Movies and theatre
Chauvel
Two cinemas in the old Paddington Town Hall. Focus on alternative and arthouse.
Palace Verona
Cinema on Oxford St focussing on arthouse and foreign films.
Hoyts La Premier
Large screens and gallery style seating giving unobstructed views from private two seater sofas. La Premiere has a dedicated concierge and reservation service
Hoyts IMAX and EQ
Hollywood blockbusters converted into the IMAX format, also educational documentaries in both 2D and IMAX 3D. EQ offers large screens and extra comfort.
Hoyts Cinema Paris
Four auditoriums with cinemaxx size screen, facilities for wheelchair and hearing impaired. Also provides venue for international and local film festivals and events
Swim
Cook and Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre
Centre provides world-class swimming, fitness, sporting and recreational facilities including a gym. Sited within a picturesque parkland setting. Swimming facilities include an eight lane 50 m heated indoor pool and a wave machine.
Sydney is well known for its beach culture but inner city dwellers and city workers do not have to go all the way to one of iconic Pacific ocean beaches to have a swim. There is a long tradition of Public baths in Sydney. Some of the old ones remain, such as at North Sydney at the base of the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to the Luna Park (http://www.lunaparksydney.com) entrance. Several of these Public baths or swimming centres are directly adjacent to the City east precinct or are within walking distance.
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool
A famous yet paradoxically little known location overlooking Wooloomoloo bay and near to the Botanic gardens. It was a popular swimming location with Indigenous Aborigines before the arrival of Europeans in Australia. The pool was also the venue for the sporting triumphs of Australian swimming legend Andrew Boy Charlton in the 1920s and is believed to be the birthplace of the 'Australian Crawl or freestyle swimming stroke.
City of Sydney swimming centres are closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Live music
Hordern Pavilion
With a capacity of up towards 10,000, the Hordern is a common choice for touring bands. It has played host to the likes of Sigur Ros, Interpol and many others. See website for upcoming shows.
There are numerous live music venues scattered throughout the inner east area, catering to all sorts of music from local up-and-coming bands to international touring acts.
Sports fixtures
Sydney Roosters
(http://www.sydneyroosters...) formerly eastern suburbs district rugby league football club play in the national rugby league. games from march to september.
Sydney Swans
Play in the australian football league. games from march to september. (http://www.afl.com.au)
Moore Park is one of the main sporting precincts in Sydney. Most weekends during winter will feature games of any one the three football codes played in Sydney. Cricket and soccer are played in summer.
The Sydney Football Stadium is a rectangular pitch catering for rugby league, rugby union and soccer, while right next door the Sydney Cricket Ground hosts cricket and Australian Rules. A number of clubs are based at Moore Park:
New South Wales Waratahs
Play in the super 14 rugby union competition. games from february to may. (http://www.nswrugby.com.au/)
Sydney F.C.
Play in the a-league soccer competion during summer.
Other attractions
Spa and sauna
At the ginseng bathhouse, the crest hotel, level one, 111 darlinghurst road. tel +61 2 9356 6680, fax +61 2 9356 2348 (http://www.ginsengbathhou...). the ginseng bathhouse has separate men's and women's facilities, each with a hot bath, a cold bath, a ginseng spa, a wet sauna and a dry sauna. you can also get korean treatments, massages and beauty therapy. children from 5 years old are welcome. open 9:30am-9:30pm weekdays and 9am to 9:30pm weekends. entry to the baths is $25, entry combined with treatments from $53.
Entertainment Quarter
contains an open air shopping strip, bars and cafes, weekend markets, cinemas, and a number of live television events. This used to house the Fox Studios, but no longer. However the nearby entertainment facilities include cinemas, restaurants, bars and promenade areas that are open to the public. There is no entrance charge to access the entertainment quarter. Ample parking in multi-story carpark.
Oxford St Rock and Roll Walk of Fame
Download the podcast from the City Of Sydney website and do a walking tour of past and present landmarks from the Sydney rock'n'roll scene.