in article , Hallvard
Tangeraas at wrote on 6/12/03 4:32 AM:

alfred wrote in message
...
Hallvard Tangeraas wrote:

Anyway, I've been told by many people that Sydney really gets packed
during this time of the year and that I really need to book in
advance:

People over on the lonely planet thorntree have been talking about this:
many of the cheaper places are fully booked and people have to try a
large number of places before striking it lucky. So, I'll skip your
second question and suggest that if you can find somewhere, grab it: New
Years eve is reportedly fully booked.

I'll probably be in another city by then, not too far away though,
either north or south along the coast, which would be Canberra or
Brisbane I guess. Would it be just as hard finding a place to stay
there, for the New Year?
Is it generally hard to find (cheap) places to stay in Australia, or
is it just the Christmas/New Year period which is difficult?

I'll check out the sites you've mentioned.

But something which I'll have a hard time figuring out from here
(within reasonable time): is Sydney a large city, and if it is, does
it mean that I might get into problems getting around if I book at a
"wrong" place, or is public transport good, and just about anywhere is
OK to stay if I want to see the city and get around?

Hallvard
Sydney metropolitan area is huge - outer suburbs esp in the south & west are
up to 1 hour by train from the CBD. However the CBD is quite compact & can
be walked very easily. Naturally most of the backpackers' accommodation is
clustered around the CBD and Eastern suburbs like Bondi & Coogee. Your
biggest problem is going to be finding a bed anywhere at such short notice.

I remember a couple of years ago there was a feature in the SMH on the
shortage of beds over the Christmas NY period. You could also try Sydney
University. From memory one of their halls of residence is converted to a
hostel for the summer - it may be run by YHA.

WRT to your later mge - I've never heard of a curfew & can't imagine why
there would be one. Most hostels I've stayed in have some form of electronic
locking system - swipe card or PIN to enter at night.

Good Luck
Vicki