Population: 5 million
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +10
Telephone Area Code: 02
Sydney is Australia's most populous city and the oldest settlement in Australia. Lonely Planet says the following about Sydney:
"Sydney wasn't a planned city and its layout is further complicated by its hills and the numerous inlets of the harbour, the focal point of the city. The centre of Sydney is on the south shore of the harbour, about 7km (4mi) inland from the harbour heads. Skyscrapers in the Central Business District (CBD) vie for dominance and harbour views, but the city's relentlessness is softened by shady Hyde Park and The Domain parkland to the east, Darling Harbour to the west and the main harbour to the north. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the harbour tunnel link the city centre with the satellite CBD of North Sydney and the suburbs of the North Shore. The city's airport, Kingsford Smith (otherwise known as Mascot), is about 9km (6mi) south of the city centre. Central station, Sydney's main train station, is in the south of the city centre, and the main bus terminal is just outside it."
"Kings Cross is the city's budget accommodation centre and has a well-developed travellers grapevine."
"The international hotels are concentrated in the city and the Rocks. There are heaps of good restaurants in Darlinghurst, Kings Cross, Paddington and Glebe, and a few around Circular Quay. For cafes, try Oxford and Victoria Sts in Darlinghurst, Stanley St in East Sydney, King St in Newtown or Norton St in Leichhardt."
Competent recreational skaters can be seen skating in large groups on Wednesday nights around the city. RollerbladingSydney.com.au recommends that you DO NOT go out on one of these skates IF YOU CANNOT STOP OR TURN ON SKATES! See also Sydney Bladers. Having said all of that it really is FUN! Consider getting lessons if you're unsure. Sydney has some great spots to explore including Hyde Park, Centennial Park, Manly, Bicentennial Park, Brighton le Sands and of course the Luna Park foreshore. The best bridges to skate across are the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Anzac Bridge.
Aggressive Inline Skate Scene
Skate facilities exist in Olympic Park (Monster vert, spine, park), Bondi Beach (park, bowl) Dulwich Hill (park, bowl, ramp), Maroubra (park, bowl), Five Dock (park, bowl), Waterloo (park, ramp), Chatswood (park, bowl), Mona Vale (vert ramp, bowl), Avalon (park), Keirle Park (park, 7ft mini-ramp), Leumeah (park), Baulkham Hills (park), Summer Hill (park), St Ives (park) and a few other spots. In terms of indoor skateparks there is Monster skate facility at Olympic Park. However if you're visiting Sydney and staying close to the CBD the most accessible spots are Bondi, Waterloo, Chatswood and North Sydney.
Other resources
A few other resources to check out on the web about Sydney and surrounds are:
- Sydney.com
- Book a lesson
A few other resources to check out on the web about Sydney and surrounds are: