Sydney/Darling Harbour
From Wikitravel
Darling Harbour is an extensive area in central Sydney, located just to the west of the City, almost completely dedicated to entertainment and tourism. For many decades the core of the working Port of Sydney, Darling Harbour was subsequently developed by the NSW State Government as a revitalisation project for the Australian Bicentenary in 1988.
As a district, Darling Harbour embraces significant portions of the inner city suburbs of Ultimo (to the south) and Pyrmont (to the west).
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Understand
Get in
By train
Darling Harbour is within walking distance of Cityrail's [1] (http://cityrail.info) Central and Town Hall stations. From Town Hall walk downhill to the west, and from Central walk up into Haymarket (Chinatown) and then walk west to the south end of the Darling Harbour district.
You can switch to Light Rail [2] (http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/lightrail.asp) at Central station and get off at any of the Exhibition Centre, Convention, Pyrmont Bay, Star City, John Street Square or Fish Market stops.
You can switch to the Monorail [http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/monorail.asp ] at Town Hall station and get off at Darling Park, Convention, Harbourside or Powerhouse Museum.
By car
Darling Harbour is accessible by car. From the north cross the Harbour Bridge and head west onto the Western Distributor and follow the signs. Like the City, parking in Darling Harbour is expensive but a number of parking stations are available.
See
- Australian National Maritime Museum [3] (http://www.anmm.gov.au/), 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9298 3777, fax 02 9298 3780 - Australian maritime history and technology
- Powerhouse Museum [4] (http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/), 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, tel 02 9217 0111 - the Powerhouse Museum specialises in history, science, technology, design, industry, decorative arts, music, transport and space exploration exhibits
- Sydney Aquarium [5] (http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/), 1-5 Wheat Rd (eastern side of Darling Harbour just to the north of the Pyrmont Bridge walkover), tel 02 9262 2300, open daily 9am-10pm (last tickets @ 9pm), early closing on some public holidays, admission adults $26, child $13.50, various concessions and family tickets available, NB: booking tickets online provides a 10% discount - this massive aquarium, in addition to various display tanks (penguins, seals, platypus, various fish species), has two underwater walks where visitors walk in glass corridors underneath and between the sharks, rays and ocean fish... Not to be missed!
- The Chinese Garden of Friendship, tel 02 9281 6863, fax 02 9281 6334.
Do
- Watch the Pyrmont Bridge turn to let a tall ship out of the bay.
- Salsa at the summertime Barcardi Festival de Cuba
Cinema
- IMAX Theatre [6] (http://www.imax.com.au/), 31 Wheat Road, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9281 3300, email mailto:sydgroups@imax.com.au
Entertainment
- Star City Casino [7] (http://www.starcity.com.au/), 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, tel 1800 700 700 (within Australia) or 02 9777 9000 (all callers)
- The Sydney Entertainment Centre [8] (http://www.sydentcent.com.au/), 35 Harbour Street, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9320 4200, fax 02 9281 2682 - the Entertainment Centre is one of Australia's largest indoor entertainment venues and events frequently include shows by major Australian and international acts
Buy
The west side of Darling Harbour (cross the Pyrmont Bridge from the City, or use the Monorail Harbourside stop), has a large shopping centre specialising in souvenirs.
Eat
- Blackbird Cafe [9] (http://www.blackbirdcafe.com.au/), Balcony Level, Cockle Bay Wharf, tel 02 9283 7385, fax 02 9283 7381. Inexpensive but funky.
- The Sydney Fish Market [10] (http://www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au/), Bank Street, Pyrmont, tel 02 9004 1100, fax 02 9004 1177. The Fish Market is both a trade market for retailers and a place for the general public to get their hands on the day's catch. The fish market has a number of vendors who will cook your fish for you, and a cooking school. An early lunch at the fish markets is a local institution. Wholesale auctions from 5:30am, retail from 7:00am daily.
- Viva Goa, 2 -4 Scott Street, Pyrmont, tel 02 9566 1311. A small Goan restaurant. Try their vindaloo, and ask for a table outside if the weather is right, because it gets noisy inside. Mains $15
Drink
- Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, 96 Union Street, Pyrmont, tel 02 9660 4933
- Slip Inn [11] (http://www.merivale.com/), 111 Sussex St, Sydney, tel 02 8295 9999, fax 02 8295 9949, email mailto:slipinn@merivale.com - includes the Chinese Laundry nightclub
- home [12] (http://www.homesydney.com.au/) - Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Park, tel 02 9266 0600, fax 02 9266 0611, email mailto:info@bigbeat.com.au - purpose-built "international super nightclub"
Sleep
- Novotel Darling Harbour [13] (http://www.novoteldarlingharbour.com.au/), 100 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9934 0000, fax 029934 0099 - offers great views and the convenience of three modes of public transportation at your doorstep. Rooms cost approx $200-$400 a night.
- Carlton Crest Hotel, 169-179 Thomas St, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9218 2874, fax 02 9281 2213
- Star City - Hotel & Apartment, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont, tel 02 9777 9000, fax 02 9657 8345
- Four Points by Sheraton, 161 Sussex St, Darling Harbour, tel 02 9290 4000, fax 02 9299 3340
Contact
External links
- Darling Harbour - Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (http://www.darlingharbour.com.au/)
