Today

The low-down on living in Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales, and its many districts.

Bondi

With good surf and with bus routes running into the city, Bondi is a convenient, affordable place to stay. Bondi hostels cost around AU$20-25 for a dorm room, but shared accommodation is also very popular here, with three bed flats coming in at around AU$380 per week.

Central

Central is about as close to the action as you can get, being located right in the (you guessed it) central part of the city. Central actually refers to Central Station, which is the downtown area around Chinatown. All the long haul coaches and buses depart from this area, so it has a bit of a transient feel to it, with not too much in the way of shared accommodation here.

The general vibe is a busy one, with loads of bars all over the place and great Asian food, being so close to Chinatown. Although not a great place to live permanently, Central is perfect for travellers, as there are loads of brand new, state of the art hostels popping up all over the place. Expect to pay around AU$25 and up for a dorm room.

Coogee

Coogee (pronounced "cudgy") is, like Bondi, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and is almost in a way, a smaller, cosier version of its big sister, Bondi.

The vibe here is very laid back and in the summer the area is inundated with travellers, who tend to settle semi-permanently. Coogee has a nice beach, some stunning cliff top walks and a reasonable nightlife, with two huge late bars.

Glebe

Leafy Glebe is the 'alternative' hub of Sydney, with loads of new-age shops and funky cafes. It has a real eclectic feel to it, with a good mix of locals, students and travellers. The market held every Saturday adds a real touch of bohemia to the area.

Conveniently located on Bus route into the city, Glebe is a good alternative to those who have had enough of the lazy beach life. There's plenty of good spacious accommodation to be rented here in large airy flats. Travellers will also appreciate the variety of hostels here too, with dorm beds costing around AU$20-25 per night.

Kings Cross

'The Cross' as everyone knows it is the place where Sydneysiders come to let down their hair and party. Definitely not the place to come if you want some peace and quiet, you will always be able to find a late night bar or strip-show here as it is red light central.

Many travellers arrive straight here, so it is a good place to meet new-comers to the city, although most people only stay a week or two, before moving onto a more subdued area. Flats are cheap to rent here, being around AU$280 and over for three people. Hostels cost around $20 for a dorm.

Manly

Manly is on Sydney's Northern Beaches and a half hour ferry ride (15 minutes by jetcat) ride from the city centre. Although not so convenient as some of the other suburbs, the vibe in Manly more than makes up for it, with it's great surf, beaches, nightlife and restaurants.

The atmosphere is Manly is very laid back, with a good mix of travellers and locals. Many locals from the city make the trip to Manly as a 'day out', so it has a definite seaside feel to it.

Shared accommodation is reasonable, but not cheap, but there is a huge range of reasonably priced hostels to choose from, starting from around AU$20 per night.