Sydney - Destination Sydney

-Go to the top of the AMP Tower for a panoramic peer around.
-Walk over Sydney's 'Giant Coathanger'; if you can?t afford the Harbour Bridge climb just stroll from the top of Cumberland Street along the footpath to North Sydney.
-Catch a cult or newly released film in the Botanical Garden's open air cinema with a picnic and a few drinks.
-Take a ferry to, and cable car over, the excellent Taronga Zoo.
-See what you're sharing the sea with at the awesome Sydney Aquarium.

Moving and Shaking

Driving: Sydney's one-way system is a nightmare, avoid it.
Trains: Good and cheap, but annoyingly they don't serve the Southern Beaches.
The Monorail: More of a novelty than a method of transport.
Ferries: Fantastic, but a little pricey and, obviously, limited to the waterfront.
Busses: Cheap, fairly reliable and ubiquitous. Sadly also hot and overcrowded.
Taxis: An expensive last resort; do not expect the driver to know where his own backside is, let alone get you home. Beware pricey 'luxury' cabs.  

City Slicking

The CBD: Sydney's Central Business District is like the financial epicentre of any big city; full of corporate chaos Monday-Friday, conspicuously quiet at weekends. This one, however, is a short walk from the harbour side and Sydney Opera House, giving its workers one of the loveliest lunchtime strolls in the world. George Street, the main road, is lined with the cloud-tickling office blocks; they've made a nice job of it though and the city skyline looks class both from street level and afar. Pubs, clubs and restaurants abound around the CBD, many filled with suits and secretaries, but others catering for beer bargain-hunting backpackers. Friday night after-work sessions are legendary and generally end up so messy that Quasimodo could get lucky. 
On the Rocks: The oldest surviving part of the city, the Rocks is a cobbled area which used to be the hangout of prostitutes and gin swilling ne'er-do-wells. Now it is full of trendy and traditional pubs, good restaurants and the occasional beer swilling ne'er-do-well. There are some great markets here, but beware being stung top tourist dollar for your novelty boomerangs - better to check out Paddy's Market for knick-knacks. 
See Circular Quay: Sydney's harbour is naturally gorgeous and, amazingly, manmade contributions have made it even more impressive rather than ruining it. The Harbour Bridge and Opera House stand on either side of Circular Quay as icons of Australia.  
Park Life: Skirting the harbour waters, to the east of the Opera House, are the beautiful Botanical Gardens. A stroll around its leafy grounds is a nice respite from the seething city and the views from Mrs Macquarie's point are picturesque. Look up in the trees and you will realise that you're sharing the solitude with thousands of slumbering flying foxes - otherwise known as fruit bats. The peaceful Domain and expansive Hyde Park with its cracked-headed Ibis population are also peaceful sun-splashed retreats.
The Unholy Cross: Kings Cross is probably the most surreal suburb you will ever stumble around in a first world country. From the neon Coca Cola sign - a beacon for every oddball in Australia - to Fitzroy Gardens, Darlinghurst Road is a 24-hour circus of weirdness. Pimps and pros line the streets outside strip joints, sex shops and various dens of iniquity. Amongst it all are some great pubs, hot youth hostels and bohemian cafes. Somehow it combines super-sleaziness with roguish charm. At least one night amid the chaos is obligatory for all visitors.
Camping on Oxford Street: This road links the city with the trendy 'burbs of Paddington, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills and, while its path runs dead straight from the edge of Hyde Park westwards, its orientation is anything but. This is the epicentre of Sydney's large gay community and provides the route for the annual Mardi Gras. There are loads of fashionable bars, pubs and clubs along the way, many of which are gay and lesbian leaning - some display signs in the windows saying as much, for the benefit of less open-minded people who might chance in. 
Ooh Darling: A one-time stinking dockland dump has been tarted up superbly over the last 20 years and turned into the delightful Darling Harbour. This is now a fantastic spot, full of quality bars, eating places, a Chinese Garden, an Imax cinema, the famous Sydney Aquarium and even a docked submarine. The theme is all aquatic and various features use water and light to create unique artistic touches. It is a great place for an after work beer and China Town, which borders the harbour on the city side, is excellent for a cheap bite.
Westside: Ultimo, Glebe, and Newtown form a studenty part of town past Darling Harbour, good for cheap long-term accommodation close to the city. The pubs and eateries tend to offer excellent deals around here too and check out Leichhardt for cheap Italian grub. 

