Riverside Escape based in Berowra Waters one hour drive from Sydney CBD is certainly off the beaten…read moretrack. For my fathers 60th birthday our family decided to hire the self contained holiday escape called Riverside Escape. Managed by Barbara Randell she certainly runs an efficient and wonderful experience for Riverside Lodge which we hired and sleeps up to six adults (three couples). She is a wonderful host and I think our short weekend away would not have been the same without her. Berowra Waters is Sydney's best kept secrets offering excellent Berowra Waters accommodation right on the Hawkesbury River. Perfect for that family weekend getaway but with a range of water activities and waterfront restaurants, Berowra Waters is an ideal NSW family holiday destination. The stay also included a tinny with fuel which we took down the Hawkesbury River to explore. At night we booked dinner at one of the two local restaurants and Barbara ran us to and from the restaurant on the tinny. On the two other nights we stayed in and cooked meals which we had on the table outside overlooking Berowa Waters. Other inclusions were. Riverside Lodge is a fully fitted out home with the benefit of on site caretakers to help ensure your stay is trouble free. All boat transfers to and from the property (addition transfers may incur a small fee) - Wireless internet - Media Centre - CD's, DVD's, 50 flat screened TV - Combustible wood fire - Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning - Mooring space for your own vessel - Double Kayak with life jackets & paddles - Tinny with fuel - Top class restaurants (including Berowra Waters Inn) - In house catering can be arranged - Secure Parking arranged on request - Bush walking - Uninterrupted water views - A taste of paradise only 50 minutes out of the Sydney CBD. There are also numerous bushwalks through the area.The weekend was amazing as this experience is unmatched in any form that we have experienced around the world. And thats simply what Riverside Lodge is... worldclass.

A beautiful hostel with a romantic feel…read more We stayed in a private room, complete with gorgeous headboard, towels, a sink, flat screen television, and balcony. Staff is great for information about the Sydney airport!

Pretty much the worst hostel I have ever stayed in. I've stayed in dozens. It's very very odd - and…read morepeople who stay for more than a little while realise all the weird strange behaviour - almost felt like witchcraft - going on in this place. Bullying staff and management, actually emotionally abusive. The decent one or two staff members don't know how to handle the crazy staff. Staff play mind games with guests, varying between being your best friend and your worst enemy, keeping everyone off kilter and on edge. If you have any sense of vibes, you will immediately pick it up - if you don't, you'll figure it out. Lots of weird quiet guests in the shadows, saying really strange things to people, lots of mind games - and the management kick out anyone with no notice or explanation - about 10 people kicked out over the course of 2 weeks for having harmless fun or "not telling, just go - rumours". Then they struggle to fill the beds, so they have heavily discounted rates. No other hostel I have ever been to engage in such bizarre high school power dynamics. Basically they just let guests sort things out and don't do endless rumour and innuendo. Takes a while to figure out, as there are one or two of us groups who have all the fun. The staff get uptight and close up any social outdoor seating and the tv room after about 11 pm. Even if you're not disturbing anyone. You have to wait till they go home, but they make sure everything is locked up so that no one can actually relax. Then, they go around blacklisting at other hostels anybody who says that they want to check out early, or who they kick out, to try to prevent them from checking in anywhere else, even if they haven't told them what is supposedly done wrong. That's how insane they are. Or for minor misdeamnours. The hostels humour them, and then ignore them. Many guests left early as they felt uncomfortable, several of my mates left, we all went to a hostel elsewhere and relaxed and laughed and felt way better - the other hostels had all heard of Billabong and laughed when we mentioned it, their reputation as the last place to be for travellers precedes them. Guests are aggressively threatened and rebuked for peacefully congregating one minute, and then sidled up to the next, very strange. Then, they will be smiling and collecting stories on somebody else and threatening them. It's just a very strange place. Most who say "it's great!" stay short term before they realise. All outdoor areas are smoking and staff flaunt the no smoking section of the outdoors, so everybody else does, too, which is great if you are a chain smoker like most of us and sucks if you are not or are tying to give up - absolutely no chance in this place. Kind of smelly, dark rooms and cramped bathrooms, too, with no privacy or space to put anything. Gendered bathrooms with no transfriendly signage. Not a diverse place at all. Never any soap in dispensers. PS don't believe the reviews on Hostel World as they are are not independent and reviews can be changed or deleted by the hostel. Their response will come in hard for as much deflection and excuses and projection that they can because that's what they do. Sent from my iPhone

Yep, that's right, this is another railway station that I happen to be reviewing because, well, I…read morejust seem to have to leave a comment on almost anywhere I go. Then again, people review toilet blocks so I guess railway stations are also fair game. This is an okay station, not really a major one, but there are a number of facilities here, and like a lot of Sydney stations, it is also fairly accessible.

