Background of Sydney
Set on bustling waterways, the focus of this city is its magnificent harbour. Just 200 years ago, less than 10,000 convicts exiled from their homeland, settled here. Today, the city has grown north, south, east and west, each with its own identity. It is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with famous landmarks such as its Opera House, award-winning restaurants and first-class shopping and sporting complexes.

If you are coming to Sydney on holiday, allow plenty of time to take in some of the attractions on offer. For the first time visitor, your starting point should be a cruise on Sydney Harbour. After that you can choose from day tours of the City to wine tours to the Hunter Valley, visits to nature parks and 4WD tours to the Blue Mountains.


Getting around Sydney
A car is not really a help in Sydney and the independent traveller will enjoy using Sydney's extensive network of buses, trains and ferries to discover the City. Or perhaps you might borrow one of Sullivans Hotel Sydney free guest bicycles to explore the delights of Paddington and nearby Centennial Park.

Sydney Explorer coaches will take you to the most interesting and spectacular attractions, in and around the city and beaches. You can travel for the whole day, getting on and off the buses as often as you like. Sydney Red and Blue explorer coaches depart from circular Quay daily at approximately 20 minute intervals - stopping at all points of interest.


Tours
Harbour Cruises Sydney Harbour, one of the world's finest waterways, is the focal point of Sydney. A sightseeing cruise on the harbour is essential. The Captain Cook coffee cruise visits the spectacular Middle Harbour giving a true perspective of this espansive harbour. Sydney's ferries connect harbourside suburbs with the city at Circular Quay and are an economical way to cruise the harbour. The ferry ride to Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay and Manly are spectacular.

Blue Mountains a 2 hour drive north of Sydney. Dal Myles small group Tour Company has a personalized Blue Mountains Adventure Trek using luxury 4 wheel-drive vehicles. Tours feature spectacular canyon views, the Three Sisters, rugged bush country, kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, fire trails, boomerang throwing, scenic railway and fully catered picnic lunch and morning tea.

Port Stephens 3-hours drive north of Sydney, magnificent Port Stephens is home to the biggest pods of Dolphin on the Coast. It is four times the size of Sydney harbour with sparkling blue and turquoise waters, distant misty mountains and imposing Twin Peaks headlands.

Hunter Valley A 3 hour drive north of Sydney. For lovers of wine - Hunter valley has 4000 acres of vineyards spread throughout a peaceful green valley sheltering beneath the silent majesty of the Brokenback Mountain Range. Wine grown and made here now enjoys an international reputation as some of the worlds best.

Bridge Climb Now you can climb the world famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. A professional team will take you all the way to the summit over catwalks, ladders and arches. This incredible view of the world's most beautiful harbour takes about 3 hours. Bookings are essential. www.bridgeclimb.com

Waratah Park is located atop the rugged Ku-ring-gai Chase escarpment. This is where the television series "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" was filmed. Among the many animals you will see are koalas, kangaroos, emus, dingoes, Tasmanian Devils, crocodiles and rare tree-climbing kangaroos. Open every day from 10am.

South Coast and Southern Highlands Gray Line Tours offer a day of discovery along the rugged coastline of the South coast beaches. Mountain and forest environments with plunging waterfalls and historic colonial Australian towns await you.

Helicopter Flights over Sydney Harbour are a spectacular way to discover the most beautiful city in the world from above as you sweep over the harbour and view the Bridge, Opera House, city skyscrapers, parklands and the colourful sailing boats.

Beaches
Sydney is famous for it's fine ocean and harbourside beaches. Here are some of the best, all easily reached from Sullivans Hotel Sydney.

Bondi Sydney's most famous beach being a city surf beach, Bondi is a magnet for travellers who love the combination of beach and city life. One of Australia's busiest, it has a thriving beach culture and its own fine cafes, restaurants and bars. The coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte and Clovelly is spectacular. Take the 380 bus across from Sullivans Hotel.

