Sydney-where to stay for indpendent travel

My husband and I are independent travelers and need some recommendations for hotels in Sydney. We plan to rent a car and would prefer a hotel or BB for 4 days in Sydney. We would like to be on the northern outskirts of Sydney heading towards the Blue Mountains. We prefer something with a frig and microwave for breakfast time. We usually eat out for lunch and then have light dinner in room or casual dining.

I really don't want to have to pay a huge price to parking either. Looking for moderate priced lodging and availability for groceries.

We plan to visit Port Douglas also and will cruise from Sydney around New Zealand.

Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks,

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

There are two areas of Cruise Critic devoted to Australia and New Zealand. One is here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77

the other is here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=712

Tons of info there for you. Lots of Aussies to help as well.

A car for your time in Sydney - whether based in the centre or outskirts - is a useless millstone.

So choose lodgings outside Sydney & go into the city by public transport(consider Manley, seaside resort with a frequent ferry service to Sydney's Circular Quays).

Or a hotel somewhere between Circular Quays & Chinatown. Plenty of cheap street eats in Chinatown, or a ten minute walk from there to a wide choice of very pleasant but more expensive ($$ to $$$$) eateries around Darling Harbour.

Don't collect a car until you're done with Sydney.

In the same general area as the Blue Mts check out the Jenolan Caves area (no need to go into the caves if they're not your scene), and the historic gold-rush town of Bathurst (also home of Aussie motor racing - you can drive the circuit, called Mount Panorama).

North of the Blue Mts is the Hunter Valley with its vineyards, then from where the Hunter River flows into the Pacific at Newcastle head south back to Sydney by the coast road through Swansea Heads & The Entrance before joining the M1 near Kariong.

NB The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a toll bridge with no toll booths. Make arrangements to pay before you get anywhere near it.

JB :)

 

consider Manley, seaside resort with a frequent ferry service to Sydney's Circular Quays

 

JB :)

My spellings demonstrate my deep knowledge of the area :rolleyes:

JB :D