Central Coast NSW offers a beautiful option for a day trip from Sydney. The beautiful coastline is marked by a number of small coastal towns with a very relaxed feel and a different vibe from hustle and bustle of Sydney. Many Sydneysiders escape to the Central Coast for holidays or weekend breaks. Most of the popular locations are located within 3 hour's drive from Sydney which makes it very manageable if you are travelling with kids.
Hostels are a popular choice for budget-conscious backpackers and working holiday visa travellers to Sydney Australia. Summers (from October to December) bring a large number of holidaymakers and backpackers from around the world looking for cheap backpacker hostels near the city Sydney is one of the most expensive cities to stay in, therefore, the choice of the right accommodation is the first step to maximize your holiday fun by cutting down on accommodation costs.
I have lived in Sydney for over 20 years and have prioritized suburbs based on easy access to transport, proximity to places of interest, nightlife and access to cheap food outlets. Here is a pick of some of the best locations to stay for budget-conscious travellers.
Darling Harbour is situated walking distance from the central station as well as Town Hall Sation (nearest). Central location for tourists Darling Harbour is popular with tourist from all ages groups. There is an IMAX theatre, Japanese Garden and Maritime Museum. China Town is just down the road. It's better to explore the area on foot as there are lots of walkways and both sides of the harbour are lined with top of the line restaurants. King Street Wharf has some of the trendiest nightclubs and bars including Cargo Bar and Varanda Bar which are quite popular with the younger crowd.
You can hop on one of the lunch or dinner cruises on King Street Wharf and learn more about the history of the area while enjoying some breathtaking views. You can also charter your own cruise for special events. The ferries run from the harbour bridge all the way to Paramatta in the west and up to Manly towards the north.
Star Casino is located right next to the casino and there is a number of nice restaurants in the adjoining area of Pyrmont including Flying Fish and Signorelli Gastronomia.
Best hotels around Darling Harbour include
Wollongong is a very popular destination some 80 km from the city. You can drive or catch a train that takes around an hour and costs approx $16 on city rail to get there. The train runs from the central station to the country link platform. Wollongong is located on the South Coastline, passing through Hurstville, Shire District and some of the most scenic spots like Helensburgh, Stinson Beach, and Thirroul.
Travelling from mainland Europe and America or South East Asia you should be aware Australia is in the southern hemisphere, therefore, the weather is quite the opposite. The summers fall in November, December and January and the Winters are during the mid year with July being coldest. Average termperature in winters is around 15c and during summers the temperature remains around 26c. However, across various states, the weather changes quite a bit and summer temperature in Northern Australia and Central regions can exceed 45c in summers.
