| Page Views: 4,003 Last Visit to Sydney: August, 2007 I Live Here | Glorious Sydney. by Openseas - last update: Oct 8, 2007 |
Sydney - My home town. | Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. |
Sydney is my home, and what better place to call home , blessed with such raw honesty and diversity, Sydney is a treasure chest , holding incredible richness and beauty in the fragments of the harbour and foreshores. The beaches hugging the Pacific Ocean , the summer days filled with surprises, enriching the essence of the sun , glistening fragments of light filtering over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are truely enchanting.Sydney is a city full of playfulness, entertainment , sophistication, mixed with a lively cosmopolitan casual lifestyle.
Sydney is fun to its 4 million locals, with its varied assortment of ethnic background ranging from aborigines, convicts, immigrants, to refugees.We are a socially tolerant city appreciating the deep connection to our strange and unique heritage. It is with this mixture, we display our passion and love for Sydney. We love our beaches, harbour, sports, famous icons and are fiercely protective of our city.And why not, Melbourne may have the Arts but Sydney is saturated and surrounded by its beautiful harbour, rivers and beaches; its a wonderland of waterways and National Parks stretching from Pittwater to Port Hacking. Sydney is sexy and seductive, a gorgeous dazzling spectrum of beauty bathing beneath the morning sun.
Sydney is Australia’s oldest city and is the capital of New South Wales. It is located on the east coast of Australia and surrounds Port Jackson an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Sydney Harbour contains over 240km of foreshores and extends over 55sqkm; it was first settled in 1788 as a penal colony when Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove.
Sydney is Australia’s largest port and commercial city, and it has grown from its early penal days to a vibrant, multicultural and invigorating city. Sydney’s major growth occurred after WW11 when immigration intensified and created a boom period, which saw the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge officially opened on the 19th March 1932. It's opening linked the city from North to South. The building of the Sydney Opera House originally designed by Danish Architect Joern Utzon. This building was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the 20st October 1973.
A total of 200 nationalities represent Sydney’s population which creates a unique blend of interesting suburbs dominated by ethnic backgrounds. Sydney also has one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian communities, which intermingle into Sydney’s sense of raw openness and colourful diversity. Most of Sydney's Aborigines (indigenous Australian) live in the inner city suburb of Redfern. So take a walk down some of Sydney's suburbs and you will find definite ethnic districts displaying their wonderful assortment of goods, cafes and restaurants such as Leichhardt "little Italy" and Cabramatta "Vietnam".
Sydney has some absolutely stunning suburbs, some are nestled beside the sea or small inlets and coves of Sydney Harbour, others are found in the inner suburbs of the city. All are different and offering a diversity of activities and beauty, whether its a beautiful view or leafy tree lined street filled with boutique and antique shops, to small terrace lined working class cottages to huge mansions perched over the Pacific Ocean. Sydney is breathtaking, and one of the most loveliest cities in the world. |
|  | Manly Beach- "Seven miles from Sydney" Manly is everything Australian, it is our culture. A lively Sydney beach resort with excellent accommodation, restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Its alive with screeching seagulls, long sandy beaches, small coves , inlets, swaying Norfolk Pines, bikinis, cold icy beer, surfboards, festivals, music, flip flops, pink zinc, fish and chips, yachts, boats, divers, fishermen, lifeguards, and an National Trust Oceanfront Promenade which was listed for the introduction of daylight swimming, surf lifesaving and board riding into Australian culture.
Manly is easily accessible by ferry or jetcat operating from Circular Quay(city)to Manly Wharf, the short walk up the Corso leads to the ocean beach.
Surrounded by the ocean and harbour on three sides, Manly is unique with its 18 small cove harbour and ocean beaches it lays peacefully as a peninsula with stunning and breathtaking views. Now a major tourist beach resort with million dollar homes it has become one of Sydney’s most popular beaches and International destination for overseas travellers.
Manly is steeped in Australian history, discovered by Captain Phillip in 1788 and named after the Canalgal and Kay-ye-my clan of aborigines who greeted him with “Manly” gestures. The Quarantine Station was built in 1832 to segregate ill passengers from others on the arriving ships from England. Manly is situated seven miles north-east from Sydney and due to the harbour was severed from the city until Henry Gilbert Smith brought land in 1853 and introduced the ferry service and started to plant the Norfolk Pines along Manly Cove that a small community and village started to flourish and grow.
