From Wikitravel

Homebush Bay, a suburb toward the western side of Sydney harbor, served as the home of the 2000 Olympics. About 15 Km from the Central Business district (CBD).

Today, Sydney Olympic Park provides numerous venues for athletic events: aquatic, archery, tennis, golf, hockey and more. It is also home of open spaces and parks such as Bicentennial Park, Wentworth Common, Blaxland Common, Woo-La-Ra and Wilson Park.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By car 1.2 By train 1.3 By bus 1.4 By ferry 2 See 3 Do 3.1 Events 4 Buy 5 Eat 6 Drink 7 Sleep 8 Contact

Get in

By car

• Travel from central Sydney on Parramatta Road, turning off onto the M4 Western Motorway. There is an exit for Sydney Olympic Park shortly after the beginning of the motorway.
• From northern Sydney take Lane Cove Road south from Pymble, travel along Ryde Road and then Homebush Bay Drive and take the exit marked "Sydney Olympic Park" onto Australia Avenue.

By train

Olympic Park is accessible through its own Cityrail train station: Olympic Park station. At most times of the year, travellers should travel to Lidcombe station and transfer to the Olympic Park sprint trains. Timetable. During major events, direct trains to Olympic Park are also provided from Central and Strathfield stations, and sometimes also from other locations. Olympic Park station is wheelchair accessible.

Some parts of the park -- Bicentennial Park in particular -- are actually closer to Concord West station, although still within easy walking distance of Olympic Park station. During major events travellers from the north may be encouraged to use Concord West rather than Olympic Park even for central events. Concord West is not wheelchair accessible.

A common mistake made even by locals is to buy a ticket to and travel to Homebush station. Homebush station is a small suburban station located some distance from the Park, and tickets for Homebush station can't be used to access Olympic Park. Always ask for tickets to "Olympic Park" rather than "Homebush".

By bus

Sydney Bus: Route 525 from Paramatta Station, Routes 401 and 404 from Lidcombe Station. Regular, daily service.

By ferry

Sydney Ferries from Darling Harbour or Circular Quay. Time Table.

See

• New South Wales Dept. of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
• Sydney Olympic Park

Do

• Have a barbecue in Bicentennial Park [1], Australia Avenue, Olympic Park. While you're there walk, cycle or fly a kite. Bicentennial Park is a 100 hectare park created to celebrate Australia's bicentennary in 1988. Although older than Olympic Park it is now part of the Olypmic Park complex. Facilities include electric barbecues, gentle paths suitable for children cycling and for wheelchairs, and enormous amounts of grass on which to picnic or play sports. It is popular with families. Parking is free but hard to find, and it may be simpler to walk from the train stations.

• Swim or play at the Homebush Aquatic Centre [2], Olympic Boulevard, Olympic Park. tel 02 9752 3666. fax 02 9752 3699. email swim@sopac.nsw.gov.au. This complex was built for the Olympics and houses the main competition pool. Many state and national swimming events are still held here. It contains a 50m competition pool, a 50m training pool, children's pools, a waterslide and a spa, sauna and gym. Admission is $6.20 adults, $5 children and $3.10 for spectators. Discounts available for students, pensioners, families and large groups. Weekday opening hours are 5am - 9pm Monday - Friday. Weekend and holiday hours are 6am - 8pm October through to April; and 6am - 7pm the rest of the year.

Events

• The Royal Easter Show [3], Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, Olympic Park. tel 02 9704 1111. fax 02 9704 1122. email enquiries@rasnsw.com.au. The Show is held every year in Olympic Park in the fortnight before Easter, ending after the Easter weekend. The show is the most prestigous agricultural show in New South Wales. Competitive exhibits of livestock and produce are theorectically the point of the show, but for many visitors the main attractions are the fairground food and rides and the showbag pavilion in which large bags of themed merchandise are sold, with themes ranging from superheros to chocolate. In 2006 ticket prices were $29 for adults, $19.50 for children and $23.50 for concession holders. All tickets include free travel on public transport to the show; as using private transport is discouraged there are no cheaper tickets exclusive of transport.

• The Big Day Out [4], Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, Olympic Park. The Big Day Out is an annual rock festival touring Australia and New Zealand. The Sydney show is usually held in late January, most usually on the Australia Day public holiday on January 26, running from 11am until midnight. A second show is sometimes held in Sydney if demand is high. The festival is usually headlined by a major international act: previous headlining acts have included Beastie Boys (2005), The Prodigy (2002), Marilyn Manson (1999) and Nirvana (1992). About half the line-up is comprised of Australian and New Zealander acts. The Big Day Out is an MA15+ event, meaning that attendees under 15 must be accompanied by an adult over 18. It is typically a hot and crowded event with up to 60 000 tickets sold, and attendees should take appropriate precautions for their health and safety. In 2006 the ticket price was $110, and tickets usually sell out some weeks before the show.

Buy

Eat

• Bel Parco Ristorante [5], WatervieW Convention Centre, Bicentennal Park, Olympic Park. tel 02 9763 7530. Bel Parco is an Italian restaurant, open 7 days for lunch and dinner.
• Lilies on the Park Cafe [6], WatervieW Convention Centre, Bicentennal Park, Olympic Park. tel 02 9764 6154. Lilies Cafe serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.
• Arena Restaurant & Wine Bar, lobby of the Novotel Hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Olympic Park. tel 02 8762 1111. Modern Australian dining, open 6am - 11pm.

Drink

• Homebush Bay Brewery, under the Novotel Hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Olympic Park. tel 02 8762 1293. Bars, cafe and gaming. Live entertainment on Fridays. Open from 11am into the night.

Sleep

• Sydney Olympic Park Lodge [7]. tel 02 9714 7345. fax 02 9714 7323. email contactus@ymcasydney.org. The Lodge has dorm accommodation for 6-8 people per room. It is primarily designed to accommodate school groups. Individual rates are $65 per night for adults and $45 per night for children, including breakfast.
• Novotel and Hotel Ibis [8], corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Olympic Park. tel 02 8762 1111. fax 02 8762 1211. email h2732@accor.com. Facilities include two bars, two restaurants and wireless access. Rooms $169 per night, $290 per night during the Royal Easter Show.

Contact

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