The inner harbour of Sydney is linked with walking paths allowing a great outdoor exercise route as well as a path to view Sydney harbour at its best.

There are two well-known tracks that will take your breath away while you stroll along some of Sydney best secluded areas and harbour locations.

Walk #1: Spit to Manly Scenic Walkway
This is the most popular walk along the shores in Sydney, and is arguably the most stunning in scenery and heritage sites.

Take a bus to Spit bridge and the path starts at the northern end of the bridge heading east to Fisher Bay. Follow the path and it’ll take you along through Clontarf beach, Castle Rock, Grotto Point Lighthouse where a small slab of Aboriginal site where rock paintings can still be seen. The next stretch of the path goes through a bush area and eventually heading into Dobroyd point where Manly will come into sight, where you’ll eventually end up.

The entire walk will take 3.5 hours to complete. For the time conscious, many people start from Manly and walk back through Fairlight beach towards Dobroyd point, where they’ll take a rest before turning around back to Manly. Either way, it is a pleasant and beautiful walk.

Walk #2: Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
The second most popular walk and is the site of the annual Sculpture By The Sea exhibition. Easy cliff tops walk starting from the southern end of Bondi beach along through the Bondi Baths & Icebergs Club onto Mackenzies Point.

You can stop briefly for a coffee or a swim at the small and cosy Tamarama beach, before continuing onto Bronte Beach. From here, it is a quick stroll through the historical Waverley Cemetery, before stepping down to the family friendly Clovelly beach as well as snorkelling and scuba diving heaven of Gordons Bay. Not far to go from here and Coogee will come into sight.

This walk takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. Remember to rub on some sun screen and put on a cap as there is little shade along the cliff tops.

For more walking options refer to Sydney’s Best Harbour & Coastal Walks by the Sydney Morning Herald, available at all major book stores.

If you only have one day to spend in Sydney, this is a suggestion allowing you to see an overview of the city before you must depart.

Start at The Rocks for a morning breakfast and enjoy the morning sun sparkling off the waters surrounding the harbour bridge and the opera house. Stroll back to Circular Quay mid-morning to catch a ferry across to Manly. This is a cheap way to see the harbour without having to pay for a cruise. You’ll pass both the harbour bridge and the Opera House, some of the most sought after waterfront housing along the way and Taronga Zoo. The trip will take you half an hour so you can relax and take in the scenery.

Arriving at Manly Wharf, make your way across The Corso to the main beach. Grab some fish and chips for lunch on the way and spend sometime at the beach.

Shortly after lunch, get your return ferry back to Circular Quay. Walk to the opera house to admire the magnificent architecture on your way into the Botanic Gardens. The gardens have a path which will lead you onto Elizabeth St near the Conservatorium. Follow Elizabeth St westwards (away from the harbour) where you will pass the State Library, Sydney hospital, The Domain and St Mary’s Cathedral. Turn right and cross Hyde Park and head towards Sydney Tower.

At the Sydney Tower, buy a ticket for the observation desk and lift yourself up to the best view in Sydney.

After your tour of the tower, get back onto Market St and walk towards George St (away from Hyde Park). You’ll pass the Queen Victoria Building where you can stop to window shop a little, or continue to Darling Harbour. Here you can choose to pay a visit to the aquarium or simply stroll around the Harbour westwards. Following the footpath beyond IMAX theatre will take you to the bustling Chinatown where you can grab some cheap eats for dinner.

Some of Sydney’s best shopping does not reside in large shopping malls and designer labelled stores. Sydney owes a lot of its excitment and unique purchases to community markets and here is just a selection to start you off with the search for the best souvenir to take hom.