The Corso
Manly Beach is about one mile long with a large foreshore and golden sands. The northern end is called Queenscliff Beach which has a lagoon estuary that empties into the ocean. It is quieter than Manly and is used mainly by the locals. There is an ocean pool and a tunnel, which was once chiseled out by local fishermen as a short cut to Freshwater Beach. The Centre is called North Steyne Beach and the southern corner South Steyne. Next to Manly Beach is Cabbage Tree Bay and Shelley Beach.
South Steyne Beach
Cabbage Tree Bay was named after the Cabbage Tree Palm and Shelley Beach is the only west-facing beach on Australians east coast and is filled with unique marine life such as the Eastern Blue Groper, the Weedy Sea dragon, Gloomy Octopus, and Little Penguin. The bay is an ideal spot for scuba diving and snorkeling because of its clear and shallow waters. Shelley Beach is a haven for sun seekers and is a popular sheltered beach, for families and children.
The Harbour beaches include Manly Cove, Little Manly, Stores, Collins, Fairlight, Forty Basket, Reef and Clontarf beaches.There are numerous sea and harbour pools in Manly. The Bower Pool which is located half way to Shelley Beach along the walkway from Manly Life Saving Club.Little Manly Cove which is located next to Manly Wharf and is excellent for children and families. Fairlight Pool which is a short coastal walk from The Manly Aquarium. . |
| | Balmoral Beach. Lower North Shore: Mosman/ Balmoral Beach
Mosman is one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs; with historical aboriginal sites,Taronga Park Zoo, breathtaking views, stunning architecture, gorgeous beaches mixed with boutique shops and first class restaurants. Mosman is really a must do. The Borogegal Aboriginal tribe inhabited the area before the area was settled in 1830 as a whaling station; it now houses Sydney’s most expensive and prestigious real estate. Mosman is home to some of Sydney’s loveliest harbour beaches such as Clifton Gardens, Chinamans, Balmoral, and Obelisk beach. It has some magnificent architecture, where you can find huge federation mansion to small Victorian cottages.
Sydney most famous walks can also be found in Mosman, leading you along the foreshores of Sydney harbour. Balmoral Beach is well-known for its “Shakespeare-by-the sea” plays in summer at the famous landmark the Rotunda, next door to another landmark Bathers Pavilion. Walk along the promenade and explore the “island” that separates Hunter Beach and Edward beach by a stone foot bridge but don’t forget to get your fish and chips to eat, whilst watching the yachts cruise pass the heads.
In summer there is a free shuttle bus operating from Spit Junction(Sat and Sun only) to Balmoral Beach, ferries go to Mosman Wharf and a bus connects to Mosman Village. Walk down Raglan Street to Balmoral beach, it’s a long winding road down a very steep hill and catch the bus back to the city. Another alternative is to catch the ferry to Cremorne Wharf and do the walk to Mosman Bay connecting to the bus to Mosman Village.Or catch the ferry to Taronga Park Zoo and do the "Taronga's Wild Australian Experience Tour" for a few hours and catch the bus up to Mosman Village.
Check out www.sydneyferries.info for timetables and information on walks.Buses leave Wynyard Station (stop 247).
Another adventurous way to see this area is to hire a Kayak at The Spit Bridge and paddle over to Clontarf Beach/Chinaman's and Balmoral Beach. Check out www.Sydneyharbourkayaks.com.au .Costs per person $15.00 per hour. You can also take a Half Day Tour with a experienced crew and see the awesome sights of Middle Harbour, visiting Aboriginal sites in the area, and the Garrigal National Park, Cost $99.00 per person. Duration 4hrs operating only on Saturday and Sunday. Kayaks can now be hired at the Balmoral swimming pool.
Buses run from Wynyard Station at Stand 3 to the Spit Bridge.Hop off at the reserve and cross the road at the lights, and proceed to walk north along the promenade.You will see their office perched on the waterfront.
For timetables on buses - www.sta.nsw.gov/au/timetable/ .There are plenty of top restaurants based at The Spit, where one can indulge themselves with excellent food and stunning views.From take-a-away fish and chips to exclusive waterfront fine dining.
If time permits you can also hire a houseboat and cruise up Middle Harbour and explore the small inlet coves and beaches that are hidden amongst some of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs.Located at Sandy Bay Road Clontarf Marina. www.Middleharbourhouseboats.com for a truely rare experience, this is a Must Do. |
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 Comments for Openseas about Sydney | | | | |
dulgru Fri Sep 28, 2007 03:51 UTC
Your photos seem a bit shaky, but i found your tips very helpful | planxty Wed Aug 29, 2007 15:15 UTC
Hi Sandy, what a great start to your vT pages. Excellent Sydney off the beaten path tips, must have taken ages. I love your ppp by the way. fergy. |
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