Category: News

If an international artist will play anywhere in Australia, it’s Sydney. While most will make it to Melbourne and Brisbane, it’s becoming increasingly common for musicians to announce a single Sydney date on a promo tour before jetting off to the next international locale. Consequently more out-of-towners are making the long-haul trek to Sydney to see their favourite bands and singers.

Sydney’s an exciting place to see live music, but with the highest cost of living in the country a musical holiday to the New South Wales capital can also be expensive. Living on the Central Coast, I regularly make the trip, so I wanted to share my budget-saving tips with you all.

Book Your Accommodation Early

You might be tempted to wait for a last-minute deal, but on big concert nights the earlier you book, the better. You’re competing for Sydney hotel rooms with music lovers from other states and across New South Wales, along with regular holidaymakers and businesspeople, so it’s easy to see why the best rooms fill quickly. I’ve noticed prices jump by $100 to $200 as concert dates near, so dilly-dallying doesn’t pay.

Don’t be Afraid to Compromise

Photo by Miller Wu via Trover.com

You might have your heart set on the Novotel Rockford right next to Qantas Credit Union Arena, but it’s not your only option. The light rail’s Paddy’s Market stop is right outside the venue, so you could easily book a hotel near any of its other stops. It also runs from Central Station, so you could also catch a train to Central from any other local station. This opens up more accommodation options which may be cheaper, especially closer to your show.

Hostels like Cambridge Lodge are also basic but clean, and they’ll do the job if you simply need a place to crash post-gig. If you don’t need frills, why pay for them?

Save on Pre-Gig Nosh

If you’re looking for a special meal before a show, by all means splash out on dinner at ARIA or Quay. But if you’d rather save your cash for merch, read on.

Circular Quay has some of the most expensive restaurants in the city, but it’s not the only option when you’re heading to the Opera House. If you aren’t fussed about the waterfront views, head to the Rocks. There are some great cafes and pubs serving up yummy meals for far less.

Darling Harbour is a popular choice for people heading to Qantas Credit Union Arena, but the meals are overpriced for what you get. You needn’t resort to the Macca’s next door though. Instead head a block back to Chinatown for affordable, authentic Asian cuisine.

Options are a little limited around Allphones Arena, but you needn’t resort to Olympic Park’s overpriced pub fare or even more expensive fast food inside the venue. I find the market stalls and food trucks that pop up around concerts the best bet. The gozleme van is my personal pick.

This post was written as part of the #HipmunkCityLove project. What ways do you love saving money when seeing shows in Sydney?