Sydney hotels and hostels are never busier than on New Year’s Eve. A quick look at hotel booking websites reveals most city hotel rooms are already booked or cost a small fortune. Hostels have limited beds available on the night of 31 December but often require a fourteen night stay. Another option is a stay in a student room at a University College close to the city centre and viewing spots for the fireworks.

Online booking website University Stays www.universitystays.com.au has just listed rooms in colleges from November until the end of February in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The rooms at the University of Sydney are in historic university residential colleges including St John’s College, located just 4km (2.5 miles) from the city centre. Room prices are based per night for a single room. Double rooms with en-suite bathroom in the new building are a step up from what most people expect from student accommodation. Other bedrooms in the heritage buildings have leadlight windows and outlooks to cloistered quadrangles, gardens and the University grounds. A stay in the historic sandstone College is truly a Harry Potter experience.

Other less expensive options are available outside the city centre. Parramatta for example is located a fourty minute train ride from the city. However, this may not be a journey you want to face after a night of celebrations!

New Year’s Eve in Sydney is a highlight for many international tourists, interstate travellers and locals alike. Crowds vie for the best places to watch the fireworks, whether it is the rooftop of a building or a place at one of Sydney’s many harbour foreshore parks. Want to splurge? Book a Harbour Cruise or attend an event at the Opera House or Royal Botanic Gardens.

But why pay on New Year’s Eve when Sydney offers so many great viewing spots free of charge in parks and gardens around the foreshore? The best spots fill up early so take a picnic and spend the day taking in the beautiful harbour views.

Experience the best Sydney has to offer on New Year’s Eve. Enjoy the fireworks before coming home to a character filled College within the University of Sydney.

City.Mobi

Also in Australia today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Sydney.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Sydney.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.