Sydney Warning or Danger Tips by night-timer

Kings Cross may feel more unsafe than it really is. It's well lit on the main streets and always populated.

Redfern, near the train station, is a potentially much more dangerous area, especially late at night or on weekend nights, when gangs of youths or small groups of youths can be roaming around .

Kings Cross is lively, Redfern can be deserted and eerie.

Other areas that may occasionally be or feel unsafe include Surry Hills, Chippendale, Woolloomooloo and Waterloo. A taxi driver once told me that drawing a staight line on a Sydney map between Redfern and Kings Cross would show you the potential trouble spots at night. Truthfully, Sydney is largely a safe place, but there are some (a very small number) of less pretty streets, but really only at night.

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As has been said, Kings Cross is reasonably safe at night. The main street is always well-lit and well-populated. The back streets are mostly narrow alleys which you generally wouldn't need to explore, except for the fact that this is also where you will find some of Kings Cross's best nightclubs and cafe's tucked away. Even so, it's quite safe.

I am very familiar with Sydney, so heed the following recommendations: After dark, the following areas may feel or literally be unsafe: Redfern, Chippendale (which borders Redfern), Glebe (it's gotten worse in recent years), Waterloo near the housing estate, Woolloomooloo near the housing estate, and the areas around Central Station.

The George Street cinema strip is busy and well-populated, but I would avoid flashing any valuables here, as well.

Redfern is by far the worst, so be very careful (or avoid it completely) after dark.

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Be careful after dark around Central Station, which is where the vast Sydney Central YHA (youth hostel) is.

Also be EXTREMELY careful in Redfern at night. It can't be stressed enough. Don't go there unless you have a specific reason to. Scan each street BEFORE you start to walk down it. If you see unsavoury people milling about, assess whether it looks/feels safe.

(Redfern isn't any prettier by day, but at night it is very unpleasant.)

Also watch out for drink-spiking. If you begin to feel unusual after someone has bought you a drink, TELL THE BAR STAFF. Don't worry about phoning your silly friends to save your ass, etc, just TELL THE BAR STAFF that you need help.

I have been in Sydney all my life. I love it even though I live in the bad parts and I'm usually around after midnight. (I work until late then go to bars.)

Be cautious around Central Station and its immediate surroundings - including Surry Hills, Belmore Park, Prince Alfred Park, Cleveland Street, Waterloo and Glebe. (Glebe has trendy cafes and a day-time culture, but it also has seedy parts.)

Another popular place for revellers is Woolloomooloo Bay, a dockland area that has lively pubs and even some expensive restaurants. However, it also has a housing estate ('projects') that are dangerous. There are transient people and petty criminals in these areas and it's just a block or two away from the posh restaurants and friendly pubs.

Some Sydney parks can also be risky after dark: for example, The Domain, Prince Alfred Park and Belmore Park, all in the city centre. The latter two are very near Central Station.

Other areas that experience occasional night-time dramas are William Street, Kings Cross and Oxford Street, plus the dark side-streets that border them.

Always keep your wits about you. If drinking, remember that booze can lower your decision-making skills, your alert-ness, risk-assessment, etc.

Australia has an informal drinking culture, but fights can break out when people drink too much, so watch out for hot-heads, too.

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