Sydney - accommodation, restaurants etc
Replies: 10 - Last Post: Nov 18, 2012 3:07 PM Last Post By: hereandtherenz
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Sydney - accommodation, restaurants etc
I'm off to Sydney this week for a last minute work trip and have decided to stay an extra night and come home on the Sunday. This is my first trip to Sydney.Any suggestions for good centrally located accommodation that doesn't cost the earth? Something around $100 a night - I could stretch to more for a really nice place. A B&B would be lovely but a good hotel would be okay. I'm staying near central station for work so somewhere easy to get to from there would be bonus.
Suggestions for restaurants/cafes near central station or in the city? Mid price range or cheap but great food. I like all kinds of food - main criteria are good food and good service.
Best cafes for good coffee near central station?
Any suggestions for how to spend my Saturday? I like art galleries and museums, beaches, doing active things. I've heard the zoo is great? Or perhaps I make the most of the warmer climes and go to the beach (good easily accessible beaches?) Can you go kayaking or sailing on the harbour? The Opera House doesn't really interest me (It's just a building, right?), but am I making a mistake in not going to see that?
Thanks
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How to spend your Saturday - go to Circular Quay, you will see the bridge on one side, the Opera House on the other. Take the ferry to Manly, it goes the length of the harbour. Walk from the ferry terminal along the Corso (the main street) to the ocean beach on the other side. Spend some time at the main beach, walk around to your right to Shelly Beach. Come back to ferry, when you get back to Circular Quay walk around to the Rocks and see something of the historic side of Sydney (in between the tacky tourist stuff).For accommodation less than $100 you are looking at a hostel, there's a good one at the Rocks I believe. Can't help with food and coffee, I'm Subway's best customer when I'm travelling.
(On second thoughts, maybe do the Rocks before Manly, I think they have markets on in the morning).
Edited by: libbyh
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Markets! Perfect. Thanks Libby.Been looking at accommodation options. I'm pretty sure that Sydney is a contender for most expensive hotels in the world award.
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I think Manly has a Saturday market on the Corso (pedestrian mall between harbour and ocean beach). There was one on last time I was there.You are right about accommodation. Check Wotif.com for specials - scroll to the bottom for cheaper options.
There are lots of coffee shops and pubs around Central, depending on which side you are staying. Chinatown is also a good option, as is Paddy's Market.
There are 3 YHA hostels in the city, two near Central, and one near Circular Quay. These are worth looking at, as is the YWCA hotel, near Hyde Park.
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For this particular weekend coming, Saturday night appears to be virtually booked out in Sydney, especially affordable rooms. I was looking for a friend, there was really nothing <$300 on Saturday night for a hotel room. You may well have to stay in a hostel to even close to affordable.7
Now that I'm sitting at the airport waiting for my flight out, thought I'd answer some of my own questions.Campos coffee was fabulous on a weekday morning but must have a different barista in the weekends because Saturday morning coffee was a big disappointment.
Rubyos in Newton was a great restaurant - and a walk done King St afterwards was nice - lots of funky shops and the best second hand book store that I've seen in a long time.
El Bulli in Surry Hills had nice food and a very very nice white wine sangria (but according to my dinner companions, not as nice as the Cuban place in York St).
Waterfall at Manly had great service and nice food - the squid entree was divine, not at all rubbery like some squid you get.
The Opera Bar was a very nice spot to have a drink and watch the world go by. Wasn't that expensive either.
Only disappointment was the accommodation. I stayed at two hotels that were supposedly 4 star - wouldn't return to either.
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The Mercure by Central Station - great location and nice enough room, but the tap dripped constantly, the toilet wouldn't stop flushing unless you held the button just so, and the room wasn't serviced properly. Not huge complaints, but for the price I was paying....The Stamford Plaza Airport Hotel was a very nice room, but they should have invested a bit in sound proofing. I could hear the TV from the room next door and unfortunately they were night owls so at 2 am I was still awake and able to listen to the trains going by as the track is right next to the hotel. If you do stay there, ask for a room on the other side. I did get a very good coffee at the lobby bar while I was waiting for the airport transfer in the morning though.
