Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is an area 15 km west from Sydney City. It is on western reaches of Sydney Harbour, and was the home of the 2000 Olympic Games.
The Sydney Olympic Park area, together with the surrounding areas on the Parramatta River including the neighbouring suburbs of Newington and Wentworth Point, a wide variety of sporting events, including athletic, aquatic, archery, Australian rules football, cricket, football, tennis, hockey, skateboarding and more. It is also home of open spaces and parks such as Bicentennial Park, Newington Armoury, Wentworth Common, Blaxland Riverside Park, Woo-La-Ra and Wilson Park.
The venues are also used for conferences, and music and family events, including the Royal Easter Show in April. When there are no events on, the area around the station and the main venues can become very quiet. At 6PM most evenings, you can have Olympic Boulevard largely to yourself.
Access to the area and to the parklands is free, although parking can be expensive.
Get in
By train
Olympic Park is accessible through its own 1 Olympic Park Station At most times you must travel to Lidcombe station and transfer to the T7 Olympic Park Line (Olympic Park sprint). On weekdays, trains leave Lidcombe Station every 10 minutes, while on weekends, trains leave every 10-20 mins. During major events, direct trains to Olympic Park also run from Central, Redfern 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 2 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 wheelchair accessible. It is also $1.80 each way cheaper to travel to Concord West than Olympic Park.
By bus
Sydney buses provide regular services from Strathfield and Rhodes stations by the route 525 and 526 buses. Parramatta station has route 525; Route 401 from Lidcombe station goes to the Olympic Park and Route 533 from Chatswood.
Unless you are already at a bus departure point, the train will usually be quicker.
For major events, like sporting events, and the Easter Show, the major event bus service operates, providing frequent event buses from most corners of Sydney. For smaller events, like football matches, a handful of buses may run to a timetable on the major event bus routes.
By ferry
Sydney Ferries has a passenger wharf for 3 Sydney Olympic Park on the Parramatta River. The wharf, which was used for the Olympic Torch journey to the stadium, is around 2 km from the Olympic Stadium area and other attractions served by the Railway Station, but is much closer to the Millennium Parklands, Newington Armoury and many of the area's cycling tracks.
By car
- Travel from Sydney City follow the A4 via Parramatta Road to the M4. Take the Sydney Olympic Park exit after the beginning of the motorway.
- Homebush Bay Drive (A3) and Parramatta Rd (A4) both pass Sydney Olympic Park. Follow either of these A roads, and follow the signs to Sydney Olympic Park.
Major event parking is available in large multi-story car parks for $25. Parking in the multi-storey carparks at other times is on a sliding scale up to $25. There is often free parking available at the aquatic centre if there are no major events on at the time. There is free parking in Bicentennial Park during the day, limited to 4 hours on weekdays. Traffic can be heavy during major events, but parking is usually available for all but the most major events. Check the Sydney Olympic Park website for details of parking and activities.
By bike
Several of Sydney's cycle routes converge on Sydney Olympic Park. The Cooks River Cycleway from Botany Bay. The Parramatta Valley Cycleway is linked by a cycle bridge over the Parramatta River linking Rhodes and Meadowbank (and on through Bicentennial Park). Cycling around when you get there is easy, with many paths and bicycle parking provided.
Get around
The train station and the bus stops is easy walking to the arenas, Olympic Boulevard, Bicentennial Park, and the Aquatic Centre. There is a bike hire centre as well.
See
Park Venues
Locals usually go to Sydney Olympic Park to see events such as sporting matches, music acts, or conventions. They are held at one of the following venues. Some venues may have tours.
- 1 Stadium Australia (ANZ Stadium), Cnr Olympic Boulevard & Dawn Fraser Ave, ☏ +61 2 8765 2000, admin@anzstadium.com.au. This Stadium was used for athletic events as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2000 Olympic Games. Now it is used for a wide variety of sporting matches, including AFL, Rugby League (State of Origin and NRL), Rugby Union, and Football (A-League). It is also used for Stadium Concerts. There is also the Art installation “Games Memories” just outside the southern entrance, which is a which is a tribute to the volunteers of the 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- 2 Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, Rod Laver Drive, ☏ 1300 836 647 (Local Rate), tennisworldsop@tennis.com.au. The Tennis Centre hosts the Sydney International tournament, which is part of the lead up for the Australian Open in Melbourne and the ATP cup. It may also host some netball games in the near future.
