Travel to Sydney

Bondi Beach is one of those postcard, picture-perfect kind of places that if you go to Sydney, obviously you are going to want to go there. So you want to get down there, take your photos, take in the sights and sounds of Bondi Beach.

Bondi and Bondi Beach in particular is originally named from an aboriginal name, which was Bondi or Boondi, which meant to the aboriginals, who were the original people prior to the British settlement; that meant water breaking out of the rocks or the sound of water breaking over rocks. And when you go down to Bondi Beach you will understand why it was called that; because the surf crashing on the beach and on the rocks is really something quite spectacular.

Bondi Beach today is a pretty interesting place. Campbell Parade is the main commercial area and that runs along going to the beach. The beach itself is around 1-kilometer long, it runs roughly north-south and it is divided for surf club purposes. Divided into 2 halves, North Bondi and South Bondi; two separate patrolled beaches. But it is one continuous beach.

If you decide you are going to swim, please swim between the red flags. The red flags, like most beaches in Australia are patrolled by lifesavers, who are there to get you out of trouble. If you swim between the red flags that is both the safest area in the beach, and that is the area that the lifesavers are guarding and monitoring to help you if you get into any sort of trouble.

Historically Bondi was a working class suburb or a working class area; now it is a very eclectic mix. There is still a degree of the original working class inhabitants, but it is very much a place for the rich and famous to hang out, to live, to be seen and to see. There is a very strong cafe and restaurants scene, there is also some great bars there; both by the day and by the night as well.

If you are going to Bondi Beach, you will probably want to leave your car at home and get public transport. There is parking there, but it is all metered parking-relatively expensive, and the council parking inspectors are pretty common around there. If you are going there by public transport, the nearest hub for trains is Bondi Junction. Bondi Junction is around 2-kilometers up the hill from Bondi Beach. There is a major train station there at Bondi Junction and you can get a train just about anywhere in the city. From Bondi Junction you will want to jump on a bus that runs down to the beach.

During the days, those buses are very frequent; they run roughly every 10 minutes. After 7:30pm you will probably wait 15 up to 30 minutes for a bus to get down to Bondi Beach. Every bus that you get from Bondi Beach will run up to Bondi Junction. So you cannot really go wrong there.

One of the biggest attractions that people find at Bondi Beach is the People Watching. It is very much a hangout for the rich and famous, and you will see all sorts of movie stars and celebrities, Australian and otherwise. In and around Bondi Beach, people enjoy the night life scene and being seen. But you will also see some very interesting people and a good mix of the population. So People Watching can be an attraction.

Bondi Pavilion is the big cream-colored wedding cake kind of building, right there on Bondi Beach. It was built in the late 20s, early 30s, when swimming at Bondi Beach or surf bathing as it was known then became really popular. And the local council recognized that there was a need for some sort of building a formal establishment where people could bathe, could change, go to restaurants and take care of all those kinds of things. That is why Bondi Pavilion was formed.

Today Bondi Pavillion is a cultural center for Bondi and the eastern beaches. There are restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and many cultural events, short film festivals are held at Bondi Pavilion. So if you happen to be in Sydney at the right time, you get down to Bondi Pavilion and you really do not know what you could come across. It is well worth a look.

The Bondi Icebergs was originally, and still is a swimming and social club; was started off in the 30s by a group of 8 or 9 dedicated locals. They took very seriously the idea of swimming all year round, especially through the winter months, when obviously swimming is not all that popular.

Everyday of the year, the Bondi Icebergs are out swimming on Bondi Beach. And gradually from those very humble beginnings, that has morphed into what now the largest swimming club and social club in the world, and probably amongst the most impressive businesses, bars and restaurants in the Bondi area.

Bondi Icebergs is now a large licensed club perched right on the southern end of Bondi Beach, with enormous roof-to-floor glass windows that allow you to look out and enjoy Bondi Beach. You can look straight over the beach at the waves crashing in, the surfers and the sea pool that is down there as well. You can take all that in, while enjoying a nice cold drink, or dining in one of the restaurants. Well worth getting into the Bondi Icebergs for a little bit of history, and a meal or something to drink as well.

