Like in most major cities of the World, Sydney has distinct neighbourhoods. Here we have summarised some of the major districts and what you can expect to see and do there.
Between the high-rise buildings and the shop overhangs (which provide much needed shade on summer afternoons) it is surprisingly easy to feel a little claustrophobic in the city at first. George St and Pitt St are the two main roads which run in parallel through the CBD. Without doubt, this is the busiest part of Sydney with several shopping centres, high-end bars and restaurants, a park and skyscrapers which dominates Sydney’s skyline. Weekdays, it is the office workers who dominate the bustling streets, everywhere you look you see people in suits (and sunglasses, of course) doing their best to look good while grabbing that quick snack or making their way to the office.
One of the more unique shopping centres is the Queen Victoria Building. The outside consists of Romanesque architecture and once inside, you are greeted with wrought-iron balconies, mosaic- tiled floors, stained-glass windows and antique elevators. Most of the shops are quite specialised (so not the place to go if you are looking for bric-a-brac) which adds to the exclusive feel of the place.
www.qvb.com.au
If you want to get away from it all, Hyde Park is the place to be. Although a relatively small park (and dissected by a major road), Hyde Park still has a few areas where you can just lay back and relax. The Pool of Remembrance (in front of the Anzac War Memorial) is one of these places, it is a 30-metre pool where you will often see people just sitting, passing the time.
The Rocks is the area located beneath and around the Harbour Bridge on the south side of the Harbour, it is the site of Australia’s first European settlement. There are lots of shops and restaurants here but the main attraction here is its sense of history. Walking tours (and a ghost tour) are available to help you get a better understanding of the area and you can also check out The Rocks Discovery Museum (free entry). If shopping is more your thing, there are lots of speciality shops and boutiques dotted along cobblestone roads and also a weekend market with around 150 stalls to keep you entertained.
www.therocks.com
Lying on harbour (Sydney Cove), in between the Harbour Bridge and the Royal Opera House, Circular Quay is one of the first destinations for many tourists. Probably because of this, it also happens to be Sydney’s transport hub with major bus, railway and ferry terminals situated here. Luxury apartments and expensive restaurants line Circular Quay right around to the Royal Opera House, there also outdoor cafés and bistros but still expect to pay a fair price for the harbour views… but hey, what a view!
Chinatown is located between Darling Harbour and the CBD in the area surrounding Dixon Street and is home to many tightly packed aromatic restaurants, cafés and shops. Well worth strolling through, Chinatown seems like it is always buzzing with people day and night. During Chinese New Year, this area spills out onto the surrounding neighbourhoods with Chinese markets, musical entertainment and parades!
Darling Harbour and the adjacent Cockle Bay are reminiscent of a small tourist town offering everything a visitor may want. There are cafés, bars and restaurants (ranging from trendy/expensive to affordable), a shopping centre, a tourist information centre and several museums. This is the location of Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, The Maritime Museum and the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
This area comes into its own on warm sunny days, wandering among Darling Harbour’s playful water fountains (practically begging you to jump in, at least to put your hand in) or sitting at the harbour with a plate of fish and chips (watch out for the birds!) or even both. Another good time to be here is during any festivals/celebrations. New Years Eve and Australia Day (26th January) saw activities taking place all day (such as an international food fair) and a fireworks spectacular at end the evening.
www.darlingharbour.com
If you want to see the less showy (more down to earth) side of Sydney, head west. The area around Glebe and Newtown has a large population of students and has a more laidback feel about it. If you plan to stay in Sydney a few months and are looking for longer term accommodation, I recommend this area.
Going to the southern end of George Street takes you onto Broadway with its shopping centre and various food outlets. The Broadway Shopping Centre contains clothes shops, speciality food shops, supermarkets and a large food court on its 2nd floor. It also contains a games arcade and a 12-screen cinema and prices tend to be better than what you would pay in the CBD. Opposite the shopping centre is Victoria Park which contains an outdoor swimming pool and a duck pond. The park leads onto Sydney University, Australia’s oldest University. Feel free to explore the grounds of the University with its impressive Quadrangle and interesting Graffiti Tunnel.
Past the shopping centre you will find Glebe Point Road which leads up into Glebe. This long road contains chilled-out cafés, food outlets and is home to Gleebooks, a very intimate bookshop with knowledgeable staff and books on most topics. The bookshop has won various awards and I recommend at least one visit. Opposite Gleebooks, on Saturdays (if it isn’t raining), Glebe Market takes place on the grounds of a school. With its lively atmosphere, everything from handmade soap and sunglasses to cheap clothes and massages (with a free 1 minute demo!) can be purchased here. Glebe Point Road slowly becomes more residential the further you walk towards Rozelle Bay.
www.gleebooks.com.au
Separated from Glebe by Sydney University, Newtown has a similar mix of students and quirky personalities but feels much livelier. King Street is the place to find much of this action with restaurants, pubs, second-hand CD outlets and a few quirky speciality shops. King Street also contains a cinema with an attached bookshop, record shop and café. Strolling down this high street you feel miles away from the glitz and the glamour of Sydney Harbour but it all adds to the Sydney experience.
In contrast to the Inner West, the Inner East is (mostly) fashionable, decadent and sophisticated. The exception to this rule is Kings Cross, with some of its seediness spilling out onto Darlinghurst.
Signposted by a big Coca-Cola sign, Kings Cross is Sydney’s red-light district, with prostitutes, strippers and drug-abusers either roaming the streets or occupying the neon-lit adult shops and clubs. The local council are slowly trying to improve the area but much work remains. Many backpackers find themselves here due to the cheap accommodation and while Kings Cross it is reasonably safe, I wouldn’t recommend night-time strolls alone. In Darlinghurst, Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street offer many cafés which seem to fit in well with the quaint feel of the place.
Paddington and Woollahra are upmarket, wealthy areas dissected by Oxford Street with its trendy restaurants and galleries. Centennial Parklands is located just off Oxford Street and contains grass lawns, lakes and walking paths as well as an Entertainment Quarter which contains upmarket shops, restaurants and a cinema.
www.centennialparklands.com.au
Surry Hills, another fashionable area, has two main attractions; Crown Street and Bourke Street. Both contain swanky cafés, restaurants and bars and are worth spending a sunny afternoon strolling down.
Only minutes away from Kings Cross lies the tree-lined streets of Potts Point and the exclusive Elizabeth Bay, with their harbour views and Art Deco housing.
Bondi is one of Sydney’s trendiest areas, where bronzed up surfers, models and tourists hang out. Above the beach lies Bondi Park, a small area which leads onto Campbell Parade. Campbell Parade contains a host of fashion shops, restaurants, cafés and clubs. On Sundays, Bondi Market takes place on the corner of Campbell Parade and Warners Avenue. As you go south through Bronte and Coogee, the feel becomes more laidback and less image conscious until finally you reach the more working-class suburb of Maroubra.
Manly is located on the North side of Sydney Harbour and is a very relaxed area. It has both harbour and ocean beaches and uses the slogan, “Seven Miles from Sydney, a Thousand Miles from Care”. The best way to get here is to catch the ferry from Circular Quay, the slower (and cheaper) 30 minute ride allows you to take in all the sights of the Harbour before you have even reached your destination. The main shopping area is The Corso, a road which links the harbour and ocean beaches. The Corso is filled with restaurants, low-end burger bars, cafés and juice bars. If you are looking for a more high-end experience, check out Manly Wharf for a touch of sophistication.
www.manlyaustralia.com.au