Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

NEIGHBORHOODS IN BRIEF 93
Wharf. To reach it via public transport,
take a ferry from Circular
Quay (Wharf 5), the monorail from
Town Hall, or the light rail (tram)
from Central Station.
Kings Cross & the Suburbs
Beyond “The Cross,” as it’s
known, is the city’s red-light district—though
it’s also home to
some of the city’s best-known
nightclubs and restaurants. It
houses plenty of backpacker hostels,
a few bars, and some upscale
hotels. The main drag, Darlinghurst
Road, is short but
crammed with strip joints, prostitutes,
addicts, drunks, and such.
Also here are cheap e-mail centers
that offer discount overseas phone
rates. Fortunately, there’s a heavy
police presence, but do take care.
Beyond the strip clubs and glitter,
the suburbs of Elizabeth Bay, Double
Bay, and Rose Bay hug the
waterfront. To reach the area via
public transport, take a CityRail
train to Kings Cross. From the next
train stop, Edgecliff, it’s a short
walk to Double Bay and a longer
one to Rose Bay along the coast.
Paddington/Oxford Street This
inner-city suburb, centered on
trendy Oxford Street, is known for
its expensive terrace houses, off-thewall
boutiques and bookshops, and
restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.
It’s also the heart of Sydney’s large
gay community and has a liberal
scattering of gay bars and dance
spots. To reach the area via public
transport, take bus no. 380 or 382
from Circular Quay (via Elizabeth
St.); no. 378 from Railway Square,
Central Station; or nos. 380 and 382
from Bondi Junction. The lower end
of Oxford Street is a short walk from
Museum CityRail Station (take the
Liverpool St. exit).
Darlinghurst Between grungy
Kings Cross and upscale Oxford
Street, this extroverted, grimy terraced
suburb is home to some of
Sydney’s best cafes. It’s probably
not wise to wander around at
night. Take the CityRail train to
Kings Cross and head right from
the exit.
Central The congested and polluted
crossroads around Central
Station, the city’s main train station,
has little to recommend it.
Buses run from here to Circular
Quay, and it’s a 20-minute walk to
Town Hall. The Sydney Central
YHA (youth hostel) is here.
Newtown This popular student
area is centered around car-clogged
King Street, which is lined with
alternative shops, bookstores, and
ethnic restaurants. People-watching
is the thing to do—see how many
belly-button rings, violently colored
hairdos, and Celtic arm tattoos you
can spot. To reach the area via public
transport, take a CityRail train
to Newtown Station.
Glebe Young professionals and
students come to this inner-city
suburb for the cafes, restaurants,
pubs, and shops along the main
thoroughfare, Glebe Point Road.
All this, plus a location 15 minutes
from the city and 30 minutes from
Circular Quay, makes it a good
place for budget-conscious travelers.
To reach Glebe, take bus no.
431, 433, or 434 from The Rocks
(via George St.), or bus no. 459
from behind Town Hall.
Bondi & the Southern Beaches
Some of Sydney’s most glamorous
surf beaches—Bondi, Bronte, and
Coogee—can be found along the
South Pacific coastline southeast of
the city center. Bondi has a wide
sweep of beach (crowded in summer),
some interesting restaurants
and bars, and plenty of attitude
and beautiful bodies—but no