Sydney's exorbitant cost of living may have driven many of the locals away, but it has done little to deter eager British tourists from flocking to the Emerald City - especially during Australia's sultry summer months. And who can blame them? It may be one of the most expensive metropolises in the world, but it's also one of the most beautiful (trust me: my 'commute' once included a ferry ride across that glittering harbour).
And while a slice of summer in Sydney can come with a hefty price tag, it doesn't have to be that way. With a little insider know-how, swapping the British winter for a Harbor City holiday doesn't have to cost a fortune. Little can be done about airfares - flying half way around the world always causes some delays - but the same does not have to be said about local costs. Not all attractions require payment, and you can often get a much better feel for the city by thinking off the beaten track and bypassing the big sights.
Beaches are almost too obvious to mention, but what would an article about Sydney be without them? There are more than a hundred of these sandy areas, ranging from the vast 5km long Lady Robinson's at Rockdale to Turimeta near Manly, so small that they disappear at high tide.
In Sydney, there's no better way to spend your time than soaking up the sun and tanning, and as a bonus, your biggest expense is likely to be sunscreen. If waves and surfers aren't your thing, head to one of Sydney's many ocean pools: most are part of the beach and are free; others, like the Bondi Icebergs, charge an entrance fee - although AU$9-10 (£4-5) is a small price to pay for a day's access to an iconic (and almost ancient) site.
However, the icebergs have another attraction, and that is the location under which the tides swell and foam. A three-course meal in the eponymous Dining Room is pricey (AU$155/£80), so treat yourself to a cocktail and then head downstairs to the Bistro, which has the same incredible views and a more affordable menu.
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This is also the starting point for the 6km cliff walk to Coogee - a stretch worth walking for the views and people watching alone, but which gets an extra wow factor every spring when the free outdoor exhibition Sculpture by the Sea takes over.
Naturally, a stay in Sydney requires time on and around the harbour, surrounded by the waters; his "coat rack" of a bridge; and the shiny, shell-like curves of the Opera House. And while these are undeniably the city's supermodels, exploring them on a budget doesn't have to relegate you to a day of just strolling.
An evening at the Opera? Regular tickets start at AU$79/£41, but there are special offers that give you access to selected performances (plus dinner and drinks at a harborside restaurant) for AU$99/£52. The adjacent Botanic Gardens are also open to the general public, and if you hang out near "The Con" (the Sydney Conservatorium of Music), you'll also likely be treated to the sounds of future musical greats.
A harbor cruise from nearby Circular Quay will cost you around AU$65/£34, but if you hop on a green and yellow ferry you'll get the exact same view for a few cents (AU$3.20/£1.60). While you're on board, make sure you look smugly up at the little climbing figures sneaking over the arch of the Harbor Bridge: they paid more than AU$150/£78 for the privilege.
Give them a wave from the ferry, then hop off and walk across the pedestrian portion of the bridge at your leisure for free. Then head to Pylon Lookout - yes, you'll have to climb just over 200 steps to reach the top, but you'll be rewarded with 360° views over the harbor and entry to the local museum, all for just AU$24.95/£13 .
And then again, yes, the view from the Sydney Tower - the city's highest vantage point, which punctuates the skyline with its signature yellow space-age structure - is quite grand. But for the price of adult admission (AU$35/£18), you could instead have two glasses of Yarra Valley Prosecco at the Blu Bar on the Shangri-La's 36th floor, from where the harbor views are magical ( and free).
Many of Sydney's museums and galleries are also free to enter, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, with its harborside location, and the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where the permanent collection displays early colonial works alongside First Nations art.
But a Sydney holiday isn't just about ticking off the sights: you also have to eat. In a city so renowned for its cuisine, eating out is serious business, but taking a budget approach doesn't have to mean missing out. Try cheap, tasty dumplings at Chinese Noodle House; legendary Italian at Bill and Toni's; rice paper rolls at VN Streetfoods; or authentic Indian at Chatkazz in Harris Park, and use the money you've saved for a one-off splurge at a big restaurant like Quay or Bennelong.
Granted, not all of these locations are central, but it would be a mistake to visit Sydney and stay exclusively near the harbour: the heartbeat of this city beats strong, even some distance from its famous heart. Shopaholics can scour the outlet stores in Homebush, or scour the charity shops of the suburbs for designer hand-me-downs, while walkers should head to the bushland and coastal trails that meander seductively through the Ku-ring-gai National Park, to the north, and Royal National Park, to the south.
Don't miss a visit to the beautiful suburb of Manly with its bustling Corso strip, but don't make this your only excursion to the northern beaches. Continue along the 36km Northern Beaches Coast Walk towards Palm Beach and discover less-visited beach suburbs such as North Curl Curl and Narrabeen. It is here, against a backdrop of public works of art, tranquil sandy beaches and local beach cafes, that Sydney's bold, beautiful heart shines brightest. And you really can't put a price on that.
Essentials
British Airways and Etihad fly from London to Sydney from £1,010 and £1,222 return respectively.
The Moxy has double prices from AU$176/£91 per night; the W Sydney has double rooms from AU$759/£394 per night, both including breakfast.
For more information, visit Destination NSW.