- 3 Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, ☏ +61 2 9704 1111. A collection of convention halls & pavillons mainly used for the Sydney Royal Easter Show, although used for other events throughout the year. The Showground also has Sydney Showground Stadium which is used for AFL, cricket (BBL) and baseball. It is sometimes used as an temporary stadium for football and Rugby codes.
- 4 Sydney Super Dome (Qudos Bank Arena), Cnr Olympic Blvd & Edwin Flack Avenue, ☏ +61 2 8765 4321, fax: +61 2 8765 4333, info@qudosbankarena.com.au. This multipurpose arena is used for basketball (Sydney Kings), netball (Sydney Swifts, NSW Swifts, Giants Netball), and some tennis matches. It is also used for arena concerts.
Other Venues include the Quaycentre (a multipurpose hall), Athletic Centre, Hockey Centre, Archery Park and the Sports Centre.
Historical Sites
- 5 Brickpit Ring Walk. Homebush Bay was an industrial site before it was remodelled as Sydney Olympic Park. The brickpit area was preserved because the post-industrial area was also habitat to several species of rare frogs, including the endangered green and gold bell frog. The brickpit site has a high elevated walkway ringing the site. The engineering is quite impressive. There are interpretive displays as you walk the ring. It is unlikely that you will see any of the tiny frogs all the way down in the water filled pit, but there are binoculars if you wish to try your luck. Free.
- 6 Newington Armoury, Jamieson Street. Weekends & School Holidays, 10am-4pm. This was an anarmament depot for over 100 years, before being decommissioned in 1996 to be used a part of the athletes village for the 2000 Olympic Games. Now, the site is used for a variety of Tours, as a Bird Sanctuary and Art exhibitions. Costs Vary.
Do
- 1 Archery (Sydney Olympic Park Archery Centre), Bennelong Parkway (Head to Wentworth Point, enter in the middle driveway), ☏ +61 2 9714 7502, archerycentre@sopa.nsw.gov.au. T-F 10AM-4PM, Sa-Su 9:30AM-4PM (Summer 9:30AM-5:30PM). Want to learn how to start in the sport of Archery? The centre regularly runs 1.5 hr introductory sessions for anyone to try the sport. Archery Australia members can use their facility casually, but contact them if you are an international archer. Introductory session (Bronze Arrow): $25.
- 2 Badminton (Sports Halls), Cnr Grand Parade & Olympic Blvd, ☏ +61 2 9714 7600, sportshalls@sopa.nsw.gov.au. M-Th 12PM-10PM, F 4PM - 10PM, Sa-Su 8AM-9PM. The Sports Halls are used for a variety of indoor sports, but getting a Badminton court is probably the easiest. Order and pay online, and then rock up 15 minutes before your session. You'll need to bring your own equipment. Table Tennis tables are also available. From $26 per court.
- 3 Cycle. Sydney Olympic Park offers possibly the most extensive and pleasant recreational cycling opportunities in Sydney, with water and park views, and some interesting historical sites to explore. Bike Hire is available from the Visitors Centre in Bicentennial Park. Get a copy of the bike circuits map from the visitors centre or online. There are three planned routes that are marked by coloured discs on the edge of the path. Paths tend to be quieter away from the picnic areas of Bicentennial park.
- 4 Get wet at Cathy Freeman Park, Olympic Boulevard (There are fountains at the southern and northern ends of Olympic Boulevard.). The Olympic Cauldron, which was the centrepiece of the water themed opening ceremony is now a large fountain that the kids (or adults) can run under. The park can also be used for picnics. Free.
- 5 Have a barbecue at Bicentennial Park, Bicentennial Drive, ☏ +61 2 9714 7300. While you're there walk, cycle or fly a kite. Bicentennial Park is a 100-hectare park created to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in 1988. Although older than Sydney Olympic Park, it is now part of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Facilities include electric barbecues, extensive 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. Admission and parking is free but hard to find around lunchtime on some weekends, and it may be simpler to walk from the train stations. Free.. There are also a number of other parks, including 6 Wentworth Common, Marjorie Jackson Parkway, Sydney Olympic Park., and 7 Blaxland Riverside Park, End of Jamieson Street, Sydney Olympic Park.
- 8 Monster Skatepark, Cnr Grand Pde & Orana Parade, ☏ +61 2 8459 7433, skate@monsterpark.com.au. Weekdays 4pm-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm. A privately run skatepark with an indoor street and outdoor vertical set-up. They regularly run classes and programs for beginners. Check their Facebook page for availability.
