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Sydney, recognised as one of the most live able cities on earth, provides a very warm welcome to visitors. Stunning harbour, perfect climate, superb restaurants, energetic nightlife this safe efficient city is a must do destination.

Mix nature with the man made attractions led by the iconic and . Add in a city centre play area, , with restaurants, museums, shopping, street artists and lots more. Build a complete Olympic park and run a very successful Olympic Games. Top it all with theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, a gay/lesbian scene and some of the world's best restaurants and you have a lively pulsating city offering complete extremes of entertainment.

Sydney's skyline is large and widely recognizable dominated by the . Buildings range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings, to Jorn Utzon's expressionist, the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large number of Victorian buildings, such as the and the Queen Building.

Sydney is located in a coastal basin with the Pacific Ocean to the East and the Blue Mountains to the West. The city features the largest natural harbour in the world, . Besides the Sydney Harbour there are more than 70 harbour and ocean beaches, including the famous and to name just two. Sydney's urban area of 1687 square km is similar to that of Greater London. The metropolitan area is 12,145 square km, a significant portion of this area is national park and other unsettled land.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Places Bondi Beach

Bondi is the nearest ocean beach to the centre of Sydney, only eight kilometres distant. The Surf Life Saving Club dates from 1906, only four years after the ban on daylight bathing in urban areas was lifted in Sydney.

CBD

The Central Business District (CBD) of Sydney is the historical centre of government, retail, finance, culture and entertainment. Darlinghurst North

Circular Quay The area around Taylor Square, which marks the start of is the harbour Darlinghurst, and Oxford Street at gateway to the city. Next to the Hyde Park is popular with the gay Sydney Opera House and Royal and lesbian scene. Botanic Gardens. Originally a major port for shipping now is mainly used by the Sydney Kings Cross Ferries. Kings Cross is known as a nightspot for visitors with bars, strip clubs and the centre of the Chinatown red light district. There are many restaurants, cafes and bars. Chinese culture and cuisine Macleay Street runs down to the around Sussex Street at the harbour where the Royal entrance to Darling Harbour. Australian Navy moors several Chinatown has distinctive warships, often open for oriental architecture, street inspection. lanterns and archways. Plenty of places to dine on Asian dishes. Paddington Sydney Harbour Bridge Paddington starts at the end of Centennial Park and runs up The Sydney Harbour Bridge is Oxford Street. Many of its streets 502 metres long and 48.8 metres are steep and narrow and shops wide and it weighs 52,800 mainly boutiques, bookshops, tonnes. The top is 134 metres cafes and pubs. above sea level. It carries both road and rail traffic and there is a footway for pedestrians. One of Manly Sydney's wonderful attractions is Bridge Climb a three-hour climb The journey to Manly is a right up to the top of the bridge. beautiful ferry ride. It is also a popular and fashionable area, famous both for its tree-lined beach and for its food, much of Darling Harbour which lies along the short but trendy street known as The An extensive, leisure and Corso, joining the harbour and entertainment area immediately ocean sides of the peninsula. to the west of the CBD with many Manly lies on the North Head of hotels and restaurants. the harbour entrance.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com The Rocks History Sydney Museums

