Cultural activities Sydney is a dynamic cultural centre that has a rich year-round program of world-class performances, outdoor events and festivals that make the city's outdoor and cultural lifestyle unique.
The city is home to a range of internationally acclaimed arts organisations including:
These are supported by a range of world-class performing and exhibition venues such as:
CitySearch has listings of events and shows in and around Sydney, as well as theatres, live music venues, nightclubs, movie theatres, art galleries and much more.
The
Festival of Sydney is held every January and includes many free outdoor events.
A headline event for the international gay community is Sydney's annual
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a festival of performances and parties that culminates in a massive parade.
Many of the music, food and wine festivals in country NSW have attracted an international following, such as the famous
Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Movie studiosSurrounded by Sydney's spectacular locations and with state-of the-art production facilities, Sydney's Fox Studios is in high demand as a centre for shooting and producing films. Mission Impossible II, the Star Wars prequels, Moulin Rouge and The Matrix were filmed here and many of the special effects in The Matrix, which received an Academy Award, were created in Sydney. See more by visiting
Fox Studios online.
Dining outSydney is a centre for contemporary cuisine that offers an eclectic blend of the world's finest food created with the freshest ingredients.
Visitors constantly remark on the high quality of fresh food served in cafés and restaurants in Sydney and across NSW. Quality of dishes and value for money are often the first notable highlights picked out by first-time visitors in NSW. Most town centres have Thai, Indian, Italian and Chinese restaurants and you'll usually find somewhere that offers well cooked, freshly caught seafood.
CitySearch has comprehensive listings of restaurants throughout Sydney.
In regions like the Hunter Valley, two hours north of Sydney, the Riverina region in the south-west of the State, and the central western wine hubs of Orange, Mudgee and Cowra, you'll find world-class wines to rival the best produced in California's Napa Valley or Europe. For an overview of the Australian wine industry, with details of regions and wineries visit the
Winetitles website.
For general information on entertainment and leisure in NSW see the
Visit NSW website.
SportAustralia is a leader in the Asia Pacific for access to quality sporting and recreational facilities.
There are many excellent local and indoor sporting facilities in every town and in most areas of NSW. You'll find general sporting club information at
www.sportnet.com.au and information on the range of activities available in NSW at
http://www.ausport.gov.au/participatingFor information on golf courses in NSW visit
www.ausgolf.com.au which has course reviews, rankings, listings and information on golf resorts and tours around the State.
The most popular spectator sports in NSW include
Rugby League,
Australian Football (or
Aussie Rules) and
Rugby Union.
Information on NSW soccer clubs is at
Soccer NSW. All football codes have amateur leagues and the playing season runs from February to September.
In the Australian summer, cricket and tennis are popular. For information on NSW cricket facilities and clubs go to the
Cricket NSW site. The
Tennis NSW site provides information on upcoming competitions and sporting news.
The most popular women's sport in Australia is netball – 1.2 million women participate in this game during the winter months. For information go to
www.netball.asn.au.
NSW is a bushwalker's paradise. The
Sydney Bushwalkers website suggests where to go and what to take with you.
The Snowy Mountains offer excellent skiing for three months of the year. You can find more information at the
Snowy Mountains tourism site.
WatersportsWater activities of every kind are very popular in NSW and the coastal areas of NSW have some of the best swimming and surfing beaches you'll find anywhere in the world with clean, sparkling blue water. NSW's coastal waters are warm enough to swim in from September to May. For detailed information visit
Coastalwatch or
Surf It Australia.
There are many inland lakes and rivers for swimming, kayaking and waterskiing. Sailing is also popular and there are many yacht charter companies along the coast and on the State's waterways. The
Yachting Association of NSW website has comprehensive information on clubs and organisations, sailing events and weather updates.
Travel and holidaysNSW encapsulates a wide range of holiday experiences within its borders; this is because the landscape across the State is dramatically varied. This variety of holiday experiences makes it easy to get away to somewhere interesting for a weekend.
Accommodation options are diverse enough to fit any budget – you can stay in luxurious resorts, child-friendly hotels, holiday apartments, private retreats, modest motels or just camp in the wilderness.
The most popular destinations in Sydney are:
- The Rocks
- Darling Harbour
- Bondi Beach
- Manly
- Glebe/Newtown
- Kings Cross
- Paddington
The most visited regions in NSW are:
- Blue Mountains
- Hunter Valley
- Central Coast
- Coffs Harbour
- Canberra
- Southern Highlands
The following sites show the diversity of NSW holiday destinations as well as all the attractions of Sydney.