- 9 Swim at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Cnr Olympic Boulevard & Shane Gould Ave, ☏ +61 2 9752 3666, fax: +61 2 9752 3699, swim@sopac.nsw.gov.au. M-F 5AM - 9PM, Sa Su and holiday 6AM - 8PM Oct-Apr (6AM-7PM the rest of the year). 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 50-m competition pool, a 50m training pool, children's pools, a waterslide and a spa, sauna and gym. Worth checking that no major events are on if you plan to visit just to use the pools. $6.20 adults, $5 children and $3.10 for spectators.
Annual events
- 10 The Royal Easter Show, ☏ +61 2 9704 1111, fax: +61 2 9704 1122, enquiries@rasnsw.com.au. Sydney Showground, 1 Showground Road, Sydney Olympic Park. The Show is held every year in Olympic Park in the fortnight around Easter. The show is the most prestigious agricultural show in New South Wales. Competitive exhibits of livestock and produce are theoretically 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. Ticket prices are $43 for adults, $27 for children and $33 for concession holders though there are also early-bird offers where the prices are slightly cheaper. 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.
Buy
Shopping opportunities are limited within Sydney Olympic Park. But there are a number of small shops and convenience stores around the Park. Other shopping centres and local supermarkets can be found in Newington, Wentworth Point, Rhodes or Lidcombe.
- 1 DFO Homebush, 3-5 Underwood Rd, Homebush, ☏ +61 2 9748 9800. Just outside of the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, this is an outlet shopping centre with a food court.
- 2 Rhodes Waterside, 1 Rider Blvd, Rhodes. The shopping centre is home to the first and for a long time, only IKEA in Sydney. Also has a multiplex cinema.
Eat
Near Olympic Boulevard and the Arenas
In the way of fast food, there is a McDonald's, Subway, Oporto's and a Gloria Jeans coffee shop in the stadium area, and not much else. Gloria Jeans has seating and a courtyard area often not crowded when there are queues at the other fast food places. These can close before some evening events finish. The Brewery serves food until a bit later.
- 1 Bacar Restaurant Bar Lounge, ☏ +61 2 8762 7959. Breakfast: 6am-10:30am (open until 11am on Weekends), Lunch: noon - 3pm, Dinner: 6pm-10pm. Lobby of the 5-star Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park. Contemporary International Cuisine in a stylish modern setting, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $45-60.
- 2 Boulevard Brasserie & Bar (Arena Restaurant & Wine Bar), ☏ +61 2 8762 7523, H2732-FB3@accor.com. open 6AM-11PM. Lobby of the Novotel Hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park. Modern Australian dining. $20-35.
- 3 Food Alert, 10 Dawn Fraser Avenue, ☏ +61 2 9746 6969. Weekdays 6AM-5PM, Saturday 8AM-3PM. A Turkish take away shop selling kebabs, salads, fish and chips and burgers. Open for Breakfast. $11-17 for a full meal.
- 4 Ribs & Rumps, 8 Dawn Fraser Ave, ☏ +61 2 9746 0554. Weekdays 11.30am to late, Weekends 11.30am to late. Steakhouse restaurant. $30-50 mains.
- 5 Thai Palate, Shop8/5 Australia Ave, ☏ +61 2 9763 5206. Weekdays: 11AM - 3:30PM & 5PM - 9:30PM, Weekends noon - 9:30 PM. A bit of a walk, but still a good local Thai restaurant that also does pick up delivery. $19 - $30.
- 6 Piccolo Roma, Herb Elliot Ave & Park St, ☏ +61 2 9746 1138. M-Sa noon-2:30PM, 5-9PM. Italian restaurant, open most event days $15-$35 mains.
Bicentennial Park
There is a kiosk in Bicentennial Park, near the kids playground. Open for lunch only. Good for ice-creams on a hot day.
- 7 Waterview Cafe (Lilies on the Park Cafe), Bicentennial Dr, ☏ +61 2 9764 9900, enquiries@waterviewvenue.com.au. Daily 8AM - 5PM. A cafe within the Waterview centre at Bicentennial Park. It serves breakfast and lunch 7 days a week. $10-25.
Near the Ferry Wharf (Wentworth Point)
- 8 Concerto Restaurant, 3A/21 Bennelong Pkwy, Wentworth Point, ☏ +61 2 9475 6555, info@concertorestaurant.com.au. Mon: 12 - 3pm, Tues - Sun: 12 - 3pm, 6 -10pm. A licenced restaurant specialising in mediterranean cuisine. Expect Pizzas & Pastas, and lots of seafood. $30-45 mains.
