Sydney

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My Year Out

A February 2005 trip to Sydney by noushi

I graduated from school last September, and have always wanted to explore the world before settling down to a responsible job. So far I have covered the whole of Asia, and am now on the Australia leg of the tour. This entry is about my time in Sydney.

  • 11 reviews

My Year OutBest of IgoUgo

Overview

You've gotta just got see an opera at Sydney Opera House. I went to see Tosca, and it was just superb--you can get a ticket for as little as 22 bucks (under 10 pounds). Definitely worth it!

Take a ferry to Manly or Darling Harbour (don't take a water taxi, as these are very expensive).

You must also definitely explore the area known as The Rocks. It's full of charming shops and cafes, often tucked away in exquisite courtyards. It also has a fab weekend market, maybe a bit touristy but still worth a look, where excellent jewelry to be bought. The Rocks also contains a wicked German restaurant and beer hall that serves up huge portions of bratwurst and sauerkraut.

You can also escape the city and head up to the Blue Mountains; the YHA there is excellent and central to see the Three Sisters. Also go on the cable car, where excellent views of the landscape are to be had.

Quick Tips:

Just to let you know...

When in Sydney, get a few things straight. French fries are chips. Don't ask for a hamburger with the lot unless you like everything from fried onions to pineapple on your burger. And even on the most overcast day, have some sunscreen on, or else you will get burnt.

Best Way To Get Around:

Buses are reliable, and the best thing to do is buy an all-day travel pass; it costs 15 dollars but can be used as much as you want on all trains, buses, and ferries. You can easily make up your money, especially if you use the ferry, which is great for views of the bridge and opera house.

Sydney Central YHABest of IgoUgo

Hotel

We stayed in a double suite, which was clean and great for the price, considering the location. (It's opposite Central Station, and the bus stop to go straight to the harbour is right outside the door, too). The dorm rooms, I am told, are also dirt cheap! It has Internet connection and a large cafe, and though there are 160 rooms, be sure to ask for a quiet one, as the dorm rooms near us were very loud. One other slight problem we found was, though in all other respects we found the accommodation excellent, that the rooms had very limited air-conditioning. The temperature is controlled by the hostel--there are no controls in the room--so prepare to boil! We were not the only ones to complain.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by noushi on February 21, 2005

Sydney Central YHA
11 Rawson Place Sydney, Australia
92819111

Glebe Point YHABest of IgoUgo

Hotel

This surely has to be one of the best hostels Sydney has to offer. Yes, it may not be right in the centre, but the bus stop is opposite the hostel, and it only takes 10 minutes to get into the heart of town or a 12-Aussie-dollar taxi ride. What's so good about this place is that the road it's on is lovely, there are lots of little cafes and restaurants, and there are two pubs. The Ancient Britton Pub claims to have the coldest beer in the whole of Sydney, as they chill it a few degrees below the normal temperature. There are also the Glebe weekend markets, which close at 4pm, and a very good fish market. But the real good thing about this hostel is that not only does it have great facilities, laundry, kitchen, pool room, book-exchange library, Internet cafe, and it's quiet! With no people shouting outside our window at 3am on a Friday night, we actually had a good night's sleep. There is a fan in your room, plus a sink(what bliss). The windows all have mosquito nets on them, so you can leave the window open all night without getting bitten. There were at least five showers and five toilets on each floor that were separated from one another, so no queues in the morning. Bloody fantastic!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noushi on February 21, 2005

Glebe Point YHA
YHA Glebe Sydney, Australia

Heritage Belgian Beer CafeBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Occupied in a heritage-listed building, this bistro and bar does not only have fabulous food but also a great range of beers. We drank here numerous times while we were in Sydney, and it was always busy. They have around 35 draught and bottled beers, including Hoegaarden and Trappist beers. The beers may be big but so are the portions of marinated mussels and frites. They also do great lamb and rosemary sausages with mash ($20) and great Belgian waffles for dessert.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by noushi on February 25, 2005

Heritage Belgian Beer Cafe
135 Harrington Street Sydney, Australia
+61 92411775

Lowenbrau KellerBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

If you love German food, this place is a must, and even if you don't, the variety of beer is mouthwatering: dark and pale wheat beers, Paulanger, Lowenbrau etc. You can people-watch outside while their German band plays renditions from the Sound of Music, or sit inside the beer hall.

