away from Redfern on Australia day, there have been riots there in the past and problems with the many native Australians who live there. The suburbs in western Sydney have many social problems and high crime rates. In the unlikely event you are living out there, take care.
Things to see and do
Catch a cruise around the harbour for around $20 - $30. It is truly a beautiful harbour and getting out on the water is definitely the best way to see it. Cruises leave Cirqular Quay and darling harbour.
The 'coat hanger' connects central Sydney with North Sydney. The bridge, which was completed in 1932, has always been a favourite of the locals mainly because of the boost it gave to employment during the depression.
You can climb the bridge at Bridge Climb, 5 Cumberland Street, the Rocks. They will suit you up with jump suits, headphones, harness, handkerchieves and baseball caps. If at night you will have headlamps, anything you need really. In all it's a 1500 metre trek to the top. From the water to the road of the bridge is a massive 15 stories high. You will really feel the height from here as you will be walking under the road on steel walkways that you can see right through.And that's before you even climb the actual bridge. The views from the top are breathtaking, on a clear day, of which there is many in Sydney, you can see as far west as the Blue Mountains. The price is roughly midweek $169 and $189 on the weekends. Remember they will breathalyse you before you go up so go easy the night before.
If you're on a budget, you can climb inside the south-eastern pylon, up to the Pylon Lookout for under $10. There is also a museum housed there which details the incredible history of the bridge. Did you know an Irishman named Tom? Kelly was the only man to survive a fall from the bridge (although he did have to have his shoes surgically removed from his feet, which were up near his knees). He broke his fall by throwing his toolbelt into the water before he hit. Some people think he actually jumped for a bet to make more money during the depression. He was back to work in 17 days.
The Opera House is undoubtebly one of the most famous buildings in the world and for good reason. It's unmistakable, the fact you are in Sydney really hits you when you see it for the first time, although it's not as white as it looks on the postcards. It's a great place to hang out on the steps or in one of the cafes which are around that area.
Opera tickets can be quite expensive but there are restricted view tickets available for much cheaper but keep in mind that it is exactly what you will get, a restricted view. There are also tours available. They operate from 8.30am to 5pm daily and last an hour. Roughly $20.
Darling Harbour offers so much activities and is a great place to
while away a day. It's all here, shops, tacky fast food restaurants,
classy restaurants and top nightclubs. You've also got the Chinese
gardens, the Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Centre, National Maritime
Museum, Imax cinema, and Star City, which has a casino, theatres,
a volcano, a nightclub, hotel and retail outlets.
The Rocks are situated where the Harbour Bridge crosses to the north shore. It is the oldest settlement in Sydney and though it has been redeveloped, it has kept its historical feel
Once upon a time it was home to convicts, prostitutes, and fishermen,
but now its a delightful place to take stroll around. Pick up a
self-guided tour map from the Sydney visitors centre in the old
Sailors home at 106 George Street and have a wander around for yourself.
Have a look at Cadmans Cottage, the oldest house in Sydney (110
George Street), the Rocks Square (Playfair St), Rocks Centre, Rocks
Markets, through Argyle Cut to Millers Point and more. Enjoy a pint
in the Glenmore Hotel which has a rooftop beergarden overlooking
the Opera House.
You'll see all kinds of people in the Cross, from fellow backpackers to prostitutes, junkies, sailors and trendies. There's the expected strip joints and brothels mixed with upper class restauants and hotels. The Cross is a great place for backpackers to swap information, get work, and buy/sell a car. You have to check it out at least once.
Follow the Great Western Highway out of Sydney or get a train (2hrs) to Katoomba. You wll probably stay in Katoomba which is the main accommodation centre. The visitor centre is at Echo Point, which is about 2km from the train station. To the west of Echo Point are the scenic railway and scenic skyway.
If you're camping, Katoomba Falls Caravan Park is 2km south of the highway. There's also the Blue Mountains YHA if you fancy a hostel (207 Katoomba St). Also there's the Blue Mountains Backpackers (190 Bathurst St)
Things to do
There'a an amazing amount of activities to keep you busy in the Mountains. There's rock climbing, abseiling, caving and canyoning among others.
Australian Outdoor Consulting, The Australian School of Mountaineering, Blue Mountains Adventure Company, High and Wild are some of the adventure companies out there.
Bondi is undoubtebly Australias most famous beach. Is it the best? Probably not by a long shot, but it's still worth heading down if you're in Sydney. Bondi is big and very busy. It's a great place to go for a swim or a surf or just to sunbathe with all the beautiful people, you might even see some famous people. Campbell Rd is the ocean road and is jampacked with cafés, shops and hotels. It's a 5 minute bus ride from Bondi Junction on the 380 and 381 buses.
South of Bondi are Tamarama, Bronté, Clovelly, and Coogee beaches which are all worth a look. All these beaches are reachable by bus. Alternatively get a bus to Bondi and do the Bondi to Coogee walk, which is a must do in Sydney. The scenery is breathtaking and you can always stop at one of the above mentioned beaches if you get tired. It takes roughly 2 - 3 hours.
Walk around the edge of the Skytower on a moving glass floored viewing platform. Around $139 for dusk Skywalks and $109 for other times. You can just go up the tower for around $20. The views are very good.
Try a tandem skydive from 14,000ft from around $275.
If you find a cruise too tame, try a jetboat from either Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. See the harbour at 130km/hr. Price is roughly $55.
Get lessons at Manly, Bondi or Cronnulla or take a tour up to Byron Bay with a surf school such as Waves. It's a tour that takes up to 5 days and you will learn to surf at a succession of beaches up the coast. It costs around $550 for the 5 day but there are shorter tours.
Learn to dive in Sydney habour. It may sound dirty but you'll be amazed at the visibility and the myriad of marine life here.
Possibly the best setting and views of any zoo in the world, looking out over Sydney Harbour. Not to mention the 4000 animals, including all the native species. Get the ferry from Circular Quay, then ride the cable car to the top and make your way down. Put aside a whole day for this. Costs around $30.
Check out the beach or the aquarium (oceanworld). You can watch the divers feed the sharks or you can get in with them yourself. Around $245 for an intro dive, $180 if you're already certified.
Check out the purpose built white water river in Penrith. Originally built for the 2000 Olympics it's well worth a go. Around $70
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