Sydney is the capital city of
New South Wales and the point of entry
for the majority of travellers starting their vacation in Australia.
A sprawling giant of a city
with a population
nearing 4 million, Sydney stretches about 70
kilometres north south and 55 kilometres east west.
That
still leaves all the historic sites, colonial buildings and cobbled streets, tourist
precincts, the 2000 Olympics site, cosmopolitan nightlife, harbour and river cruises, inner city monorail, world class aquarium, museums and art
galleries...
Sydney has it all and there is no shortage of
great sightseeing tours
for visitors. (See tour categories above)
The city is
renowned for its breathtaking surroundings, early Australian
historical sites, numerous beaches, water sports, boating, fabulous
scenery, gourmet food, great shopping, an excellent climate... and that
distinctive bridge!
No visit to
Sydney is complete without a
harbour cruise. Take a tour of the world famous
Sydney Opera House and nearby
Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Visitors
will find an exceptional range of
Sydney hotels and apartmentsthroughout the central city and surrounding areas, suited for both
business and leisure visitors.
Things To Do In
Sydney
There is
no shortage of
things to do in Sydney.
The cityoffers every activity imaginable with watersports being very
popular. Swimming, surfing, sailing, boating, cruising, windsurfing, diving, jetskis....if
it can be done on water, you can do it in Sydney. Many major sporting events take place in
Sydney so there is usually a range of choices from the sporting calendar.
Sydney harbour is a must. Take a harbour cruise tour and see the
Harbour
Bridge and Opera House as they were meant to be seen. Sydney
Ferries have all-in-one tickets for travel as well as admission to many of the popular
attractions.
There are all varieties of vessels offering harbour
tours. Choose from a
replica of the HMAS Bounty, paddle wheel showboats, luxury yachts, harbours cruisers,
sailing vessels or the majestic Sydney
Harbour ferries and harbour cats. Not forgetting canoes,
kayaks....
Get close to Australian wildlife at
Waratah Park
Earth Sanctuary, Featherdale
Wildlife Park and Australian Wildlife Park. While on the animal
trail, Taronga Park Zoo is a must as is the
Sydney Aquarium.
For a change of pace, visit any one of Sydney's nine museums and
galleries. Natural history
buffs should not miss the Australian Museum adjacent Hyde Park.
The harbour shoreline offers many great walks suitable for all tastes and
levels of fitness. There are numerous other walks, organised tours and bicycle tours
throughout the city. Walk across the Harbour bridge and stop off at the
Harbour
Bridge Museum in the south-east pylon for some of the best views in Sydney.
Star City, a glittering harbourside casino, includes a
theatre, showroom, hotel, restaurants and of course, the casino. Take a magical voyage of
discovery in the IMAX theatre at Darling Harbour. Enjoy your sundowners
or happy hour at Cockle Bay Wharf. Entertain the children with a visit to
Sega World, Australia's largest indoor theme park with rides, games and
entertainment.
Places
of Interest In Sydney
The Sydney Beaches
- Sydney is renowned for its numerous popular beaches.
Bondi
with its famous surf, now a centre of trendy restaurants and a must for
any Sydney itinerary.
Coogee
has an excellent ocean beach and fine hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Fairy Bower
with its ocean walks and cliff-top homes.
Balmoral Beach
with its two harbour beaches, esplanade and historic Bathers Pavilion.
Cronolla, the longest beach in Sydney with its great walking
track around the cliffs, sea pools and coves.
And of course,
Manly, on the north side of the Sydney Harbour with its wharf,
beaches and Oceanworld Aquarium. Then stretching north from Manly through
Freshwater,
Curl Curl,
Dee Why and
Narrabeen.
On and on they go, one beach after another.
Sydney City - Take in
the views from the Sydney Tower at 305 metres high. Dine in the revolving
restaurant. Enjoy a performance at the Sydney Opera House or just visit
to appreciate its beauty. Better appreciate the early days of settlement with
tours to Cadman's
Cottage, Hyde Park Barracks,
St James Church
and Elizabeth Bay House.
The early colonial district of Millers
Point is a sharp contrast to the modern shopping and leisure centre at
Darling
Harbour.
Give
your plastic a hard time at the many shopping centres and markets.
Darling Harbour,
Piccadilly,
Paddington Markets,
Royale Arcade,
Strand Arcade,
Skygarden,
The Rocks Markets,
Paddys Markets. If there is any money left you can choose from hundreds
of restaurants and eateries catering to all tastes and budgets. Try some fresh fish at the
Sydney Fish Markets near Darling Harbour. Use the inner-city monorail to
get around.
Much of Sydney's charm lies in the cosmopolitan inner fringes. On the
south side of the harbour is Darlinghurst with its Italian
influences, Surrey Hills with its market and pubs, the
Victorian terrace houses of renovated Paddington, the harbour view
apartments of Elizabeth Bay and thewall-to-wall yachts
at Rushcutters Bay.
On the north side lie the attractive
residential areas of Neutral Bay, Cremorne and
Mosman
tucked around coves and parks. The beach suburb of Balmoral fronts onto
Middle Harbour with views across to Manly, the holiday centre of the
north shore.
Parramata lies to the west and is the site of the second
European settlement in Australia. Now part of Sydney's urban growth, the town has retained
many of the historic colonial buildings and links to the past. Parramatta Park is the site
of the town's first farm, the Old Government House, now a museum, still overlooks the
Parramatta river. St John's Cathedral and the Town Hall stll exist and Elizabeth Farm is
the oldest surviving home in Australia, dating to 1793.
The areas on the outskirts of the city are detailed in their own separate
page entitled "Sydney Surrounds"
Author's
Note: Sydney has a huge metropolitan area and if you plan on touring the
best the city has to offer, we strongly recommend checking out the best
prices available for Sydney
car rentals
Compare prices from all the major suppliers before
booking
Sydney Car Rentals
