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Sydney Travel Guide

Scintillating Sydney – the harbour city! Sydney is one of the most vibrant and energetic of all the world’s great cities with its spectacular waterways, magnificent surf beaches, great restaurants and nightlife, and laid back friendly sports mad people. The largest city in Australia with a population of just over 4¼ million it has year round sunshine with an energetic, vibrant, bustling and brash ambiance.

Getting There
A busy international airport serves Sydney with aircraft arriving and departing from all parts of the world almost non-stop. It is also a popular port for many of the world’s cruise ships. The airport is linked to the CBD by continuous rail, bus and taxi services.
If you are looking for a cheap flight to Sydney try Expedia.

Sydney Beaches
Sydney is well known for its miles of glorious surf and harbour beaches - most of which are situated within 30 minutes of the city’s CBD and easily accessible by public transport. Some of the most famous beaches are Barrenjoey at the northern tip of Sydney’s north shore and moving south to, Palm Beach, Whale Beach, Avalon, Bilgola, Newport, Bungan, Mona Vale, Warriewood, Turimetta, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, North Curl Curl, Curl Curl, Freshwater, Queenscliff, North Steyne and Manly. Just south of Manly is Fairy Bower and Shelly Beach. On the south side of the harbour, the main beaches include Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, closely followed by Bronte, Coogee and Cronulla. Bondi Beach is roughly a kilometre long. Stroll along the promenade and you will see Sydneysiders by the thousand enjoying the sun, sea, sand and surf. Some are happy to just parade along the water’s edge or the promenade while the more athletic show their prowess in the surf or jogging along the golden sands as part of a daily ritual. Overlooking the beach, you will find an eclectic mix of pubs, ice-cream parlors, outdoor cafés, fish and chip shops, and surf gear outlets. There are also some popular beaches along the harbour foreshores that don’t have surf such as Redleaf, Nielsen Park, Parsley Bay and Camp Cove. For those so inclined there are some less accessible nudist beaches such as Lady Jane and Obelisk.

Circular Quay
Circular Quay in Sydney Cove is one of the focal points of the city. Once the shipping centre of Sydney, it is now a ferry terminal and a recreational space, combining ferry quays, a railway station and the overseas passenger terminal with harbour walkways, restaurants, buskers, parks, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The famous Sydney Opera House is just a short stroll away and from this vantage point, you can see one of the best views of the truly magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Darling Harbour
Once a thriving dock area, Darling Harbour is now a vast harbourside leisure precinct. Its attractions include the excellent Sydney Aquarium, the Powerhouse Museum and the fascinating Australian National Maritime Museum, which includes a former Australian navy submarine and HMAS Vendetta – a Daring Class destroyer. Chic shopping malls, open-air restaurants and bars and children’s fun rides abound everywhere. It is easily accessed from the Sydney monorail that completes a circuit of the precinct from the CBD.

Sydney

The Domain
The Domain is a large park area east of Macquarie St, set aside by Governor Phillip for public recreation. Today it is used by city workers for lunchtime relaxation and an escape from the bustle of the city. On Sunday afternoons, it is the gathering place for ardent soapbox speakers who do their best to entertain or convert their listeners to whatever cause they are espousing. It is also the venue for free events held during the Sydney Festival in January and for the popular Carols by Candlelight at Christmas. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is in the northeast corner of The Domain.

Macquarie Street
Sydney’s main collection of early public buildings line Macquarie Street, many of them commissioned by Governor Macquarie and designed by the convict architect Francis Greenway. The most impressive are the elegant Parliament House, Sydney Hospital, the Mint Building, the Hyde Park Barracks, St James Church and the State Library of NSW. The Barracks and the Mint are now museums, the library hosts exhibitions and there are tours of both the hospital and Parliament House. Macquarie Street is at the eastern end of the CBD bordering The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens running from Hyde Park to Circular Quay.

Sydney Harbour
Arguably the most beautiful harbour in the world this spectacular waterway is what sets Sydney apart. Criss-crossed by ferries and with a mass of yachts and other pleasure craft on weekends, it is both the city playground and a major port. Its sandstone headlands, dramatic cliffs, and stunning bays and beaches make it truly unique. Many parts of the harbour are as untouched and pristine as when Captain Cook first entered the waterway in 1770.

