Holidays To Sydney – An Insider’s Guide
By Ricky Coates
Australians say that people tend to fall into one of either two
camps, Melbourne or Sydney. The rivalry between the two cities
is legendary, so much so that when it came to choosing a capital
of Australia in 1908, the non-descript Canberra was chosen, slap
bang in the middle, rather than pitting these two lovely places
against one another. Melbournites think Sydney-siders are
shallow and vain. Sydney-siders think Melbournites are a bit
snobby and constantly dressing in black. But if you go on
holiday to Sydney and take some time to suck in that glorious
atmosphere, you’ll realize that its people are having way too
much of a good time to bother themselves with petty rivalries
and back-biting, but then this is coming from someone who’s
passionate about Sydney and everything it has to offer. Here is
my pick of the very best bits!
RESTAURANTS
Restaurants in Sydney operate on a whole new level. Fresh,
enterprising and uplifting, the food is a real cultural mix,
some say the best in the world due to the large number of
gastronomically talented immigrants the city has welcomed over
the years. People often talk of 'fusion' food in Sydney
restaurants - a mix of Western and Asian cooking – an exciting
way to eat. Lots of restaurants in Sydney serve delicious fresh
seafood, and you can buy cheap sushi all over Sydney. If you are
into fish then check out the Sydney Fish Markets, near Darling
Harbour - you can pick out great seafood and they will cook it
for you on the spot. If you’re feeling nostalgic, then head to
Doyles for the tastiest imaginable fish and chips.
CAFES
Lots of the bookshops in Sydney have cafes – they were doing
this long before we caught on to it in the UK. The lattes are
unrivaled and everyone has a leisurely breakfast out on Sunday
mornings. A popular snack is toasted banana bread drizzled in
butter along with a coffee or a fresh fruit smoothie. All over
Sydney there are many places serving tea and scones.
Surprisingly this is called a 'Devonshire Tea’ and they tend to
stop serving them at 4pm. For some great Italian cafes and
culture try the suburb of Balmain, home to many famous drinking
establishments.
WALKS
One of the bonuses of the location of this city – surrounding
the beautiful Sydney Harbour – is that you can experience the
most awe-inspiring views from many different standpoints, and
the best way to do this is on foot. The views you will grow to
love the most will probably include the Sydney Harbour Bridge,
the Sydney Opera House and, perhaps unexpectedly, the brightly
lit skyscrapers which rise brazenly in a central cluster from
Sydney city centre to form a dramatic backdrop to Sydney’s
natural and man-made wonders. There is a great choice of sea
walks including the Manly to Spit walk and Bronte to Bondi
beach.
DAY TRIPS
If you’re up for a real adventure try the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Climb – a guided climb to 134 metres above Sydney Harbour at
your chosen time of day. For a jungle experience take the
30-minute trip to the Australian bush at Kuringai National Park.
A day trip to the spectacular Blue Mountains is also a
favourite, with the Three Sisters - a famous sandstone rock
formation - and some of the most beautiful scenery in Australia.
Or for those with a penchant for good wine should visit the
Hunter Valley, 2 hours north of Sydney for vineyard tours, wine
tasting and cellar door sales.
MUSEUMS/ART
Although going inside to enjoy yourself on your Sydney holiday
may seem unthinkable, heavy rain occurs occasionally and on
these days the marvelous museums and art galleries of Sydney
come into their own. Visit the dinosaurs at the Sydney Museum,
the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of
Contemporary Art at Circular Quay, where, due to sponsorship,
all the exhibitions are now free. Both galleries have great
cafes and top quality restaurants. The National Maritime Museum
and the Powerhouse Museum, near Darling Harbour will also
provide a fascinating respite.
SHOPPING
Try Mosman in North Sydney for posh shopping, or alternatively
the Queen Victoria Building in the city centre, which is full of
little boutiques and cafes with an English style cafe at the
very top. Oxford Street has the best strip of shops for
alternative culture and evening cafes and is on the route for
Sydney’s fabulous Mardi Gras parade, which takes place in March.
BEACHES
If you’re anything like most Sydney holiday makers you’ll be
spending a lot of time on its heavenly beaches. Most of these
have beach cafes known as ‘kiosks’. Make sure you try a few as
they’re all very different. Bondi Beach is great for Aussie
beach culture, and where the Brits tend to congregate. If you’re
looking for a beach with personality then take the ferry from
Circular Quay to Manly, a super-trendy beach reminiscent of
Venice Beach in Los Angeles. Both Manly and Bondi Beach are
great for surfing, whilst Balmoral is a non-surf beach for the
North Shore residents and expats, with safe, calm water for kids
to paddle and an area for swimming surrounded by a board walk
and shark net. Hire a surfboard and wet suit at Manly or Bondi
Beach and you can even book a few surf lessons. The beautiful
Northern Beaches are a set of beaches encompassing the stretch
between Manly and Palm Beach. One of my favourites is the
onomatopoeic Curl Curl Beach with its excellent surf.
KIDS
Two superb venues for childish fun are Luna Park, a theme park
with an iconic giant clown face at the entrance, and the
enormous Taronga Zoo, home to 2,600 animals. Taronga must be the
zoo with the best view in the world, with vistas overlooking the
whole of Sydney Harbour. You can get there by bus or ferry as it
has its very own ferry stop. For another great kid’s day out
take the monorail, bus, ferry or car to Darling Harbour - the
area may seem a bit kitsch, but has one of the best aquariums in
the world, a lovely spot for ‘Finding Nemo'! Children will also
love Darling Harbour’s Imax Theatre for 3D films on the big
screen. At the art gallery of New South Wales there are often
kids classes, free tours and magic shows, especially on Sunday
mornings.
LITTLE GEMS
A little electric train will take you on a mini-adventure
through the exotic Sydney Botanic Gardens, and you can take in
some high culture with opera and other concerts in the park.
Next door the Sydney Opera House hosts classical music as well
as some of pop’s big names. Lots of great buskers hang out
around Circular Quay – good fun if you are waiting for a ferry.
To try a real 1920's style cinema, check out the Cremorne
Orpheum (after Orpheus), an old-style picture house on Military
Road.
SPORT
Surfing and other water sports feel as natural as breathing in
Sydney – many Sydney-siders even go for a sneaky surf in their
lunch hour from work. Swimmers should visit the Olympic Park and
take a dip at the North Sydney Olympic pool, or visit one of the
Sydney Harbour baths or beaches, such as Red Leaf or Nielsen
Park.Outside the water you can catch a game of rugby or
Australian rules football at Telstra Stadium, and if you’re into
road running why not try the City to Surf marathon, a 14k race
which takes place in mid-August.
HOTELS
And finally, if you are visiting Sydney on holiday, there is no
shortage of accommodation. From beach-side B&Bs and chic inner
city guest houses to the finest 5-star hotels overlooking Sydney
Harbour Bridge, there is a place for all tastes.
So there you are. If Sydney was any closer I expect we all
would have fallen in love with the place and emigrated long ago.
Once you do go on holiday to Sydney, either on its own, or as
part of a longer holiday in Australia, you’ll be furious that
nobody persuaded you to go there before. Well, there’s no excuse
now – time to go ahead and book those flights!
About the Author: Ricky Coates is a Senior Reservations
Consultant and Aussie Specialist for key2holidays
http://www.key2australia-holidays.co.uk/australia-hotels.asp?city=syd,
an online tour operator specializing in tailor-made holidays to Sydney and
other areas of Australia, Cuba, the Caribbean, Europe, the Far
