Sydney is undeniably one of the most beautiful modern cities in the world. Sweeping harbour views, attractive and interesting architecture combined with year round mild weather makes Sydney a great place to visit at any time.
Whether your interest is sightseeing, culture or sports there is something for everyone.
Whilst there are many delights in Sydney, no trip would be complete without a visit to Circular Quay to see the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you only have one day, I suggest spending it on our beautiful harbour, and its surrounds.
I moved here in 1987, gave Melbourne , Brisbane and country towns a try , but fell in love with multicultural Sydney
Sydney enjoys a temperate climate with a mild winter, and has more than 340 sunny days a year. Average minimum temperatures in the winter months of June through to August is around 9 degrees Celsius (47-48 degrees Farenheit). The summer season is from December through to February.
Travel Warning: Carry-on Baggage Requirements
As of March 31, 2007 all passengers flying to and from Australia on international flights will only be permitted to carry small quantities of liquids, gels or aerosols in their cabin or carry-on luggage. Small containers of 100 mls (3.5 fl oz) are permitted and must be sealed in a transparent plastic bag. Details of the new security measures can be found at the Department of Transport website.
Domestic travel is not affected by these regulations.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Population
4,400,000
Currency
Name: Australian Dollar
Code: AUD
Symbol: A$
Electrical Plugs
220-240V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: English
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +10 (Eastern Standard Time)
Country Dialing Code
+61
Weights & Measures
Metric
Sydney's sunshine, parks and can-do attitude combine to offer many ways to up your heart-rate. Boasting more than just one type of beach (you can choose from harbour and ocean), Sydney sands are heavily populated on warm weekends and Sydneysiders also swim before, after and instead of going to work.
swimming, boating, surfing, diving, walking, horse riding, golf
swimming
Given Sydneysiders' love of watersports, it should come as no surprise that there are more than 100 public swimming pools in Sydney. The Andrew 'Boy' Charlton is especially good for a splashy romp. The harbour beaches at Camp Cove, Nielsen Park, Balmoral and Chinaman's Beach offer picturesque swimming, but no waves. If you want to go bodysurfing, head for Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte on the south shore, and just about any of the beaches lining the 30km (19mi) stretch of coast from Manly to Palm Beach on the north shore.
boating
The best way to see Sydney Harbour is by getting out on the water. Take your pick of sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing opportunities. Spit Bridge and Balmoral are the best places to hire equipment.
surfing
Depending on your abilities, you should find a beach that suits you. Good surf beaches include Bondi and Tamarama on the south shore and Narrabeen, North Avalon and Palm Beach on the north shore.
diving
The best shore dives in Sydney are the Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail, north of Coogee; Shark Point, Clovelly; and Ship Rock, Cronulla. Popular boat dive sites are Wedding Cake Island, off Coogee; around the Sydney Heads; and off the Royal National Park. In Manly, you can make beach dives from Shelly Beach.
walking
There are plenty of coastal bushwalks in the Royal National, Ku-ring-gai Chase and Sydney Harbour national parks. The 8km (5mi) Manly Scenic Walkway follows the harbour from the north shore beachside suburb to Spit Bridge on Middle Harbour. Another spectacular but much shorter walk is along the cliffs from Bronte to Bondi Beach.
horse riding
You can hire horses to ride in Centennial Park, the large park between Paddington and Bondi. The park vies with Bondi and Manly promenades as the favourite jogging and inline skating spot.
golf
Despite the astronomical real estate costs in this city, golf enthusiasts still lay down the green for over 80 local golf courses. |
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