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