January 25, 2012

The Newtown district of Sydney is one of the city’s oldest suburbs. It’s also one of the most popular for students, artists and younger tourists, especially those with a more alternative bent. With King Street – also known as ”Eat Street” - running down the centre of the area, there are no shortages of food, shopping and entertainment.

photo credit: Rob_Wood

Newtown Eat Street

King Street picked up its nickname because of the many bars, cafés, restaurants and venues that line the strip. Cultural fare including Turkish, Pakistani, Indian, Thai and Vietnamese selections are nestled among the many, much loved traditional coffee houses, pizza parlours, burger joints and diners, creating a selection that truly caters for all tastes.

The pubs in this area include historical establishments and themed sports bars, again providing enough choices to suit everyone traveling in your group. Drop by Kelly’s On King, the Marlborough Hotel and the Union Hotel, all of which are on the strip, for great pub grub, like parmas, steak or fish and chips.

Must-See Sightseeing at Newtown

You can’t make the journey to Newtown in Sydney without checking out the local landmarks. The Trocadero Dance Hall is one of the biggest architectural renovations in the area. Throughout its life it has functioned as a cinema, theatre, restaurant and used furniture store. You’ll also want to visit Burland Hall and the Hub Theatre, both of which have a fascinating history.

The Newtown area is best known to the locals for its live music venues and indie artists. Plan to spend at least one evening partying at the Sandringham; be sure to ask for a schedule of upcoming events because there’s always a stream of fantastic bands coming through. It’s hard to go wrong at the much-loved Sando, so there’s little reason to skip an unknown name on the billboard, they may well be the next big thing!

If you’re into more theatrical live performances, you’re in luck; Newtown is home to a number of independent theatres where you can catch local performance artists. The New Theatre has the longest history, but the Newtown and Enmore Theatres also host their share of greatly praised performances.

Festivals and Sporting Events at Newtown

The Newtown Festival is an annual community event with lots of live music, workshops and vendors on the independent music scene. You’ll find it in the Camperdown Memorial Park each November. If you’re visiting in September, you just might stumble upon the Under the Blue Moon Festival. With music, street performers, and other entertainment options, this is the heart of the alterative culture in Sydney.

For a more sophisticated option, try Feastability, the food and wine festival organized by the Marrickville Council. Typically held on the last Sunday in September, Feastibility offers vendor stalls and live entertainment suitable for kids and adults alike.

Sports fans may want to get familiar with the local rugby team, the Newtown Jets. The team plays in nearby Marrickville but matches are often televised and shown to keen, loud crowds at bars and pubs.

Newtown is definitely one of the more alternative, trendy, and always friendly suburbs of Sydney, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience it on a budget. Look for student housing or share a flat for great bargain lodging. By shopping Furnished Property, you can save a ton without sacrificing on entertainment value.

January 29, 2010

Scubar makes its home in one of the best possible locations to draw in a solid backpacker crowd. It is directly below the Sydney Central YHA, and it is a hop, skip and a jump from Central Station! How much easier can it get, seriously?

photo credit: Orin Zebest

The word on the street, however, can go completely one way or the other depending on the person you ask. And, when the website lists crab racing and all you can eat pizza as some of its activities for the week, you can see why!

• Monday: Crab Racing
• Tuesday: Mix Pool Competition
• Wednesday: Live Music
• Friday/Saturday: All You Can Eat $10 Pizza & Live DJs
• Sunday: Free Pool

I took a look at eatability.com and found some interesting reviews for Scubar:

• So much fun, had a cracker of a night at this bar, load of travellers so good mix of people.
• Not a good pickup joint cause it’s incredibly noisy and by the time you can eventually buy someone a drink, their visa will have expired.
• The Scubar has bred in me a love for all things foreign! Believe me, if you’re looking for a solid time in Sydney head down, all the way down to the Scubar.
• It’s a crappy tourist bar full of seedy backpackers. It’s about the size of a beer can and they cram about 300 sweaty guys onto a dance floor where the only thing worse than the music is the girls. But hey Monday night.. cheap jugs…

What do you think, Furnished Property tenants? Is Scubar the best backpackers bar in Sydney, or does it leave you with nothing but a headache and empty pockets?