I have suddenly been presented with the opportunity to go to Australia in September.I had thought to stay for a week in Sydney, possibly in a rented apartment, but really do not know where to begin.

Can anybody with any experience of staying in Sydney recommend areas or apartments?

Several travel agents have come up with hotels/apartments(mostly in the Darling Harbour area), but they all tend to have less than favourable reports on sites such as
tripadvisor. If anybody has any recommendations for either hotels or apartments, they would be gratefully received.

Tim

My sister once lived in the Harbourside Apartments for several months. They are at McMahons Point, right on the water. The views are outstanding and are really hard to beat. Will you have a car? The ferry is right downstairs. You look straight across to Luna Park and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I have stayed there overnight a few years ago with my other sister who used to stay there regularly as well.

Here is a painting of the location done in 1890 by Arthur Streeton. The fare for the ferry was one penny.

Thanks Leslie - I did look at these, and they look terrific, but unfortunately at A$210 a night , slightly over my budget of around A$1200 for the week. If you think the area was good, I will look to see if I can find anything else in the vicinity.

I feel really strange about this forthcoming trip. I have never tried to organise anything with so little planning - I suddenly realise tha all I know about Australia is stereotypes and cliches - it is really embarrassing ! I am beginning to get very excited about the whole trip.

I agree that McMahons point is ideal as it is a short ferry ride to Circular Quay. Ferries leave here for harbourside suburbs that you are likely to want to visit eg. Manly, Tooronga Zoo or Darling Harbour. From Circular Quay you can walk to the Opera House and Botanical Gardens or to the Rocks Area.
You can Google Blues Point as some of the real estate short term rental agencies are along this road. Make sure there is a view -perhaps overlooking Lavender Bay and back towards the city.

I have not spent much time in Sydney lately and cannot recall the names of a lot of places - this is one I do remember but could not find $$ on the site. http://www.theyorkapartments.com.au/
I also googled 'sydney apartments' and there are a heap to look at. As lovely as McMahons Point etc is, depending on what you are doing you may find it easier to be in the city. That said, I would avoid Darling Harbour if possible.Circular Quay or the Rocks area would be good.

quote:

Circular Quay or the Rocks area would be good excellent!

These are 2 of the top places to stay in if you can. I had a long weekend in between the two last time I was in Sydney. Went sightseeing at Darling Harbour, ate dinner each night at the Rocks, stayed in a beaut hotel 5 minutes from Circular Quay - got the ferry all round and also had a harbour cruise. Caught a bus to my all time favorite - Vauclause House.

Say Tim - did you see this classified ad for a beaut Sydney apartment rental right here on our site in the classified section?

Looks good to me, and very central.

Here's the web page on our site.

Leslie, I cannot believe my own stupidity for failing to look on this site! I have done so for Italy, but for some reason my brain did not even consider the possibility that there might be something in Australia - I could kick myself (Or better still, get somebody else to kick me).

Of course this Posting arrived less than 2 hours after I had sent the deposit for another place (considerably less central).

Thanks anyway.

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Tim!

I bet it turns out to be fabulous! Let's have some details!

And now we will have another reivew for our site!