Glebe Markets
www.glebemarkets.com.au
A favourite with the locals, Glebe markets only run on Saturdays and is always crowded with day trippers looking for a bargain or something original. It is a great market for the atmosphere and some excellent alternative fashion and jewellery selections.
Open: Saturdays 10am – 4pm

Paddy’s Market
www.paddysmarkets.com.au
A popular market for cheap tourist souvenirs and imitation fashion items. The good thing about Paddy’s is that it has everything under the one roof, but it can get extremely crowded and the market lacks character.
Opens Thur-Sundays

The Rocks Markets
www.therocksmarket.com.au
The Rocks markets run every Saturday and Sunday and have some great Australian crafts and produce for sale. This is where you can find some unique souvenir to take home or try out some great locally made fudge and jams. You can also sit by the courtyard and listen on to some great live performances or stroll the small lane ways of The Rocks and get lost in this charming harbour side area of Sydney.
Open every Saturday and Sunday

Bondi Markets
www.bondimarkets.com.au
The markets are held in a beachside grounds of Bondi Beach Primary School. A community market selling fashion to jewellery to second hand books, this is a good market to combine with a great day out at Sydney’s most famous beach.
Open every Sunday.

Balmain Markets
www.balmainmarket.com.au
From art, coffee and tea, take away foods, fashion, children’s wears, home wares, organic fruit and veg and Italian bread, Balmain markets is a pleasant weekend market with a lively local atmosphere and is a great day out. Unfortunately the grounds can get a little crowded from the small space it has.
Open Saturdays 8am – 4pm.

Paddington Market
www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au
One of Sydney’s oldest markets with a quirky atmosphere, Paddington market is great for arts, crafts and designs. Stall holders are designer and artists themselves and often you’ll be able to find that unique piece of art piece from an emerging and talented artist for a fraction of the price at the major galleries.
Open Saturdays 10am – 4pm

Sydney Opera House market
www.blueskymarkets.com.au
Part of a new group of markets opening in Sydney, the Sydney Opera House Markets have the prime location on the harbour side and sells premium Australian photography, jewellery and art directly from their makers. The prices can get a little expensive here but is a great place to shop if you are thinking about some better quality souvenirs to take home.
Open Sundays 10am – 5pm

Sydney is following onto the world stage of fashion and boutique shopping. Throughout the city local and international designer retailers offer seasonal fashion ranges that will satisfy those style conscious visitors.

Pick up a Sydney Shopping - The Official Guide from the City Host information booths for comprehensive retail suggestions for your favourite brands.

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Tourist Tax Refund Scheme
International visitors with an outgoing flight ticket can claim back the tax paid on any purchases totally over AU$300 from the same store. To be eligible:
• You must be travelling internationally from Australia.
• The purchase must have been made no more than 30 days before departure.
• Ensure the retailer provide you with a tax invoice recipe containing their ABN (Australian Business Number) printed and the total purchase price and date of issue.
• Ensure you have a valid boarding pass and passport and present to the customs officer on the day of your travel at the airport.
• Keep your purchases as hand held luggage as you may be asked to show them to the custom officers.

This does not include items already purchased tax-free. Claims can be made via electronic deposit or by cheque.

Further information can be obtained from the Australian Customs on 1300 363 263.
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Sydney is just as lively at night as it is during the day, and there are plenty to keep its guests busy and entertained. With theatre and concerts as well as great nightlife spots such as bars and night clubs, there is something for everyone.

Theatres / Concerts / Bands
For concert goers Sydney has plenty to offer. With Sydney Symphony, the Australian Opera, Sydney Dance Theatre and the Philharmonic Choir all calling Sydney home, there is always a great performance just around the corner.

Visit the Ticketek website to see what’s on in Sydney, from symphony concerts to bands to musicals and theatre plays. Purchase tickets online or at the door.
www.ticketek.com.auu

Various venues in Sydney have live entertainment at night. Try the Annandale Hotel (www.annandalehotel.com) as Sydney’s best venue for rock concerts. The Basement (www.thebasement.com.au) is Sydney’s top Jazz institution where all you have to do is swing to the music.

The Sydney Gig Guide (www.yourgigs.com.au/sydney) is a great website with concert information in and around the city and a place to enter competitions to win some cool music stuff.