They do an all-day breakfast with the lot for $9 and also an all-day snack menu, which offers delights such as bratwurst with sauerkraut and creamy potatoes for only $11. However, the mains are something else. Try their specialty, the Lowenbrau pork schnitzel with fries and herb mayo; it’s huge and only $22 (under £10!) The mixed sausage platter with sauerkraut and mash was also fab, as was the roasted pork knuckle. The food and beer were excellent. All in all, it was a great night out, whether with a group of mates or a partner. It is also good for families during lunchtime.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noushi on February 25, 2005

Lowenbrau Keller
Corner of Playfair & Argyle Streets Sydney, Australia
+61 (02) 9247 7785

Bungalow 8Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

When I first heard the name of this place, I immediately thought of Manhattan’s exclusive nightclub (Bungalow 8) made famous for the fact that you need to have a key to enter. Bungalow 8 may not be this, but it is certainly the trendiest bar and eatery on the promenade. On the weekends, the buzz is definitely louder, with cool tunes and a funky crowd. They have a good range of beers, including Hoegaarden, and quite a nice wine list. The food was also good. I had the fish-and-chips, which was huge, and my partner had the swordfish with café de paris butter. We would definitely rate the food above average. The views at this place are great, and it's also a good place for what Sydney-ers like to do best, people-watch on their fabulously sunny waterfront terrace.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by noushi on March 4, 2005

Bungalow 8
8 The Promenade, King Street Wharf Sydney, Australia
+61 92994660

Sydney Harbour BridgeBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Sydney Bridge Climb"

Before you start, you need to know the tour takes over 3 hours, and you need to be reasonably fit; otherwise, you'll be panting and huffing every 5 minutes, wishing you stayed in the pub nearby, where you could watch your mates do it while you relax with a drink in your hand (like I did). The staff was great and friendly; they really did prepare you, and the views were amazing, especially at sunset. You all wore suits and were tied to one another, which did make you feel better and safer, I may add! Though I found it a bit of a struggle at first, the guide was so encouraging and supportive that I began to enjoy myself, and upon reaching the top, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. If you're not afraid of heights and walking up steep bridges, I'd definitely recommend it.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by noushi on February 21, 2005

Sydney Harbour Bridge
5 Cumberland Street Sydney, Australia 2000
+61 (2) 8274 7777

EstablishmentBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is a typical after-work upmarket bar, a huge place. The bar is in fact 42 metres! Ladies have nicknamed this place "the dry cleaners," as it's easy to pick up a suit. So you can get a good idea about the crowd the bar attracts. They have a good cocktail menu, all around 15 bucks, but I did find the place a bit overrated and snobbish, rather than people out for a laugh.

If you're a lady out with the girls and are looking to pick up a rich man, then this is the place for you; otherwise, I wouldn't go out of my way to find the place.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by noushi on February 21, 2005

Establishment
252 George St Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera HouseBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Located overlooking the Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Opera House has over a million tiles on the roof and is one of the busiest performing art centres in the world. Its grand organ is the world's largest mechanical organ. Sitting 10m above the concert hall, the organ boasts 10,000 pipes! This is a must-see; do not leave Sydney until you have locked your eyes on the opera house.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noushi on February 28, 2005

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point Sydney, Australia 2000
+61 (2) 9250 7111

ScuBarBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is probably the number one backpacker’s bar in Sydney. This place, especially once nighttime kicks in, is a nonstop party bar. Every night there is something different, so you need to check out what's going on. They even have crab racing one night a week. Drink beer with locals and other travelers (it’s right next to the Sydney Central YHA), so most of the backpackers from YHA tend to hang out there.

It has a great atmosphere and good beer!

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by noushi on February 28, 2005

ScuBar
Nr Central Station Sydney, Australia

Café SydneyBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Cafe Sydney"

The Havana Bar at Cafe Sydney certainly has a pole position in Circular Quay. This bar is full of people waiting to get a table at Cafe Sydney, but due to its great location and buzzing atmosphere, we decided to pop in and have a few drinks. In all honesty, it's not just a "waiting" bar but a bar in its own right. It's busy, but not overpacked, and though it has an international clientele, it is not touristy. It has a definite buzz, and the cocktails are good too--worth a look in.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by noushi on March 4, 2005

Café Sydney
236 Clarence Street Sydney, Australia 2000
+61 (0)2 9261 5666

About the Writer

noushi
noushi
London, United Kingdom

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