Everything you need to know about the WHV in Sydney

Central Sydney

The Central Business District (CBD)

The CBD is the heart of the city. It’s mainly made up of skyscrapers where people come to work or shop. Not many people actually live in the CBD because apartments are rare and expensive. George Street (the main street in the CBD) runs from Central to Circular Quay. If you want to live in the CBD (especially if you spend a lot of time downtown for work or socialising and don’t want a long commute home), it can be possible, but you will have to have a large budget and be quick when responding to adverts.

The Rocks

The Rocks is the “old town” of Sydney. It is the first district founded in Australia, when Europeans first sent convicts to the country in the 1700s. It is made up of historic buildings, including some of Sydney’s oldest pubs, and is also home to many bars, restaurants, art galleries and markets. This lively district is located between the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge; in other words, the perfect place to live if you want options for scenic walks. However, much like accommodation in the CBD, it is expensive to rent in this area.

Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and Pyrmont

The city’s main ports are Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. Tourists flock to the waterfront for the Sydney Opera House, as well as other attractions like the Sydney Aquarium and the Panasonic IMAX cinema.

Pyrmont is adjacent to Darling Harbour. As well as some residential houses, this area is home to the Star Casino and the fish market.

As these areas are expensive to live in, many Sydneysiders live further out (e.g. in North Sydney or Manly) and commute downtown using the ferry service that connects to these ports.

Chinatown

Chinatown is located in the Haymarket district. It’s popular with fans of Asian cuisine and tourists who can buy souvenirs at Paddy’s Market. The area is lively, but still considered safe to live in.

Paddington, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst

These are the bohemian areas of central Sydney, located next to Central station. They are busy areas with lots of bars, trendy restaurants and many boutique stores (found on William Street). In terms of housing, these areas are made up of beautiful Victorian terrace houses but they are, unfortunately, very expensive.

Paddington, or “Paddo” in Australian lingo, is a suburban district made up of historic buildings (like Victoria Barracks and Juniper Hall) and residential houses. It feels like a village within the city. Paddington is also home to the Sydney Rugby and Football Stadium.

Surry Hills is more commercial and industrial, made up of cafes and shops. It’s a quiet neighbourhood that offers a lot for the community (e.g. a local market, a community centre and a library).

Darlinghurst (or “Darlo”) is located right next to Hyde Park. It is one of the main LGBTQIA+ districts of Sydney, and the best place to go for a night out.

Pott’s Point and Woolloomooloo

Pott’s Point is one of the most densely populated areas of the city. At 1 km by 200 m, it’s also one of the smallest neighbourhoods. It is a chic area, with many hotels and youth hostels available on Victoria Street. Long-term accommodation is expensive.

Woolloomooloo is another harbourside area that was previously the docklands. It sits west of Pott’s Point and north of Hyde Park. Although it started off as a working-class neighbourhood, it has since been gentrified with fine dining and luxury hotels.

King’s Cross

King’s Cross, or Sydney’s “Red Light District”, is known for its nightlife, clubbing and strip clubs. It is surrounded by quieter, higher-end areas like Pott’s Point and Woolloomooloo. In recent years, rules have been introduced to try and cut down on seedy behaviour (e.g. no serving alcohol after 3 a.m.), and the area is trying to add more family-friendly venues to the entertainment district.

Eastern Suburbs

Bondi

Bondi is the location of the most famous beach in Sydney (and Australia). If you like swimming, you will love the iconic Icebergs pool. There are many backpackers in Bondi; you will find more backpackers than locals. If you want better public transport links, living near Bondi Junction is a good option. This part of the neighbourhood is home to a large shopping centre (Westfield) and is still reasonably close to the beach. The closer you live to Bondi Beach, the more it will cost.

Coogee

Located south of Bondi, Coogee is more popular with locals. It is a smaller area than Bondi but the beach is just as beautiful and not as overrun by tourists. Coogee is a quieter neighbourhood than Bondi, but has a nice main street lined with cafes and shops. You can easily get to Bondi via the Bondi-Coogee Walk, which takes you on a scenic route along Sydney’s beautiful coastline, via Tamarama and Bronte beaches.

Coogee is a cheaper area than Bondi, but any accommodation near the beaches in Sydney is expensive. If you want to save money, you can stay further away from the beach (in Randwick) as a good alternative (similar to picking Bondi Junction over Bondi Beach). Unfortunately, there is no train station in Coogee, so you will have to rely on buses to reach the CBD.

Watsons Bay

Watsons Bay is an ideal location with access to magnificent beaches. It is further away from the CBD than Bondi or Coogee, but you can use the ferry service to get downtown. Watsons Bay is mainly made up of holiday rentals with stunning sea views. If you want to live here, you will have to keep a careful eye out for rare advertisements for shared accommodation.

North Shore

North Sydney

This is the area north of the Harbour Bridge. North Sydney is Sydney’s new business district. It is a busy area during the daytime and throughout the week. When the workers go home, it quietens down during evenings and at weekends. It’s close to Milsons Point and Luna Park, and offers magnificent views across the water to the Opera House.

Manly

Manly is probably the most famous beach in Sydney after Bondi. Located north of Sydney, you can get there by ferry from Circular Quay in 30 minutes, or by bus (but the journey will be longer). The quality of life in Manly is high and it’s a popular area to live in. However, it’s still quite expensive, especially considering it’s further away from the CBD than many other suburbs.

Manly has the added benefit of sitting across two waterfronts: Sydney Harbour and the Pacific Ocean! In addition to the beaches, Manly has a large number of nature reserves, making this an ideal neighbourhood for those wanting a mix of city life and peaceful nature.

The West and Inner West suburbs

Parramatta

Parramatta is a western suburb of Sydney where more and more companies are moving their offices to, due to congestion in central Sydney. Parramatta has a large Asian community and housing is much cheaper than in any downtown neighbourhood. However, the area does not have the best reputation in terms of safety, and is considerably far from downtown (a 30-minute train ride to Central Station).

Glebe

Glebe is a student area located next to the University of Sydney, Central Park, and the large Broadway shopping centre. Glebe Point Road is the main street, with many cafes, shops and restaurants that serve a variety of food (Lebanese, Greek, Italian, etc.). The area also has its weekly market where you can buy second-hand items (good for students and backpackers on a budget!).

Newtown

Newtown is a vibrant, cosmopolitan area. Many Sydneysiders go to Newtown to eat diverse cuisine or browse its alternative shops. There are also lots of bars that have live music; most famous is the Enmore Theatre. Newtown has become a trendy place to live so rent has, therefore, increased. It is still possible to find some apartments or shared accommodation at reasonable prices, but you can expect more competition now.

Inner South

Redfern and Waterloo

Redfern is one of the poorer neighbourhoods in Sydney, although there are many renovations taking place to improve the area. Waterloo is becoming increasingly popular with renters. There is still a lot of public housing, but more and more new luxury apartments are being built.