The Nightlife
There are plenty of partying and drinking going on in this city and you needn’t travel far to have a good time. Most of the late night clubs and bars are located in Kings Cross and on Oxford St while the inner city bars are more for the sophisticated drinkers with lots of money to spend.

There are also plenty of waterfront drinking venues in Darling Harbour and in The Rocks. All you have to do is ask a local and they’ll point you to the right way.

Remember a standard glass of beer is called a ‘schooner’ and you don’t have to tip the bar tenders.

Tips for cheap drinking
You don’t need to venture into the heart of the city to have a good time. Just head to the local pub nearest to your accommodation and mingle with the locals. Local pubs are down to earth and friendly and are not harsh on your pockets!

Home
www.homesydney.com
It is Sydney’s most popular and largest night club, Home has three floors, lots of bars and a big dance floor employing expensive DJs to mix it up; plays mostly trance music.
Opens Friday and Saturdays from 11pm to 6am. Admission fees apply.

Cargo Bar and Lounge
www.cargobar.com.au
At the start of King St wharf is the popular Cargo bar. Not so much a dance place though but offer a great drinking atmosphere and social space. Serving variety of craft beer and pizza, it’s a great place to get a quick bite to eat before a big night out.
Open 7 days.

Opera Bar
www.operabar.com.au
Excellent outdoor location right at the foot of the Opera House the bar directly faces the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. Live music nightly from 8:30pm on weekdays and 2pm on weekends, it’s said to be the best beer garden in the world!
Open 7 days.

The Lord Nelson
www.lordnelsonbrewery.com
A visit to the Lord Nelson is like visiting history. Opened in 1841 this is Sydney’s oldest pub/hotel with characters to match and serves its home brewed beers. The top of the pub serves as accommodation if you are looking for alternative bed options.

Kuleto’s
www.kuletos.com.au
This inner west cocktail bar is famous for its happy hour. Two drinks for the price of one no wonder it’s almost impossible to find a vacant seat. A funky and down to earth environment in the heart of Newtown, this is a good place to start before heading onto to dinner or some harder drinking in the city.

The Arthouse Hotel
www.thearthousehotel.com.au
A blend of restaurant, bar, live performances, art gallery with live drawing sessions makes this place something special. There is something different each night and you are sure to be entertained no matter what happens.
Opens Mon-Sat. Free admission.

When the weather is warm and beautiful during the spring/summer months there is nothing better than spending a day outdoors in this beautiful harbour city.

Hit the beach or pack a picnic and head to the nearest parkland or many of Sydney’s great walks.

If the beach is not your idea of a good day out, perhaps one of the below suggestions could help:

Diving and Snorkelling
Sydney’s temperate waters is home to many colourful and interesting marine life. Diving off the outer harbour is a great day trip and can be arranged through www.prodive.com.au or www.deep6diving.com.au

The best shore access snorkelling in Sydney are at Fairlight Beach, Shelly Beach in Manly and Clovelly Beach and Gordons Bay. These beaches have lesser waves and are within the marine reserves which means you get to meet the resident blue gropers and if you are lucky, a leafy sea dragon.

Cruise Sydney Harbour
If you have the time to take it slow perhaps a lunch or a coffee cruise to soak in the beautiful views from the heart of the harbour is just the perfect day out. Captain Cook Cruises and Matilda Cruises all offer range of different packages to suit different budgets and needs.
www.captaincook.com.au
www.matilda.com.au

Sydney Walks
Walking is the best way to see a city in full light and it is absolutely free. There are plenty of harbour-side walks available and you’ll often find a nice bush trail and a secluded beach on the way.

The most well known routes are the Spit to Manly walk and the Bondi to Coogee walk. Further information and other walks can be found on: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/harbour/walking.asp

Visit the Zoo
Sydney’s Taronga Zoo is a beautiful zoo located along some of Sydney’s most prestige real estates. Not only does the zoo over look the Sydney harbour, the zoo ground follows the trails of many exotic animals around the world in a pleasant environment.