Bronte South of Bondi and between Tamarama and Clovelly beaches, Bronte is a smaller, more intimate beach and is a favourite with the locals. Bronte Baths were opened in 1887. Regulations at the time, stated that "Gentlemen could bathe between daylight from 10a.m. to 4p.m. until dark each day. Ladies were welcomed from 10a.m. to 4p.m. daily except Sundays and Public Holidays, reserved exclusively for men".Of course today this is not so, and a wonderful place to bathe safely in salt water. A large picnic area which is very popular with families on the weekends. Some nice cafes nearby the beach.Take the 378 bus across from Sullivans Hotel.

Manly is Sydney's original seaside resort, which combines the relaxed atmosphere of a holiday resort with the cosmopolitan feel of a major destination. Bounded by water on 3 sides, there are 18 beaches, coves and inlets to swim, sail in and enjoy. More than 80 restaurants offer cuisine ranging from fish & chips to top seafood and exclusive waterfront dining. Stroll down the Manly Corso towards the surf beaches and magnificent Norfolk Pine Trees that line the esplanade. For those who may not wish to swim in the surf, take the scenic walk from Manly to the calmer Shelley Beach to cool off. Before catching the return ferry, walk through the glass tunnel of Manly Oceanworld surrounded by sharks, stingrays and other marine life. To get to Manly, take the 380 bus from Sullivans to Circular Quay and then hop on the world famous Manly Ferry offering one of the best and inexpensive ways to see the magnificent harbour.

Coogee is derived from an Aboriginal word, "koojah", which means "stinking place", probably because of the intolerable smell of rotting seaweed washed up on the beach. A far cry from today, where Coogee is a residential suburb, with a well laid-out playing area, Coogee Oval and a school where pupils dream of the ocean only a short stroll away. The Coogee Bay Hotel is a popular watering hole for English backpackers and locals alike. Take a 5 minute walk down to Taylors Square where you catch a 372 bus to Coogee beach.

Harbour Beaches Watsons Bay, Lady Jane and Neilson Park. Sydney boasts some nice Harbour Beaches with stunning views back towards the city. The calm waters of the harbour provide a safe haven for children to swim. Great for picnics and some lovely walks around the South Head harbour entrance. Watsons Bay is home to the famous Doyles seafood restaurant, while Lady Jane is Sydneys most popular nudist beach. You can either catch the ferry to Watsons Bay from Circular Quay (during the day only), or buses from Taylors Square run every 20 minutes.


Shopping
Sydney's international shopping area is centred around Castlereagh Street, Martin Place and Chifley Plaza. Most international brands like Prada, Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton can be found here. Of course we have our own talented designers, with the Strand Arcade being the place to find many young designers of clothes and jewellery. The Queen Victoria Building has a wide range of shops in a magnificent restored 1800's building. For department stores visit Sydney's Central Plaza and the many stores leading off it. David Jones with its marble ground floor, resident piano player and gourmet food hall is a Sydney icon.

The Rocks area has little streets with shops full of Australiana - great for souvenir hunting. The Rocks Market held each Saturday and Sunday specialises in arts and crafts.

Paddington is renowned for its fashionable lifestyle, boutiques and specialty shopping - follow Oxford Street all the way to Woollahra for young designers, homewares, accessories, good bookshops and markets on Saturday which are located in the United Church's square. These markets have been operating since 1973, and now feature over 250 stalls. Goods on offer range from arts, crafts, clothing, books, bric-a-brac and street theatre. Paddington has Sydney's largest selection of Antiquarian, second-hand and new bookstores specialising in the fields of literature, classics, the arts, juvenilia, travel, private press, limited editions and Australiana. Berkelouw Books, Bibliophile Books, Colin Randal Books and Ariel just to name a few. The Coo-ee and Jinta Aboriginal Art Galleries and shops feature didgeridoos, boomerangs, music and artworks from communities around Australia. Guests of Sullivans Hotel receive discounts at many local stores.

Double Bay has an upmarket village atmosphere, featuring a good choice of fashion, shoe and accessory shops, bookshops and homewares. Hat lovers will enjoy shops such as Jane Lambert.


