Travelling to Sydney for the first time a few years ago was overwhelming….in the sense of; “Where are the good bars and restaurants, where can I watch my favourite sport teams play, what beach to go to?” All the important stuff!
Most of all, how was I to get a job to pay for all of these activities, only having a Working Holiday Visa valid for a year. At the time, it was about going to every office, retail store, restaurant etc and dropping off a resume, which is too much like hard work. I wish someone had told me to register with a recruitment agency and have them be proactive on my behalf. The key was to be flexible in my availability when they call.
So what to do in Sydney? Here are a few suggestions (at the time of writing) from an ex working holiday maker.
Backpacker Bars:
Kings Cross Hotel 
Scruffy Murphy
Scary Canary
3 Wise Monkeys
Cheers
Bars with a view:
Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks
Blu Bar on 36 at the Shangri-La Hotel
Sky Terrace at Star City
Coogee Pavillion
Small Bar Pub Crawl:
Stitch Bar
Uncle Mings’ (great dumplings)
Barber Shop bar (you can actually get a haircut too)
The Baxter Inn (best range of Scotch Whisky ever)
Lobo Planation (Rum heaven).
Bars & Pubs:
Norfolk Hotel 
Bungalow 8
Slip Inn
Cargo Bar
The Orient
GPO Bar
Argyle
Munich Brauhaus in the Rocks
Coogee Bay Hotel (great beer garden) Hotel Bondi
Pyrmont Bridge Hotel
and if you’re Canadian (like me!) then check out the Stuffed Beaver in Bondi
Retro Hotel for an 80’s, 90’s music night
Sunday Bar Sessions: 
Watsons Bay Hotel
Opera Bar
Clovelly Hotel
Best place to watch Sport: 
Cheers Bar 24/7
Sports Bar at Star City
Cheap Eats and Restaurants:
Food Trucks
Hunter Connection for cheap Asian food
Mary’s Burgers
any restaurants in Newtown
any pub that sells a $10 Steak night
Things to do:
Night Noodle Markets in October 
Sydney Cellar Door Wine Festival
Sydney Festival
Melbourne Cup festivities
day at the Races at Randwick race course
ferry ride to Manly Beach
Bondi to Coogee walk
Hunter Valley Wine tour
visit to the Blue Mountains.
Number one event: New Years’ Eve SYDNEY HARBOUR.
Article by Ward Young