Sydney Travel Guide

Sydney is the city from which Australia started to become a big and powerful country. As the explorer Arthur Phillip wrote about the city 'it's situated at the bank of the most beautiful harbor in the world'. Nowadays it is one of the most marvelous and prosperous megapolis in the world. When you arrive there you immediately forget about the tiresome hours of the flight. It's a splendid place for lazing in the sun on the numerous beaches, located both in the city and around it. You'll also like a breath-catching ferry excursion along the harbor, getting to the Harbor Bridge, doing shopping in Paddington and spending all the nights in fashionable clubs. In Sydney dominates friendly and relaxed atmosphere. In the largest city of Australia takes place a lot of unique sights. Just the location at the bank of the fantastic harbor and wonderful climate make Sydney one of the most attractive touristic places.

The Sydney Opera House. Along with the Harbor Bridge the Sydney Opera House is one the most famous buildings in the city. It's so-called 'the visiting card of Sydney'. The Opera House was projected by the well-known architect Jorn Utzon, who in 1957 won the international competition for the right to create the Sydney Opera House. The building works started on May 2, 1959. In 1973 everything was finished and the Opera House was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II. Despite the fact that the contract with the architect was broken, Jorn Utzon was at the presentation of this really amazing building.

This marvelous construction cost the government 105 million Australian dollars instead of planned 7 million. The complex consists of very different hall: concert hall (2700 seats) with the organ, the drama theatre (550 seats) and the chamber music hall (420 seats). Every day 15-minute excursions are organized there.

Harbor Bridge. If you want to enjoy the most beautiful view on the harbor, you should visit one of the tower of famous Harbor Bridge (or 'the old hanger' as the natives call it). The bridge's weight is 61 000 tons and its cost is 20 million Australian dollars. It was finished in 1932 and you can get to it only from the Rocks (the historical center). It's 1150 meters long (just a few meters shorter than Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco), the width of its arch is 503 m. The bridge connects the northern and southern parts of the city.

The Rocks. The Rocks is a historical part of the city that was turned into a shopping and gastronomical area. Along the coast line are located lots of restaurants with the splendid view on the Opera House. On the eastern bank of the Sydney Cove over the Rocks takes place a part of Harbor Bridge. From this place started the history of Australia, when the first colonists built their houses on the rocks between the Sydney Cove and the Walsh Bay, and started to go further to explore the continent.

The Darling Harbor area. The Darling Harbor is one of the most famous touristic areas of Sydney. It's located in the center, so there you'll easily find the enormous shopping center, aquarium, ship with the information about the Olympic Games and the well-known monorail road. The monorail road was opened on the occasion of a jubilee. It's loud in praises of politics and administration, but the citizens still don't have a common opinion. The monorail road harmonizes with the futuristic buildings of the Darling Harbor, but is not very suitable for the cozy city center. The trip that lasts about 15 minutes will cost you 2,50 Australian dollars.

In the large halls of the Sydney Exhibition Center big exhibitions, conferences and special evening are carried out. During the Olympic Games some of the competitions took place there. Not far away is situated the Convention Center, where one can get the time-table of the exhibitions.

In the many-storied Harborside, the glass roof of which attracts everybody's attention, you'll find luxurious boutiques, good restaurants and fast-food services. It's especially crowded on weekends. On the other side of the darling Harbor you'll see the Sydney aquarium. There they keep large freshwater and sea fish, corrals, and in the spacious terrarium – some crocodiles.

The Botanic Gardens and the Domain Park. The Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain is the best place to rest from the hustle of the big city, which is located not far from the noisy center. The gardens were created in 1816 and together with the domain territory make up the oldest park in Australia that is situated to the east of the Central Business District. In this oasis of calm it seems that the city is located far away from here. It's a favorite place for picnics of all the natives, that's why on weekend there especially many people there. The wonderful park disposes to acquiring a tan, running or just having a walk and enjoying the marvelous view on the bay and the Sydney Opera House.

On the edge of the park takes place the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool that is ready to share with you some cool water. If you want to widen your horizons in botany, visit the Herb Garden, the Palm Grove and the Sydney Tropical Centre. The Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain are located in the Macquarie Street, on the right from the Central Business District. You can easily get there from the center on foot.