You can actually get full membership there, but the problem is that to earn full membership in the Bondi Icebergs Club, you've got to swim three Sundays out of four, all through the winter season. So 3 out of 4 Sundays, you've got to swim at Bondi Beach and you've got to do that for 5 consecutive years in order to become a full club member

The Bondi to Coogee Walk extends for about 6-kilometers from Bondi South to Coogee in Sydneys eastern suburbs. It takes about 2-hours from Bondi to Coogee, that is just a steady pace walking, at a reasonable pace without too many stops. Most people, like to just draw that out a little bit. There are a stack of places that you can stop, places for a swim, for a coffee, for drinks, something to eat along the way, so if you prefer you can draw it out and take up to half a day or longer if you like.

I prefer to make the walk twice, say if you started at Bondi, walk all the way to Coogee, stop there for lunch or a quiet drink in one of the restaurants or cafes there, then turn around and walk back in the afternoon. This can make a very pleasant habit. The Bondi to Coogee Walk is very easygoing, and, you don not need too many intensive preparations. The walk is well sign posted, its pathways all the way, so you can not really get lost. There are plenty of places to stop for food and drink along the way. The going is pretty straightforward, there is some uphill and there is some downhill, but nothing too strenuous for your average person of reasonable fitness.

What are you likely to see if you travel the Bondi to Coogee Walk? Well, if you start at Bondi, you will walk past the Bondi Icebergs, and pass to the south up onto Mackenzies Point. This is a point that looks over to the North, so you can see North and South Bondi, to the south you can look all the way down to Maroubra Beach in the distance. There are some pretty spectacular views, and if you have a look around up there at Mackenzies Point, there are actually some old aboriginal carvings of a whale. It takes some looking around or asking around, but these are amongst the first Aboriginal carvings that were reported in Australia.

If you keep walking south and you enter a gradual downhill, and the very beach first that you will come down to is called Tamarama. This beach is also known as Glamarama because of the large abundance of movie stars and the rich and famous that like to hang around there. This is a very small beach, used mostly by locals, and the well to do. Tamarama has a little bit of surf there and at times it can be a little bit rough and dangerous. Tamarama is a patrolled beach in a nice spot.

If you keep walking south past Tamarama, you are up a gentle rise, over the crest and down into a beautiful beach called Bronte Beach. This is my favorite of the beaches that you will likely encounter on the Bondi to Coogee Walk. Bronte is a very picturesque beach. It is nowhere near as big as Bondi, but its got a very large grassed area immediately behind it on the promenade. It has a particularly large surf, but again, it is well patrolled and if you swim between the flags, you should not have too many problems. Bronte Beach has a large cafe strip as well, there are some great cafes up there along the southern side. It is a great spot to stop for breakfast or coffee, if you are that way inclined.

Once you finish through Bronte, you will keep walking south and you will notice only the side that the rock has been carved away to make way for the road. The walls are 15 to 20 feet high on either side. That is where the trams used to be back at the turn of the century. That rock was moved away so the tram line could run to Bronte Beach. Waverley Cemetery has got to be the cemetery on the most expensive real estate in Sydney. It is a really dramatic coastline, and the views are amazing, so just looking along the ocean you will see this very large cemetery over quite a few acres, on your right hand side. Waverley cemetery is home to a lot very famous Australian People like Henry Lawson, a famous Australian Poet, Victor Trumper, who played a fair bit of Cricket and was batsman of some renown, Lawrence Hargrave, Henry Kendall, and many others have found their final resting places at Waverley Cemetery.

Past Waverley Cemetery is Clovelly, which is a small but very sheltered beach. There is not much to surf there at all, so if you are into much more of a calm paddle then Clovelly is the spot to stop for you. Stop for a bit of swim there, there is also an ocean pool as well, where you can get in and have a look. After you cross the car park at Clovelly, you will walk up some reasonably steep stairs and from the top of the stairs, you walk down and into Gordons Bay. Gordons Bay is an interesting place. There is not really a spot for swimming, there is no beach, but it is a very popular snorkeling and scuba diving area.

There is an underwater nature trail, so if you like Scuba diving, Gordons Bay is actually a really good, convenient local spot in Sydney. You follow a chain around there, and it is a very good dive. The dive is fairly shallow and divers probably would not get much more than 12-meters in depth. This means from your average tank you will get around an hour on the bottom. Finally if you walk down to Gordons Bay and crest you will come down into Coogee and Coogee Beach. This is a great spot, which you will approach from the north, down into Coogee Beach. There are lots of cafes, lots of restaurants, lots of hotels, good places to stop for a beer, something to eat and everything else you could desire. From Coogee you can turn around and walk back if you like, or you can get a Bus 353 back to Bondi Beach. If you really want to do what the locals do, then get amongst the Coogee to Bondi Walk because it is a great walk and a great way to showcase some of the eastern beaches of Sydney.

