Sydney Budget Travel Guide


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Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia
Author: Adam.J.W.C. (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)



Sydney Budget Travel Guide provides you the details to plan your visit to the biggest city in Australia. I write this with budget travelers in mind, especially those who are planning to visit Sydney on a limited budget. You can find here useful information on public transport and accommodation. I have also listed down the places of interest in Sydney that you may want to visit.

Guide to Exploring Sydney

Sydney is the biggest, oldest and most iconic city of Australia. It also has a reputation for being one of the most cosmopolitan and most livable cities in the world. In this Sydney Travel Guide, I want to introduce you to this biggest city in Australia, and help you, as an independent traveller, discover all its places of interest.

Discovering Sydney

In addition to being the biggest city of Australia, Sydney is also the state capital of New South Wales. It has close to 4.4 million inhabitants. Its history goes back to 1788, when the British established a colony at Sydney Cove. The city eventually spreads out around a body of water called the Sydney Harbour. At Sydney Harbour are some of the most famous landmarks of Sydney, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.


Under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Author: Corey Leopold (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)


Sydney is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Blue Mountains to the west, the Hawkesbury River to the north, and the Royal National Park to the south. Sydney Harbour is actually a submergent coastline. It was created when the ocean level rose to cover the river valleys.

There are many beaches in Sydney. The most famous are Bondi Beach and Manly.

Sydney enjoys warm summers and cool winters. January is usually the hottest month, when temperature may exceed 40°C, while July is the coldest month, with temperature going down to below 10°C. The city doesn't get too much rain, nor is it affected by cyclones, although it some times does experience soft hail, usually during the winter month of July.

Downtown Sydney is called the Central Business District, or CBD. This is the area that stretches from Sydney Cove to around the Central station. It is bordered by parks such as the Domain to the east, Darling Harbour to the west. Most of the skyscrapers of Sydney are concentrated within the CBD area, and towering over everything is Sydney Tower.


Sydney Opera House, late afternoon
Sydney Opera House, late afternoon
Author: Corey Leopold (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Budget Travel to Sydney

Sydney International Airport (in full, Sydney Kingsford-Smith International Airport, SYD), located south of Sydney in Mascot, NSW, is the most important airport in Australia for both international and domestic flights. Sydney Airport is only 8km from the city centre, and has three main terminals: T1, T2 and T3. T1 is the International Terminal, while T2 and T3 are for domestic flights. T1 is separated from T2 and T3 by a runway, so travellers transiting between terminals should allow sufficient time between flights. Terminals T2 and T3 are next to each other, so you can walk between them. To reach T1 from T2 and T3 or vice versa, you need to take a transport. If you are flying with Qantas, you can use the air-side shuttle service. Otherwise, the options are train, bus and taxi.

  • The train between terminals is the AirportLink, AirportLink, which is connected to Sydney's suburban train network. It takes just 2 minutes to go between terminals. Follow the train sign to the station, and make sure the train is heading in the right direction. The fare is $4.70.

  • The bus service, called T-Bus, use the normal road to go between terminals. It takes 10 minutes to shuttle passengers between terminals, some times more if they get stuck in a jam. The fare is $5.00
  • The third option is by taxi. Taxis are not entirely happy to ferry passengers between terminals. That's because they have been in the taxi queue for a while, and doing so puts them at the end of the queue again, for a 10-minute journey that does not earn them as much as a trip to the city. Nevertheless be firm about it, for it is legal requirement for taxis to take you there. The fare is $10.00.


    Church of Mary Immaculate, Waverley, Sydney
    Church of Mary Immaculate, Waverley, Sydney
    Author: J Bar (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)

    Getting Out of Sydney Airport

    Sydney Airport is just about 9 km from the city centre. A train ride will take just 10 minutes while the bus will take 30 minutes, depending on traffic. There's an underground train station at each of the airport terminals, while the bus and taxi stands are outside the Arrival Halls.
    • By Bus. Taking the bus and then connecting to commuter train is probably the cheapest way into Sydney. Bus No. 400 goes to Bondi Junction and Burwood via Rockdale Station. It costs $2.90 for the international terminal, and $3.90 for the domestic terminals. From Rockdale, take the train to the city for $3.20. Get the Red Travelpass for $33. It allows you 7 days of unlimited use of the bus, train and ferry in Sydney. Go to CityRail TravelPass for details and terms of use. Also, visit 131500 Transport Infoline for information on transport in the Greater Sydney area.
    • By Taxi. The fare to the city is approximately $25-$30, including tolls. It will cost more to farther destinations in Sydney, ie The Rocks $35-$40, North Sydney $35, Manly $50, etc. Expect long queue for taxis if arriving on Friday evenings.
    • By Train. Airport Link, connects Sydney Airport to the city. One way fare is $12.00. Airport Link connects to Cityrail, www.cityrail.info/ the commuter rail system of Sydney. They share the same ticketing system. As the trains are part of Sydney's commuter lines, expect them to be busy during rush hours (7:30am - 9:30am).
    • By Car. If you want someone to collect you from the airport, take note that waiting is not allowed. Minimum charge for parking is $7.00 for the first half an hour.
    • By Rented Car. Car rentals are available at all terminals. To book your car online, the low-cost option in Australia is EasyCar

    CityRail commuter train service, Sydney
    CityRail commuter train service, Sydney
    Author: Jason Anthony (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)

    Getting Tourist Information

    The Tourism NSW Information Desk is available at Level 1 of the T1 terminal, and open from 6:00am to 11:00pm every day, to provide you help on accommodation, tours, etc.

