Things to do off the beaten track
April 23rd 2007 04:57
Category: Guides
Its easy enough to complain that theres nothing to do in Sydney. Outside of the obvious attractions and sights in the CBD, Sydney always has that holiday air, like people are enjoying their day off. What then, is a traveler supposed to do for fun?
My friend, if you really feel that theres nothing to do, its only because all the really interesting things are hidden beneath the surface, like dormant larva waiting to hatch and spring free. Sydney is an amazing city to explore, and your trip to Australia will feel like an exploration if you walk the less-beaten path.
Take, for example, the Sydney CBD. Of course, it has the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, etcetera, etcetera been there, done that.
Instead, why not take a break from tourism and head over to the Sydney Observatory Park, in the Rocks? Hidden from traffic, and off the side of the Harbour Bridge, this charming, yet dilapidated community is elevated, and the observatory has unique views of the harbour. The laid-back atmosphere of this CBD suburb is remarkable considering the busy commercial activity just blocks away, and the local pubs and cafes are cozy and inviting.
Most visitors to Sydney are drawn to George Street, as the majority of travel publications bookmark the street as Sydneys shopping street. Taking a turn off George can prove to be rewarding, however. Turn east off George onto Bathurst, a forgettable city street that has a sushi restaurant with a revolving conveyor belt of sushi and very reasonable prices, and a pub with excellent Friday happy hour specials. By far the most intriguing thing-to-do is the Big Echo, a basement karaoke bar, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets.
Popular among Asian students, the Big Echo is an unusual twist on a night out grab a couple of friends, book a room, drink beer and sing falsetto until your cords are hoarse. The English selection of songs is adequate to fuel all your retro dreams, and more than one person has rendered their own version of Britney Spears poorly.
Another popular thing-to-do is to wander around in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a huge park area east of Macquarie Street, and filled with native and exotic flora. Take a stroll through the different areas of the Gardens and try to find the Bat Tree, one tree that is overloaded with sleeping bats hanging upside down like rubbery fruit. Its mesmerizing disgusting fascinating, all at the same time.
Outside of the CBD, Sydney is remarkably varied for an Australian city. Different suburbs have vastly different atmospheres, partly due to the ethnicity of the residents and partly due to the original settlement plan for the area. An excellent example of this is the Glebe, a community north of the University of Sydney, known for its cafes and bohemian new-age residents, as well as the old stone crafted houses that are still on the streets.
At night, walk north on Bay Street, and before approaching Wentworth Park, turn left onto Queen Street. A seemingly innocuous residential street, prepare to be terrified by the sculptures tied to the porches of the houses here; some are humourous, others grotesque. A local artist lives here and gives places them in the street, and the first time I walked along that street, at 5:30 one morning, I was sure I had been transported into a voodoo horror film. As disturbing as it may seem, the originality of that street gives Glebe a character that is unmistakable, like a thrice-remembered perfume.
While in the Glebe, you might as well head over to Glebe Point Road, the major commercial street in the area, lined with cafes and restaurants. The real attraction here is the myriad of independent record stores, so completely different from the massive Virgin and Sony stores commonly seen downtown. Go in and ask the hipster at the desk about the latest Australian band to make a current in the local music scene.
Leaving the City of Sydney, youll find endless suburbs and communities living in relative peace. Some of these areas can be quite dull to the average visitor, but you just have to know what to look for. In Petersham, a suburb west of Sydney, on New Canterbury Road, there is a vibrant Portuguese community; go shopping at one of the many Portuguese delicatessans, have a coffee on the street, or enjoy an excellent seafood grill. The real draw here, though, is Georgious Chocolates, a candy warehouse that has the most incredible variety of candy and chocolates at low prices. Its like a small version of heaven: boxes and piles of jellybeans, cinnamon hearts, chocolate-covered almonds, licorice whips, jelly worms, malt balls, peanut butter cups
and on and on and on.
Theres no end of things to do in Sydney, but finding the real treats is an exercise in perception and patience. The train system is well-developed, and sometimes the best way to spend an afternoon is to simply pick a random train station, go there, and see what you can get your hands into. Avoiding the massive tourist attractions can be much more relaxing and satisfying for those that want a unique experience, not to mention a great deal cheaper.
Botanic Gardens
Take, for example, the Sydney CBD. Of course, it has the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, etcetera, etcetera been there, done that.
Instead, why not take a break from tourism and head over to the Sydney Observatory Park, in the Rocks? Hidden from traffic, and off the side of the Harbour Bridge, this charming, yet dilapidated community is elevated, and the observatory has unique views of the harbour. The laid-back atmosphere of this CBD suburb is remarkable considering the busy commercial activity just blocks away, and the local pubs and cafes are cozy and inviting.
Most visitors to Sydney are drawn to George Street, as the majority of travel publications bookmark the street as Sydneys shopping street. Taking a turn off George can prove to be rewarding, however. Turn east off George onto Bathurst, a forgettable city street that has a sushi restaurant with a revolving conveyor belt of sushi and very reasonable prices, and a pub with excellent Friday happy hour specials. By far the most intriguing thing-to-do is the Big Echo, a basement karaoke bar, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets.
Popular among Asian students, the Big Echo is an unusual twist on a night out grab a couple of friends, book a room, drink beer and sing falsetto until your cords are hoarse. The English selection of songs is adequate to fuel all your retro dreams, and more than one person has rendered their own version of Britney Spears poorly.
Another popular thing-to-do is to wander around in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a huge park area east of Macquarie Street, and filled with native and exotic flora. Take a stroll through the different areas of the Gardens and try to find the Bat Tree, one tree that is overloaded with sleeping bats hanging upside down like rubbery fruit. Its mesmerizing disgusting fascinating, all at the same time.
Outside of the CBD, Sydney is remarkably varied for an Australian city. Different suburbs have vastly different atmospheres, partly due to the ethnicity of the residents and partly due to the original settlement plan for the area. An excellent example of this is the Glebe, a community north of the University of Sydney, known for its cafes and bohemian new-age residents, as well as the old stone crafted houses that are still on the streets.
At night, walk north on Bay Street, and before approaching Wentworth Park, turn left onto Queen Street. A seemingly innocuous residential street, prepare to be terrified by the sculptures tied to the porches of the houses here; some are humourous, others grotesque. A local artist lives here and gives places them in the street, and the first time I walked along that street, at 5:30 one morning, I was sure I had been transported into a voodoo horror film. As disturbing as it may seem, the originality of that street gives Glebe a character that is unmistakable, like a thrice-remembered perfume.
While in the Glebe, you might as well head over to Glebe Point Road, the major commercial street in the area, lined with cafes and restaurants. The real attraction here is the myriad of independent record stores, so completely different from the massive Virgin and Sony stores commonly seen downtown. Go in and ask the hipster at the desk about the latest Australian band to make a current in the local music scene.
Chocolate Display
Theres no end of things to do in Sydney, but finding the real treats is an exercise in perception and patience. The train system is well-developed, and sometimes the best way to spend an afternoon is to simply pick a random train station, go there, and see what you can get your hands into. Avoiding the massive tourist attractions can be much more relaxing and satisfying for those that want a unique experience, not to mention a great deal cheaper.
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