Much has been written and said about Sydney's harbor, and with good reason. The harbor boasts one of the world's most recognizable views, dominated by two icons in the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge. The area also provides no end of activities and neighborhoods to explore. If you're time poor, however, it is easy to accomplish a lot in a short time frame or select a few activities that appeal to your own sense of adventure. The following is a short list of things to see and do should you find yourself in the harbor city, spoilt for choice but lacking time.

Sydney Harbor Bridge itself looms over the water like a giant coat hanger, a term used affectionately by the locals. A climbing tour is offered if you're willing to fork out around $170.00 for the hike. If not however you can still walk across at road level for free. The added bonus is that you can take your camera with you for some shots of the Opera House and surrounding area.

Once across the bridge, on the opposite side of the city centre, is Milsons Point. Home to the heritage listed Luna Park Sydney, an old fashioned fun park where roller coasters, ferris wheels and other rides of old bring a little nostalgia to the waterfront. Entry to the grounds is free, so you only pay for the rides and amusements you use. If fun parks aren't your thing, tucked under the bridge is a waterfront park providing a perfect place to spend a lazy few hours stretched out on the grass with a picnic taking in the spectacular views of Sydney's central business district.

Heading back across the bridge, you come to Sydney's historic The Rocks. This is one of the most historic parts of Australia and the area where the first British settlers landed and from which the bustling city, and indeed country, grew. Once occupied by convicts and prostitutes, today The Rocks cobblestone laneways are full of designer shops, art galleries and eateries. The area lends itself perfectly to the aimless wander and is dotted with historic watering holes in which to rest weary feet and replenish

A short stroll from The Rocks is Circular Quay, a transport hub with ferries departing for suburbs across the bay. From here you can catch one of the ferries to Manly or Toronga Park Zoo, or maybe purchase a Daytripper ticket, which lets you ride as many ferries on the same day as you like and explore some of the lesser known suburbs of the city. The Daytripper is also valid on Metro trains and buses for those who are looking to explore a little further. Apart from the ferry terminals, Circular Quay boasts many fine restaurants, with superb views of the quay (and prices to match). Stroll further onward and you will come to the Sydney Opera House. The once controversial structure stands proudly above the water, defying convention as it overlooks proceedings on the waterways and the street.

A show at the Opera House is a must. If opera is not your thing, there are also orchestral performances, plays, concerts and comedy shows to provide something for everyone. Tours of the building are also available and include a walk onto one of the stages. Turning away from the harbor and the Opera House, you come to the Royal Botanical Gardens, a huge sprawling space dedicated to various varieties of trees, plants and shrubs. It is easy to get lost in the gardens wandering the many paths and admiring whichever flowers are in season at the time. Near the center is a shop and cafe should you wish to eat on your visit, or you can bring your own and eat on one of the many lawns.

If you are visiting late in the day, beware of the resident flying foxes, which generally sleep during the day, but can raise an almighty racket when the sun goes down. Whatever your interest, Sydney's harbor has something for you, and to top it off, some of the most spectacular views you are likely to find anywhere in the world.

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!

The inner-western suburb of Glebe is one of those suburbs that you do no see, it is not very prominent in tourist guides - not something that people talk about across the world. It is situated just west of the Sydney Central Business District, it is the suburb that borders on the CBD to the southwest.

Glebe is within easy walking distance of the city. You can walk there straight along George Street which becomes the Broadway and then you are pretty much in Glebe straight away. Glebe is one of the older areas in Sydney, it has been around for quite a long time and it is renowned, especially amongst locals for a couple of things.

Probably the thing that is renowned most of all about Glebe is the restaurants. There is an enormous variety of restaurants, everything from coffee shops and casual dining to fine dining Thai, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Western, Nepalese. You name the variety of food; you can get it at Glebe. That is really one of the main things it is known for. It is very convenient since it is so close to Sydney CBD and hence very easy to get to.

The other thing about Glebe is that it has a really large student population, because it is right next to Sydney University ,which is the largest university in Sydney. Glebe is very much a student suburb, where students live so they can go to the university over at Sydney University. What that means of course is that there are a lot of cheap shops and restaurants. And it is very much a place that you can go and get some very reasonably priced meals of pretty good quality as well.

