Sydney, Australia - Part 1

Sydney . . . the oldest and biggest city and gateway to Australia. Known as the "Emerald City", Sydney has been built around its beautiful harbour which extends either side in a golden chain of cozy sandy iconic beaches. Sydney's laidback outdoor lifestyle and physical allure make it one of the world's easiest and most pleasant cities to visit. The locals are a friendly energetic bunch with a tell-it-like-it-is approach to life. Sydney's harbour is its natural playground and wide-ranging cultural life, dynamic food scene and vibrant cityscape of outstanding contemporary and colonial architecture.

Sunny, sexy and sophisticated, Sydney has a temperate climate with over 340 sunny days per year. The seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. Summer here is December to February. Winter is June to August. With average temperatures of 72 F (22 C) in summer and 55 F (13 C) in winter, Sydney can be a year-round travel destination for the visiting tourist.

Officially called Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour is the focal point of Sydney and one of the features that makes this city so special. The best way to see Sydney Harbour is from the water. Several companies operate tourist crafts, but it is just as easy enough to simply hop on a regular passenger ferry. The main ferry terminal is at Circular Quay where you can purchase inexpensive tickets for the inner harbor ferry ride.

Circular Quay is the hub of Sydney Harbour and a stepping-off point for most attractions based around the harbour. The quay is a vibrant, bustling place with ferries leaving every few minutes to different parts of the harbour, including the beachside suburb of Manly, Watson Bay, Mosman, Darling Harbour for the area's entertainment, and Taronga Park Zoo. There are fantastic views of the Harbour Bridge from the Circular Quay. On the southern side of Circular Quay is a walkway that leads to the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens; while on the northern side, a short walk along lovely landscaped walkways takes you to the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks, one of the oldest, most attractive and most interesting parts of Sydney.

Circular Quay is also at the foot of the central business district and the older, historic end of the city. Buses depart here for Bondi and the eastern suburbs. There is a major railway station at the quay, which is part of the underground City Circle, which skirts around the CBD. Alongside the ferry terminals are a number of small outdoor cafes and the area is a magnet for buskers of every description.

The Sydney Opera House, situated on Sydney Harbour at Bennelong Point, is considered by many to be one of the wonders of the modern world. Designed by Jørn Utzon and constructed under some controversy, it was opened in October 1973. This white-sailed construction caught midbillow over the waters of Sydney Cove is a working building with a full-scale performing arts complex with five major performance spaces and the biggest and grandest being the world famous 2690-seat Concert Hall. The Concert Hall has the best acoustics of any building of its type in the world for opera, chamber music, symponies, dance, choral performances, and even rock 'n' roll. Choose from a one or two hour tour that take in the extraordinary history, breathtaking architecture and the unseen workings of the Opera House. The building’s cultural, heritage and architectural importance has been protected forever, thanks to its inclusion on the World Heritage List in 2007 and on the State Heritage Register in 2003, exactly 30 years after its official opening.

One thing few tourists do is to walk across the Harbour Bridge. The bridge, completed in 1932, is 3772 ft long and spans 1650 ft fromt he south shore to the north. It accomodates pedestrian walkways, two railway lines, and an eight-lane road. The entrance to the western walkway is near Milsons Point in the north and Observatory Hill in the south (access from Kent Street). You can walk from the city and catch a train back to Wynyard or Town Hall. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the bridge. Bicycles are allowed on the Cycle way which is on the western side of the bridge. Bridge Climb Sydney (http://www.bridgeclimb.com/) conducts tours over the arch. Clad in overalls and clipped to a safety line, you can walk and climb 1500 metres over the arch. The climb is open to anyone over 10 who is fit enough to handle some steep climbs on metal ladders and can cope with heights. The south-east pylon of the bridge includes a lookout for the less adventurous. It includes an exhibition explaining the construction and history of the bridge and offers great views of Sydney Harbour. The entrance is from Cumberland Street at the edge of The Rocks.

The imposing Art Deco-style former Maritime Services Board sandstone building and nestled between the Circular Quay ferry terminal and the historic Rocks precinct is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). This museum is Australia's only one dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and collecting contemporary art from across Australia and around the world. It houses the J.W. Power Collection of more than 4,000 pieces including works by Andy Warhol, Christo, Marcel Duchamp, andRobert Rauschenberg. With a continually changing program of exhibitions there's always something new, exciting and inspiring to see at the MCA.



The Rocks, on the Harbour Bridge side of Circular Quay, is Sydney's historic district. The Rocks contain some of Australia's oldest pubs, vibrant pocket of boutique cafes and restaurants, interesting tourist shops and stalls, and hotels. The Sydney's town planners and conservation program have been able to preserve the heritage and the area's Old World charm and historic buildings. Most activities at The Rocks center around walking, looking and eating. The Sydney Visitor Centre, Corner, Argyle and Playfair Streets, in The Rocks (Open daily 9.30am to 5.30pm [Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day]), is a logical and excellent starting point. The center has a wealth of information on points of interest around The Rocks and provides free information and literature, as well as having souvenirs and momentos that can be purchased.