Travel guide Sydney City & East

Accessible Sydney As an accessible tourism consultant  - and someone with Multiple Sclerosis – I know that when you’re disabled it’s a lot easier and cheaper to stay at home. However a family trip overseas made me realise that we were making memories that our boys would cherish for life. These days accessibility is a priority, not just for the disabled, but also for the elderly, families with strollers and other people with mobility issues  - and attractions and accommodation operators are moving to make their businesses available to everyone, not just the able-bodied. Sydney stacks up very well against other cities around the world for accessibility, and that no longer means expensive. Here are a few tips on travelling around Sydney when you are disabl... Read more

When you’re disabled it’s a lot easier - and cheaper - to stay at home. But after our family came home from a trip away, I realised the memories would be there with our boys for the rest of their lives.  It’s certainly not easy (when you’re disabled what is?) but it is worth it. My favourite Australian  destinations are: 1. Darling Harbour, Sydney I never visited Darling Harbour when growing up in Sydney.  But our family came up here and stayed 3 nights last year and had a wonderful time!  It was great being a tourist in what was once my own backyard.  After seeing a fair bit of overseas, I still think Sydney stacks up pretty well. The terrific thing about Darling Harbour is that it’s so much like Tasmania; a lot to do in such a sm... Read more

Sydney regularly appears in the list of top cities around the world – and with good reason!  It has a wonderful climate and a location like no other Australian city.  Spectacularly located on one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours, the city and suburbs follow the ridges and valleys in such a way that there is a view around almost every corner, with the sparkling waterways acting like a glittering magnet. The climate is welcoming all year round, but the most beautiful times of the year are the mild autumn and glorious spring, when the sometimes-oppressive heat of summer is just a memory.  Even in winter the city enjoys a mild climate, perfect for getting out and about and seeing all that is on offer. What to do Your problem won’t be wh... Read more

 There’s no place in the world like Sydney for style There’s no place in the world... Read more

World Youth Day Sydney 2008 Sydney will host World Youth Day, the world’s largest youth event, between 15 and 20 July 2008, in the presence of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. The six-day event is a celebration of universal solidarity among youth in the Catholic Church and is attended by Catholic youth aged between 16 and 35 years. It is estimated that up to 500,000 pilgrims will visit Sydney to attend the event, with more than 125,000 of those international visitors. Inspired by the great gatherings of the world’s youth for Palm Sunday events in Rome, Pope John Paul II established World Youth Day to reach out to the next generation of Catholics. The first World Youth Day was held in 1986, and since then it has become a major international celebration, held every two or three ... Read more

There’s no place in the world like Sydney for spas There’s so much to do in Sydney that it is easy to forget one of the best holiday experiences can be found in the moment you slow down, take a deep breath and soak it all in. Sydney has an array of urban sanctuaries, ideal for a spot of relaxation and pampering after exploring the city. Here is a selection of the best hotel and day spas to be found in Sydney: Day Spas Angsana Spa, Double Bay Angsana is linked with the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa in Thailand, offering everything from holistic massages to tropical scrubs in this trendy eastern suburbs retreat. www.angsanaspa.com/dayspas/doublebay   Aveda Concept Spa, Oxford Street Aveda Spa is famous for its rejuvenating Himalayan therapy, a two-hour treatment that... Read more

There’s no place in the world like Sydney for nature & the great outdoors Nature and wildlife is easily accessible in Sydney.  The city is completely fringed by national parks – in fact, Sydney Harbour forms its own national park, bordered to the north by Ku-ring-gai National Park and to the south by Royal National Park – with easy access to the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains in 90 minutes. The newest nature attraction in Sydney, Sydney Wildlife World, opened recently in Darling Harbour. Visitors can see more than 6000 animals such as rock wallabies and koalas, right in the heart of the city. There is also the long-standing Taronga Zoo, perched perfectly on the harbour foreshore at Mosman, where the giraffes are often said to have the best view of Sydney ... Read more

There’s no place in the world like Sydney for dining out Sydney offers fans of good food and wine an unforgettable experience. With world-famous chefs, cutting edge creativity, stunning views and delicious fresh cuisine, Sydney really is a haven for food lovers and is one of the world’s favourite food capitals.  Sydney’s food scene is dominated by an abundance of local, fresh produce, teamed with a breed of young and dynamic chefs who break all the rules, but continue to deliver a truly exciting range of dining experiences. The city boasts a banquet of world-class restaurants fronted by star chefs, and an array of markets, provedores and delis. Diners flock to the harbourside for a table by the water and dining under the stars is the perfect way to experience th... Read more

Sydneysiders love being outdoors. Their breezy lifestyles revolve around the city’s spectacular waterfront location and cultural activities – from movies and theatre performances to live music and festivals – regularly take place directly under the big blue sky, particularly during the summer. Both locals and visitors alike love to take advantage of the city’s unique beach culture – indeed, in Sydney there is more than 350km of coastline to enjoy and more than 90 beaches. Many of the city’s best beaches are within easy reach of the city and there’s plenty of things to do at each one – from adventurous activities like swimming, surfing and kayaking, to more sedate activities such as dining out at one of the many beachside restaurants, or enjoy... Read more

There’s no place in the world like Sydney for events Sydney is a sensational events capital. Its record for hosting large-scale events, including major sporting events such as the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the 2003 Rugby World Cup, is well known around the world. Sydney will host World Youth Day in 2008 and will welcome Pope Benedict XVI along with more than 100,000 youths who will follow a spectacular pilgrimage across Sydney. www.wyd2008.org In 2009, Sydney will host the World Masters Games, which is the biggest mass participation, multi-national, multi-sport festival in the world.  www.2009worldmasters.com The city also hosts a glittering range of artistic, cultural, social and community festivals and events. Here are some of Sydney’s annual event highlights: JA... Read more