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Sydney, Australia
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Enochlau assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The City South district is home to Australia's largest Chinatown as well as its largest train station, Central station. It is south of the City Centre, to the east of Darling Harbour and City West and also adjoins both City East and Eastern Suburbs toward its eastern boundaries. It has three main lineal axis, Pitt Street, George Street and Sussex Street. If you are arriving in Sydney by long distance bus or train, this is the area where you will be dropped off.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
While you can't compare it to New York's Grand Central Station, this Sydney landmark is the busiest and largest station in Australia. The building facade, clock tower and main concourse are the highlights of this station. If you are travelling around on public transport, odds are you may come along the station as it is a major interchange for trains, busses and light rail.
Starts in front of the markets on Hay St and runs just over two blocks to Goulburn St in the north. Dixon St is a malled pedestrian area and closed to traffic. It is decorated in traditional Chinese style and is home to many shops and restaurants. Be sure to explore the surrounding streets for the full experience of Chinatown.
The Powerhouse Museum is a large museum, essentially of popular culture. It has displays on the history of fashion and transport, decorative arts, music, and space exploration exhibits. It also partly plays on a sci-tech theme, with interactive hands-on and discovery displays of technology, design and industry There is usually a special exhibition on as well. There are in-depth displays for all ages, but also displays especially created for young children to discover and play.
An Australian gallery dedicated to showing contemporary Chinese art, and claims to have one of the largest collections of it in the world. The teahouse serves an excellent selection of exotic teas along with dumplings and scones. The gallery is often closed in February and August to prepare new installations.
The Goods Line is a modern horizontal urban parkland similar to the 'High Line' in New York. The space occupies an unused section of a historic freight line that connected the ports near Darling Harbour to the main railway lines near Central Station. At the park you will find many skaters practicing their tricks and also students from the nearby University of Technology, Sydney. Next to the park is Dr Chau Chak Wing Building designed by Frank Gehry which is famous for resembling a scrunched up brown paper bag.
Sing through your favorite K-pop songs, or just your regular top 40 with mates. Drinks and Food also available.
Tucked away from Broadway Shopping Centre, this auditorium is used for a wide variety of sports.
One of the largest collections of Japanese claw machines in Sydney. Try your luck in getting a plush.
Housed in a 1920s historical building and host to many theatrical productions, from plays to ballet to musicals like Wicked and Mary Poppins when they come to Sydney.
The biggest holiday in the East Asian community, it is celebrated with lion dances, fire crackers and dragon boating in the nearby Darling Harbour. The highlight of the festival is the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, where floats constructed by the local Chinese, Korean and Viet populations travel down George Street. You can also walk a bit further until you hit Circular Quay, where you can see the Opera House go red and see large sculptures of each zodiac.
This food court offers a selection of about 20 vendors, with low prices.
At this intimate, busy eatery decorated with grapes and Persian rugs, the noodles are handmade in traditional northern Chinese style - and the crowds are glad of it.
Casual Vietnamese vegetarian restaurant with a small menu and "mom and pop shop" vibes.
A great restaurant that specialises in ramen. Serves a broth that is not too thin and not too rich; just right. Long queues during weekday lunch hours.
Cheap, tasty and large portions, no need to be picky. There's a reason why a branch with expanded seating has opened right across the street. Particular favourite would be the Pad Thai.
Serves Sydney's best roti canai paired with a mouth-warming curry. The teh tarik (pulled tea) and dessert roti are recommended. No reservations are taken, be prepared for queues for up to an hour.
Part of the pagoda-style Harbour Plaza, this food court has a wide range of cheap Asian meals available. Try Gumshara, which sells Japanese tonkatsu ramen, rich with pork collagen.
The food court here has a range of cheap, tasty dishes, making it a sensible choice for those who want to eat and run.
This restaurant is very busy but offers the very best in Thai cuisine in the city south area. Lines will often stretch out of the restaurant down the street. There is also another branch on the Manly ferry wharf and upstairs in Westfield Pitt Street. Best buys include Pad Thai (sweet, salty & peanuts with lemon juice and rice) and Pork Skewers (ask for pork sticks).
As the name suggests, you come here for barbecue, and a lot of people would agree that this place is king. It's old-school (somewhat dirty), with laminex tables and folding chairs. There may be a queue, but it won't last long, and the great duck is worth the wait. Try the spinach with garlic, too.
With lots of fish tanks displaying your nervous-looking dinner, this place is a favorite late-night eating spot for many of Sydney's chefs and hotel workers. The flavours are exotic and engaging, the service fast and slick.
