Places to stay in Sydney

Part of running a good website is giving people excuses to visit your website. We all want to live in the best place in the world. Sadly because of job or visa constraints, some of us can only visit. So if you have the opportunity to visit Sydney, foremost you will realise that it’s a place to enjoy the outdoors. You don’t have to like Australians because there is plenty of space to get away from them, and tourists for that matter. By getting away I am talking about bushwalks and beachwalks – punctuated by the well-timed swim. Although beaches and waterways might be busy in Sydney, once you step outside Sydney, you will find beaches with scarcely any sign of people. If you are visiting Sydney, you might consider any of the following approaches: By plane or vehicle (see my posting on campervan hire).
By campervan
If you are coming to Sydney via campervan I suggest staying at one of several parks around Sydney Harbour. There are not many parks in Sydney with showers, but over time I will add to this list. There are 3 varieties of accommodation I recommend:
1. Harbour park with toilet & shower: Some recreational parks along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour have toilets and showers for the benefit of swimmers. These are good places to stay overnight if they are close to ferry and you don’t intend to return overnight.
a. Sirius Cove, Mosman is an attractive place in Sydney with parking for campervan, plus toilets and showers, and close proximity to Taronga Zoo ferry & facilities. Its just 5km from main shopping areas of Mosman and Neutral Bay.
b. Others: No others found yet.
2. Train stations with toilet: Its easy enough to find a train station with toilets, and there is usually a pub nearby anyway, but if you are planning on spending nights in the city, and will be coming home late, I recommend parking your campervan at a train station, as trains run later than regular government bus services, and are replaced by contractors after 1AM (Nightride service). You might be able to get a shower at a nearby public swimming pool. Try to avoid private homes as they might dispair if they see lights on in vehicles in the middle of the night if they come home.
a. Artarmon Station: Find a quiet avenue on the west side of Artarmon Station, as this station is close to the city. Basic services are readily available.
b. Woolstonecraft Station: Its even closer to the city, but streets are narrow. There are fewer shops here and its harder to find.
c. Pymble Station: This is further away from the city
d. Epping Station: This station is far out but has the benefit of express train services to the city via Stratfield.
Personally I would stay on the North Shore for safety reasons. There tends to be yobbos elsewhere around stations. The North Shore stations has quiet residential stations.
Hotel accommodation
Well if you want an upmarket hotel I recommend the Wentworth Hotel and Grace Hotel in Sydney. Backpacker/pub accommodation
If you are planning to stay here on a budget, I would opt for the backpackers at Newtown, Kings Cross or Central Stations. All these places are close to the city by train, bus or even walking. You might otherwise consider Bondi Junction (popular for foreigners) or Rockdale (close to the airport).
If you are flying into Sydney, take the Airport train to one of the latter destinations. You can book any of these places on the internet – just search for the place name + backpackers, and you should get several choices.