Being pennywise makes the Aussie dollar go a little further

By KAREN HOLDOM

So you've nabbed a cheap fare to Sydney before the Olympic Games? You'll be joining plenty of other New Zealanders expected to fly across the Tasman over the next few weeks to take up the cheap airfares in the late winter quiet season.

The challenge, once you've booked your flights and accommodation, is to avoid blowing the budget on shopping, meals and entertainment while you're there.

Fear not: Sydney can be seen and enjoyed on a skinflint's budget. You just need to be inventive. The Australian Consumers' Association publishing house Choicebooks has made it easier with its new Free and Low-Cost Sydney by Jenny Crocker and Julia Collingwood ($19.95) and Sydney for Kids by Wendy Preston ($19.95).

The key to exploring any city without stress or great expense is a decent public transport system. Thankfully, Sydney delivers just that. The train, bus, ferry, tram and monorail system will get you wherever you want to go with little confusion or expense.

If you're planning to be in Sydney for more than a week and take a really good look around, it's worth considering a SydneyPass ($A135 for an adult, $A340 for a family for a week). It sounds a lot but is excellent value, allowing unlimited access to all regular train, bus and ferry services as well as "premium" services including the Explorer buses, harbour and river cruises, Airport Express buses and JetCats.

The cheaper TravelPass ($A26 to $A33 per adult for seven days) allows unlimited travel on Sydney buses, ferries and trains but can't be used on those premium services.

Once you've got your pass, it's simply a matter of deciding where you want to go ...

Free or cheap activities in Sydney

Start with a walk around Sydney Cove, taking in the Opera House (you can fork out $A12.90 an adult to tour inside, but the view from the outside is better), followed by a walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens (free). It's worth the $A2 to clamber up the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout to see one of the best views in Sydney, followed by a coffee or beer at the Rocks to recover.

If you can restrain yourself, check out the Oxford St and George St areas for great window shopping, but if you just have to spend, head for the bargains at one of Sydney's weekend markets - Paddy's Market at Haymarket or Paddington Bazaar in Oxford St (Saturdays).

King's Cross is still great for people-watching, Manly is great for lunch and a wander, as are Bondi Beach and Chinatown.

For cerebral types

Take a Heritage Walk around the city. Get a free Take a Sydney Stroll brochure (produced by the New South Wales Historic Houses Trust) from the Rocks Visitors' Centre and start your walking tour from the Rocks to Hyde Park.

Tour Parramatta's Old Government House. An architectural treasure dating back to the 18th century, it must be one of Sydney's most-haunted houses with a ghostly woman and her dog in an upstairs bedroom, a family squabbling in the breakfast room and even a former Governor's wife and her parrot wandering the grounds.

Lose an afternoon in Goulds Book Arcade. A paradise for book-lovers, it's a huge, messy two-storey warehouse with teetering piles of books going back as far as the 30s.

For outdoorsy types

Walk the Ku-ring-gai National Park north of Sydney. The Chase Alive programme offers a big range of guided walks and nature activities ($A5 for adults, $2 for first child and $1 for extra children) including aspects of Aboriginal history and culture and extensive flora and fauna. Some of the late afternoon walks finish up around a campfire sipping tea straight from the billy.

Head to any one of Sydney's beaches for a coastal walk, such as the stunning Bronte to Bondi cliff walk with wild ocean views and rocky coastline or the Spit to Manly track through native bushland, white sandy beaches, rainforest and broken cliffs - some of Sydney's best scenery.

Stand on the Rosedale Bridge in Gordon at dusk to watch a huge colony of grey-headed flying foxes fly out on their nightly hunt for food.

For eccentric types

Head to Speakers' Corner on Sunday in the Sydney Domain to hear the city's eccentrics rattle on about God, conspiracy theories or just the voices in their heads.

Take a sewer tour at McGraths Hill sewage treatment plant. The Hawkesbury City Council has two sewage plants to tour: the best is the old one built in 1938 which uses no chemicals but an ingenious series of natural processes to treat waste. The catch is, you need to organise a group of at least 15 people. (02) 4560 4519.

For morbid types

Go on a graveyard tour of Parramatta to check out the charming colonial cemeteries. The oldest is St John's Anglican Cemetery where you can see the grave of Henry Dodd, a dedicated governor's butler who caught pneumonia and died after chasing convicts out of his vege patch in the middle of one night in 1791. Call the Parramatta Visitors' Centre (02) 9630 3703 for a cemetery map and tour information.

Visit the Museum of Human Diseases at the University of New South Wales. Tours by appointment ($5) and offer visitors a glimpse at specimens of diseased human organs and interactive computer sessions. (02) 9385 3266.

For Olympic fans

If the idea of viewing empty sports stadia appeals to you, head to the Sydney Olympic Park at Homebush. Olympic Explorer buses (No 405) run every 10 to 15 minutes from Homebush Bay (catch a Sydney Ferries RiverCat from Circular Quay to Homebush Bay: the $A19.20 for adults and $9.60 for children includes the return ferry and bus rides) and the tour will take you to all the major sights including Stadium Australia, Sydney Superdome, Tennis Centre, Sydney International Aquatic Centre and Bicentennial Park.

Strictly for kids

Strand the kids on a desert island. The Australian Museum offers Kids' Island - an hour-long experience for 0-5-year-olds including a yacht to be shipwrecked on, an island hut, a hot-air balloon and wombat cave. Bookings are essential and while you wait you can check out the excellent More than Dinosaurs and Biodiversity exhibits. Entry: $5 adults, $2 children, family pass $12.

Do a Spotlight tour at Lane Cove National Park. This entertaining night safari into the world of nocturnal birds and animals is only held during the school holidays, unless you have a party of 10 or more and can book a private one. (02) 9412 1811 for bookings).

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