The best part is getting to the zoo with the ferry from Circular Quay, a cheap way to have a cruising experience if you feel the charter cruises are a little bit too expensive.
www.zoo.nsw.gov.au

Whale Watch
Sydney’s whale season starts annually from June to November. Whale watch cruises will take you to the outer harbour to get up close and personal with these graceful animals.
www.sydneywhalewatching.com

Sydney Harbour BridgeThere is no visit to Sydney without experiencing the harbour bridge. The Harbour Bridge Climb is a must do however if you do not have the cash to pay for the tour, you can get pedestrian access to the bridge from The Rocks and walk over along the driving lanes and still have a great view of the harbour from that level.

Sydney Wildlife World /
Sydney Aquarium
www.sydneyaquarium.com.au
www.sydneywildlifeworld.com.au
Two of Sydney’s inner city attractions the Sydney Wildlife World and the Sydney Aquarium are popular among the children as well as animal loving visitors to visit their favourite Australian animals and marine life at the beautiful Darling Harbour.
Open 7 days.
Admission: $29.50/$15.
Joint Wildlife and Aquarium entries: $48.50/$26.50.
Tickets available online for 10% off the door price.

Art Gallery of NSW
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9225 1744
Large collection of art from many eras and cultures; the gallery often hold free film events as well as the prestige annual Archibald Prize exhibition.
Open 7 days. (except Christmas Day & Good Friday)
General admission free, with exceptions to special exhibitions.

Sydney Olympic Park
www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au
Tel: 02 9714 7888
It’s a little bit out of the way but is worth a visit. This is the ground where Sydney held its year 2000 Olympics and today is still used for most of the major sporting events as well as the annual Royal Sydney Easter Show.
Look out for the free outdoor movie sessions during the months of January as part of Sydney Festival for a great night out.
Open 7 days.
Admission to the grounds are free. Stadium tours $27.50/$15 per person. Bike hires available for exploring the grounds from $12 an hour.
Visit the transport information on how to get there by public transport.

Cultural Heritage and History

The Rocks is the oldest European settlement of Sydney that deserves some visitor attention. One of Sydney’s oldest pubs still operates and many a good ghost stories float around from time to time. It also has some of Sydney’s best kept dining places as well as great shopping. The Rocks market operates every weekend filled with local arts and crafts as well as some great souvenirs to take home.

Cadman’s Cottage
www.npws.nsw.gov.au
Tel: 02 9247 5033
Built in 1816 this is Sydney’s oldest house.
Open 7 days.
Free admission.

Gannon House
www.gannonhousegallery.com
Tel: 02 9251 4474
Original aboriginal art works and artefacts are on display and available for purchase here.
Open 7 days.
Free admission.

Museum of Contemporary Art
www.mca.com.au
Tel: 02 9245 2400
Since 1991 this gallery has exhibited some of the alternative art forms by local and international artists.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Original & Authentic Aboriginal Art
www.authaboriginalart.com.au
Tel: 02 9251 4222
Specialises in works from four aboriginal regions with information on each of the artists.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Rocks Discovery Museum
www.rocksdiscoverymuseum.com
Tel: 1800 067 676
Great museum to visit for a good understanding of The Rocks areas in four chronological timeline displays.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Sydney Observatory
www.sydneyobservatory.com.au
Tel: 02 9217 0485
Part science, part history, the Sydney Observatory has Australia’s oldest working telescope and tells aboriginal sky stories. Book for a night viewing and be awed by the beautiful southern skies.
Open 7 days.
Admission free. Viewings charge extra.

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Many other areas also contain their own part of Sydney’s heritage and history. Many, as expected, have close links to the times of the European settlement here in Australia.

