• Travel Planning – Buy a good Australian map and plan the places/regions you intend visiting in Australia. This is crucial since so many other factors evolve from this point. Don’t believe anyone who says, “just arrive and go from there”, as they are usually the ones who waste time and money.  

•  Have a logically flowing direction, avoid backtracking (Australia is huge!) and look at air travel as a means of covering large distances. Unlike in any other times before now is the time you can do this seriously cheap    

• Travel Money, Visas & Backpackers Work – Get an idea in broad terms what it will cost to do what you want: e.g. lodging, travel, food, tours, and party essentials. Don’t leave yourself short, there is nothing worse whilst travelling around than arriving at a destination icon and not being able to pass through the gates. It sounds stupid but it happens all the time. Feeding your self-noodles on toast and moping around a backpackers hostel won’t generate the money. Working while your remain in Australia can help, and many travellers on working holiday visas do make money to further their travels, however this normally just sustains the non-stop partying most travellers seek. If you think the money you have already saved will not be enough, now is the time to work some overtime at home, beg your parents and/or get a large credit card limit to use as a final resort. Travellers with a working holiday visa keep in mind you can only get this once in your life, so I suggest that if you’re not sure of your prospects come over on a three month holiday visa, try things out, and if all looks good you can go over to New Zealand or the nearest South Pacific country and then get one. Also another very vital point to bear in mind (with the working holiday visa scheme) is that even though you are probably very well educated and qualified, any one employer can only legally hire you for 3 months at a time, so the possibility of getting a great job is low. Most backpacker travellers in Australia get work labouring on building sites, waiting/cooking/cleaning in bars, restaurants and cafes (hospitality), serving in shops (retail), data entry, telephone sales or fruit picking. 

   

   

• Optimal Timing - After deciding that what you really want to do is within the realms of possibility, check seasonality and the major events calendar. These are two very essential subjects because they will most likely cause you to sit back down at the map… detours will be created, times will be changed, and the end result will make for an excellent trip. There is nothing worse than turning up to a place to find everybody saying, “you should have been here last week”. Australia has many different climatic conditions because it is a huge country and there are so many festivals and events I am sure you certainly would want to attend. To list every event would be way too time consuming and I’m sure most of the popular guide books list them together with the weather conditions expected at particular times.   

• Travel Guide Books - Buy a good guidebook and read what it says. I know it’s hard to envision a place until you have landed but this will help you. Currently the most popular backpacker guidebooks are the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Lets Go and BUG Australia.  
• Pack Lightly - Travelling with the least amount of weight on your back gives you the freedom and will help you save money by being able to walk to a hostel from a drop-off rather than taking a taxi, bus etc. However, Australia’s backpacking network is so well organized you rarely have to walk far at all. So that spare space can be kept for a souvenir or two. We do have shops over here and with exchange rates it probably makes shopping cheaper than at home.    

• ‘Stop over’ in Asia En-route to Australia - Practically every flight from Europe stops to refuel in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok, so take advantage of this for little/no extra cost and have a look around. They are all fascinating places to visit and the cost is low, plus it breaks that long flight up. Do you really want to sit in the same seat for 24 hours?  

Sydney hostels

The doorway to Australia, Sydney is well known as a dynamic and cosmopolitan city, combining excellent business and education facilities with great leisure.

Famed for its World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House, Sydney is one of the world’s much-loved cities, and has been voted “world’s best city” by readers of US travel magazines Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler. The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 also ranks Sydney first in the Asia Pacific for quality of life.

Australia’s oldest and largest city is situated on one of the world’s most stunning harbours, fringed by easy-to-reach, sandy beaches. Sydney Harbour divides the city into north and south, with harbourside villages, beachside suburbs and inner city areas full of life and their own distinctive character.

Sydney has a sunny, temperate climate, which contributes to Sydneysiders’ relaxed lifestyle and love of the great outdoors. There are five big national parks around Sydney with 8,000 square kilometres of open space.

Outstanding local fresh produce and world-class wines enhance this multicultural city’s restaurant and cafe scene. Sydney has a dynamic arts and cultural outlook. It is home to some of Australia’s leading arts organisations such as Opera Australia, Sydney Symphony, Sydney Dance Company and Sydney Theatre Company and has produced many talented writers, film directors and performers.

Logically, Sydney divides in to several regions, all areas are a must see for them tourists who are looking to getting a full view of the city and her history. Each area has unique local attractions along with plenty of things to keep the visitors continuously entertained.

