Backpacker Buzz

Nothing says "Cheese. Wish you were here!" quite like a postcard of the pearly-white sails of Sydney's Opera House. But what makes the Opera House so spectacular is not so much its curving sails, but its backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Sydney Harbour, that dazzling stretch of blue dotted with ferries, is Sydney's pulse, and makes Sydney one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  It is in this area, in the historic harbour foreshore suburb of The Rocks that there is a new YHA hostel, and appropriately named, Sydney Harbour YHA.

Purpose built accommodation with a choice of multi-share and double/twin rooms, all with ensuite, and a rooftop terrace with views to kill for, all from $42 a night - what more could you want?

A hop-skip-jump from the YHA is Sydney's Opera House. Join a tour to learn about this icon's controversial history and budget-blowing design or catch a performance - a Shakespeare play, an Aussie band or an indigenous dance from the Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Behind the Opera House is Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and The Domain - 30 hectares of parkland that provides backpacker budgets with a penthouse view of the city. Buy strawberries, figs and chocolates from The Rocks Farmer's Markets and come here for a picnic.

Inside The Domain is the NSW Art Gallery. Visit Wednesday evening for free films, talks and musical performances. Click along to the band, grab a glass of wine and discuss the virtues of this year's Archibald winner. Or visit The MCA (Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art) to catch exhibitions by Japan's Yayoi Kusama, the UK's Yinka Shonibare and a collection of 285 Aboriginal bark paintings.

Even the most artistically challenged will tell you two things about climbing Sydney's Harbour Bridge: the compulsory grey jumpsuits are ugly; the view, spectacular. With uncompromised 360-degree views stretching from the Blue Mountains to the Pacific Ocean's horizon, it's a must-do attraction.

For stories of Sydney's beginnings, visit The Rocks Discovery Museum and the Justice & Police Museum, learn about the loitering crims of Sydney's colonial past on a Ghost Tour of The Rocks or learn it from the locals, with a beer in hand, on The Rocks Pub Tour.

The Rocks lays claim to having Sydney's "oldest" pub, but which pub deserves the title is a point of contention that the Fortune of War (licensed since 1828), The Hero of Waterloo (in its near-original state) and The Lord Nelson (built of solid sandstone blocks in 1836) pubs still bicker over. Have a pint at them all to settle the score.

Introduce your tastebuds to Australia's greatest wine regions, makers and grape varietals at the Wine Odyssey and pop into The Australian Hotel for boutique beers (with odd names like Blue Tongue, Bee Sting and Razor Back) and gourmet pizza topped with kangaroo, emu or salt-water crocodile.

If you prefer to pat a kangaroo rather than ingest one, catch the ferry to Darling Harbour for kanga feeding at Sydney Wildlife World and shark feeding at the Sydney Aquarium; to Taronga Zoo for koala petting; and Manly beach for ice cream, surf and Oceanworld, an aquarium where you can dive with sharks.

Visit Sydney and people will advise you on a number of things to do. Stay at Sydney Harbour YHA and you'll find them at your doorstep.

By Kat McKinnon

KEY FACTS
Getting There: If you are arriving in Sydney by plane, you can use the airport shuttle bus services to Sydney Harbour YHA or catch the train to Circular Quay (change at Central Station).

Accommodation: Sydney Harbour YHA 110 Cumberland St The Rocks, Sydney 2000 T: (612) 8272 1900 E: sydneyharbour@yhansw.org.au Book ahead at www.yha.com.au