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Sydney Vacation Rentals & Vacation Rental Homes - Rent Holiday Homes in Sydney:
Sydney Australia is a bustling, energetic city of many flavours. There is the magnificent Harbour, with its iconic bridge and Opera house, always full of yachts and cruisers, and not forgetting the bustling ferries, crowding in and out of circular quay.
Sydney centre has much to do for the visitor, all within an easy walk, or on the abundant and cheap metro bus and train routes. Shopping on Elizabeth street, with the magnificent Victorian shopping arcade, Darling Harbour with its many eateries, all with water views, and its own casino. The Botanic gardens, offering leafy walks and ancient shade trees, which is just behind the Opera house.
South Sydney
Then there are the surrounding beach suburbs to the south , such as Bondi beach, Coogee Beach, Bronte beach, and others, all within a 10-15 min taxi ride to the centre, or a 20-25 min bus ride . These are all well supplied with restaurants and shopping areas, and are probably the best way to see the 'real' Sydney. Evenings here are where the residents spend their time in a 'cafe' lifestyle, spending hours eating, having coffee, or drinking a 'coldie', in the many establishments, almost all of which overflow onto the streets and give an almost parisian feel to the areas. The pubs vie to serve the coldest beer, and offer much live music, and where the younger crowd spend their nights until the early morning, before wearily heading home.
Bondi beach is the best known of these suburbs, and starts early morning with the runners, walkers and surfers getting in excercise and sport before they head to work. There is a coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte, and then to Coogee beach which should not be missed, and early morning is the coolest time to do this.
There are many good restaurantsand eateries along the front, as well as pubs and fast food outlets, with one of the best city beaches on the world, cleaned,groomed and combed daily, and with the signature red and yellow capped lifeguards on permanent duty. Just up the road, a 5 min bus ride away, is Bondi junction, which has a main bus station and train centre, as well as the largest mall in central Sydney, a shopping must!.
Coogee and Bronte beaches, also offer the same outdoors lifestyles, and eateries, although parking can be a problem in all these beaches in peak season. The meters swallow the coins very fast and must be satiated quite often.
Further down still is the Rose Bay area, again with excellent shops, a very nice seafront walk along the marinas, and down to the 'Mayfair' of Sydney,Vaucluse, with its huge mansions with bridge views, then Watsons bay with is famous waterfront restaurants..just a ferry hop away from the Opera house, or even better, a water taxi ride, which is excellent value for a small group, and really, the only way to experience Sydney harbour. Ask the driver for a mini tour, as he may take you ( at extra cost of course!), in and out of some of the bays and beaches.
The Rocks, at the southern end of the bridge, is also a fascinating area, and almost maintained in its original condition. The street market there at weekends is full of local handicraft stalls, with arworks, carvings, and opals on display. Several excellent puibs with food, complete the experience.
Drinkers note.. a midi is equivalent to a half pint, and a schooner is about a pint. All the bars sell wine by the glass, although a bottle is usually better value. Also for wine lovers, a tour of the wine region Hunter Valley about an hours drive to the north, is well worthwhile.
Other main things not to miss
Blue Montains ( Katoomba and the Three Sisters)
The Bridge Climb
Manly waterfront and beach
The Sydney Zoo
Kings Cross at night
Fox studios ( and the farmers market at weekends)
Oxford Street at night
Lunch at the Bondi Icebergs club
Breakfast at 'Bills' on Crown Street