The Rocks is one of the oldest Lt Cook (he became a Captain areas of Sydney and was one of later) first arrived at Botany Bay the first places to be settled. The on April 29, 1770. The original Rocks is a thriving tourist aboriginal name of the area was This museum deals with attraction, full of souvenir shops Warrane but was to become Australian natural history and the and cafés, galleries and Sydney, being named after Lord culture of the aboriginal people. 6 museums. Every weekend there Sydney, the British Secretary of College Street. (02 9320 6000). is a lively market in George State for Home Affairs, who had Street. authorised the colonisation scheme. Australian National Maritime Museum The twisting alleys and old courtyards have an old-world The discovery of valuable land At the entrance is the welcome character. west of the Great Dividing Range led to the early prosperity. By hall as a tribute to the millions of 1842 with the arrival of migrants who have arrived in continuing convicts and free over the years. Lots of settlers, numbers had grown to boats and ships here, including 30,000. In 1848 the British Australia II, which won the Government stopped the policy America's Cup, and the huge of sending convicts. The flow of destroyer H.M.A.S. Vampire. immigrants continued as rural Many vessels are on the water people escaped the poverty of and include Sekar Aman an Britain. It was in the 1800's that Indonesian work boat, HMAS large scale development started Onslow a retired submarine,, a and the Victorian architecture commando boat, a 'Little Toot' spread, going up the hill from the tug, an 1880's racing cutter and harbour. more. 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour. (02 9298 3777). The 1930's were hard for Sydney but it was a time of celebration with the completion of the Buran Sydney Harbour Bridge in March 1932. The construction provided Buran is a Russian space ship a living for many and had the and it lives just outside Star City. nickname 'Iron Lung' due to the It is open for inspection, with a fact that it saved so many from space simulation and small starvation with the earnings museum. Star City. workers made. The Eastern Suburbs During the Second World War, Customs House The area between the City and Sydney was considered a target the sea at Bondi Beach. by the Japanese. That led to the Customs House is right outside The Inner West Sydney's original deployment of large numbers of Circular Quay Station and dates suburbs with King Street, US troops in the city. Mass in part from 1840. Object Newtown with good shopping migration followed the ending of Galleries on the third floor has and eating. the war and migration continues Australia's largest exhibition of to this day. The mix of craft and design and is free. The immigrants who changed over City Exhibition Space on the The Inner West the years now provides Sydney fourth floor has an intricate model with its very mixed and rich of the entire city area. 31 Alfred culture. Sydney's original suburbs with Street, Circular Quay. (02 9247 King Street, Newtown with good The grandest building in Sydney, 2285). shopping and eating. the Opera House was opened in 1973 after many years West construction. In 2000 the very successful Olympic Games Sydney has moved west and promoted Sydney to the world. almost reaches the Blue Now Sydney continues to Mountains. The west side of develop as a major world city Sydney includes the Sydney with growing confidence and Olympic Park, and strength, helping power the Penrith. thriving Australian economy.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Harris Street Motor Museum

A display of over 150 classic motor cars and other vehicles. 320 Harris Street. (02 9552 3375).

Justice and Police Museum

Housed in three former courthouses, this is a museum of crime and criminals in Sydney. Museum of Fire The museum includes a Magistrates Court, a police charge room, a remand cell, a All of the drama and danger of This is Australia's largest gallery of mug shots of Sydney's fire fighting. Castleragh Roar, museum. With 380,000 exhibits, early criminals and many more Penrith (02 4371 3000). although not all on display at any displays. Corner of Albert and one time, it covers everything. It Philip Streets (02 9252 1144). can take a day to walk around and view the films, attend the talks, watch the performances Macleay Museum The museum stands on the site and demonstrations. Each of the first Government House exhibition tells a story from the A museum of the history of and contains exhibitions showing history of steam to the living Science at the University of the . conditions in the bush. There is a Sydney. Gosper Lane. (02 9351 space exhibition, lots of 2274). Inside the museum are the interactive exhibits and hands on archaeological remains of the science exhibitions. 500 Harris colony's first Government House Street, Darling Harbour. (02 9217 built in 1788, the contemporary 0444). sculpture Edge of Trees and stories of the . Corner State Library of New of Bridge and Philips Street. (02 9251 5988). South Wales

NSW Sporting Hall of This is the oldest research library Fame Museum in Australia and it has an extensive collection of Australian manuscripts, including eight of Photos and memorabilia of the ten diaries written by those Museum of athletes from 1890's to the who arrived in the first fleet. Contemporary Art present. . Macquarie Street (02 9273 1414). (02 9763 0111). This 1930s building used to be Sydney Children's the home of the Maritime Outback Centre Museum Services Board, but has served in its present capacity since Experience the sights and Hands on science for ages 2-12. 1991. Circular Quay West, The sounds of the outback in a free Corner of and Walpole Rocks. (02 9252 4033). 30 minute live show 'Sounds of Streets (02 9897 1414). the Outback'. Darling Harbour (02 9283 7477). Sydney Jewish Museum

S.H. Ervin Gallery The museum is dedicated to documenting and teaching the Run by the National Trust the history of the Holocaust. The gallery has an interesting Jewish museum also tells the collection of historical art. stories of Jewish life in Australia. Observatory Hill, The Rocks. (02 148 Darlinghurst Road. (02 9360 9258 0123). 7999).

