New South Wales’ capital, Sydney, is the most populous city in Australia. The year in which Sydney was established is 1788. It is known as the Harbour City. Extensive harbour views, eye-catching and fascinating architecture combined with year round mild weather makes Sydney a great place to visit at any time. No trip to Sydney is complete without visiting the Circular Quay to see the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, two of the most iconic structures on the planet. Visit Bondi Beach and spend time riding the waves. A trip to Taronga Zoo should be included in one’s itinerary. Sydney is one of the world’s most livable cities.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, a masterpiece of late modern architecture, is visited by over 7 million people every year. It was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. The main concert hall can seat 2,700 people. Australian Opera’s production of War and Peace by Prokofiev was the first performance at the Sydney Opera House. Over 3,000 events are held yearly here. The self-cleaning tiles, numbering a million, give the building its unique look. The Opera House’s roof is made up of 2,194 pre-cast concrete sections. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Inaugurated on 19 March 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the tallest steel arch bridge in the world. An unforgettable experience is the BridgeClimb. It gives a view of the Sydney cityscape. It carries eight traffic lanes and two railroad lines. Besides this there is a pedestrian pathway and a cycleway. The bridge is 2.4 km long.
Bondi Beach
The kilometre-long Bondi Beach is a popular beach in Sydney. It is fringed by parks and apartments that overlook the blue waters. There are a number of eateries, shops, hotels and tourist outlets. Apartments are there for the short as well as the long term visitor. There are plenty of restaurants where you can dine in. Bondi is an Aboriginal word meaning the sound of breaking waves.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is home to some of the city’s best bars, restaurants and nightspots. Situated here are a number of attractions including Sydney Aquarium, Aboriginal Centre, the LG IMAX Theatre (the largest screen in the world) and many more.
The Rocks
A contrast between the old and new is visible here. Some of Sydney’s oldest buildings housing restaurants, pubs, boutiques and art galleries are situated here. Contemporary markets take over the main streets during weekends. The Aroma Festival is one of several festivals held here throughout the year.
Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower opened to the public in August 1981. It is Sydney’s tallest free-standing structure and the tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The tower is capable of withstanding extreme wind conditions and earthquakes. Its attractions include the OzTrek, Observation Deck and Skywalk. OzTrek is an amazing virtual reality ride across Australia. From the Observation Deck that is 250 m above ground level one can experience a 360-degree panoramic view of Sydney. The Skywalk is a walk on glass that overhangs 260 m above the city. The tower has 1,5o4 stairs.
Blue Mountains
Located to the west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains is easily accessible. The Blue Mountains is renowned for its grand scenery, for its cultural attractions, and for its relatively calm, alternative mode of life. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Blue Mountains are a separated plateau carved in sandstone bedrock. The highest point in the Blue Mountains is an unnamed point at 1,189 m seven kilometers northeast of Lithgow.
The Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens provide natural floral beauty while also being so close to the Sydney CBD and the lovely panorama and landmarks of Sydney Harbour. One of the ideal ways to enjoy nature in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities, at the Botanic Gardens one can take in splendid views of the harbour while walking through greenery to view the endless number of plants, trees and more. All of them are tagged by signs displaying information on each species of flora.
Circular Quay
Circular Quay is situated at Sydney Cove. It is a bustling place with ferries leaving to different parts of the harbour. The walkway on the southern side of the quay leads to Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens. Take a walk on the northern side and one will reach the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks. One can board a bus from here for Bondi and the eastern suburbs. Part of the underground City Circle, there is a major railway station here. There are a number of outdoor cafés alongside the ferry terminals.
Manly
It is necessary for the visitor to board a ferry out to Manly. It is a suburb close to Sydney Heads. Every year more than 6 million people make the trip to Manly. The ferry ride takes around 40 minutes while one gets to see Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and more. The visitor must alight at the Manly Wharf on reaching Manly Cove. Spend the day at the beach surfing, swimming or just lazing on the sand. Take a trip to North Fort. South of Manly is the Sydney Harbour National Park. Do check out the old Quarantine Station here. There are also a number of native animals living within the national park. Do not forget to see the Manly Art Gallery and Museum. Finally, there is the Oceanworld that is a must-see.
Taronga Zoo
A visit to Taronga Zoo is necessary. Get a glimpse of some of Australia’s native animals and exotic species. Do enjoy splendid harbour views from here. Start your tour from the top entrance and make your way downhill while you take in views of the harbour. Once you reach the bottom, take the Zoo Sky Safari up to the top again and begin trekking downhill a different route this time. Try the Animal Encounters experience and have pictures taken along with the different animals. The Great Southern Oceans exhibit is not to be missed. It has Australian Sea Lions, Australian Fur Seals, Californian Sea Lions and more.