    How to find Accommodation: Sydney Hotels

    There is plenty of accommodation in Sydney, ranging from guesthouses to hotel chains. If you are planning to book a hotel room, it would be wise to check the prices from different Hotel Booking websites before you place any bookings. Why's that? Well, you'd discover that different sites actually quote different prices for the same hotel rooms. Use our free Hotel Search Engine to view list of hotels and prices they offer. You will be able then to determine which booking site offers the lowest price for the room you intend to book. This enables you to make an informed decision that will save you a lot of money.


    A bus from Sydney Buses
    A bus from Sydney Buses
    Author: OSX (public domain)

    Local Tours of Sydney

    A practical and often cost-effective way of seeing Sydney is by joining a local tour. Check out the Local Tours of Sydney that you can book online.
  • Places of Interest in Sydney

    Sights at The Rocks and Circular Quay

    1. Cadman's Cottage
    2. Campbell's Storehouses
    3. Customs House
    4. Garrison Church
    5. Hero of Waterloo
    6. Justice and Police Museum
    7. Macquarie Place
    8. Museum of Contemporary Art
    9. National Trust Centre
    10. Sailor's Home
    11. St Philip's Church
    12. Susannah Place
    13. Sydney Harbour Bridge
    14. Sydney Observatory
    15. The Rocks Discovery Museum
    16. Writers' Walk

    Sights within the City Centre and Darling Harbour

    1. ANZAC War Memorial
    2. Australian Museum
    3. Australian National Maritime Museum
    4. Chinatown
    5. Chinese Garden
    6. Great Synagogue
    7. Hyde Park
    8. King Street Wharf
    9. Lands Department Building
    10. Martin Place
    11. Museum of Sydney
    12. Paddy's Markets
    13. Powerhouse Museum
    14. Pyrmont Bridge
    15. Queen Victoria Building
    16. St Andrew's Cathedral
    17. St Mary's Cathedral
    18. State Theatre
    19. Strand Arcade
    20. Sydney Aquarium & Wildlife World
    21. Sydney Harbour Bridge
    22. Sydney Harbour Tunnel
    23. Sydney Opera House
    24. Sydney Tower
    25. Sydney Town Hall

    Sights around the Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain

    1. Art Gallery of New South Wales
    2. Conservatorium of Music
    3. Fort Denison
    4. Hyde Park Barracks
    5. Mrs Macquarie's Chair
    6. Parliament House
    7. Royal Botanic Gardens
    8. St James' Church
    9. State Library of New South Wales
    10. Sydney Hospital
    11. Sydney Mint
    12. The Domain

    Sights around Kings Cross, Darlinghurst and Paddington

    1. Beare Park
    2. Centennial Park
    3. Darlinghurst Court House
    4. El Alamein Fountain
    5. Elizabeth Bay House
    6. Five Ways
    7. Juniper Hall
    8. Old Gaol of Darlinghurst
    9. Paddington
    10. Paddington Markets
    11. Paddington Street
    12. Paddington Town Hall
    13. Potts Point
    14. Sydney Jewish Museum
    15. The Entertainment Quarter
    16. Victoria Barracks
    17. Victoria Street

    Sights in the surrounding vicinity of Sydney

    1. Bondi Beach
    2. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
    3. Macquarie Lighthouse
    4. Manly Beach
    5. Parramatta
    6. Sydney Olympic Park

    Sydney Neighbourhoods

    1. Chinatown: Place in the southern part of Sydney's Central Business District with a significant Chinese population
    2. Circular Quay: Place north of Sydney's Central Business District
    3. Darling Harbour: Place in Sydney by the sea now used as a recreational precinct
    4. The Rocks: A rough urban neighbourhood in Sydney, next to Circular Quay

    Sydney Beaches

    1. Bondi Beach: Famous beach in Sydney
    2. Manly Beach*: Another famous beach in Sydney

    Sydney Churches, Chapels and Cathedrals

    1. St Andrew's Cathedral: Cathedral of the Anglican diocese of Sydney
    2. St James' Church: The main Anglican church of Sydney
    3. St Mary's Cathedral: The seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney

    Some Parks and Monuments in Sydney

    1. ANZAC War Memorial: Monument in Hyde Park
    2. Hyde Park: Park with monuments in centre of Sydney
    3. Royal Botanic Gardens: Park with monuments in centre of Sydney
    4. Sydney Olympic Park: Site of the 2000 Olympics
    5. The Domain: Large open park in Sydney

    Some Sydney Bridges and Tunnels

    1. Pyrmont Bridge: A swing bridge at Darling Harbour now used for pedestrians
    2. Sydney Harbour Bridge: One of the most famous bridges in the world
    3. Sydney Harbour Tunnel: Vehicular tunnel under Sydney Harbour

    Return to Australia Travel Guide


    Find lowest price for your Hotel Room

    Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?

    The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!



    Flight Checker

    Our Flight Checker helps travelers compare flights and get the lowest fare for their trips. If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.

    Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.





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