Officially named Port Jackson, the harbour stretches some 20km inland to join the mouth of the Parramatta River. The most scenic area is on the ocean side of the bridge. The Sydney Harbour National Park protects the scattered pockets of bushland around the harbour and offers walking tracks and beaches but the best way to experience the harbour is to sail it or catch the Manly ferry. Some of the real estate you will see around the shore is among the most prestigious in Australia. You can walk from Manly to Spit Bridge, enjoy an outdoor drink at Watsons Bay, dine amid spectacular views at Milsons Point, Balmoral or Circular Quay, or cruise to the heads on the sailing ship Bounty. One of the best and most inexpensive ways to enjoy the harbour is by Sydney ferries. They are a great way to see the many points and bays in the harbour. Sydneysiders use them like buses to commute to and from work.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge opened on March 19, 1932 connecting the Sydney CBD with the North Shore commercial and residential district. The single arch design is 1,149 metres long with the longest span 503 metres, the width 49 metres and the clearance at mid-span 49 metres. The bridge carries six lanes of road traffic on its main roadway, plus another two lanes of road traffic on what were formerly tram tracks, it has a footpath on the eastern side, and two railway tracks and a bicycle path on the western side. If you have a reasonable level of fitness, you can take guided tours to climb the arch of the bridge to the peak. The two pairs of pylons at each end serve no structural purpose other than visual aesthetics although they now serve as a museum, a tourist centre, a harbour lookout and a base for CCTV cameras for traffic control. The total weight of the bridge is 52,800 tonnes. It has 6-million hand driven rivets and repainting the bridge is literally a never ending process.

(As an aside), when the bridge was about to be opened the Premier of NSW Jack Lang was ready to cut a ribbon to declare the bridge open when a man in military uniform on horseback slashed the ribbon with a sword and declared the bridge open “in the name of the decent and respectable citizens of NSW. He was promptly arrested, identified as Francis de Groot and convicted of offensive behaviour. The ribbon was hurriedly retied and Lang recut the ribbon to a 21-gun salute and a RAAF fly past. Because of the arch design Melburnians somewhat jealously and disparingly refer to the bridge as “The Coat hanger”. Sydneysiders in turn describe Melbourne’s Yarra River as “the only river in the world that flows upside-down. Such is the rivalry between the two cities.

Sydney Opera House
Situated on Sydney Harbour at Bennelong Point, the Sydney Opera House is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular and original examples of modern architecture. The twin icons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera house are instantly recognised the world over. It is an icon among tourists and travellers and you cannot miss having it in the photographic record of your Sydney visit. Built between 1959 and 1973, it was plagued with construction delays and political upheavals that culminated in the resignation of architect Jørn Utzon in 1966 long before its completion. A consortium of Australians designed the interior after Utzon quit. Where better to see a performance, listen to a free outdoor concert or sit under a cafe umbrella and watch the world go by? The Opera House hosts theatre, classical music, ballet and film, as well as seasonal opera performances. There is also a venue called The Studio, which stages contemporary arts events. There is free music on the forecourt of the Opera House on weekends and a craft market on Sundays.

The Rocks
The Rocks is part of ‘Old Sydney town’ in the heart of the CBD. In the days of early settlement, it was a bawdy shantytown. Its narrow cobbled streets and fine colonial buildings are still evocative of those early days and its cafes and restaurants make the perfect stop before an afternoon of souvenir browsing. If you ignore the kitsch, a stroll around The Rocks can be delightful. Attractions include the weekend market, the Sydney Observatory, and numerous craft shops and art galleries. However, the old buildings, alleyways and historic facades impress most visitors. Try exploring the less developed areas in the adjoining suburb of Millers Point, which has not sacrificed its community life to the tourist dollar. Check out the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and The Hero of Waterloo, two of Sydney’s oldest pubs still operating today.

