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Sydney Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Sydney
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Sydney Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Sydney - Sunny, seductive Sydney is a high contender for
the title of the world's most ideal city. It is slick and smart,
the streets are clean, the neighbourhoods and busy pedestrian
precincts pristine, the parks sublime, the water in the huge
harbour blue, and the landmark buildings breath-taking. Sydney's
population is approaching five million, but it is easy to leave the
frenetic urban pace behind with just a simple ferry ride to the
North Shore for a bush walk, enjoy a stroll along the harbour
beaches or take any one of a number of daytrips to explore the
'real' Australia on the city's doorstep.
Just
like its characteristic white-sailed Opera House, Sydney seems to
cruise effortlessly through nights and days filled with myriad
entertainment opportunities, sophisticated shopping, memorable
museums, and strings of beautiful beaches. Visitors find it
exhausting to take it all in, even though the tourist precinct
where most of the interesting attractions are to be found is
concentrated in quite a small area around the down-town waterfront
and harbour area. The fact that Sydney is a
thriving seaport and industrial city has been cleverly concealed
behind attractive pleasure and leisure grounds and residential
suburbs, making full use of the scenic, watery geographical
location. The harbour area is dominated by the span of one of the
world's largest arched bridges, backed by towering skyscrapers. It
is all a far cry from the remote penal colony established by the
British back in 1788. Another plus for visitors
is that compared to most big cities Sydney offers excellent,
reasonably priced food, accommodation and public transport. The
city has an excellent suburban rail network, with its hub at
Circular Quay in the city centre, and full use is made of the
waterways with ferries and passenger jet boats plying to and from
various points.
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Sydney
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Harbour Bridge
BridgeClimb starts at 5 Cumberland Street, The Rocks.
Entry to the Pylon Lookout is from the pedestrian walkway on the
Eastern side of the Bridge from the city; use the ?Bridge Stairs'
in Cumberland Street
www.bridgeclimb.com |
What is it? One of Sydney's most famous landmarks, the
Harbour Bridge (known locally as the 'Coat Hanger') was completed
in 1932 after claiming 16 lives during its construction. The bridge
spans the 1,600ft (500m) gap from the north to the south shore,
which was previously only accessible by ferry, and accommodates
pedestrian walkways, two railway lines and an eight-lane road.
Visitors can experience the bridge in an adventurous way by
climbing to the top as part of an organised group for breathtaking
views and a feeling of personal achievement. For the less daring
200 steps lead to the Pylon Lookout for equally fantastic views at
285ft (87m) above the water, with three levels of exhibits on the
way up depicting the history and construction of the
bridge.
Hours of Operation: Pylon Lookout: daily 10am to 5pm. BridgeClimb
operates daily at 10-minute intervals from early morning to
evening
Phone:BridgeClimb: (0)2 8274 7777; Pylon Lookout: (0)2 9240
1100 |
2. The Rocks
www.therocks.com |
What is it? The best place to start exploring Australia's
oldest city is at The Rocks, a restored 19th-century village at the
southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was the site of
Australia's first European settlement in 1788, and is therefore
considered to be the birthplace of the nation of Australia. The
area features cobbled streets and squares, gas lamps, craft shops
and small restaurants. Here too are several historic buildings,
including one of the city's oldest, Cadman's Cottage, built in
1816, and two of Sydney's oldest pubs, the Lord Nelson and the Hero
of Waterloo. It is recommended that visitors seek information and a
map from The Rocks Visitor's Centre (in George Street) in order to
make the most of the neighbourhood and its many attractions, which
include museums, view sites, markets, monuments and buildings. From
The Rocks it is also possible to access the Pylon Lookout on the
famous Sydney Harbour Bridge for an amazing view of the harbour and
beyond.
