Darling Harbour Guide
Boasting magnificent waterfront views, Darling Harbour is never short of excitement. The precinct springs into life with the giggles of children making their way to various family-friendly attraction sites and retires with the more thunderous laughter of adults coming out of sophisticated bars after an alcoholic drink or two.
Hotels in Darling Harbour range from high-profile facilities to cheap hotels for travellers on a budget. Catering to every taste, accommodation in Darling Harbour is plentiful and popular throughout the year.
Darling Harbour is not short of family-friendly attractions. This includes the Imax Theatre where newly released 3D movies are screened, the Sydney Aquarium where visitors are invited to get up close with a diverse collection of sea creatures, as well as the Australian National Maritime Museum and Powerhouse Museum where the knowledge-hungry will be able to indulge in Australia's culture and history.
Darling Harbour also caters to those preferring to make the most out of Australia's beautiful weather. The Chinese Gardens of Friendship presents a serene sanctuary in the midst of a bustling city and allows its visitors to immerse themselves in the landscape that embodies Chinese architectural principles dating back to the 5th Century. A stroll along the harbour foreshore will unveil various eateries that are open during various hours of the day. This ranges from cafes such as the Lindt Chocolate Cafe and Hard Rock Cafe, to the food-court style stalls located within Harbourside Shopping Centre, as well as to fine-dining restaurants such as Plate Restaurant and Kobe Jones.
Darling Harbour is easily accessible due to its prime location. It is just minutes away from Sydney Central where visitors may catch a train to Town Hall station and walk from there, or catch a Monorail that goes directly to the Harbour. As an alternative, keen cyclists may also ride their bicycles along Pyrmont Bridge that hovers over Cockle Bay to arrive at their destination.
Darling Harbour is host to some of Sydney's top bars and clubs. The ambience of the precinct adds to the character and popularity of bars such as Cargo Bar, Cohiba, O2 bar, Home Nightclub and Poonton to name a few. Featuring magnificent decors, offering diverse menus as well as delivering great music and entertainment, these bars are definitely worth checking out!
Top-rated hotels in Darling Harbour are also conveniently located around the precinct. Well-know four- and five-star Darling Harbour hotels are only a few of the many hotels that offer a wide range of facilities and quality services that fully accommodate to their customer's needs.
Business people on a short or long stay visit to Sydney might consider one of the many Darling Harbour serviced apartments. The combination of self catering facilities , multiple rooms, easy access to eateries and the CBD and transport make it an ideal home away from home at affordable rates.
Family accommodation is also highly recommended in a serviced apartment in Darling Harbour. Often free or reduced rate parking is available as part of the deal , or when you ask reception, and there is complete ease of access to all the children's attractions, such as the PowerHouse Museum , New Year Fireworks , and mono rail with just a short walk. Be careful of those busy periods around Christmas , New Year , January , Easter and school holidays - book early and avoid last minute reservations if you want to be sure of a bargain.