- 9 K-Food Garden, 10 Burroway Rd, Wentworth Point NSW 2127, ☏ +61 0450 749 369. Wed - Mon, 11AM-10PM. Closed Tuesdays. A Korean Cafe & Restaurant. Your main dish of Korean Fried Chicken or Bulgogi will also come with a variety of side dishes. $15-35.
- 10 Armory Wharf Cafe, Blaxland Riverside Park, Jamieson Street (off Holker St), ☏ +61 423 884 801. Daily 9AM-3PM. Partially a bunch cafe with an all day breakfast, also does a mean fish and chips. But, go for the view of the Parramatta river.
Drink
There is not much nightlife to speak of on non-event days. On event days, the atmosphere changes - depending on who and what is playing.
- 1 The Brewery, ☏ +61 2 8762 1293. Under the Novotel Hotel, corner of Olympic Boulevard and Dawn Fraser Avenue. A pub with a bistro and live sports on 12 screens. Live entertainment on Fridays. Open from 11AM into the night. A quiet and pleasant spot for a drink and a feed on any normal day of the week. On event days, they get out their plastic glasses, security fences, and seats are at a premium. Arrive near to event time and expect a queue to get in.
Sleep
A wide range of local accommodation options are available within the precinct. Availability varies on what events are happening, but expect the 2 weeks that The Sydney Royal Easter show to run to be booked out in advance (sometime in March-April), and major concerts & sporting events to be also booked out.
| This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room: | |
| Budget | $100-$150 |
| Mid-range | $200-$250 |
| Splurge | $250+ |
Budget
- 1 Ibis Budget Sydney Olympic Park, 8 Edwin Flack Avenue, ☏ +61 2 9648 3862, fax: +61 2 9648 0427, h6582-gm@accor.com. Check-in: Noon, check-out: 10AM. An 156 room economy hotel, 750m from the Olympic Park Train Station. Expect small rooms with basic amenities. Parking is limited and is first come first serve. From $100 and up.
- 2 Sydney Olympic Park Lodge, 1 Jamieson Street, Silverwater, ☏ +61 2 9737 8139, admin.lodge@ymcansw.org.au. The Lodge has dorm accommodation for 6-8 people per room. It is primarily designed for group accommodation, particularly school & holiday camps for children. Individual rates are $65 per night for adults and $45 per night for children, including breakfast.
Mid-Range
- 3 Novotel and Hotel Ibis Sydney Olympic Park, 11 Olympic Boulevard, ☏ +61 2 8762 1111, fax: +61 2 8762 1211, h2732@accor.com. These two hotels, sharing facilities, offer 321 rooms in two styles of accommodation.100m from the Olympic Park Train Station. Facilities include two bars, two restaurants, 9 conference rooms and wireless access. Undercover car park is available, fees apply. Committed to preserving the environment they are the few hotels in Sydney to have achieved an ISO14001 Certified environmental standard rating for environmental management systems. Rooms from $160 at Hotel Ibis and $230 at Novotel per night.
- 4 Quest at Sydney Olympic Park, 6 Edwin Flack Avenue, ☏ +61 2 9033 2000. Check-in: 2 PM, check-out: 10 AM. A serviced apartment style hotel just outside the Park precinct. Around 850m from Olympic Park Train Station. The hotel has 140 apartments including Studio size or 1, 2, and 3 bedroom rooms. All rooms have some form of kitchen, and Conference facilities, On site car parking, Gym, Internet & Wifi, 24-hour reception & tour assistance are available. They also offer long stays. From $220 per Night.
Splurge
- 5 Pullman Hotel at Sydney Olympic Park, Corner of Olympic Boulevard and Herb Elliott Avenue, ☏ +61 2 8762 1700, h6411@accor.com. Check-in: 2 PM, check-out: 11 AM. 260m from Olympic Park Station, this is Sydney’s first 5-star hotel outside of the city centre. 212 rooms, including 14 suites, Pullman facilities include executive floor and lounge, 24-hour gym, business centre, 24-hour IT solutions manager, restaurant and bar. The hotel uses 40% less energy than most equivalent 5-star hotels, with solar panels on the rooftop supplementing power consumption. A specific focus in the hotel construction has been on the selection of natural materials. From $280 per night.
Connect
There are some free public Wi-Fi spots about in the event precinct. The area is also well covered by normal telco providers.
Go next
If you are staying at Sydney Olympic Park, you are about equidistant from Sydney City and Parramatta. Stay on the M4 past Parramatta, and in 90 minutes or so you could be in the Blue Mountains.