Australian Museum
www.amonline.net.au
Tel: 02 9320 6000
A historical museum featuring wildlife, aboriginal stories as well as Australia’s modern day culture and heritage.
Open 7 days.
Admission $10/$5

Hyde Park Barracks Museum
www.hht.net.au
Tel: 02 8239 2311
Originally a convict quarter turned into government courts, this museum gives insight into an everyday convict life.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Fort Denison
Tel: 02 9247 5033
A fort that was never really used for its purposes, Fort Denison sits right in the centre of the inner harbour with many myths surrounding its being. Joining a tour is required to visit the fort by ferry and tours can be booked through Matilda Cruises. For tour pricing please visit website:
www.matilda.com.au.

Chinese Garden of Friendship
www.chinesegarden.com.au
Tel: 02 9281 6863
This quaint little garden was a gift from Sydney’s sister Chinese city of Guangzhuo in 1988 and forms an unusual part of Sydney’s heritage.
Open 7 days.
Admission: $6/$3

Camperdown Cemetery
187 Church St, Newtown
Tel: 02 9557 2043
Those interested in some early famous Australians such as Eliza Donnithorne (whom was an inspiration behind Miss Havisham in Charle’s Dickens’ Great Expectations) would be interested in visiting this cemetery. Self-guided tours available.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Elizabeth Bay House
www.hht.net.au
Tel: 02 9356 3022
An elegant mansion that belonged to Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay, the house has some great 19th century architectural merits.
Open Tue-Sat.
Admission $8/$4

Victoria Barracks
www.awm.gov.au
Tel: 02 9339 3170
A showcase of the peak of the British Empire, the barracks compose of a set of Georgian buildings that were the finest in the colonies.
Free tours available 10am on Thursdays.
Museum open 10am-4pm on Thur & Sun, admission $2/$1.

Sydney Jewish Museum
www.sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au
Tel: 02 9360 7999
An exhibition of the Australian Jewish culture, tradition and history since the First Fleet.
Open Sun-Thu Closed on Jewish holidays..
Admission $10/$7

Bondi Pavilion
Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi
Tel: 02 8362 3400
Bondi has always been the top tourist destination in Sydney and the Pavilion was built for that exact purpose in 1929.
Open 7 days.
Admission free.

Manly Quarantine Station
www.q-station.com.au
Tel: 1300 886 875
Originally built to receive ships containing small pox patients between 1832 to 1984. Many ghost stories still evolve around this station and is now an important part of Sydney heritage.
Open 7 days, bookings essential.
Tours from $25/$19.

North Fort
www.northfort.org.au
Tel: 02 9976 6102
Besides having one of the best ocean views, there is the Royal Australian Artillery National Museum at North Fort with tunnels, guns and all that is military.
Open Wed, Sat & Sun.
Admission $11/$8

Jan
Sydney Festival
www.sydneyfestival.org.au

Big Day Out
www.bigdayout.com

Chinese New Year Festival

Flickerfest
www.flickerfest.com.au

Feb
Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
www.mardigras.org.au

Tropfest
www.tropfest.com.au

May - Jun
Australian Fashion Week
www.afw.com.au

Sydney Writers Festival
www.swf.org.au

Darling Harbour International Jazz Festival
www.darlingharbour.com

Sydney Film Festival
www.sydneyfilmfestival.org

Sydney Italian Festival
www.sydneyitalianfestival.com.au

Oct -Nov
Sculpture by the Sea
www.sculpturebythesea.com

Dec
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve
cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cny

Local Services

Emergency
In the event of emergency, including fire, accidents and crime, dial the national emergency line 000.

Medical Services

Medical centres:

Medical centres are the best and fastest place for any everyday illness and medical conditions. Most do not require appointments however do call in advance to check their opening hours.