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Hogarth Galleries Cadman's Cottage Aboriginal Art Centre Perched up on Observatory Hill This is one of Sydney's oldest above The Rocks is the Sydney A large collection of Aboriginal surviving buildings, dating from Observatory. The oldest art. 7 Walker Lane, 1816. It was built to house the observatory in Australia. Look Paddington.(02 9360 6839). Government Coxswain, who had through the telescopes or visit Museum of Contemporary Art the important task of organising the exhibitions that show how This 1930s building used to be all the water transport on the Aboriginal people used the stars the home of the Maritime harbour. The cottage was named for navigation, fly through space Services Board, but has served after the third and longest serving in the 3D Space Theatre and in its present capacity since such coxswain, the ex convict enjoy the gardens. Watson Road, 1991. Circular Quay West, The . 110 George Street Observatory Hill, The Rocks. (02 Rocks. (02 9252 4033). (02 9247 5033). 9217 0485). Elizabeth Bay House Sydney Tramway Museum of Contemporary Art Museum A superb example of colonial architecture overlooking the The Tramway Museum lies some This 1930s building used to be Harbour built by John Serge for half hour south of the city by the home of the Maritime the Colonial Secretary Alexander train, adjacent to Loftus station Services Board, but has served Macleay. on the line to Waterfall. Corner of in its present capacity since Rawson Avenue and Pitt Street. 1991. Circular Quay West, The Furnished to a mid 1800's style. 7 (02 9452 3646) Rocks. (02 9252 4033). Onslow Avenue, Elizabeth Bay. (02 9356 3022). The Rocks Discovery S.H. Ervin Gallery Museum Run by the National Trust the Learn about the People gallery has an interesting The oldest farmhouse in Australia who were the traditional owners collection of historical art. located in Parramatta. Built by of the area, explore the history of Located at Observatory Hill, The John Macarthur who arrived in the English colony and see how Rocks. (02 9258 0123). 1790 and was one of the first the whalers, sailors and traders farmers. Parts of the building lived. Delve into the reasons date from 1793. 70 Alice Street, behind the 1970's protests which Historic Places Rosehill. (02 9635 9488). preserved the Rocks. And try out the interactive technology on the Government House archaeological artefacts found in Anzac War Memorial the area. 2- 8 Kendall Lane (02 Government House is situated 9251 8804). This sturdy and imposing Art within the Botanic Gardens. It is a Deco building is the state's Gothic revival building Westpac Museum moving tribute to those who lost constructed in 1837 to 1845. their lives fighting for Australia, Since the Governor is no longer especially those who died with in residence, the building is open Trace the history of the bank from the first Anzac force at Gallipoli 1817 to the modern day. 6 to the public. Macquarie Street and during the remainder of the (02 9931 5222). Playfair Street (02 9763 5670). Great War. The monument was erected in 1934 and is at the Art Galleries south end of Hyde Park. Hyde Hyde Park Barracks Park (02 9267 7668). Art Gallery of New This building originally housed South Wales convicts. It was designed in 1819 by Governor Macquarie and a This is the largest art gallery in convict architect named Francis Australia and includes large Greenway. elements of aboriginal and Asian art. There are also free Now it is a museum of Australian performances of aboriginal history, with particular emphasis dancing and didgeridoo playing in on the life of the Yiribana Gallery. Art Gallery and the history of this building. Road, The Domain (02 9225 Queens Square Macquarie 1744). Street. (02 8239 2311).

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Old Government House St James Anglican Church Located in Parramatta Park and built in 1799 Old Government The oldest church in Sydney, House was extended in 1815, designed by Francis Greenway in now home to a fine collection of 1824. 173 King Street (02 8227 Australian colonial furniture. 1300). Parramatta Park. Strand Arcade Parliament House Sydney Tower Running between George Street This the oldest Parliament House and , The Strand The tower stands at 305 metres. and was developed around one built in 1892 features a very The turret weighs 2,259 tonnes of the original “Rum Hospitals”. ornate interior. and is held by 56 cables, each The building includes two weighing seven tonnes. restored legislative chambers. Susannah Place It includes a tank holding 162,000 Macquarie Street, (02 9230 litres of water to act as a 2111). Susannah Place built in 1844 is a counterbalance to strong winds. group of terraced houses Mrs. Macquarie's Chair retaining the traditional Views from here extend to the atmosphere of The Rocks and Pacific Ocean in the east, Wollongong in the south and the Located at the end of the Royal now converted into a museum. Blue Mountains in the west. Botanic Gardens provides some The houses bring to life Skywalk is an adventure on of the best views of the harbour conditions for working class Sydney Tower. and the Opera House. This is the people from 1844 until the 20th Century. 58 64 Gloucester place to capture a classic At double the height of Sydney Street, The Rocks (02 9241 souvenir picture. Harbour Bridge will provide an 1893). adrenaline rush as you walk around the roof of Sydney Tower. Sydney Opera House The other attraction is Skytour's A good example of 19th century This famous landmark was Great Australian Exhibition that architecture and also an up completed in 1973, having taken takes you on a virtual tour market shopping arcade. George fourteen years to construct. The through the landscapes of Street. (02 9264 9209). architect, Joern Utzon, included Australia. 100 Market Street (02 in his design the surfacing of the 9333 9222). Rose Seilder House 'sails' with more than a million ceramic tiles, which were Town Hall Built between 1848 and 1950 imported from Sweden. There are Rose Seilder House was five performances halls the The Town Hall was constructed to designed by Harry Seilder using Grand Concert Hall, Opera celebrate Sydney's centenary in open plans, bold colours and Theatre, Drama Theatre. 1888 and is an imposing edifice, started the modernist movement Playhouse and The Studio. both outside and in. in Australia. Bannelong Point (02 9250 7111). It contains an 8,000-pipe organ, one of the largest in the world, A good collection of post war and there are free lunchtime furniture is housed inside and organ recitals held frequently. good views of Ku-ring-gai George Street. (02 9265 9007). National Park. 71 Clissold Road, Wahroonga. (02 9989 8020). The Bounty

