T is for a Technicolour Sydney

If you're spending your long weekend in Sydney be sure to take advantage of all the free entertainment our beautiful city has to offer. Firstly, this weekend is your last chance to get into Circular Quay and check out Vivid Sydney. With even better technology and more interactive options than ever before, paired with a variety of concerts on at the Opera House, you really should spend at least one evening exploring this harbourside event this weekend.  Everything you need to know about Vivid Sydney's lights, music and other concepts can be found on the festival's website.

Also this weekend is Darling Harbour's annual Jazz and Blues Festival. Across the long weekend local artists such as James Morrison, Mojo Juju and from the UK, Trevor Watts and Veryan Weston, will perform in Darling Harbour and best of all - it's free! Actually, over 40 artists will perform on three stages in Darling Harbour across the three days and nights this weekend so it's definitely worth a visit. I definitely recommend catching public transport into the city and jump on the Darling Harbour website to plan your day so you don't miss out on your favourite artists. Bios, programs and loads more event information can also be found on the Darling Harbour website.

Finally, the Sydney Film Festival kicked off last week and provides a great opportunity to check out some excellent flicks and, while not free, they are at very reasonable prices and in some really cool venues. Check out the Sydney Film Festival website for a complete list of sessions, venues and ticket prices.

N is Stuff to do for Next to Nothing

So Sydney is not the most expensive city in the world, I mean it’s no Paris or London when it comes to the price of a coffee, but on an Aussie scale it can be pretty darn pricey. So here are a few suggestions for things to do and what to keep an eye on if you are looking for some entertainment that doesn’t include a $50 breakfast or $170 concert tickets.

One of my favourite bonuses for under 30’s who are looking for a little culture and cheap way to truly experience iconic Sydney is the cheap Opera House tickets available to under 30’s – it’s true! See selected Sydney Theatre Company and Bell Shakespeare Company performances for as little as $35 for those yet to hit the big three-oh. More information and details about current performances is available at the Sydney Opera House website.

Also jump on to the City of Sydney website because you are sure almost each week to find a new and exciting event happening in Sydney city with many of these being absolutely free. The Darling Harbour and The Rocks websites are also a good place to check if you're on the lookout for free entertainment with plenty going on in these precincts, particularly over the warmer months. While you are  in Darling Harbour and The Rocks be sure to stop and watch the street performers who are happy with a small donation in return for a 30 minute show or be in awe of the magnificent cruise boats that regularly dwarf Circular Quay.

One last suggestion and a personal favourite is the Manly ferry trip, a perfect day out from the city, a return ticket costs a little over $13. Soak up the Sydney sun on the harbour and enjoy an ice cream on the beach at your destination.