Surfing the Suburbs

Bondi: With possibly the world's most famous beach the Bondi area is a Mecca for backpackers. Such is the hype surrounding this stretch of sand that people may be a little disappointed when they first get a glimpse; it is only sand and waves after all, and it's fairly built up. A few days and nights hanging around the beach and bars though, and you'll soon succumb to the seductive appeal of a suburb which is sexy surf spot by day and pulsating party place by night.
Beach-bumming Southside: Bondi is the best known and busiest of Sydney's southern beaches, but there are many other sandy sizzlers to be found along this coast. A walk around the heads southwards will reveal the hidden delights of Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee; all have quality beaches and are favoured hangouts for locals and backpackers alike. There's plenty of good, cheap accommodation to be had around here too.
Northern Soul: The city action does not stop at the bridge. North Sydney has its own mini business and entertainment area and has plenty of pubs and restaurants. Its suburbs are the poshest in town, where normal houses have seven-figure price tags. One of the finest features of the north shore is Taronga Zoo, which is reached by ferry from Circular Quay.
Feeling Manly: The north shore is also home to some of the city's best beaches, starting with the great seaside suburb of Manly; a top spot with many a good pub and complete with a calm front beach and a lovely long back beach, perfect for wannabe beginner surfers.
Playing Home and Away: The scenic sand stretches on right around to Palm Beach. The more square-eyed amongst you might recognise the scenery around here. That's because it is the setting for the Aussie soap Home and Away. If you hang around long enough you may even catch Alf and his flock of flaming galahs being filmed. 
Botany Bay: This western spot is where Captain James Cook and, later, the first fleet stepped ashore and claimed Australia for the Brits. Sydney's international airport is on its shore so most modern Pommy invaders also take their first strides on Aussie soil here too. There is a national park here to mark Cook's arrival, but it is fairly low key considering its significance.
Eastern Pearls: Not far east of the Cross is a series of harbour hugging retreats where you wouldn't know you were near a major city. They begin with Elizabeth Bay and get progressively quieter as you move out through Rushcutters Bay, Double bay and out to the lovely Watson's Bay. There are good places for a pint and a feed around here, and if that chills you out sufficiently you can get nude on the naturalist beach at Lady Bay. Check out Camp Cove for a quality beach and some excellent snorkelling. From South Head, close by, you can look out over the face of the handsome harbour.

Weekenders

Blue Mountains: A 2-hour train trip from Sydney brings you to this awesome area of ancient forest, dramatic rocky peaks, clean air and rural solitude. The ephemeral haze which the blue gum trees emit in the morning give this place its name. There is loads of great bushwalking and more breathtaking scenery than you can point a camera at. If you're fit and you know it you can do some mountain biking or the really adventurous can go abseiling and rock climbing. Chuck in a super-steep scenic railway, a cable car and a buzzing little town in the shape of Katoomba and you have an excellent short break from the city.
Hunter Valley: A fine wine area which produces vino such as Lindemans. You can tour the wineries on your own if you can find a willingly dry driver, but better to grab a boozy bus tour. 
High on White Powder: The ski season starts in June and NSW's Snowy Mountains have some of the country's best slopes. Perisher Blue and Thredbo are world-class and their nightlife kicks off. In summer when the snow disappears the national parks around the Snowy Mountains reveal their gorgeous green hills, waterfalls and caves and are excellent for bushwalking. Here you will also find Mount Kosciuszko, Australia?s highest peak at 2228metres. hostel, youth hostel, international youth hostel, cheap hostel, australia hostel, sydney hostel, youth hostel assoication, budget hostel reservation

Images courtesy of Tourism New South Wales