A Sport Lover’s Guide to Sydney

By Cindy Lee

Australia is a country of sports lovers and Sydney is no different. Whether you like to get involved or just watch, there is plenty of fun and excitement for everyone!

Couch Lover’s Sports
Sydney’s sports facilities, though widespread, are world class – a lasting legacy of the very successful Sydney 2000 games. We are the proud home of many great sporting teams such as the:

NSW Blues (Cricket)
NSW Waratahs (Union)
Sydney Swans (AFL)
Sydney Kings & West Sydney Razorbacks (Basketball)
Sydney Swifts (Netball)
Sydney United (Soccer)
And a whole host of great Rugby league teams (my personal favourite being the Canterbury Bulldogs)

Whether its Summer or Winter, there are usually games to watch on Friday Nights, Saturdays and Sundays. Whether enjoying the atmosphere live, or enjoying the competition and grit on offer relaxing in a sports bar or pub there is a Couch Lover’s way to take in the action.

Gentle Exercising
If exercise is an incidental part of the day, or if exercise is something you want to do, but can never seem to get motivated to do it, take it in gently!

Why not make like NSW’s premier Bob Carr and do some walking! Sydney has plenty of great walking tracks and paths in gardens, through bush land or by the beach! Favourites include:

The Bennelong Point walk around Circular Quay, round to Lady Macquarie’s Chair and finishing at Woolloomooloo. (Added bonus of close-ups of the Opera house and harbour views)
Any track in one of our great National Parks
The Bondi to Tamarama Beach Walk where once a year, the famous “Sculptures by the Sea” exhibition takes place. (This year it will be on from the 3rd -20th November)

Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely swim at the beach, or if an indoor environment is more your forte, check out Sydney’s Aquatic Centre at Homebush (where the athletes competed in 2000) and enjoy a lap pool, spa and sauna whilst the kids play in the whirlpool, recreation area and on slides in an indoor heated environment. Take the time to wander around the famous sporting facilities too!

Action Hero Sports
Whilst not necessarily famous for action sports, Sydney has plenty of offerings to starve off action pangs.

If rock climbing is your thing, scoot to the indoor gyms at St Peters or St Leonards. If surfing is more your style, check out the surf report and head to the beach! Else try white water rafting at Sydney’s White Water Rafting stadium or even Sea Kayaking on Sydney Harbour!

A whole host of other extreme activities such as sky diving, canyoning, abseiling are also available, albeit a bit further out from the Sydney CBD.

Sydney is a great city with plenty of sports entertainment and activities, whatever the season may be! Get here and get active!!!

Photo: Tourism Wollongong 2000. Courtesy Tourism New South Wales

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