Sydney is one of the world's truly great holiday destinations but with so much to see and do, how do you make sure you get the most out of your holiday in this city on the bay 'Down Under'? Here are five great tips to make your Sydney holiday the experience of a lifetime.

The first essential thing to do is to get yourself down to Circular Quay, Sydney's main hub for all kinds of transport and a fascinating place to explore in itself. This is the place to catch ferries to all the beaches and suburbs such as Manly, Watson's Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo. Here you can check out all the transport options, drink in views of the harbour and perhaps stop for a meal or drink at one of the many cafes and restaurants.

Next you need to get your bearings and the best way to do this is on foot. Fortunately, most of Sydney's major downtown attractions such as the Opera House, Circular Quay and Darling Harbour are located very close together. Very often, you can get around on foot; otherwise a wide range of transport options are available including the monorail and the harbour ferries.

Circular Quay is the jumping off point for walking tours to The Rocks of the Opera House. From the northern side of Circular Quay, it's just a short, scenic saunter to The Rocks and Harbour Bridge, and a walkway leads from the south side to the Opera House past the Royal Botanical Gardens. Spend a morning, or better still, a day at Circular Quay and you'll know a lot about Sydney.

The Next stop on your Sydney jaunt should be to the Sydney Visitor Centre which is on level 1 of the Rocks Centre in the historic The Rocks district. Here you can find all the information you need on Sydney attractions. Retire to a nearby restaurant or park to read your literature and plan an itinerary.

A great way to pack as many Sydney sights in as possible is to take the Sydney Explorer. These red, air-conditioned buses chug around 27 of Sydney’s most famous attractions including the Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Kings Cross, and Darling Harbour. It even crosses Sydney Harbour Bridge for some spectacular views.

Commentaries are provided and you can hop on and off at will. This is the best way for a 'crash course' in Sydney. Just jump on a passing Sydney Explorer and get a ticket from the driver.

The final thing you should do to maximise your Sydney adventure is to choose your accommodation carefully. If you're on a general Sydney holiday with many day trips, you should locate yourself in the CBD or in Circular Quay itself. Darling harbour is another great central location with some fine hotels to choose from.

Fortunately, you're spoilt for choice when it comes to Sydney city hotels. You can find accommodation to suit every mood and pocket. Among the best are the Park Regis City Centre Sydney and the Breakfree on George Sydney.

Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Sydney City hotels as Park Regis City Centre Sydney and Breakfree on George Sydney http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com.au/Australia/Sydney/City/Breakfree-on-George-Sydney/.