Hours of Operation: Office Hours: 8am - 6pm (Monday to
Friday)
Phone:(0)2 9240 8500 |
3. Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney Harbour
www.sydneyoperahouse.com |
What is it? It may not be an ancient monument, but the
architecturally distinctive Sydney Opera House epitomises the city
as much as does the Great Pyramid in Cairo or the Acropolis in
Athens. Situated on Sydney harbour at Bennelong Point, this
intriguing white-sailed landmark is no white elephant. It is a
fully functional performing arts centre in constant use. The
complex consists of a massive Concert Hall that seats more than
2,500 people and has the finest acoustics in the world; a smaller
Opera Theatre, also used for ballet performances; a Drama Theatre,
seating about 500 people; the smaller Playhouse; and the Boardwalk
dance and music venue. The building, designed by Joørn Utzon, was
completed in 1973 and cost over $100 million, most of which was
raised with a series of national lotteries. There was so much
controversy involved in its construction that the Danish architect
returned home without ever seeing his finished product. Free
performances of various types are given outside on the boardwalks
around the Opera House on Sunday
afternoons.
Hours of Operation: Guided tours daily 9am to 5pm (one hour); Box office
for tickets to performances open Monday to Saturday 9am to 8.30pm,
on Sundays two hours before the scheduled performance
time
Phone:(02) 9250 7111 (general information) |
Sydney
holidays - Top Events
1. Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
From 2007-03-03
To 2007-03-03
|
What is it? What began in 1979 as a protest march has
become a huge colourful annual event to display Sydney's tolerant
spirit. The city's gay and lesbian community, joined by thousands
of visitors from around the world, holds a three-week festival each
February culminating in a massive parade of sumptuous floats,
reputedly the biggest outdoor night time parade in the world. The
traditional parade route runs from Hyde Park, through Liverpool
Street, Oxford Street, across Anzac Parade and on to Moore Park
where it ends in an all night party at Fox Studios. Other events in
the weeks leading up to the parade include a film festival,
concerts, picnics, art exhibitions and sports
events.
Where is it? |
2. Sydney Festival
From 2007-01-06
To 2007-01-26
|
What is it? This huge extravaganza is one of the largest
and most prestigious cultural events in Australia, presenting the
finest international artists and most acclaimed local talent in the
performing and visual arts. Every summer the city's concert venues,
theatres, galleries, streets and various outdoor venues are taken
over by the creative arts, featuring a wide range of music, dance
and drama, exhibitions, circuses and free outdoor entertainment in
a celebration of artistic innovation unmatched anywhere else in the
country. A free outdoor programme, including the enormously popular
symphony and jazz concerts in the Domain, complements the ticketed
events, and takes place in venues such as the Rocks, Darling
Harbour and in front of the Sydney Opera
House.
Where is it? CBD |
3. New Year's Eve Fireworks Spectacular
From 2006-12-31
To 2007-01-01
|
What is it? The splendid setting of Sydney Harbour
becomes the stage for one of the most fabulous and largest annual
fireworks displays in the world, watched by millions of people
around the globe. The 9pm display offers an opportunity for
families with young children to enjoy the celebrations. The
midnight spectacular covers a four-mile (7km) stretch of the
harbour and the fireworks are fired from barges on either side of
the Harbour Bridge and from the bridge itself. Other activities
take place throughout the evening including the traditional Tall
Ships Parade decorated with lighting effects, and various carnival
attractions.
Where is it? Sydney Harbour |
4. Carols in the Domain
From 2006-12-16
To 2006-12-16
|
What is it? Woolworths' Carols in the Domain is
Australia's largest and most loved Christmas celebration. Every
year family and friends come together at this spectacular event to
celebrate the magic and joy of Christmas. The Domain, in the heart
of Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens becomes a hive of activity as
people from all over Australia join in and sing along to their
favourite Christmas Carols. As the sun sets the Domain is
transformed into a sea of flickering candlelight as Australia's
best talent takes to the stage in this Christmas spectacular.
Woolworths' Carols in the Domain showcases the very best of the
Australian entertainment industry, from theatre, opera, and
recording artists, to our most loved television
personalities.
Where is it? The Domain, Sydney Botanical Gardens |
5. Australia Day Celebrations
From 2007-01-26
To 2007-01-26
|
What is it? Australia's National Day commemorates the
arrival of the First Fleet and is a celebration of all that is
Australian. It is the biggest day celebration in the country and
includes a wide variety of water and land based activities and
shows. Favourite annual events include the Ferrython, Tall Ships
Race, Australia Day Parade and the traditional Regatta. Various
venues throughout the city stage formal ceremonies, food and wine
fairs, Australian musical performances and street entertainment,
and the day culminates at Darling Harbour with a dazzling fireworks
display set to music.
Where is it? Various |
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