| The sun shines. The surf beckons. The water | | | | city lights twinkling across the horizon in a |
| entices. And you're just minutes from a | | | | velvet sky. Simply spectacular. |
| world of skyscrapers and corporate suits. | | | | |
| Where else could you be but Sydney? This | | | | Get your Rocks on. |
| dazzling cosmopolitan city has no fewer than | | | | |
| 30 glorious beaches within 20 minutes of the | | | | Just moments from the CBD, you'll find The |
| bustling city centre. (Eat your heart out New | | | | Rocks, which forms part of the oldest, |
| York and London) | | | | residential precinct of Sydney. It's a |
| | | | historic area with charming terrace houses, |
| Undoubtedly one of the world's greatest | | | | pubs and cobbled laneways. Despite |
| cities, with an enviable outdoor lifestyle, | | | | inevitable changes made over the years, |
| warm climate and plenty of that easy going | | | | traces of early convict settlements can still |
| Aussie attitude to make you feel truly | | | | be found, evoking memories of the past. The |
| welcome. But there again, I'm a little | | | | city's oldest building, Cadman's Cottage |
| biased with adjectives, as Sydney is my home | | | | (circa1816), is located here, along with the |
| town. If you're heading down this way for an | | | | Argyle Cut, excavated by convicts in the |
| outback adventure or vacation of a lifetime, | | | | 1840s. At the weekend, there's a very |
| here are some of the things you have to see | | | | popular market in The Rocks. Great for |
| and do. | | | | souvenir shopping, trendy sheepskin boots and |
| | | | Australian crafts. (Don't forget the |
| Let's look back. | | | | boomerang Sam.) |
| | | | |
| Sydney is a young city. (Captain Cook | | | | Paddington Market. |
| actually sailed right past the Harbour and | | | | |
| landed at Botany Bay.) Just a little over 200 | | | | This market launched the careers of many an |
| years ago, on 26 January 1788 to be exact, | | | | Australian fashion designer. It's really |
| Sydney was founded when ships from the first | | | | worth a trip if you enjoy seeking out fashion |
| fleet arrived from England to establish the | | | | that's one-off, funky or stylish. There are |
| colony of New South Wales. The city was named | | | | dozens of stalls packed with everything from |
| after Thomas Townsend, the first Viscount | | | | novel t-shirts to accessories, bags to |
| Sydney, who was Secretary of State for the | | | | homewares. Every Saturday from 10am-4pm at |
| Colonies of Britain at the time of the | | | | the Paddington Uniting Church in Oxford |
| state's foundation. Today, Sydney is a | | | | Street. |
| fast-paced, trend setting city with a | | | | |
| population of over 3.5 million people and a | | | | Do The Zoo. |
| land size more than double of New York city. | | | | |
| | | | Every city has a zoo, but what makes Sydney's |
| Water is everywhere. | | | | Taronga Zoo so stunning is the location. It's |
| | | | in Mosman, on elevated land along the |
| While Sydney is Australia's oldest city and | | | | waterfront. This is one of the most beautiful |
| considered the economic powerhouse of the | | | | vantage points on the Harbour overlooking |
| nation, it's not the capital, that's | | | | Sydney Cove, the Harbour Bridge and Opera |
| Canberra. But Sydney sets the pace in many | | | | House. Zigzag your way along the paths and |
| ways. Its idyllic location, on the fringes | | | | lush greenery, among the animal enclosures, |
| of the Pacific Ocean showcases a lifestyle | | | | as you capture panoramic, photo perfect water |
| that's centred around water - whether you're | | | | views. All this, just a 12 minute ferry ride |
| in it or on it. Swimming, surfing, sailing - | | | | from town. (Love that ferry service.) |
| everywhere you go there seems to be a sunny | | | | |
| beach. A magical inlet. A quiet creek. But | | | | Life's a beach. Iconic Bondi. |
| you can't forget the grandest water haven of | | | | |
| them all….Sydney Harbour. One of the | | | | You can't visit Sydney without a trip to |
| best ways to experience The Harbour is also | | | | Bondi. It's more than beach, with fantastic |
| the cheapest. Jump on a ferry at Circular | | | | cafes, trendy restaurants and ocean-filled |
| Quay, the main ferry hub, and for a just a | | | | pools. A people-watching paradise. My tip: |
| few dollars cruise away to your heart's | | | | do the cliff walk from Bondi past Tamarama, |
| content. | | | | Bronte and all the way to Coogee. The views |
| | | | are stunning. The path is easy to find and a |
| Where to stay | | | | pleasant way to spend an afternoon with a bit |
| | | | of exercise thrown in. Stop for a swim or a |
| If you're organizing accommodation, Sydney | | | | cool beer along the way, or bring a picnic or |
| can offer you every type under the sun, from | | | | barbecue. |
| lavish 5 star names to smaller boutique | | | | |
| hotels and motels, with plenty in the | | | | Feeling Blue? |
| mid-price range. Check out sites such au | | | | |
| Sydney for ideas, value and instant online | | | | The Blue Mountains are just an hour away by |
| booking. | | | | train from the city and truly a world away. |
| | | | Beautiful, mystical, awe-inspiring scenery. |
| The iconic Sydney Opera House | | | | Take the popular walk from Echo Point, |
| | | | Katoomba (known to the aboriginals as "shiny, |
| One postcard image conjures up Sydney more | | | | tumbling water") to see the famous Three |
| than any other. It's The Opera House. In | | | | Sisters rock formation. Go for a ride on the |
| 1957, Danish architect Jørn Utzon won a | | | | famous Scenic Railway - the world's steepest |
| competition to design the Sydney Opera House. | | | | incline railway, or do what I do - ride the |
| It was finally completed in 1973. Its curved | | | | thrilling new Skyway Cable Car. |
| "sail-like roof" construction is a miracle of | | | | |
| modern engineering and recognised the world | | | | Doyles on the Beach, Watsons Bay. |
| over. Each year, over 1,500 performances are | | | | |
| staged here, so chances are you can enjoy a | | | | On a balmy night or lazy lunchtime, there's |
| show or a concert during your stay. | | | | nowhere better than a visit to Doyles, a |
| | | | Sydney seafood institution that first opened |
| Get on up. Climb The Harbour Bridge | | | | its doors in 1885. Situated right on the |
| | | | foreshore at Watsons Bay, you can sit down to |
| In 2007, it's the 75th anniversary of the | | | | a cool beer, fine wine and super-fresh |
| opening of The Harbour Bridge in 1932. If | | | | seafood, served with style. Sit back and |
| you'd like a breathtaking and safe way to | | | | chill. This is Sydney at its best. After |
| celebrate the occasion, do The Bridge climb. | | | | reading all this, I hope the elusive travel |
| You strap yourself onto a wire, walk | | | | bug will see you down here one day, or better |
| underneath the bridge, along one of the | | | | still, some day soon. |
| curves to the top of the bridge, across the | | | | |
| bridge and back down the opposite curve. From | | | | Matthew Lawson heads up au and is an avid |
| the top you experience one of greatest views | | | | traveler. |
| in the world, especially at night, with the | | | | |