Sydney Medical Centre
Pavilion Plaza
Shop M1, Mezzanine Level
580 George St
Sydney NSW
(02) 9261 9200

George St Medical Centre
Level 1 / 308 George St
Sydney NSW
(02) 9231 3211

Broadway Healthcare
Broadway Shopping Centre
Level 1 / 1 Bay St
Broadway NSW
(02) 9281 5085
www.broadwayhealthcare.com.au

Travel doctors and clinics:

Travel Vaccines International Travel Vaccination Centre
Suite 1002, 37 Bligh St
Sydney NSW
1300 557 070

Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre
Level 7, 428 George St
Sydney NSW
(02) 9221 7133

Travel Clinics Australia
Level 2 / 2 Martin Place
Sydney NSW
(02) 8222 5900

Hospitals:

Prince Alfred Hospital
Missenden Road
Camperdown NSW
(02)9515 6111
www.cs.nsw.gov.au/rpa

St Vincent Hospital
390 Victoria St
Darlinghurst NSW
(02) 8382 1111
wwwsvh.stvincents.com.au

Police

To find the closest police station to your location, visit the NSW Police website at www.police.nsw.gov.au.

However, for emergency accidents and crime reports, it is recommended to contact the local emergency number 000.

Tourism Information

The official Sydney Visitor Centres are located at:

Sydney International Airport(Arrivals)
Darling Harbour
33 Wheat Road
(behind Imax cinema)

The Rocks
Cnr Argyle and Playfair Sts

The visitor centre is online at www.sydneyvisitorcentre.com or call 1800 067 676.

You can find City Host Tourist Information booths at Circular Quay, Town Hall and Martin Place that will provide you with directions and suggestions for your stay.

Free Guide Book/Map

A free guide to Sydney is available at the arrivals hall of the international airport. Make sure to grab your copy on your way out for attraction guides, a complimentary map of Sydney as well as discount vouchers to use during your stay in Sydney.

Free tourist magazine This Week in Sydney is available from the City Host booths and contains practical information on the dining and entertainment options around Sydney, as well as a basic map for directions.

An online version of the magazine is available at: www.thisweekinsydney.com

Tourism NSW also provide a free guide to Sydney, available for download at www.visitnsw.com/sydney.aspx

Local information
Various free publications such as MX newspaper and DrumMedia, are available on the streets and at the doors of pubs and hostels with concert and gig listing around Sydney. These are excellent source of information on local entertainment.

Places of worship
Sydney’s multicultural lifestyle means there is a place of worship for most major world religions. Services are held regularly and many welcome visitors to attend.

St Mary’s Cathedral
(02) 9220 0400
www.stmaryscathedral.org.au

Hindu Council of Australia
(02) 8250 4007
www.hinducouncil.com.au

Telecommunications
Pay Phones
Telstra public pay phones are widely available and cost AUD50cents to initiate the call. Calls to local landlines are at 50cents flat rate while to mobile phones and interstate numbers are charged at 30 second intervals. Phone cards can be purchased from convenience stores to avoid the hassle of finding lose change.

Pre-Paid Mobile Phones
For travellers staying a little longer in Sydney or Australia in general, and have a personal mobile phone, pre-paid SIM cards can be purchased from convenience stores or telecommunication stores. Optus and Vodafone offer the most competitive rates while Telstra has better coverage outside city areas.

1800 Reverse
If you are staying with a friend of relative and have no change of coins or a mobile to call when you need to, the 1800 Reverse (1800 738 3773) service will connect you with their number and charge the call to them. It is an etiquette to limit the use of this service for emergency situations only.

Internet Access
Internet cafes are aplenty in the city and are generally available in hostels and hotels for a fee. Commercial internet cafes are often crowded with online gamers and charge between AUD$2 – AUD$5 an hour.

Recently the brand ‘Everywhere Internet’ has boomed across Sydney having internet kiosks located in major shopping malls. If there is one convenient to your location it may be worthwhile having a credit with them, as the credits can be used at any of their branches, including the one at the airport.

Central Internet Café
Shop 1 / 230 Elizabeth Street
Surry Hills NSW
(02) 9281 9988

Digi.Kaf
(02) 9660 3509
www.digikaf.com.au