Museums and Art Galleries
Sydney is home to many fine museums and art galleries

Art Gallery of New South Wales is in the north eastern corner of the Sydney Domain. It has excellent permanent exhibitions of Australian, European, Japanese and tribal art, and has some inspired temporary exhibits.

The Barracks and the Mint are now museums, the library hosts exhibitions and there are tours of both the hospital and Parliament House. Macquarie St is the eastern boundary of the CBD and borders the Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens. It runs from Hyde Park to Circular Quay.

The Australian Museum is a traditional museum featuring archaeological exhibitions, located on College street, opposite Hyde Park.

The National Maritime museum has a large collection of nautical artifacts as well as vessels from Australia's past which are open for inspections. Located at Darling Harbour.

Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay has a wide range of modern art work and sculptures and often hosts International exhibitions.

Powerhouse Museum celebrating technological development with amazing interactive displays, located near Darling Harbour in Ultimo.

Sydney Jewish Museum will give you the History of Jews since the settlement of Australia and Jewish culture as well as meet survivors of the Holocaust and hear their stories.

Paddington is home to over 45 Art galleries featuring everything from the classic to the contemporary and Aboriginal Art Works.


Walks
Walking around Sydney is easy and delightful. The Paddington Walk is designed to give you an insight into the history of Paddington and the lives of Sydney's earliest residents. This walk is a chance to experience first hand Sydney's best preserved heritage area, with some outstanding examples of 19th century and Victorian architecture and plenty of opportunities to visit local art galleries, specialty shops, pubs and cafes.

The water is what makes Sydney's setting so special and there are numerous walks around both Sydney Harbour and the Coastal Ocean Beaches . During the long hot days of summer, locals and visitors alike take to the great outdoors with relish. Many walks are well known and well used, however, others are hidden away and only known to local residents. Colourful coastal heath, spectacular coastal views, interesting geological features, and quiet sandy bays can all be found within half an hour of the City Centre. Do not forget your hat, sunblock and camera.


Paddington
History Named after the London borough, Paddington is one of Australia's oldest suburbs.

Centennial Park In 1824 a tunnel was dug by hand using convict labour to carry water from this area to Hyde Park. The tunnel supplied water to the City of Sydney between 1837 to 1859. In 1866 work began on draining Lachlan Swamps. The 400 acres were landscaped and transformed into a magnificent park, celebrating Sydney's centenary of European settlement. Centennial Park was officially opened in 1888 and today with over 3 million visitors annually, it is enduringly popular for picnics, bike riding, horse riding, running, rollerblading and just getting away from the bustle of the city.

Paddington Market in the grounds of the United Church on Oxford Street, operates every Saturday from 10am to 4pm. First started in 1973, this colourful market is extremely popular with Sydneysiders and now features over 250 stalls. Goods on offer range from arts, crafts, clothing, books, bric-a-brac and a great selection of food.

Sydney Cricket Ground, home to the NSW Cricket Association as well as the AFL Sydney Swans, offers an informative tour of its Sports Museum which provides an insight into Australia's sporting history.

Fox Studios Combining a working film studio with unrivalled entertainment, Fox Studios enables you to get behind the scenes and discover how movies are actually made. Opening in October 1999. Great for the family.

Victoria Barracks The Barracks were opened in 1848. They offer the largest and best-preserved examples of colonial Georgian architecture in Australia. The museum is open to the public every Sunday from 10am until 3pm. Guided tours of the Barracks are available on Thursdays at 10am. The Australian Army Band also performs at various times throughout the year.

Shopping/Galleries/Restaurants Paddington is renowned for its fashionable lifestyle, boutiques and specialty shopping. An amazing variety of cafes and restaurants are to be found in and around Oxford Street. There are 45 Art Galleries in Paddington and the surrounding area, with another 40 or so Antique and Book dealers.