The Airport

Sydney airport also known as the Kingsford Smith International Airport is the busiest airport in the country. Short stay visitors staying at an airport hotel can enjoy the nearby beach. The main road, General Holmes Drive passes under the runway, runs parallel to the beach past Brighton-Le-Sands and Monterey to Dolls Point. Sydney CBD is just 15 minutes away from the airport by train.

The City

In the city is where you will find The Rocks, Chinatown, the Town Hall and world famous attractions Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Hyde Park and the Australian Museum. You can also visit Macquarie Street and Queens Square, take a walk through The Domain and visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mrs Macquarie’s Point and the Royal Botanical Gardens. Go shopping at major department stores and fashion boutiques in the centre of town, and get an eagle’s eye view from the AMP Tower.

The Rocks

This is where you will find more of historical buildings than anywhere else in Sydney as well as shopping, cafes, restaurants, pubs and entertainment. Towering above all this is the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Observatory Hill. If your budget permits, The Rocks has a huge range of five star hotels on the waters edge.

Darling Harbour

If you want to see popular Sydney attractions such as Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, the Chinese Garden and Imax Theatre, then this is the place you need to be. Here you will find a wide choice of restaurants and cafes and the China town, this place is packed with restaurants and shops selling Chinese goods from embroidery to jade carvings. The Chinatown is situated right next to the Sydney Entertainment Centre and close to Darling Harbour.

Darlinghurst

This place is famous for having many restaurants that serve mouth-watering cuisines. Many feature delicious Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The area around Taylor Square has many bars, discos, restaurants, cafes, and boutiques along with plenty of other different forms of entertainment that are geared especially to keep the Gay and Lesbian tourists entertained.

Kings Cross

Probably the next most popular tourist attraction after the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, Kings Cross is the place for them backpackers seeking sexual pleasures. The popular nightspot is a ten minutes drive from the inner city when there is less traffic on the roads.

The Eastern Suburbs

The Eastern Suburbs stretch from the city along the southern foreshore of Sydney Harbour to Watsons Bay near the headland guarding the southern entrance to the harbour, South Head. In this area you will find attractions such as Kings Cross, Darlinghurst and Paddington. You can visit trendy Double Bay and enjoy the views of Sydney Harbour on the way to Watson Bay. The well-known Bondi Beach is where the Eastern Suburbs meet the Southern Beaches

The Southern Beaches

The Southern Beaches stretches from Bondi to Cronulla on the Kurnell Peninsula. At the Botany Bay on the same shoreline is where Lieutenant James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for England.

The Inner West

Here there are an abundance of restaurants, cafes, and pubs. A short ferry ride from here will bring you to the historic Balmain, or you can catch the bus or a taxi to Glebe and Newtown.

Parramatta/Outer West

Parramatta, established just after Sydney was founded in 1788, was the food bowl of the then fledgling colony. Here is where they grazed their cattle and grew their food. Today, Parramatta is the business centre of the Outer Western Suburbs, and has a smattering of historically very important buildings.

North Sydney

This is where you will find the Taronga Park Zoo and its many exotic animals. Satellite commercial centre just across the Harbour Bridge is the gateway to the Lower North Shore. Enjoy great views of the city and try the cafes, pubs and clubs at Kirribilli, Milsons Point and McMahons Point. You can also drop into Balmoral for a swim and try the clubs and restaurants at The Spit and watch the yachts go by.

Manly

For all of you, who love water sports, manly is the place where you can have some serious fun! Manly probably has the finest stretch of golden sand, surfing beach in the world for swimmers board riders and wind surfers. You will find plenty of places serving great food and where you can enjoy a drink. If you want, you can even take a short drive to Palm Beach and enjoy superb ocean views as well!

The Northern Beaches

All you yachting and boating fanatics, you can have a superb time at Newport and Church Point on Pittwater, come and see for your selves! While you are there, dive in to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and smell the gum trees, which are the hallmark of the Australian bush.

Regions just outside of Sydney

The Hunter Valley

Want to see Australia’s oldest and one of its greatest wine areas? Then come to Hunter Valley. This place may not be the biggest wine producing region in Australia, but it sure has a long history behind it!

Initially established 150 year ago, Hunter Valley is home to some 80 wineries ranging from famous labels to very small ’boutique’ winemakers. The region is famous for its full-bodied white wines, ‘medium weight reds’ and some excellent ports.

