Cosmopolitan and charming: head to Sydney
National parks, harbour and beaches surround this cosmopolitan city. It’s the buzzing epicentre of Down Under. Wherever you look there is an amazing view – ocean, forests or spectacular skyscapes with iconic buildings. The same is true of entertainment here. Every direction you choose delivers.
Start at Sydney Harbour to get under the skin of the guide books. Gaze at the Sydney Opera House and hopefully get a ticket to a perfect performance or embark on a tour of its famous sails. Stay with the guide so you don’t get lost in one of its 300 corridors! Once the harbour has sated your cultural appetite, take a cruise to one of the local beaches like Manly, Coogee, Bondi, Balmoral or Neutral Bay. These are some of the most well known in Australia and well worth a visit to surf, sunbathe or soak up the people-spotting opportunities.
If you want to indulge in shopping, Sydney has several precincts for you. The Rocks and Circular Quay are great for touristy gifts and the Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade are unmissable shopping opportunities. Find something more unique in the undiscovered designer shops in Paddington and at The Intersection.
Australia’s outdoors is never far away – even in the city. The Royal Botanic Garden recently celebrated its 200th anniversary and is the ideal spot for a wander in flora, a cultural lesson on Aboriginal life and culture or a catch up. Getting more active is also possible – take to the heights of the Harbour Bridge for its famous Bridge Climb - an achievement worth boasting about.