Sydney/South West

Southwestern Sydney refers to the large residential area to the south and west of Sydney, including the centres of Cabramatta and Liverpool. The neighborhood also covers the Canterbury-Bankstown area, but not the Sydney/Macarthur|Macarthur suburbs.

An introduction to Sydney/South West

Cabramatta Freedom Plaza 1 - The Cabramatta Friendship Arch

The south west of Sydney is mostly off the beaten tourist track. The area constitutes the primary street into Sydney from Melbourne and Canberra, and affordable roadside accommodation with parking is available, for those wishing to get a reasonable motel, and keep a vehicle while in Sydney.

The suburbs around Cabramatta and Bankstown give some of Sydney's best access to the mix of cultures that comprise Sydney.

• Cabramatta has been transformed in recent years into a vibrant Vietnamese and Chinese community. In a suburb where Vietnamese-born residents outnumber those born in Australia and there are plenty of authentic Vietnamese, (Thai) and Chinese restaurants, Asian groceries and a great atmosphere with local residents selling home produce on the footpaths along the shopping neighborhoods.
• Bankstown is an interesting split of cultures, with Lebanese and Vietnamese shops dominating the area. Try and figure out which side of the train tracks you're on. The suburb and its neighbours like Punchbowl and Lakemba are often in the news for shootings, although much of it is gang-related and don't involve passers-by.
• Liverpool is an administrative centre of the South-West.

Travel to Sydney/South West

-33.909|151.0119|height=400|width=500}} The general rule of Sydney public transport applies - that the closer you remain to the downtown the greater the likelihood of public transport being an effective way of getting there. Buses and train lines thin out in both density and frequency the further out towards the south-west suburbs you head, however for the careful transport planner, you can manage to get to most destinations without a car.

By car

The M5 is the major Sydney freeway to the southwest. If you are travelling out from the city towards the south-west for a day trip you'll be moving against the peak, and can expect a quick run on the motorway. However, if you staying along the Hume Highway for some affordable accommodation to access Sydney and the M5 could be your nemesis. Travel durations can easily triple during peak commute times.

If you are planning to arrive from Canberra or Melbourne and are flying out of Sydney early, and have the idea to save on accommodation by stopping overnight 20 minutes short of the airport and then take care. You may be bumper-to-bumper with people who had the same thought as you in the M5-east tunnel while your flight is departing.

By Rail

The T3 line winds it's way past Bankstown on to Cabramatta and Liverpool. It takes just under an hour to get to Liverpool from the downtown. The T8 South Line also goes to some South West suburbs such as Padstow and Revesby.

What to see in Sydney/South West

Chipping Norton Lake - Chipping Norton Lake

• Chipping Norton Lake -33.9020, 150.9586 - Sydney's largest undammed artificial lake, Chipping Norton Lake is surrounded by beautiful parks, picnic facilities and play equipment. There are a number of good walkways, such as the Lake Moore Walk starting at Chauvel Park which takes an easy path along the lake foreshore.

What to Do

• Campsie Food Festival
• The Cabramatta Moon Festival is held every year on the weekend of the spring equinox (generally in September), during which the suburb welcomes over 90,000 visitors and celebrates with moon cakes, lion dances and fireworks.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Sydney/South West

The suburbs of Bankstown and Cabramatta have many Asian style shops opening onto the main streets running through the town. The centres around the station have a market feel are easily accessed from the respective stations.

Bankstown also has the large shopping mall experience, with Bankstown Central just a short distance away.

There are many stores in Cabramatta that import Vietnamese products.

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Sydney/South West

The south west of Sydney is home to a great many multicultural restaurants and while cheaper and generally better than those in the Sydney/Downtown|city and they can get equally busy during the weekends.

Campsie

• Albee's Kitchen - 282 Beamish St, Campsie -33.91384, 151.10392 ☎ +61 2 9718-8302 | Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 10PM $10-30 Specialises in Malaysian cuisine. Recently renovated with an extended eating section behind the kitchen, and was formerly a total hole-in-the-wall restaurant that wouldn't have looked out out of place in Malaysia. It still is pretty cramped, but thankfully the food is as good as ever. Take your pick of dishes from the many pictures on the wall, though a must try is the deep-fried karipap as a starter. Their daily specials are also a good place to start, and Albee's is one of the few places selling assam fish head Curries in Sydney. Other branch in Cabramatta.
• Se Jong Korean BBQ Buffet - 8 London St, Campsie -33.90980, 151.10258 ☎ +61 2 9787-7126 - $30An all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ restaurant, with quite a wide selection of food. The lack of proper ventilation means the place can get pretty smoky, but it goes along with the dining experience as you grill your meat. The banchan (side dishes) are great too, so come with an empty stomach. It gets pretty busy during weekend evenings, and a booking may be best if you don't want to wait.

Cabramatta

• Dong Ba | 5/117 John Street, Cabramatta -33.89471, 150.93407 ☎ +61 2 9723-0336 | Opening Hours: 8AM Monday - 8PM $11 Serves Bun Bo Hue, a spicy Noodles soup, which is a change from the beef pho more commonly found all around Sydney. The Noodles are springy and there's a generous portion of meat. There's another branch in Cabramatta at Park Road and one more in Bankstown.
• Pho Tau Bay | 12/117 John Street, Cabramatta -33.89437, 150.93386 - One of the best pho to be found in Sydney.
• Tan Viet Noodles House | 100 John St, Cabramatta -33.89494, 150.93415 - Crispy Chicken, served with Noodles or tomato Rice.

Drink

• Bankstown Sports Club. This huge club, complete with imitation Italian piazza, rainforest, and train station and carriages, takes souvenirs to a whole new level. Massive vehicle park, walking distance from the station.

• Cafe 86 | 4/29 John Street, Cabramatta - Try the Vietnamese iced coffee - thick, dark and very strong, sweetened with condensed milk and made with plenty of crushed ice.

Muslim Friendly hotels in Sydney/South West

If you entering Sydney from the south-west (Hume Highway) you can exit from the freeway, and take the old Hume Highway for a choice of motel accommodation that should be available on standby outside of peak times.

• Ibis Budget Casula - This renamed Formule 1 motel delivers what it says on the pack. A room, clean bed, tv, and a night's sleep.

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Sydney/South West

• Sydney/Inner West|Inner West
• Sydney/Parramatta|Parramatta
• Sydney/Macarthur|Campbelltown

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