Hunter Valley is a mere 1 ½ – 2 ½ hours drive from Sydney with a population of 3 million people. Hunter Valley is an extremely popular getaway for Sydneysiders, offering a quiet taste of the country with intimate guesthouses and cosy inns; many of these are converted from old mansions and cottages

The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains form part of the Great Dividing Range that stretches from Gippsland region of Victoria in the south to the tropical rainforests of north Queensland. The foot hills are just a 60 km away from the Sydney CBD.

On this mountain is a huge eucalypts forest. Under the hot sun, these trees discharge a fine mist of eucalyptus oil from the leaves. This mist reflects light, which causes the blue haze you see when looking from distance, hence the name ‘Blue Mountain’

Stunning scenery and the rugged terrain attracts an abundance of tourists to this region. The area is dotted with waterfalls, and there is great variety in the vegetation as you descend into the valleys. Mountain biking (cycling) has become very popular; abseiling and canoeing with expert guides are also big attractions.

There are a plenty of things happening in the Blue Mountains even during the winter. With a light to medium snowfall Sydneysiders relish the opportunity to enjoy roaring log fires, eggnog, good food and wine, and outside winter walks and activities

In Sydney there is an abundance of dedicated bike paths that are free of traffic and pass through parks, along beaches and rivers, and via breathtaking lookouts. For those of you without your own set of wheels, you can hire a bike at the Sydney Olympic Park   

All bike rides start at a convenient distance from train stations. You don’t have to pay extra when taking your bike on City Rail trains during off-peak times and on weekends. You can also take your bike for free at all times on the ferry and on wheelchair-accessible buses at the driver’s discretion. 

You can easily identify bike routes since these are always marked with a signpost. However, if you are not yet sure, handy books such as Bike Rides around Sydney provide detailed directions and maps. Maps also are available online in the RTA website www.rta.nsw.gov.au .  You can also find maps covering Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains in the RTA website. Another excellent riders’ resource is www.bikely.com which is a searchable database of cycling routes.

Sydney Hiking/Walking

Hiking/Walking: Manly Scenic Walkway

This is a 10KM walkway where you can have different scenic views of the Sydney Harbour. The trail begins at Manly Wharf. You can get a detailed map of the walk from the tourist information centre.

On this trail you will be passing through native bush land and you can see Aboriginal engravings. You also will get to see an Echidna close to the end of the walkway at Spit Bridge. You will need walking shoes and remember to take some water and food with you.

Hiking/Walking: Between Bondi and Coogee

There is a nice paved walkway between Bondi and Coogee along the coastline. When on this trail you get to see spectacular ocean views. The walk originates at the South end of Bondi and takes you through the suburbs of Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly Bay. It takes about 2, 5 hrs if you walk slowly. You will need walking shoes.

Hiking / Walking: Harbour Bridge – Pylon Lookout

From the Pylon Lookout you can get a great view of Sydney’s world famous landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera house. Also from up here you can have an amazing view of the Sydney Skyline. Besides getting to see great views of Sydney, inside the lookout there is a fascinating display of how this bridge was built. You can enter the Pylon from the pedestrian walkway from The Rocks.

Hiking / Walking: The Rocks

This is a delightful walkway where you will encounter a maze of narrow streets, laneways and interconnected sandstone cottages and terraces filled with shops, stalls, cafes and restaurants. The real thrill of it all is simply walking around the streets and soaking up the atmosphere. This path will take you pass Coroners Court, Mercantile Hotel, Oriental Hotel, Sailor’s home as well as so many other interesting places.

Hiking / Walking: Blue Mountains

There are some great walking trails around the Blue Mountains with different levels of difficulty. Walking down all of these is a seriously invigorating experience for those who dare to take the challenge.  If you are one of them remember to wear a pair of comfortable walking shoes because at some sections it is no cakewalk.

This is a railway service operating from 5AM till midnight 7 days a week, links the domestic and international terminals to all city circle railway stations. For additional information you can call 02 8337 8412 or visit the website www.airportlink.com.au.

Buses

Sydney Busses operates in the entire city. The main bus terminals are at Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall and Central Station. You can find more information about Sydney Buses from:

• Bus kiosks located at Circular Quay, Wynyard Station and Queen Victoria Building (QVB) & Railway Square (Central Station).

• Calling 131 500 or www.131500.info

• www.sydneybuses.info

Trains

Metropolitan services

You can use the CityRail leisure and tourist tickets to get you where you want to go. For travelling around the city centre you can take the City Circle Line (Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Museum and St James Stations). There is a station also at Martin Place. Ticket vending machines are open 24 hours. Information about CityRail services is available from:

• Train kiosks at circular Quay and Central Stations

• Sydney Transport Infoline: www.131500.info Tel: 131 500    

• City Rail website: www.cityrail.info.

