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