accommodation   intro tours attractions regions visitor info

To help you decide the best holiday accommodation in Sydney check out our hotel accommodation by rating page. For more destination travel information try our regions of Sydney page or our visitors information page containing useful Sydney facts and maps.

sydney airport
Sydney Airport is located approximately 10kms south of the CBD and is serviced by several quality hotels providing accommodation to business travellers, and vacation travellers requiring a handy airport location. Transport access is readily available in the form of taxis, airport expresses, hotel buses and scheduled bus services.

city centre
The Central Business District is home to some of Sydney's best shopping arcades and malls. Discover the beautifully restored Strand Arcade and Queen Victoria Building with over 180 shops. Sydney city is compact and most hotels are within walking distance of the shopping and/or financial district, and on a convenient city bus or underground rail route. Taxis are readily available. The best way to appreciate the city and its architecture is to walk the streets laneway.

darlinghurst and kings cross
Darlinghurst begins at the south east corner of Hyde Park and the start of Oxford Street and extends towards Kings Cross at William Street. Darlinghurst and Paddington share the same main street, Oxford Street. The length of Oxford Street is the route of the flamboyant Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade held each March. It is generally within walking distance (up to 15 minutes) of the CBD, and offers bus access to the city centre, Circular Quay and the Eastern Suburbs. Established as Australia's best known entertainment area, Kings Cross is one of the places in Sydney that never closes. Kings Cross has something to offer late night revellers, and jet lagged travellers. With over two hundred cafes and restaurants, the area offers a superb diversity for all dining tastes and this may explain why the observer will see locals and visitors dining out at all hours.

darling harbour
Darling Harbour, one of Sydney's leading waterfront destinations is now alive with activity day and night! Both sides of Cockle Bay have undergone massive development to transform the site into a most exciting food, shopping and entertainment precinct. Darling Harbour offers several major Sydney attractions, Sydney Aquarium, Sega World, Powerhouse Museum and the IMAX theatre. Darling Harbour is accessible by ferry, the Light rail and Monorail.

eastern suburbs
Extending from the eastern fringe of the CBD to the entrance of Sydney Harbour, the Eastern Suburbs are removed but still accessible from the CBD. Only 10 minutes from the heart of Sydney by water taxi or harbour ferry a unique experience awaits you. The area from the city centre to Bondi Beach includes many of Sydney's prime suburbs, from entertaining Oxford Street to leafy Double Bay, there is something for everyone.

manly
Manly is 11 kms (7 miles) by ferry or jet-powered catamaran from Sydney's Circular Quay, and provides the essential Sydney experience. A half hour ferry crossing to the northern end of Sydney Harbour brings visitors to this cosmopolitan suburb nestled between a tranquil, inner harbour beach on one side and one of Sydney's longest and most beautiful ocean beaches. Manly is popular for water sports and the waterfronts are lined with cafes and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy the sea breeze or take a stroll, jog or bike ride along the famous beachfront promenade. Sydney Harbour National Park at Manly overlooks the entrance to Sydney Harbour and is the perfect place for a bushwalk.

north sydney
North Sydney is a satellite commercial centre just across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from Sydney city. It has few visitor attractions as it is an office centre for a wide range of major companies in computers, communications, insurance and travel. Catering for 'suits' that flood the area on working days, it has a large number of cafes, restaurants, pubs, club and several discos, but is quiet outside of working hours, particularly at weekends. Access to the CBD is by ferry across the Harbour, or bus and train across the Harbour Bridge.

southern beaches
Extending south from the entrance to Sydney Harbour, Sydney's southern beaches are considerably harder to find as the main access roads run east-west and are connected north-south by suburban streets. Some are very pretty, but tiny, and parking is near impossible. Many Sydneysiders who do not work office hours come to the beach during the week, and it is a popular eating and entertainment area at night.

outer western suburbs
Parramatta is the geographic centre of the Sydney metropolitan area, and has a large business centre with a smattering of historically important buildings. Parramatta is only 5kms east of Homebush Bay, the site of Sydney Olympic Park. North Ryde is the accommodation centre for Sydney's burgeoning IT development parks, and is located approximately 12 kms from Parramatta.

the rocks and circular quay
The Rocks is the historical heart of Sydney first European settlement and is a well serviced, tourist precinct in its own right, with many beautifully restored buildings from Sydney's early days as a colonial town. Explore the maze of original, cobblestone lanes that lead to a range of shops, cafes and restaurants. The shopping ranges from Australian design in fashion, art, craft and jewellery to unique collectables and souvenirs, and don't forget to check out the Saturday markets for local craft. The Rocks is within easy walking distance of the Circular Quay ferry interchange.

hunter valley
Whether you are a lover of wine and great food, a lover of natural beauty and wildlife, or a water sports enthusiast, the Hunter Valley has it all. Whatever your interests, your age or your budget, you're sure to find a piece - or two, or three - of paradise here to call your own. It all begins just two hours by car from Sydney. Locals, interstate visitors and overseas tourists have enjoyed this fabulous region for years.

blue mountains
Located less than two hour's drive from Sydney, the Blue Mountains offer a natural wonderland of untamed bush, spectacular rock formations and native wildlife. Whether it's a luxurious hotel or resort, a charming guesthouse or an inexpensive cottage, you'll find it here, and there is a great range of restaurants, cafes and country pubs to match. Indulge your taste for romance, drink in the clear mountain air, walk through the world-famous bushland or just relax in front of a roaring log fire.