By Anna Smith
What to do
Head for Sydney's glittering harbour for iconic views of the Opera House and the famous Harbour Bridge. Take the edge off the jetlag with a bottle of cheap bubby (around £10) at the Opera Bar, then take a short stroll up to The Rocks, a vibrant area with one-off boutiques, a craft market and the useful Sydney Visitor Centre where you can pick up leaflets, ask for information and check your email. It's also home to The Australian Hotel (Cumberland Street), one of the city's best pubs.
More cool shops can be found in the Oxford Street area. Pop into the flagship store of Gwen Stefani's favourite label, Wheels & Doll Baby (Crown Street) and have lunch at the nearby bookshop – yes, bookshop – Gertrude and Alice (78 Oxford Street). There's a café downstairs, and comfy armchairs and tables on all its three floors, so you can take your food to your favourite section and browse while you eat.
A walk in spectacular public gardens The Domain is a must: watch out for the thousands of bats hanging overhead, and pop into the large art gallery for local and international works. Opposite the gallery there's a great brunch spot, Pavilion On The Park, with outdoor seating and good service. For cheap eats on the go, Harry's Café De Wheels on Cowper road is a local institution: a yummy chilli dog goes for around £2.
If you want to see a slice of less touristy Sydney life, grab the metro to Newtown, a boho suburb popular with lesbians, alternative types, rockers and more lesbians (really, we've never seen so many). Here, you'll find great value second hand shops stocking funky gear, as well as bars and venues like The Vanguard which plays hosts to gigs and occasional rock docs.
Where to stay
The five star BLUE Hotel is a funky, fashionable place to stay, housed in the huge Woolloomooloo wharf. Split level rooms have great views of the city skyline, and the bar and restaurant are popular with hip locals (rooms from £170). Another good option is a serviced apartment at the Medina Grand Sydney: one-bedroom apartments have living and dining rooms, kitchens and fab views: a home from home and good value at £96 (or £72 for a studio).
Where to get away from it all
Whatever you do, don't miss the opportunity to see the amazing scenery of the Blue Mountains, a 90-minute drive from Sydney. You can hire a private guide for a very reasonable price through Blue Mountains Cultural Tours. Our friendly local guide Keith picked us up in Sydney and drove us to the quaint little village of Leura, stopping at choice sites along the way, and regaling us with fascinating stories. Most stops are lesser-known gems the other big coach trips avoid, so you won't be craning your neck to see things behind a load of camera-snapping tourists.
Highlights include the jaw-dropping waterfall at Wentworth Falls, and the Norman Lindsay Gallery and Museum, where you can see the erotic paintings from the man who inspired the film 'Sirens'. The world's steepest railway at Scenic World is a short but crazy ride, and there are a ton of secret spots and amazing viewpoints accessible via a guided walk through the bush. If you're staying overnight, try Peppers Fairmount, which starts from £124 and has an excellent restaurant and lovely grounds to walk in. The next morning, you can check out the kangaroos and koalas at the Featherdale Wildlife Park before hopping on the Rivercat back to Sydney. Blue Mountains Cultural Tours do an overnight. two-day tour package staying at Peppers for £166pp, including lunch and entrance into attractions. Half day tours are around £34pp, full day £60pp. Visit www.bmgst.com for more information.
How To Get There
Flight Centre has flights to Sydney from £595 travelling with Qantas from Heathrow for travel from 16 April until 15 June. Regional departures also available. Flight Centre can also book hotels and car hire. Flight Centre reservations 0870 499 0042 or www.flightcentre.co.uk
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