This 800-seat restaurant is a Sydney institution. Serves the hordes yum cha daily for lunch, with service brisk, bordering on rude. Make sure you have a seat close to the centre, or you'll get the leftovers. More laid-back vibe in the evenings. Go for the experience, not the service.
Something of a yum cha mothership on weekends, this place offers a mind-boggling array of dishes from the à la carte menu too. Get a group together and have a feast.
A local institution. Usually busy, a mix of the after work crowd, tourists, and people in town for a night out. Gets very busy before some shows at the Entertainment centre. It has been renovated in modern style, and struggling a little to recapture the former vibe.
Reasonable selection of German craft beers though it gets noisy and crowded at peak times.
One of a few capsule hotels in Sydney, this one with Sci-fi themed capsules. The reason for the slightly higher cost than most hostels is due to the extra facilities, including TV and safe in your capsule. Day use also available.
Westend Backpackers
While very much a no-frills dormitory, all the beds are king sized. Laundry and kitchen facilities are available.
Regular events happen throughout the day, and discounted travels to local attractions. Breakfast here only costs $5!
Also close by to Central station, this YHA offers special $6 dinners every day of the week, and free pancake breakfast on Wednesdays. Wifi and kitchen are available.
Side Bar is open from 4PM until late every night of the week. The onsite cafe serves budget conscious breakfasts, lunches and dinner. A/C rooms, internet cafe, 24 hr reception, security key card access, storage lockers in dorms, coin operated laundries and a guest kitchen.
Located in Chinatown, a 5-minute walk from Central. Very clean rooms and generous breakfast. World Square shopping centre is right across the street.
Boutique hotel with minimalist decor evocative of the 1920s. Has an espresso machine in the foyer which any guest can use to make coffee. Minimal frills, good Wi-Fi, and luggage storage are available before check-in.
4 star Sydney hotel with 517 rooms, adjacent to Central Station. Easy access to Darling Harbour, Sydney's shopping and retail center and major attractions.
former Rydges Capitol Square Hotel
Incorporated within the Capitol Theatre complex. Near Darling Harbour, the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Central Station and Chinatown. Popular with Japanese travellers.
Carlton Crest Hotel
Designed for business and holiday travellers. 255 guest rooms and 13 meeting rooms. Guests have access to a bar, outdoor heated pool and a restaurant.
A small market set on the green adjacent to Central Park shopping centre. This market specialises in street art, crafts, jewelry and clothing with smatterings of food stalls and live music throughout.
An open air night market is set up in Dixon Street, selling Asian cuisine, jewellery, clothing, socks, lights, scented candles, sweets and many arts and crafts products. A pale shadow of the markets it is inspired by, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
A famous, large market place in the Haymarket. Lots of clothing, sunglasses, souvenirs, and food. Probably not too many bargains to be had, however. Closest station is Central. Closest bus stop is corner of George and Hay. Light rail stops just outside the door. Parking in Market City.
A small mall that is best known for Technocity, a maze of over 20 retail stores that focus on electronics; a great option if the Sony store looks a little out of your price range. Many get most of their sales from web front ends or eBay, but it is a very competitive environment to buy computers and electronics. You can also find a few eateries within an arcade filled with games and Purikura photo booths to keep everyone entertained.
This shopping centre is part of a larger complex that includes parklands and apartments. There is a wide selection of unique fashion and homeware stores along with general retail and a supermarket. Central Park is also great for its wide range of food and dining options, from cafes to restaurants. If you visit, be sure to check out their website for events that include workshops, art galleries, local markets and the BYO Cinema.
This mammoth place has a fresh produce market on the first level, factory outlets on the second level and more food from more places than you can imagine on the third level. You'll find Paddy's Markets here too.
A large shopping precinct on George St, with many specialty stores, including a Sony Store. Avoid the convenience stores for food and supplies. Coles in World Square is a good place to shop for supplies.
By train
Take the train to Central or Town Hall stations. Walk north (towards the harbour/city) along George St from Central, or south (away from the harbour/city) along George St from Town Hall.
By light rail
The light rail stops at Haymarket. It's a good option if you are coming from Pyrmont or the Star, but from the City or Darling Harbour it is probably just as quick to walk.
By bus
No buses running along George Street as the light rail has now taken over
By car
It is generally advisable to not bring your car into the CBD: streets in the Haymarket area get extremely congested on weekends and at peak hour.
Walking is the best way to explore the crowded streets of Chinatown. Be sure to watch out for traffic and the light rail. They can come across at any time.
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