Rouse Hill Estate The Bounty is a replica of The Mint Captain Bligh's ship, recreated to A very old and fragile property star in the film Mutiny on the about an hour's drive from the Built in 1816 this was the building Bounty. city centre. where the gold sovereigns were made. You can see the former Now it serves as a floating You can see the farm buildings vaults and learn how raw gold restaurant, sailing out onto the and many objects used in the was turned into currency. harbour at meal times. The ship 19th Century. Guntawong Road, Macquarie Street. (02 9217 is based in Campbell's Cove. Rouse Hill, (02 9627 6777). 0311). Circular Quay.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Vaucluse House Oceanworld Manly Waratah Park Sanctuary

Vaucluse House, not far from Situated on Manly Cove next to A park set in a bush setting with Watsons Bay, was, for a while, Manly Wharf has a glass wall Koalas, Kangaroos, Wallabies, the home of William Charles that puts you face to face with Bettongs and Potoroos. 13 Wentworth, the explorer who sharks and other creatures. Even Namba Road, Duffys Forest (02 pioneered the first route through possible to have a sleep over at 9986 1788). the Blue Mountains. Parts of the Oceanworld or dive with the house date from 1803, although Sharks. Manly Wharf. (02 8251 Outdoors most of it is later. The gardens 7877). extend to ten hectares and there Beaches is a popular tearoom. Wentworth Sydney Aquarium Road, Vaucluse. (02 9388 7922). Beaches stretch from North to Sydney Aquarium is a major Victoria Barracks South and everyone has their Sydney attraction with sharks, all favourite beach. Most beaches types of fish, as well as seals and are patrolled by voluntary surf life A colonial Georgian complex and penguins. Do not miss the Open savers, it is essential to swim home to the army since 1848. Ocean Floating Oceanarium between the flags. Oxford Street, Paddington. (02 where you can walk beneath the 9339 3250). ocean. The natural seal Some of the ocean beaches (and sanctuary provides close up there are many more) to the views of seals as you walk North of the harbour are Palm Animal Attractions through underwater tunnels. The Beach famous for its connection Great Barrier Reef exhibit has with the TV series Home and Australian Reptile Park live coral and many tropical fish. Away; Beach; Darling Harbour (02 8251 7800). Freshwater Beach and Manly Beach. Going south from Sydney Australian Reptile Park has some Sydney Wildlife World of the rarest reptiles in the world. is the famous Bondi beach; Daily wildlife shows with pythons, Clovelly is good for children as it Australian wildlife living in the crocodiles, koalas and has some shelter and Cronulla a heart of Sydney. See koalas, kangaroos. View spider world good option as can be reached wallabies, frilled neck lizards, and with a tarantula exhibit. Located by train. Coogee beach is south over 6000 animals. Aquarium an hour's drive for Sydney on the of Bondi beach. Pier, Darling Harbour (02 9333 Pacific Highway, Somersby, next 9288). to the Gosford Exit (02 4340 1022). Taronga Zoo Australian Wildlife Park Taronga zoo is just across the Over 600 native animals in Sydney harbour on the north side natural settings. Outback and it commands a beautiful view woolshed with shearing and of the city. Home to over 2,000 other outback activities. animals that live amongst the Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek lush forests.Opportunities for (02 9830 9100). photos with koalas, view the Flight Bird Show, take the Sky Safari and listen to the many Featherdale Wildlife talks and animal shows all day Within the confines of the Park long. Road, harbour are beaches protected Mosman. (02 9969 2777). by shark nets that offer safe A collection of native wildlife with bathing and swimming without kangaroos and koalas. Over 320 waves. These include Clifton Australian species are Gardens; Balmoral with a rotunda represented including both on the beach used for summer reptiles, birds, Tasmanian Devils shows; Manly Cove next to the and wombats. Plenty of ferry wharf and so easy to visit opportunities to cuddle Koalas, from the city centre and Nielsen hand feed kangaroos, wallabies Park where there is Shark Beach and emus. 217 Kildare Road, (nets are in place!) and reached Doonside, NSW 2767 (02 9622 by ferry. Nude bathing is allowed 1644). at Lady Bay, located at Watsons Bay.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Centennial Park

A 220 hectare park in the centre of Sydney that was dedicated to the people of people of Sydney in 1888.