Interstate and Intrastate Services

The main junction for interstate and intrastate rail services is the Central Railway Station. You can find additional information about interstate and intrastate train services from:

• Train kiosks at Central Station

• Sydney Transport Infoline: www.131500.info Tel: 131 500

• Countrylink Infoline: www.countrylink.info Tel: 132 232.

Ferries

Taking a ferry to and from the city will give you a delightful experience. You can catch one at the Sydney Harbour. For further information you check call or visit:

• Ferry kiosks at Circular Quay and Manly

• Sydney Transport Infoline: www.131500.info Tel: 131 500

• Sydney Ferries website: www.sydneyferries.info.

Light Rail

Sydney’s latest transport system is the Monorail. You can ride the Monorail on any day or hour of the week.

You can even take a Tram ride from historic Central Station through vibrant Chinatown and Darling Harbour to the Star City Casino, the Sydney Fish Markets and Wentworth Park.

Call Metro Light Rail on 02 9285 5600 or visit www.metrolightrail.com.au if you need to know any more information.

Monorail

The monorail has a wonderful city loop with eight stops throughout the CBD. There is a monorail departing every 3-5 minutes and takes approximately 15 minutes to finish the circuit. Single trips or day passes can be bought at every station. Dial 02 8584 5288 or visit www.metromonorail.com.au for additional information.

Taxis

There is an abundance of taxis in Sydney, you can either hail one that is passing you by on the street or get one at ranks at Circular Quay, Wynyard Station, or at the Town Hall Station. You can ask your hotel concierge if you need a taxi to pick you at the hotel.

Sydney & Bondi Explorer (Tourist buses)

If you are looking to having most comprehensive hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours available, then you can check that out with the 27 stop ‘red’ Sydney Explorer and 19 stop ‘blue’ Bondi Explorer. They are the only timetabled services, which offer a minimum 20-minute service frequency and include travel on the regular Sydney Buses network (blue travel zone).

You can purchase one day or two day tickets from both Sydney and Bondi Explorer. You can even buy your ticket on board the bus.

For additional information dial 131 500 or visit www.sydneyexplorer.info

City Hopper (Train)

You can ride the City Hopper train and enjoy unlimited all day rail travel in the area bounded by Kings Cross, North Sydney and Redfern.

Visit www.cityrail.info for additional information.

SydneyPass (Tourist ticket)

The SydneyPass is available for 3, 5, and 7 days. With this you can enjoy unlimited travel on the Sydney and Bondi Explorer buses, all CityRail trains within a bounded area, all Sydney Buses and all Sydney Ferries, and return AirportLink train transfers. Your ‘SydneyPass’ tourist ticker also provides you with discounts into Sydney’s major attractions. You can purchase a SydneyPass ticket onboard the Explorer buses as well as from tourist outlets, travel agents and most CityRail Stations.

Visit www.sydneypass.info or phone 131 500 if you need any more information.

Day Tripper Ticket

If you are looking for ‘all in a day’ ticket then the Day Tripper ticket is for you. This ticket provides you with access to all three modes of Government transport in Sydney.  You can utilise your ticket to travel in all regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries and CityRail Suburban Services within a bounded area.

A search for Sydney backpacker accommodation on any search engine will reveal a plethora of Sydney backpacker accommodation providers claiming they offer the cheapest accommodation in Sydney. However, to get the best deal in town you first need to do some serious research of your own.

After finding as many cheap accommodation providers in Sydney as you think is enough, you then need to compare the rates and facilities displayed by different, ‘providers of cheapest accommodation in Sydney’. Doing this will make it possible for you to find out the actual cheapest accommodation provider in Sydney as well as the Sydney budget accommodation provider offering the best value for your money. 

Your research will make you realize that some budget accommodation providers in Sydney may have Slightly higher rates than the cheapest accommodation providers, but when looking at the facilities they have and the kind of service they promise to their clients for the rates quoted, you can easily judge for your self as to whom should you choose between the two, whether it is the one having the cheapest backpacker accommodation rates in town or the one who is offering the best value for money budget accommodation deal in town.

Kings cross hostels, are often chosen by Sydney cheap accommodation seeking backpackers, because staying in a conveniently situated Kings cross hostel will help them save money otherwise spent on transportation. If you need to know more about Kings cross hostels, you can easily do so on the Internet  

Welcome to our new site. this site will have all the info you need for backpacking in Australia. Find hostels sites and compare rates & services.