This is the M&Ms of stations. Methadone & McDonalds!…read more I used to alight at this station much more frequently in my youth (KD's and Northie's were big back then, pre-Cabana days - which incidentally is also now closed). Let's not mention the Crowie, let's just not. A friend, who I used to collaborate with on IT projects lived in the Forum for a number of years so it was a regular stop for me, and has changed a lot since. The station itself was one of the first with the full upgrade (new escalators and elevators, brand new platform markings and bitumen, paint scheme and seating). This breathed new life into a shabby station whose reputation was gutter-bound courtesy of the methadone malingerers accosting you every time you walked past for "a coupla bucks". Buddy you saw me here an hour ago and I knocked ya back, what do you think has happened in that hour that is gonna change my mind? I didn't win Lotto. Sorry, but I hate working to earn money just as much as you do so why would I give it away? St Leonards staysh has been future proofed somewhat with the provision for 4 platforms (currently 3 in operation). This makes it large by comparison to other stations, offering more than ample room with which to wait, as the platforms are double-size to accommodate two lines. It alleviates the claustrophobia so prevalent at other stations. I alighted here late this week and discovered to my horror that there are still opioid dependents lingering, loitering and lounging around in wait for their substitution fix. I wasn't hit on for cashola this time, but by donning dark ray bans, suiting up, and rocking a purposeful stride, methinks they overlooked me as a potential mark.

Free travel on trains this weekend! Yeah! This station is always clean and the Station Assistant…read moreis most helpful.

This is a fairly busy station on the Northern Line. During the peak morning hours, there is a fast…read moretrain to Central but it is pretty full by the time it gets to West Ryde having come from Newcastle. Entry points to the station are from Ryedale Road and West Parade. There are two ticket machines, one is exclusively for EFTPOS transactions. They've recently installed a CBA ATM near the top of the stairs coming in from Ryedale Road. There are lifts on all platforms, and two toilets near the ticket counters. There are plenty of benches along the platforms, especially on the platform going to the city. There are food and drink vending machines on both platforms if you're feeling peckish while waiting for your train. A large section of the platforms is covered to protect you from rain when the weather's sour. The station is well lighted at night so you don't feel afraid for your life when catching public transport in odd hours. There's a coffee shop on the upstairs bridge open on weekdays for a quick brekky fix before catching the train. There are bus stops right outside the station with buses going to the city via Ryde, Parramatta and Chatswood. There's plenty of public parking on Ryedale Road for those coming to the station by car. You can also leave your bicycles at both the Ryedale Road or West Parade side but I would advise against it especially if your bike is expensive. I once saw a lonely bike frame chained to the fence near the carpark in Ryedale Road and it was missing its other parts which i suspect were taken off and stolen.

Private room, third floor…read more Pros: Nice people, good location. Wifi is good. Lots of sponsored and structured activities. Clean. Safe. Cons: No air conditioning in the rooms, only central. No way to make the room dark or open the windows. Bed is horribly uncomfortable. Not enough power outlets. Showers suck, you have to make out with the wall to get under the spray. I did not enjoy it but it was bearable. A good place if you're looking to get laid, save money, or what to share with some very close friends. The beds were awful, and having no in-room air con puts this on the no list for me, but others may find it perfectly suitable.

I booked an all-girls 4 beds, for 4 nights. I got lucky being alone for all of those nights. That's…read morevery rare. Standard bunk beds and lockers in room. Men & Women bathrooms, along with laundry room, on each floor. A bit noisy, with doors closing loudly and the window from outside (as it really is super central Sydney), so maybe some updated noise cancelling in those areas. They do at least offer free ear plugs as requested. Attached bar for dinner and drinks / fun, and cafe for breakfast / lunch. They sell the basics if you forget - locks, adaptors, etc so that is a perk! Vending machines downstairs just in case. I never felt dirty anywhere. Friendly front desk and a few of the items listed on website and brochure they don't have currently but they do offer some cool free activities - yay city guide walking tour! Pretty fairly priced for location / accommodation. I spent about $150 USD for the 4 nights (with a breakfast voucher included - hot drink & a toastie). I would've spent that on 1 night in a hotel. You give up a little privacy and you save some money. I'd stay here again.

Our driver, Eddie, was prompt and polite. He loaded all of our luggage (and it was ALOT), and told…read moreus to just load on in the vehicle. He was friendly and got us to our destination safely and on time.

As far as train stations go this one isn't anything special…read more Its proximity to Westfields and the Parramatta Interchange make it a handy stop. Lifts to each platform are good for the mobility impaired (like me when I busted my ankle that time) and most each platform is under cover which will keep you dry when it's raining. With only four platforms though, the real question will be how it will continue to handle the growth of western Sydney. This station can be a nightmare at peak hour already.

Parramatta Station - gateway to Westfield Parramatta. Yay! Has a good feel to it and you can get…read morean express train to the city. On the north side of the station is a great Chinese restaurant that opened in 2012. Forgot the name of it, but remember their roast duck was ono. It's really big so you can't miss it. If you are heading west from Sydney, you can get the Jetcat catamaran from Circular Quay and walk up to Parramatta station at the jetcat terminus on the river. Takes a little longer, but what a nice ride along the Parramatta River.

This hostel is clean and in the PERFECT LOCATION. The price is good and the staff is friendly. We…read moreoriginally booked for 6 nights and added one more seamlessly. There is a kitchen and a rooftop. They have free/cheap fun activities like yoga and pizza nights.

I came here straight off the plane, jet lagged and disoriented. And this hostel gave me a…read morecomfurtable and safe home base. It is clean (bathrooms included) and the decorations/vibe is cool. Staff is helpful and friendly and make sure the space stays safe by watching to make sure it's only paying guests in the building. It is a party hostel due to its location, but that means people aren't getting wasted at the hostel but go out which is nice if you want a calm evening. Events, activities, friends, and help are all at your finger tips here. I would absolutely come here again!