Australia

Sydney

The capital city of New South Wales and the most populated city in Australia with approximately 4.28 million people. The city was established in 1788, was built around Port Jackson. Port Jackson includes Sydney Harbour giving the city its nickname, "The Harbour City". It's one of the most famous cities in the world and it offers endless attractions, extraordinary buildings, colorful markets, theaters, cinemas, lovely beaches and a lot more. The metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and contains many bays, rivers and inlets which create the special scenery of the city.

 

  

Main attractions:  Sydney offers many places and attractions for everyone. Here are some of them:

• Port Jackson – the amazing port which includes Sydney harbour and the famous Opera House was the location of the first European settlement in Australia. The port divides Sydney into two parts connected by a tunnel and a bridge. There are daily tours departing from the port.
• Circular Quay- A crowded port which is located near Sydney Cove on the southern shore of Port Jackson. The place is usually crowded with tourists who come to see the stands and enjoy the street performances in the area.
• Bondi Beach and Manly Beach- These two beaches are a must for tourists. Manly beach is a long strip and a boardwalk which lead to a few lookouts.Bondi beach is one of the most colorful and lively places in the city. It has many restaurants, coffee shops and surfing supplies shops. 
• Sydney opera house- Some will claim that this is the most beautiful building that was built in the 20th century. This piece of architectonic art which is located at the eastern part of Circular Quay was built by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon and was declared a UNESCO World's Heritage Site. The place hosts dance performances, concerts, movies and theater shows. Guided tours are being held within the house.For further information see: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
• AMP Centre point Tower - This 300 meter tower is the highest lookup tower at the southern part of the globe. From its top you can enjoy a panoramic lookout of the entire city and its surroundings. You can also take an interactive trip and learn about Australia and its population. For further information: http://www.sydneytower.com.au/
•  The Royal Botanic Gardens- The gardens which are situated east of the Opera House and Circular Quay are a great place to have a break from the urban scenery and see more than 400 species of flora from all over the world.
• Darling harbour- A large recreational, pedestrian precinct located a bit west to the city center. During the last decade it became a tourist attraction with entertainment and shopping areas. Harbourside Festival Marketplace, in the center of the harbour, is a huge complex of shops, restaurants and bars.
• The Harbour Bridge- The main symbol of the city located across Sydney Harbour carries rail, vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North shore. It is the world's widest long span bridge and its tallest steel arch bridge rises to a height of 134 meters. The Sydney bridge climb takes you over ladders, catwalks and arches from the base to its summit. 
• Sydney aquarium- The aquarium takes you on a tour of the seas and oceans surrounding Australia's vast coastline. Situated in Darling Harbour, the aquarium houses more than 630 species of Australian fish, reptiles, mammals and other sea life creatures.

Where to Stay:

 

Sydney has a large selection of accommodation to suit to everyone's needs. There are hostels, rental apartments, guest rooms and hotels of different classes. Most of the hotels and hostels are located in the following areas:

Around The Rocks area there are plenty of hotels, some of them are very exclusive. The advantage in this area is that it's full with restaurants, shops and it's close to the main attractions of the city.

 Another concentration of mainly cheap hostels is King's Cross. The place is pretty close to the city center and is a meeting place for backpackers. It is characterized by colorful nightlife and a lot of pubs, dance clubs and discotheques.  

Bondi Beach is another popular place with a variety of accommodation places. It attracts surfers and young people who give the place a special atmosphere.

 

Transportation:

 

Between the airport and the city: Trains run approximately every 10 minutes from the airport to the city center. There are also public buses and cabs which arrive to other parts of the city.

 

Intercity transport:

• Trains: The trains system in Sydney provides fast transportation at a reasonable price. There are different kinds of tickets to be used in order to save money. For further information see: http://www.cityrail.info/
• Metro light rail: The newest transportation system in the city, works 24/7 only around the city center. For further information see: http://www.metrotransport.com.au/
• Metro Monorail:  a sophisticated and modern train which stops in 8 stations around the area of Sydney central business and shopping district. The journey on the monorail gives you a top view of the city center. The monorail departs every 2-5 minutes and makes a loop in about 15 minutes.
• Buses: one of the best ways to commute in Sydney. The main stations are the Central station, Circular Quay, Wynyard and Town Hall. The buses operate between 5:00- 23:00. During the nights there are also night buses that go to most of Sydney's suburbs.
• Ferries: a great way to see different parts of the city from another angle is by taking ferries which depart from Harbour Bridge. There are different kinds of ferries at different prices. 

Climate: Sydney has a moderate climate with warm summers and cool winters and rainfall throughout the year. The summer lasts from December to March with temperatures ranging between 17-25 C. The winter between June and September is mild with temperatures ranging between 8-16 C.

Rainfall is fairly divided between summer and winter. 

 

Food and restaurants: Sydney offers many ethnic restaurants: Italian, Australian, Japanese, and Chinese, etc. There are also modern restaurants which combine western and traditional menus. The restaurants and coffee shops are mostly concentrated in the following areas:

Circular quay: In this part of the city there are plenty of restaurants, some of them exclusive. There are also cafes especially on the boardwalk near the Opera House.

The rocks: In this region, the restaurants here are uniquely located inside old buildings.

Darling harbour: This crowded area offers different kinds of restaurants, coffee houses, ice cream parlors and fast food.

Chinatown: Here you can get acquainted with the different flavors of Asian food.    

 

 

Entertainment and nightlife: Sydney offers a variety of pubs, theaters, cinemas and dance clubs most of them are concentrated in the city center and in Kings Cross. The city is also known for its fancy festivals which are being held throughout the year. For further information about the main festivals see: http://www.sydneyfestivals.com.au/

 

Obviously, there are plenty of things to see and do which weren't mentioned here. It all depends on the time and money you can spare. For further information and bookings see one of the information sites within the city.

 

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