The focal point of Glebe is the main road called Glebe Point Rd, that runs off Broadway which is George Street in the city. Glebe Point Rd. is the main road that has got all the restaurants from one into the other, blocks and blocks and blocks of restaurants, cafes, entertainment pubs and hotels and the like. Glebe locals are heavily into their coffee and Glebe Point Rd. is a great place to stop if you feel like just having a coffee; plenty of food and pretty good service in its own eclectic way.

The other thing about Glebe, apart from eating there, is Glebe Markets. Every Sunday on Glebe Point Rd. is Glebe Primary School, they conduct a market there on the grounds of the primary school. It is the kind of place where you can go and get a real look at true Sydney-siders. I think eclectic is the word they used to describe this mix of people from your bohemian types to all different types of people. You can buy from these markets everything from second-hand music to massagers, you can buy art with the artists there, some inventions, all sorts of weird and wonderful inventions.

Of course plenty of food and drink and all that kind of thing, second-hand books, trash and treasures stores, it is definitely worth a look, if only for the people. So Glebe Market is a good place to get down and enjoy the atmosphere of Glebe.

It is very easy to get there by public transport. You can not get a train there, but you can get buses pretty much from Sydney city. You can also get a taxi pretty easily and you can walk there as well. You can drive there because obviously it is a part of the city, but parking can be bit limited. It is a very high density housing area and most of the parking, where you can get it is metered parking. So you do pay reasonably well for parking. In that sense, probably walking or PT can be a better option, but obviously parking gives you a bit more flexibility if you got other things to do.

Glebe, definitely worth a look, particularly if you get down there on a Sunday. It is great spot to go for breakfast and take in the markets. Brunch or lunch followed by the Sudnay markets is a very popular pastime for Sydney locals.

Sydney is Australia's premier holiday destination and the first port of call for many international visitors. The good news is that many of its major attractions are free and with the Australian dollar at bargain basement, most are amazingly cheap.

Here are 7 suggestions to help you get the most out of your visit to Australia's largest city:

1. Circular Quay.

Circular Quay is the heart of Sydney and your introduction to the beautiful harbour. It is a great place to start your exploration and you will be fascinated by the excitement and buzz of this area. All ferries leave from this focal point and you are within walking distance of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It is great place to relax, enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or stroll around and enjoy the ambience.

2. The Rocks.

Nestled alongside the south portal of the bridge is one of the first settled areas of Sydney known as "The Rocks" This historical and fascinating area filled with old buildings, pubs and shops is a great place to visit for souvenirs, a meal or a drink. Weekend markets are very popular for those looking for a bargain.

3. Walk over the bridge.

The entrance to the walkway over the bridge is just behind The Rocks and best of all it's free. This amazing walk will provide you with some of the most breathtaking views in Australia as you look down on the Opera House, yachts and ferries in the harbor and in the distance, the entrance to the Pacific Ocean.

4. Ferry to Toronga Park Zoo.

Toronga Park Zoo is one of the finest in Australia. You will be able to view all the Australian native wildlife including the elusive platypus. It is worth spending a day here and its location on the north shore of the harbor allows spectacular views of the Sydney skyline. Take the ferry from Circular Quay.

5. Ferry to Manly.

No visit to Sydney would be complete without taking a ferry from Circular Quay to the oceanside resort of Manly. The ferry ride is one of the most popular trips for visitors to Sydney and allows spectacular harbor views. I particularly love Manly. Its main beach on the Pacific Ocean is a mecca for surfers, swimmers and sunbathers and the main street is a popular place to enjoy a meal, go shopping or just soak up the ambience of the area.

Here's a suggestion. Try to time your return ferry trip to Sydney to leave Manly just before sunset. You will be rewarded with the golden glow of the late afternoon sun shining on the sails of the Opera House and the setting sun highlighting the black silhouette of the bridge. A magic holiday moment.

6. Take a tour of the Opera House.

Tours of the Opera House take place regularly during the day and this is the only way for you to experience the true beauty of this iconic Sydney landmark. Better still, enjoy a live performance in the main concert hall. It will be a holiday memory I promise you will never forget.

7. Take a harbor walk.

Sydney has many wonderful harbor walks, but my favorite is a walk from the Opera House to Kings Cross. It requires only a moderate level of fitness and there are plenty of places to stop and admire the views of the busy harbor as well as parks and gardens. Kings Cross is a perfect place to finish your walk. It is the city's nightlife and restaurant mecca, but late at night can be a seedy and sometimes unsafe area. During the day however, this cosmopolitan suburb is a venue to relax, enjoy a coffee and experience one of most vibrant areas of this great holiday destination.