Goldenbackpacker.com

SYDNEY/BONDI - STAY FOR LESS "A$"

SYDNEY (NSW) was Australia’s first City when in 1788, 11 Ships of the “First Fleet” from Portsmouth, UK. deposited 732 convicts & 641 soldier/minders in the sheltered cove, after rejecting windy Botany Bay. At the start life was hard but in its 2 centuries it has experienced alternating periods of growth & decline. It weathered the effects of a gold rush (1851) trade booms, depressions, 2 World Wars & after successive waves of Asian & European migration in the 1950’s a distinctive City was established with fabulous Harbour. Its crowning glory, however, was to host the 2000 Summer Olympic Games which put Sydney firmly on the World scene.

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – KANGA HOUSE BACKPACKERS at 141 Victoria Street, Kings Cross (a trendy tree lined street close to KX station) freecall 1800 4KANGA – www. kangakouse.com.au - $20 pn dorms (also rooms) free breakfast, sep showers & wc’s. Good kitchen next to dining/ TV area at front, lounge/ TV downstairs with outside rear courtyard looking over to Opera House & City. Friendly, well-run hostel with free Internet & weekly bbq. - best location to walk to the main Sydney sights

Reserve – Eva’s Backpackers at 6 – 8 Orwell Street, Kings Cross (in side street opposite No 1 hostel) free call 1800 802 517, www.evasbackpackers.com.au - $20 pn dorms, free breakfast sep showers/ wc’s. Large kitchen/ common room, roof top garden with bbq. Friendly hostel with Eva in charge, again in good location for Sydney sights

NO 1 BONDI BEACH – NOAH’S BACKPACKERS (VIP) at 2 Campbell Parade (on main road to beach) tele (02) 9365 7100, www.noahsbondibeach.com - $20 pn dorms, sep showers/wc. Kitchen & large rooftop/ bbq area overlooking the fabulous beach, downstairs reception, TV lounge – good hostel

FOOD – self-catering supplies available at the large Coles Supermarket on KX, with fruit & veg from separate shop on approach. Plenty of value “Bottle” shops in KX for all your liquid needs. When you walk to the Wool. waterfront you will pass “Harry’s” famous mobile pie van at Wooloomooloo which serves famous Oz meat pies with mash & mushy peas - must be tried! IGA on Bondi’s Main St.

TRAVELLING AROUND – Quickest by metro trains, nearest at KX $2.20 one stop. Busses are next from $1.80 (2 sections) &$3 (5 secs) discounts with “Travel Tens”. A great value day ticket is the $13.40 explorer, which includes all types of transport including scheduled ferries. So you can get the morning train to Bondi Junction & bus onto the Beach then return to the Rocks & get on the ferry to Manly in the afternoon. Later at night back to the waterfront to see the Opera House lit up - what a great day out!

“FREE” ESSENTIAL SIGHTS TO SEE

1 The Opera House – World “Icon” 1973 building of “Shells”, designed by Joern Utzon a Dane
2.Harbour Bridge – Another “Icon” 1932 it’s an engineering triumph, known as the “Coathanger”
3. Macquaries Point – Ideal photo point for Opera H. & City also sit on Mrs Macs seat on headland
4. The Rocks – Location of original landing now main ferry harbour with rests. shops & Sun. Market
5. Darling Harbour – Vibrant tourist & entertainment complex with IMAX, Museums & Monorail
6. Museum of Contemporary Art – Décor style building dedicated to 20th C Art
7. Royal Botanical Gardens – Great vista with gnarled native Moreton Bay Figs & fruit bat colony
8. Central Business District (CBD) – Commercial nerve centre, GPO 1887 & skyscrapers
9. Sydney Parks – Hyde a peaceful haven in the centre & Domain for “Speakers Corner” & concerts
10 . Bondi Beach – Walk on the “Icon” sand, look at the great surf & just soak up the good life

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. The Opera House - Theatre, Concert Hall, Playhouse, Restaurants & “Possum Dreaming”
2. Harbour Bridge Top Walk – Girder view of Sydney, if you’ve got the bottle & the dosh!
3. Sydney Harbour Cruise – “Must” to sail on one of the famous ferries to see the magnificent views
4. Art Gallery of NSW – Best examples of Oz. Aboriginal & Torres Strait paintings on view
5. Taronga Zoo – Unique Oz. Wildlife, Koalas, Roos, Wombats, Platypus, Wallys & more
6. Sydney Tower – A City landmark 1981, at 305m it’s the tallest in the South Hemisphere

* Rosa, Craig, Jason – Ziad, Gayatri, Foppe, Paul – Bjorn, Corinn, Liam – Zoe – Martin & Lynn