Working at Tourism NSW, I’m always meeting and chatting with the fine folk that own and run the various tourist establishments around the state. We’ll often chat about future plans for exciting new tours and attractions and once they’re up and running, I’ll be there to experience it first-hand. Never before though, have I been allowed to visit a new tourist attraction while it’s still being built… that is until now.
I recently found myself at a construction site on Cumberland Street in The Rocks, donning a hard hat, closed toe shoes and a fluorescent workers vest. I’m sure this is sounding very similar to a scene in Flashdance, but what brought me here was not to re-live an 80’s cult classic, but to take a hard-hat tour of the new Sydney Harbour YHA development.
The Sydney Harbour YHA is a new youth hostel that will open in the heart of The Rocks in late 2009/early 2010. Let me say from the start, it’s not your typical youth hostel. It has all the standards of a typical hostel such as affordable prices, communal dining and social areas, but what makes this venue stand out is it’s amazing views of Sydney Harbour and that each room has a private bathroom.
When I visited, I found myself climbing what seemed to be a maze of scaffolding not quite sure what I was looking at until we stepped onto the roof of the building and what will be the hostel terrace. WOW – the view is amazing and I can assure you that this will be the place to be on NYE 2009. The terrace will be a communal area for guests to socialise, have a bbq or just take in the view. I’ve uploaded an artist’s impression of what it’s expected to look like so make sure to look at the latest photos.
What’s also interesting about the development is that it’s sitting atop of a significant archaeological site called The Big Dig. The building has even been designed in order to preserve the site and open it to the public for education.
It’s a really interesting development and you can read more about it at http://sydneyharbouryha.com.au Don’t get too excited just yet – bookings won’t be taken for a little while yet but all the info is there to whet your appetite!
My dream is to see the place and explore it.
Posted by: mesa doctor | April 07, 2011 at 04:32 PM