Sydney: What to see and do

Ubid4rooms.com is a one stop online bidding website for Hotels, Apartments, Serviced Apartments, Motels, Resorts, Guest Houses Bed and Breakfasts B&B at last minute rates in Sydney and Sydney CBD. Every night rooms in Sydney Hotels go unsold, these vacancies create an opportunity to enjoy huge savings on last minute cheap accommodation rates. Book last-minute accommodation up to 14 days in advance, stand by rates. Sydney Australia built around a beautiful natural harbour has many attractions at its doorstep for visitors both locally, nationally and internationally to enjoy. Sydney is Australia's oldest city and the business gateway to Australia. With a natural beauty, mixed blend of cultures, amazing energy, the Harbour City is a cosmopolitan city surrounded by famous sun drenched beaches, lush hinterland, World Heritage areas and many outstanding wine regions throughout New South Wales. With much of the foreshore dedicated to National Park with easy walking trails and some of the best views around Vaucluse or Bradley's Head near Taronga Zoo. And for a water view of the city you can take one of the many excellent harbour or ferry cruises departing from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour near Sydney Aquarium.

Sydney ... with its dizzy skyscrapers, a shoppers delight, array of restaurants to sample the many mouth watering delights Australia has to offer, abundance of nightlife, variety of accommodation from 5 star hotels to backpackers, bed & breakfast, apartments, resorts, motels, guest houses and the many tourist icons such as the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Kings Cross, Bondi Beach and Sydney itself!

Inner Sydney include Sydney Harbour, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Manly, Mossman, Balmain, Glebe, Leichhardt, Chinatown, Kings Cross, Newtown, Double Bay, Darlinghurst, Paddington, Moore Park, Coogee, Bondi and the City Centre.

The Rocks, once home to Sydney's dockworkers, is a maze of sandstone lanes, cul-de-sacs and courtyards packed with boutiques, shops, galleries, warehouses, restaurants, pubs, cafes and of course accommodation choices. Climb the Harbour Bridge with BridgeClimb, visit the Pylon Lookout, book a Rocks Ghost Tour and learn about macabre tales of murder, suicide, hangings and hauntings.

Known worldwide as "The Zoo with a View", Taronga Zoo is situated on the shore of Sydney Harbour only a 15 minute ferry cruise from Circular Quay. Taronga Zoo houses over 2000 rare and endangered animals. Open every day of the year including Christmas Day.

Walk through Sydney's most famous face - Luna Park, just for fun - entry is Free. Luna Park is located at Milsons Point, just under the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There is plenty of fun to be had on Luna Park's famous rides and games, sit back, relax and enjoy the delicious food, fantastic atmosphere and sensational views across Sydney Harbour with the Opera House as the perfect backdrop.

Sydney's beaches stretch both north and south of the CBD. Famous Bondi Beach to the south, Cronulla, Clovelly, Coogee Beach, Bronte. Palm Beach famous for the TV series Home and Away is North of Sydney CBD along with Manly which is easily accessible via ferry, Dee Why, Freshwater, Narrabeen to name just a few. Safe bathing and swimming is also available inside the harbour with some even offering protection with shark nets. Nude bathing is allowed at Lady Bay located at Watsons Bay.

Ferry across Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay to Manly which is nestled between a tranquil inner harbour and a popular Pacific Ocean surf beach. Dine in one of the many restaurants and cafes which offer harbour or ocean views, meander through the many shops, surf shops and stylish boutiques. You can walk, roller blade or cycle along the waterfront. There are a number of scenic walking paths that link the beaches with the national park. Explore the Manly to Spit Bridge scenic walk through native bushland in a coastal atmosphere. The magnificent stretch of coast from Manly to Palm Beach and Pittwater, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and Pittwater on the other through to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park with pockets of rainforest, creeks, waterfalls and Aboriginal rock art. Enjoy the surf at one of the many beaches along the coastline, shop at Avalon, learn to sail or charter a yacht, follow a coastal walk with stunning views across the headlands and beautiful beaches. Visit the Bahai Temple, one of only seven in the world.

Sutherland Shire, just 25km south of Sydney CBD. Covering 370 sq kilometres The Shire is home to four national parks and attractions include - Cronulla Coast with legendary surfing, boutique shopping, restaurants and cafes. Historic Como, Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and the famous 'eat street' Gymea Bay Road. Botany Bay National park at Kurnell is the site of Captain Cook's landing in 1770.

Outer Sydney areas include Hawkesbury Valley, Hawkesbury River, Penrith, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, Macarthur, Picton, Cabramatta, Sutherland Shire.

The Sydney Hills Region stretches from Castle Hill to Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River. Castle Hill is the hub with stylish shopping and modern restaurants. With many things to do and see including arts, crafts and galleries, clubs and entertainment, cruises and river activities, roadside produce stands, gardens and over 60 retail nurseries along with shopping and a variety of cafes and restaurants in one of the river towns along the beautiful Hawkesbury River - Hornsby, Dural, Windsor, Wisemans Ferry, St Albans. 5 car ferries are located on the Hawkesbury River and The Hills is known as the Bonsai capital of Australia.

Day trips from Sydney include:

• Blue Mountains and Katoomba - Katoomba Skyway, Scenic Railway and The Three Sisters, a group of three pinnacle rock formations. The name Blue Mountains soon becomes apparent as the distant ranges appear to be covered in a blue haze. Experience fresh mountain air as you enter the spectacular Blue Mountains region, perfect for exploring the best that nature has to offer. Bushwalking, galleries, tourist attractions, dining, shopping, markets, antiques, museums, golf, swimming, camping, adventure and activities.
• Hunter Valley - 90 minutes drive north of Sydney famous for its world class wines. The Hunter Valley is Australia's oldest and most renowned wine producing region. The Hunter Valley stretches from Newcastle through the towns of Maitland, Singleton, Cessnock, Broke, Branxton, Lovedale, Paxton, Pokolbin, Muswellbrook, Wollombi.
• Newcastle - 160 kilometres north of Sydney is the seventh largest city in Australia with a population of approximately 300,000. With a history dating back to the 1800's as a penal settlement many old buildings line the streets of Newcastle. Beaches, surf, coastal scenery, bushland and of course shopping and restaurants.
• Central Coast - one hour north of Sydney, the Central Coast has stunning beach, national parks, spectacular coastline and hinterland region. If you love to shop then the Central Coast is perfect with many boutique shops, arcades and major shopping centres including Erina Fair, the largest single story shopping centre in the southern hemisphere. Many boutique coastal townships encompass Central Coast - Terrigal, Avoca Beach, Umina Beach, Pearl Beach, Copacabana, Ettalong, Hardy's Bay, Killcare, Patonga, Shelly Beach, The Entrance plus major shopping areas such as Gosford, Erina, Tuggerah.
• Southern Highlands - A place to relax, escape and unwind. Magnificent gardens, antiques, heritage and natural attractions. Major towns Mittagong, Bowral and Moss Vale plus unique villages each with its own personality. Attractions such as cool climate wineries and cellar doors, nature drives to National Parks and beyond.
• Grand Pacific Drive - Royal National Park, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven. The Grand Pacific Drive passes by spectacular scenery and coastline.