Spend your Sydney in quayside comfort

Not that it matters all that much, but you know Canberra really is quite dull.

But never mind all that, Sydney's is the capital city of Australian just about every other way; it has art, culture, cutting edge architecture, an extremely diverse ethnic mix and snooty locals who make sure that they look down on the rest of the country as small-town bumpkins. As a Londoner, I love it.

But where to plonk your tired derrière after that monstrous flight? That of course depends on your budget. I'm going to assume that my audience isn't a bunch of irritating back-packing public schoolboys and suggest hotels, not hostels. I'm going to suggest the Quay Grand Suites, which you'll be surprised to learn is in the quayside. It's not cheap if you book directly with them (the average price works out at over AUS$300 a night), but a cursory Google squiz shows plenty of websites willing to offer chunky discounts. Here you have what are essentially apartments right near the Opera House with amazing views of of both Sydney Harbour and of the city skyline, as you can see in these amusing pictures.

I was told before I go that I should try out the fish and chip places nearby, and by God they were right. There are also loads of little seafood bars in and around the area, which are some of most satisfying eating in Sydney. Make sure you check them out, ok? Promise? Good.