Watch the guys on roller blades, horse riding, running or join in, bikes and roller blades can be hired.

The gardens, ponds and BBQ areas provide for a relaxing break from the city buildings. Oxford Street, Paddington. Chinese Garden of Friendship Sydney Olympic Park South Head Designed in 1988 to symbolise the friendship between China Built on former waste land, South Head is at the entrance to and Australia. The garden including an abandoned abattoir, Sydney Harbour. For a one hour features a courtyard of the home of the 2000 Olympic walk take the South Head welcoming fragrance; dragon Games, seventeen kilometres Heritage Trail from Watsons Bay wall; water pavilion of lotus west of the centre of Sydney. which starts at the eastern end of fragrance; pavilions set amongst There is an Information Centre, Camp Cove beach. The Gap Bluff bamboo, the Gurr a hexagonal which is a good starting point, Centre is on 50 hectares of two storey building; rock forest and there is an Olympic Explorer parkland at Gap Bluff and has two and dragon rock. bus service. The Games Trail heritage buildings, the Armoury tour celebrates the games and and Officers' Mess. Watson's Bay. The garden was designed to use you can see the cauldron, the four elements of water, plant, wander amongst the interactive Islands stone and architecture. Darling poles at the Games Memories Harbour. (02 9281 6863). installation and follow Cathy Freeman's strides to Olympic Clark Island Cook and Philip Park Gold. There is plenty of fun to be had at the Sydney Olympic Park The area of the island is one with a monster skate park, hectare, with 150 visitors being Across College Street from Hyde parklands, golf, tennis, trapeze, permitted at a time. In 1789, Park has a formal garden and archery, swimming and to relax Lieutenant Ralph Clark tried to swimming complex. College use one of the many bars and use the island as a vegetable Street (02 9326 0444). cafes on site. Olympic Park garden, but he eventually (1300 889 388). abandoned the idea. However, Hyde Park his name has been preserved for Wild Areas posterity. It has natural bushland Named after Hyde Park in and grassed areas. (02 9274 London, this area was declared a 5033). park as early as 1792 and Australia's first recorded cricket Cockatoo Island match was played here in 1804. The start of the Royal National Elizabeth Street. (02 9265 9333). Park lies only 32 kilometres south A historical island with a of the city of Sydney. This park sandstone prison, tunnels and Royal Botanic Gardens was established in 1879, making docks. (02 8969 2199). it the oldest national park in Australia and the second oldest The gardens were established in in the world. Iit offers great 1816 and cover thirty hectares. natural diversity in a relatively They are the oldest scientific small area, with rivers, surf institution in Australia. Mrs. beaches, and a coastal walk as Macquarie's Road, Circular well as many other inland walks Quay. and several cycling tracks.

Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com Shark Island

Fort Denison occupies the The area of the island is 0.5 The area of this island is 1.5 entirety of a small island not far hectares, with 100 visitors being hectares, with 500 visitors being from the Opera House. The permitted at a time. In 1859, Mr. permitted at a time. circular Martello tower is the only Brent Rodd paid a deposit for the one to be found in Australia. island, which he later forfeited, The island was used as an Originally known as Mat-te-wan- but the island kept his name. It animal quarantine area from ye it was renamed to Fort became a public reserve, but was 1880 until 1975. Denison in 1857. The Fort was also used in the late nineteenth abandoned in the 1870's. In 1906 century for biological research It has good views and sandy the One O'clock Gun was fired under the direction of Dr. Louis beaches. (02 9264 7377). each day to enable sailors to set Pasteur. It has summer houses their ship's chronometers from the 1930s and a colonial correctly and still continues to hall dating from 1889. (02 9274 this day. (02 9247 5033). 5033). Goat Island

Goat Island was first used to dispose of waste from a convict hulk in the harbour. Later, in 1839, a gunpowder magazine was constructed here by convicts and can still be seen. A further magazine was built in the 1850s. In 1900, the Black Death reached Sydney and Goat Island became a quarantine area. In the twentieth century, houses were constructed here and even a shipbuilding yard. (02 9247 5033).

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Comprehensive Sydney Information available at SydneyEguide.com