Sydney NSW
Sydney, New South Wales capital city, was established in 1788 as a British convict settlement. From its humble beginnings it has grown into one of the greatest cities in the southern hemisphere.
With a population of 3.5 million people, covering an area of 12,400 square kilometres, it is the manufacturing, commercial, cultural and sporting centre of the South Pacific. Sydney is fast emerging as a leading financial capital in the developing Pacific Basin economy..
Sydney is a spectacular city of the world, which dazzles by day and glitters at night. The harbour, one of the most beautiful in the world, the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House are the city's most renowned landmarks. But apart from the popular tourist haunts Sydney has a great deal more to offer and if you are visiting Sydney make sure you have a good look around.
Why not explore the harbour and waterways by paddlesteamer, yacht, cruiser, jetcat or ferry. If you fancy a more adventurous outdoor experience you can hire a surf ski or sailboard and make your own way around the spectacular harbour.
Sydney has a string of golden beaches with fantastic surfing, swimming and diving opportunities.
There is a variety of superb restaurants offering international cuisine as well as some of the best seafood dining anywhere in the world, and of course real bush tucker can also be found in Sydney.
What's more, Sydney's restaurant industry caters for all tastes and budgets. Dine at the top of Australia's tallest building, Sydney Tower, and enjoy 360 degree city, harbour and ocean views.
From the top levels of Sydney's tallest buildings you can observe some of the great passenger liners docking in the harbour, the internationally renowned ferries weaving their way to the seaside suburb of Manly or a vast array of spectacular sailing boats gliding across the ocean.
Chinatown offers traditional oriental cuisine, the inner city suburbs are peppered with quaint eateries with all types of international foods including Italian, Greek, French and Indian to name a few.
If you'd like to explore the cosmopolitan side of Sydney there are pockets of foreign cultures coexisting within Australian society. Visit Leichhardt in the city's inner west for an Italian flavour, Cabramatta, also in the west, for Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants, while in Surry Hills and Glebe you'll find people with Turkish, Lebanese and Greek backgrounds.
Bondi in the eastern suburbs contains a diverse mix of Australians from all over the world - the true melting pot.
For a glimpse at Sydney's past take a fully guided walking tour through the historic Rocks area, Macquarie Street and Observatory Hill and then into the twentieth century at Circular Quay and on to the Sydney Opera House. You may prefer a leisurely bus ride through the city on the Sydney Explorer which gives a full explanation of the many points of interest along the way. The explorer allows passengers to get off at any stop to explore at their own pace and then rejoin the trip at any distinctive Sydney Explorer bus stop.
You can also choose to travel in the nonrail passing through Darling Harbour, and nearby the Powerhouse Museum and the Queen Victoria Building. On a inner city walking tour you'll see elegantly restored Victorian terrace houses replete with intricate iron lace. Other walking tours include the inner city suburb of Glebe, Sydney University, Lavender Bay and McMahons Point on the northern side of the harbour and Mosman and Toronga Park Zoo tours also on Sydney's north shore.
One of Sydney's most recent attractions is Darling Harbour, just a five minute walk from the CBD. The complex is a people's playground with parks, a marina, aquarium, Chinese garden, boutique pubs, museums and harbourside shopping.
At night there's a plethora of entertainment. Theatres, cinemas, dance, drama, ballet, opera and music for all tastes.
You might prefer a beer at a quaint inner city pub or perhaps a locally brewed beverage at one of the growing number of up market 'boutique breweries'.
George Street in the CBD is Australia's cinema capital offering a variety of local, American and European feature films.
The Sydney Opera House on any night offers a combination of performing arts which might include drama and dance or perhaps classical or jazz music. The beautifully restored Sydney Town Hall also offers entertainment on a regular basis. Sydney is surrounded by a complex network of waterways including Pittwater, the Hawkesbury River, Botany Bay, Port Hacking and the Nepean River.
Don't forget the sprawl of beaches from Palm and Whale Beaches in the far north of Sydney, to the more famous Manly and Bondi Beaches closer to the centre of Sydney's coastline while the southern beaches extend to Cronulla and the Royal National Park.
Sydney is also surrounded by national parks and gardens. Beautiful established gardens can be found on the shores of the harbour, for example the Royal Botanic Gardens, or stroll through Hyde Park in the city, Centennial Park in the west. Enjoy the rugged natural beauty of the bush in the national parks just a short drive from the heart of the city where you'll see native birds and animals, spectacular waterfalls, rainforests and wildflowers.
HISTORIC HOUSES Let The Historic Houses Trust take you on an exciting journey that will bring Australia's fascinating history to life. Each property offers a unique experience. Through imaginative conservation and preservation of the buildings, their surrounds and collections, free guided tours and many other interactive displays and activities, you will learn not only the significance of the buildings, but the people and events which make them such an important part of Australia's history.
