Welcome Sydney Backpackers
Sydney is the Harbour City. It is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with an enviable reputation as one of the world's most beautiful and liveable cities. Brimming with history, nature, culture, art, fashion, cuisine, design, and set next to miles of ocean coastline and sandy surf beaches. The city is also home to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet.
Sydney is a major global city and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific. Sydney hosted the first Olympics of the new millennium, and continues to attract and host large international events. The city is surrounded by nature and national parks, which extend into the suburbs and right to the shores of the harbour.
Sydney Hostels
Districts
Sydney has a compact city centre surrounded by sprawling suburbs, forming a vast metropolitan area.
Central Sydney
City Centre
The busy centre of government and finance, but also home to many of Sydney's famous tourist and cultural attractions.
The Rocks
Just to the west of Circular Quay, The Rocks includes the first colonial village of Sydney and the iconic Harbour Bridge.
Darling Harbour
An extensive leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the Central Business District (CBD). Restaurants, boardwalks, aquarium wildlife and the maritime museum.
City South
The Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station area is home to markets, cafes, chinese culture and cuisine, and some cheaper accommodation and shopping.
City East
Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Woolloomooloo and Moore Park. Busy nightlife, and coffee shops, fashion and entertainment by day.
City West
An early morning trip to the fish markets, exploring the Powerhouse Museum, finding a maritime pub or hitting the Star City Casino.
Popular Destinations
If you are in Sydney for a holiday, or to see the sights, the major attractions of Sydney outside of central Sydney are in:
- Bondi Beach - Sydney's world famous beach, for swimming, surfing, eating, walking, or to see and be seen.
- Manly - The Manly ferry leaves from Circular Quay out to the heads every 30 minutes.
- Sydney Olympic Park - The home of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, parks, cycling, and events.
- Parramatta - Sydney's "second" CBD, with history, shopping, eating, all just 30 minutes from the city centre.
Inner Suburbs
Clockwise:
- The Eastern Suburbs - Between the City and the sea, includes the world-famous Bondi Beach and other city beaches, which are strong drawcards for visitors and residents in the city during summer.
- Southern Sydney - The area south of the CBD and north of the Georges River, including the areas surrounding Sydney Airport and Brighton Le Sands on Botany Bay.
- The Inner West - Sydney's original suburbs are now bohemian and are a hub of cheap eats, shopping and inner-city culture.
- Lower North Shore - - Over the Harbour Bridge are leafy residential areas stretching northwards. The North Shore also has major commercial and retail areas at North Sydney and Chatswood, many smaller boutique shopping areas, and many parks and gardens, and Sydney's famous Taronga Zoo.
Outer Suburbs
Sydney is a vast sprawling city, and the suburbs in the city metropolitan area spread for up to 100km from the city centre. The traveller visiting the suburbs will find less crowded beaches, parks, cheaper shopping, commercial centres, cultural festivals, and hidden gems.
Clockwise:
- Sutherland Shire- Is the district to the far south and east of the city center including Cronulla and Captain Cooks Landing Place.
- The South West centers of Liverpool and Campbelltown are a large swathe of residential and commercial Sydney.
- The Outer West stretching from Parramatta out to the Blue Mountains
- The North West contains the Northern Districts with includes Sydney's Silicon Valley at Macquarie Park, the northern side of the western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and the the largely residential area of the Hills District in the north-west of the city.
- The Hawkesbury is a semi-rural area to the northwest of the city, centred around the Hawkesbury River. Its main towns are Richmond and Windsor.
- Upper North Shore includes leafy residential areas, national parks and waterways.
- The Northern Beaches and Forest - From Manly stretching North along the coast to Palm Beach.