Clipp
Anyone who has experienced the shame of waking up without a credit card or driver's licence after a big night out can now rest easily. The Clipp app lets you start, share and settle tabs at hundreds of bars and restaurants across Australia. You select a venue, set your limit, then flash the tab number each time you buy from the bar. Then you can pay through your phone at the end of the night and, as one user put it, walk out "like a rock star".
ParkMe Parking
The ParkMe app purports to put an end to the pain of parking by revealing parking lots and garages close to you. It even lets you reserve spots. It also shows you how much you can expect to pay, to avoid nasty surprises at the boom gate. You can head off those diligent rangers by setting a parking timer, while a 'mark my car' feature means you won't be left wandering around in circles trying to find your vehicle later. The app boasts has full-time researchers who keep it up to date with the latest parking news. They even claim to be able to tell you where you can find street parking up to two weeks into the future.
Download on iTunes and Google Play.
Eventbrite
Say goodbye to boredom. Whether it's craft, bird watching, art galleries, drinking, you name it, you can find something to do using Eventbrite, an app which lets you scroll through free and ticketed events happening near you. You can view the event details, maps and directions, spy on what your friends are attending and pay for tickets too. Similar apps like Vamos and Nearify can help you fill your weekend activity list. No need to spend another Saturday night alone eating ice-cream and watching British detective dramas. Though there is probably an event for that.
Download on iTunes and Google Play.
Beachsafe
With this app you can know when the surf's up without having to park your panel van on the headland. Beachsafe lets you find what beaches are closest to you, patrol information and the latest weather conditions including swell forecast, tide times and the UV index. If you're worried about littoral currents, heavy shorebreaks or uneven ground, you can also check out the list of potential hazards at each beach. Created by Surf Life Saving Australia, the app has information on marine life, currents, surf skills and first aid so you can become the beach bum you have always wanted to be.
Download on iTunes and Google Play.
Sydney Culture Walks
With the City of Sydney's Culture Walks app, you get a tour guide without having to give a tip or fill in a survey at the end. You can pick from 10 curated history and art walking tours including trips down Oxford Street, from Pyrmont to Glebe and around Redfern. For those times when you're tooling through the city and get curious about a particular monument or building you pass, the app has easily searchable information about more than 400 notable spots. From the people who brought you Culture Walks, there's also Sydney Food Trucks. Almost a perfect companion to your walking tour, this app lets you hunt down gourmet food trucks in real time.
Download on iTunes and Google Play.
Urbanspoon
Work up an app-etite (boo-boom) by browsing restaurants and their menus on Urbanspoon. Instead of walking up and down dining strips, you can try before you buy by checking out pictures of dishes and reading reviews and ratings from critics, foodies and the average hungry person. The app, which has been downloaded well over 10 million times, was recently bought by the restaurant search service Zomato in a deal estimated to be worth some $60 million.
Download on iTunes and Google Play.
