Walking thru a park bang-smack in the middle of Sydney last night at 7pm I saw two girls dressed to the max. Heels so high it hurts to look at them and dresses so short that barely anything is left for imagination. They turned off the paved walkway on to the grass and then in to the bushes. Well not really into them, between the bushes still very visible to everyone one of the girls lifts up her black dress and a fraction of a second later slides down her knickers as well truly bareing even the little that had been left for imagination a minute before. She starts yelling “Sorry-Sorry-Sorry, don’t look, don’t look”. I turn my head and continue walking shaking my head lightly. I’ve seen this happen before here, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it happen so early, even before the party has started. But I guess, if you got to go, you got to go.
Most of Sydneys nightlife is located in the areas which I call The Triangle (Kings Cross, Oxford Street and Sydney City) and some scattered spots around beach suburbs.
Most famous of course is Kings Cross, the place where you can find young, pretty and loud girls next to hairy bikers, bankers in suits about to pass out next to transsexual hookers, posh(ish) night clubs next to strip clubs, scores of hostels next to 24/7 McDonalds filled with backpackers.
Then there is Oxford Street, the gay nightlife area. Sydney is said to be the number 2 city in the world for gays and it shows. Walking down Oxford you see gay clubs, sex shops, bottle shops and some cafes and restaurants which usually don’t last long. People dressed as angels, in tank-tops and furry leggings.
Central Business District is the home for good old fashioned big night clubs like Ivy and prettily decorated lounges like the Establishment (it has the unofficial nick name: “Dry cleaners – because it’s the place where pretty girls come to pick up their suits!”), also bars, pubs and clubs for tourists. It’s home to one of the most famous jazz clubs in Australia – The Basement.
The beach areas have nightlife that is more seasonal then the one in The Triangle. There are two seasons: Summer and Students. Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, Manly, Rose Bay all of them have their fair share in the action and distinct characteristics.
Nightlife of course extends to other suburbs as well, Newtown and Surry hills have their cafes, restaurants and live music venues and a very big part is in peoples homes. House parties are very popular and oh-so-fun (and cheap!) way to meet now people and dance till your shoes catch fire.
Each of the areas mentioned above will get their own article in the Sydney Nightlife series over the next few weeks.
Kings Cross is a crazy place at night, my favorite to spend the afternoon and beginning of the evening is at Bondi beach, and head into town later.