Cinemas Paddington is home to some of Sydney's best cinemas including The Chauvel, The Verona and The Academy Twin. During the summer months outdoor cinemas also operate in Centennial Park and at Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, in the Botanical Gardens overlooking the Opera House.

Bookshops Paddington has Sydney's largest collection of Antiquarian, second-hand and new bookstores with fine and rare collectors' items. Specializing in the fields of literature, classics, the arts, juvenilia, travel, private press, limited editions and Australiana. Berkelouw Books, Bibliophile Books, Colin Randal Books and Ariel are just a few of the many bookshops within walking distance of Sullivans.


Centennial Park
Centennial Park In 1811 Governor Macquarie set aside as common grazing land and water reserves the area from which this 400 acre park was developed. From 1824, a tunnel was hand dug by convicts from this area to Hyde Park to provide water for Sydney after the Tank Stream became polluted. It was Sydney's main water supply from 1837 to 1859. In 1887 it was decided to drain the swamp areas to create more parkland. Centennial Park was opened on Australia Day, January 26, 1888 as part of centenary celebrations. Today, the park is visited by more than 3 miilion people annually and is Sydney's only example of an English country style park and Australia's grandest 19th century park.

Featuring a wide range of landscapes from wild long grasses and native trees, to carefully tended formal gardens, the park is surrounded by a Victorian iron picket fence set in a sandstone curb with ornate entrance gates. Centennial Park, along with New York's Central Park and London's Hyde Park, is one of only 3 parks in the world offering horse-riding facilities so close to the city centre. The park also offers cycling, walking and rollerblading tracks, picnic and barbeque areas, guided tours, sporting fields, golf course, driving range, cafe and restaurant. Centennial Park offers something for everyone whether lovers of history, horticulture, sport or just relaxation.

Centennial Park remains today an important part of Sydney. When Sydney hosts the Olympics and Paralympics in the year 2000, the park will be in the spotlight again as venue for the road cycling, marathon and qualifying events. In 2001, Australia's Centenary celebrations will focus on the park which is the home of the "Federation Stone", where the states came together to proclaim the Federation of Australia on January 1, 1901.

Nightlife
The historical Rocks area near Circular Quay is home to some of Sydney's historic pubs including the Lord Nelson; a very old pub serving beer brewed on the premises, and The Hero of Waterloo which is packed out every night. The Orient is also a very popular bar, especially at weekends.

The Basement, Soup Plus and the Harbourside Brasserie are the venues to see top Australian and International Jazz and blues performers. The Marble Bar at the Hilton Hotel is a Victorian indulgence, with it's ornate bar made from Italian marble. Free jazz Fri and Sat nights.

For those in search of a good laugh try the Comedy Store (Inner West of the city at Stanmore) or Jokers at the Star City Casino.

Bridie O'Reilly's at Haymarket, Wynyard and Star City offer Irish hospitality featuring the best Irish beers including Guinness, Harp, Kilkenny and Beamish. A wide range of Australian and International beers are also on offer. The Mercantile Hotel in the Rocks is a high-spirited Irish pub where you can get Sydney's best poured Guinness. In Paddington two Irish Pubs can be found - Kitty O'Shea's and Dirty Nellies.

If you want to enjoy spectacular harbour views try the cocktail bar at the ANA Hotel down at the Rocks.

The Sydney Opera House is home base to the Australian Opera Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Performances range from classical to contemporary works.

Dance Clubs include DCM's, Mr Goodbar and the Q Bar all in Oxford Street. Sublime nightclub is in the city and the Home Nightclub at Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour. East Sydney on Williams Street you can find Club 77.

Highlights of the Eastern Suburbs include: The Bondi Hotel, a cultural melting pot popular with back packers. The Albury, famous for its flamboyant drag shows and the Darlo Bar, popular with the actors and writers of Sydney.


Hotels in Sydney
Sullivans Hotel Sydney
The Crescent on Bayswater
The Waldorf Apartment Hotel


The information above is provided and copyright by Sullivans Hotel Sydney
Part of the article is contributed by the following travellers:
The Crescent on Bayswater and Lee.