Kosciuszko in the Aus winter

I'm looking for the following!:

• Recommendations of where to stay/what to do in Sydney
• I'd love to be able to climb or dive.. is this done in the wintertime (August)?
• I'm looking for more women who would want to join the Australian Alpine Academy course August 21 - 30

Mt Kosciuszko is a 5 1/2-6 hour drive from Sydney. Are you trying to figure out Sydney in addition to your trip down south? Blue mtns for rock is closest to Sydney but best done as a few overnights. Theres a train but that’s one long day. If you give us some more context I can try to be of more help. 

I'll be in the area for the month and flying in and out of Sydney. The trip out to Mt Kosciuszko won't be a problem and ideally before the 21st I will have time to drive out to the Blue mtns (for a few days).

Thanks for your insights!

I've been trying to find someone interested in a Kozi ski decent for a bit. I'm Brisbane based so would need to schedule the trip down south. Shoot me a message. 

As for diving, winter would be the better season, especially farther north. Less rain, less water in the rivers fouling up the near shore reefs. Not sure how much colder Sydney is water wise than Brissy, but the same prevailing current flows south.

Check the backcountry forum on ski.com.au for advice and partners for Kosci in winter. It's pretty mild if you're used to climbing and touring in true mountains in the northern hemisphere, however do respect the weather as it can get proper windy (I think the fact that it's so flat, actually lets the wind speed get higher). 

People do diving and surfing year round in Sydney, not my thing but it's very popular and you shouldn't have a problem finding people or advice. People use long sleeve wetsuits but not the full bulky winter ones with hoods and stuff.

Good time for climbing especially bouldering where winter is peak season, there's plenty of options. Facebook groups best to find partners. In the Blue Mountains Mt York is the climbers camp ground, Flying Fox backpackers maybe if you want to stay indoors. Catching the train can be workable as a tourist.

Shea McCrary wrote:

I'm looking for the following!:

• Recommendations of where to stay/what to do in Sydney

General Sydney tourist stuff.

The trains and trams are good, regular, pretty clean and safe, locals complain but deep down we love them. But the buses are unreliable and slow, prefer trains where possible.

Driving is moderately crazy, if you have big city experience in LA/NYC it'll be ok. Just take care with navigation as we don't have a street grid system so there is no logic, roads just go randomly everywhere.

Newtown is my reccomendation to go out for a drink or meal, still a bit college student influence so its a bit cheaper, more local vibes, nice old buildings, heaps of bars. Good place to base yourself without a car, great transport options, easy trains to Bondi, Opera House, Blue Mountains etc, walk to the climbing gym.

All the advertised coastal walking routes are good, Bondi to Coogee, the inner harbour one.

It's possible to get cheap Under-35 youth tickets to some concerts at the Opera House haha.

Catch one of the public transport ferries eg to Manly or Parramatta for a cheap "harbour cruise". Secrets a bit out for that though, it's crowded on weekends now.

With a car, consider further out around the northern beaches or maybe Sutherland Shire, it's freaking beautiful out there.