The Royal Botanic Gardens
Just a short walk around the water’s edge from the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens offers one of the most breathtakingly beautiful settings you will see anywhere. The gardens fill an area of land between the harbour and the eastern part of the central business district. The gardens sit on the side of an undulating piece of land and the harbour views from up on the hill are breathtaking. Large shady trees make this the best spot imaginable to stop and have lunch while taking in the spectacular views. A walkway meanders around the harbour front at the lower part of the gardens and is popular for lunchtime walkers and joggers. The gardens have more than one million botanical specimens and there is even a hop-on hop-off “train” for the less energetic. The gardens are an excellent place to escape the noise of the city and are situated quite close to some of the major city hotels around Hyde Park. They open daily at 6.30am and close at sunset. Entry is free.

Taronga Zoo
The nation’s leading zoological garden, features Australia’s finest collection of native animals and a diverse collection of exotic species. Its location is what makes Taronga so special. It is situated on elevated land along the waterfront, in one of the most beautiful vantage points on Sydney Harbour with priceless views of Sydney Cove, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. The Taronga Zoo has its own jetty and you can step off the ferry from Circular Quay and walk straight into the zoo.

The Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are so called because of their blue-green eucalyptus hue. They cover an area of around 1436 square kilometres and are within easy reach from Sydney by car or train. The Blue Mountains are surrounded by several areas, which also provide a vast array of tourist attractions and places of interest. Surrounding areas include Penrith, Richmond, Lithgow and Oberon but you need several days to experience the whole region! The mountains are rich in history. Once considered an impassable barrier, the Blue Mountains is now a major gateway to Western New South Wales. A prominent feature in the Blue Mountains is The Three Sisters - a rock formation named from an Aboriginal dreamtime legend about three sisters, ‘Meehni’, ‘Wimlah’ and Gunnedoo’ who lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe. They fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe that was forbidden by law to marry members of another tribe. The brothers were not happy to accept this law and decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle. As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe turned the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he had the power to reverse the spell to return the women to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation for all eternity as a reminder of the battle.

Daytrips
Daytrip options from Sydney are numerous. Driving out to the Blue Mountains National Park you can immerge yourself in this stunning World Heritage region. Just 65kms from downtown Sydney, the Blue Mountains provide tourists with stunning scenery and hiking spots. Here you will have the chance to meet the Three Sisters in Katoomba, visit the Jenolan Caves or feed the kangaroos at Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Leaving Sydney for the day and touring the Hunter Valley will allow you to taste delicious Australian wines and get to know more about the winemaking process. You can also mix pleasure with culture by visiting Wollombi Village and its Courthouse Museum. Beach fans will likely want to skip these cultural attractions and opt for lounging on Manly, Coogee or Bondi beaches, easily accessible from Sydney.

Must-see attractions
Since the 2000 Olympic Games, the Sydney Olympic Park has become a must-see attraction in the city. Here sporting and recreational activities can be pursued while arts and culture events also take place regularly.

Many people want to have a photograph taken in front of the futurist building housing the Sydney Opera. Built by the architect Joern Utzen, it is a major tourist spot of the city. Some tourists take a guided tour of the facility or attend one of the quality opera shows here.

Beach lovers will not miss spending a day at Bondi Beach, though the beach can be packed on hot days. Another way of discovering Sydney sea life, though not as glamorous, is to head to the Sydney Aquarium in Darling Harbour.

Best time to go
The best time to go to Sydney depends on what you want to experience. If you want to sun bake on Bondi Beach, then you might choose summertime (November to February). If you want to hike or do many outdoor activities, it might be wiser to choose a cooler period of time, such as June, July or August.

Most tourists enjoy coming to Sydney during the Australian autumn, which stretches from March through end of May. At this time the weather is pleasantly warm but not hot and ideal for sightseeing.

Rainy day suggestions
Activities to be done while it’s raining or it’s too hot outside are numerous. The Museum of Sydney, built in the first Government House, offers an overview of aboriginal and European history of the city. The Art Gallery of New South Wales hosts an impressive collection of aboriginal art and is a great place to spend a few hours.

You can also head to the famous Sydney Opera House or go to Darling Harbour on the Monorail. Here you will have plenty of opportunities to shop and have fun, watch a movie on the IMAX screen or visit the Sydney Aquarium.

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