If you want to get a feel for Sydney, here’s a tip: buy a BridgeClimb ticket. From 134 metres up you can look down on The Rocks, where the original European settlement was started. Its’ haphazard alleys and streets now house a variety of stylish shops, gourmet restaurants and trendy bars.
Now be brave and look out across that sparkling harbour where stately ferries, brash jet boats and busy water taxis share the water, past the gleaming Sydney Opera House, past the vast Botanic Gardens. Let your gaze sweep south to the CBD with its glass towers and enticing shops, then north, where leafy hillside suburbs like Mosman sit, smugly soaking up all that Aussie sun. Finally, look inland across countless suburbs, each a distinct ethnic village with its own culture, restaurants, shops and inhabitants.
With all this on offer in one great city, it’s little wonder they call this the Lucky Country.
Sydney Video Guides
 Sydney Fast Facts
• Sydney population: 3,637,500
• Summer temperatures from 20ºC to 26ºC
• Winter temperatures from 9ºC to 16ºC
• Voted one of ‘The World’s Best Cities’
• Sydney’s land size is nearly double that of New York’s
• Visited by more than 300,000 Kiwis each year
• Over 4.5 million people visit the Sydney Opera House each year
• Sydney is Australia’s oldest and largest city
• Sydney has the largest Gay and Lesbian culture in the world
• The Sydney Harbour Bridge weighs 52,800 tons |
Sydney Suburbs
Sydney definitely deserves the accolades as one of the world’s most desirable and glamorous cities, gifted with a spectacular harbour, stunning beaches and a perfect year-round climate. Spend time on or around the harbour before heading to The Rocks to explore the history and laneways lined with wine bars, cafés and restaurants. To discover Sydney’s free-spirit there is no better place to start than the Suburbs.
Paddington or ‘style mile’ as it is known will satisfy any shoppers appetite, include a stop at the Saturday market with plenty of creative gems to entice. Venture down the winding alleyways and you will find cute terrace houses complete with cast-iron lace detailing looking every bit as splendid as in their bygone days.
Near-by Surry Hills has a colourful past as the centre of the fashion and publishing trade, now it is one of Sydney’s most chic destinations, particularly for vintage fashion, home-wares and food trends. This is ‘THE’ place to dine as some of Sydney’s top chefs have opened their own restaurants here.
Balmain is a short ferry ride from the city offering a village atmosphere and a great pub culture. Sydney is home to the artistic set where locally made art is a specialty and historic streetscapes, art galleries and stylish cafés line the main streets.
Glebe is known for its alternative therapy outlets, bookshops and funky boutiques with something for everyone.
|  Sydney Highlights
• See for yourself Bondi Surf Rescue in action
• Sydney Fish Market, home to Austraia's leading cooking school featuring celebrity chefs
• Head to 'Ivy' in central Sydney with several restaurants including Sushi Choo - a Japanese dining train
• Thrills and free admission at Luna Park
• The Book Kitchen in Surry Hills is a yummy rest stop
• Dine among celebs in Woolloomooloo
• Sample the street culture in Martin Place, Darling Harbour or Circular Quay
• Pre-purchase a See Sydney and Beyond Card and make plans to discover Sydney at your leisure.
• On weekends, Paddington really comes alive with their famous Paddington Markets held every Saturday from 10am-4pm.
• The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk is a unique walk combining beaches, parks and spectacular views.
• The Kings Cross Walking Tour guides you through Kings Cross and its speckled history of fame, fortunes, murders, drugobsessions, mysteries, crimes and romances.
• Take a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House and immerse yourself in a story fit to rival any opera plot with its dramatic twists and turns.
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Flights to Sydney
Looking for cheap flights to Sydney? Take a look at our Cheap Australia Flights pages for cheap Sydney flights that you can book online. Find online bookable fares to Sydney using our mixandmatch Tool. Our airlines flying to Sydney include:
Sydney Accommodation
With a wide range of accommodation in Sydney, there is something to suit every requirements and budgets from hotels to apartments. Contact your local House of Travel for full Sydney accommodation options.
Sydney Shopping
Sydney is a treasure trove for shoppers and some of our favourites include Pitt St Mall, Myers, David Jones, the elegant Queen Victoria Building and Galleria. The ‘Style Mile’ along Oxford Street and Paddington boasts funky designer stores. Bargain hunters head for Market City, Birkenhead Point or one of the weekend markets at The Rocks, Paddington and Bondi.
Sydney Sightseeing
There is so much to see & do in Sydney! From walking underwater at the Sydney Aquarium, visting Taronga Zoo, sunbathing on Bondi Beach or head out & explore the Blue Mountains. Contact your local House of Travel for full Sydney sightseeing options.
Getting Around Sydney
Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith) is 10kms south of the city. The international and domestic terminals are 1.6kms apart and regular bus transfers operate between the terminals. Transfer time from Sydney Airport to the city is approximately 30-60 minutes by taxi (cost about AU$35) or 11-20 minutes by the Airport Link train. Alternatively let us assist you with Hughes limousine or private car transfers.
Sydney has an excellent public transport system with easily accessible buses, trains, taxis, water taxis and ferries. The Metro Light Rail and Monorail saves your feet and gets you around the CBD and Darling Harbour attractions. A Sydney Pass or Explorer pass make getting around the city a breeze.
