We had a lovely one week stay at Charlotte’s apartment on Orwell Street. Our communications with her were quick and informative, but unfortunately we were not able to meet her in person as her husband had injured his ankle and was clearly in more need of her attention.

The apartment is exactly as it appears in the photographs, and we slept very well despite the warm weather and the bit of noise from the streets below. There was only one very warm night after a hot day (33C) but the breezes through the open windows and the fan in the bedroom kept us comfortable.

The kitchen is very well equipped and there are plenty of linens and towels. We appreciated the fact that there are two supermarkets nearby, and in the end, we prepared simple meals most evenings, instead of going out. We were really tired after hours spent walking to and from the city centre, enjoying the sights along the way each and every day. There is good transportation to the CBD, but we preferred to walk.

Visitors to Sydney on Sundays should note that it’s possible to roam around Sydney and the outer districts on trains, buses and ferries for a maximum of $2.50 per person for the entire day. This includes the ferry to Manley Beach and the train/bus combo to Bondi Beach. An incredible savings! We went to Bondi on Sunday morning, returned for a rest from the sun for the afternoon, and headed back out for a ferry ride to Darling Harbour and back to Central Quay at sunset. Stunning.

Charlotte has gone out of her way to provide tons of information for her guests - including personalized maps of various walking routes, a list of recommended eateries and pubs, descriptions of the various markets in Sydney, and even a first aid kit should anyone need bandaids for the blistered heels and toes.