Founded: 1788
Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, the largest and oldest city in Australia. It began as a city of convicts in beginning of the 19th century, when it was considered a terrible and immoral place.
Today it is a little bit hard to view the city in that light, since many consider it the be the nicest city in the world. Originally, the settlement was called New Albion, however after a few years the name was changed to Sydney, after Lord Sydney who granted the permit to establish the settlement. The city is Australia's financial center, and has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is also the home of many of Australian icons, such as the Sydney opera house and Sydney harbor bridge.
The Harbor Bridge, which was built in 1932, connects the two parts of the city, while the southern part of Sydney attracts most of the visitors. The Olympics which were held in Sydney in 2000 fortified the status of the city as a preferred tourist landmark, thanks mainly to the wide structural development. The Olympic park, which is located 14 kilometers west of the city centre on the Hume Bush Gulf, has undergone serious restoration, and the services were facilitated to be friendlier for the environment. Developments included the 110,000 seat Olympic stadium, and the Olympic village adjacent to it. The Olympics were considered a great success, and the Australians like to describe it as the best in history.
Top ten things to do in Sydney
1. The Circular Quay area – It is hard to remain indifference towards the magnificent blend of nature and the human hand on display here. You can find the Opera house with the famous arches, and opposite it, the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It is possible to climb up to the highest point of the bridge and thereby enjoy the opportunity to view the city from another point of view.
2. The opera house, which was completed in 1973, has four main halls and one can tour it during the day even without listening to an opera. It is recommended to relax in the cafes that are located nearby, and enjoy the view of the gulf.
3. Near the opera house are the botanical gardens from 1816, with their unique plants and rare birds. Under the bridge is the tourist site called “The Rocks,” the first settlement in the city. This region is a historic square with old buildings and narrow streets that are pleasant for a stroll.
4. The city center – In the center of the city south of Circular Quay are some imposing Victorian edifices, like the old post office building and the city council (built in1874), as well as beautiful shopping centers nearby.
5. It is recommended to visit the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, The Sydney Tower, which is 305 meters high. On a clear day one can even see the Blue Mountains from the west. Near the observation deck is Hyde Park, the first Cricket field of the settlement. Near that you can see the oldest synagogue of Sydney (as there were Jews also among the first convicts).
6. From there you can go to the populous China Town and Darling Harbor, which was once a port, but today serves as a tourist centre which includes Sydney’s huge aquarium and lots of restaurants and cafes. Nearby one can find Sydney’s Casino, if one has a desire for gambling.
7. Sydney is blessed with magnificent beaches. The most well-known among them is the Bondi Beach in the east, the home for many surfers and tourists, and the central region of the Jewish community. Along the high-tided beach are many cafes and hostels as well as recommended tourist routes. It is recommended to walk on the boardwalk from Bondi up to the Coogee beach.
8. The blue mountains - West of the city, a one-hour drive away, are the Blue Mountains, a tourist attraction that is rated on the United Nation’s list of the world’s top cultural sites. It is called “Blue Mountains” after the blue fog that is created by the leaves of eucalyptus trees. The mountains’ height is around 1,000 meters, and they include a walking trail in the midst of the mountain’s wilderness.
9. The boisterous Kings-Cross is one of the liveliest suburbs, and it is open around the clock. It includes pubs, bars, and striptease clubs.
10. In the city centre the entertainment area is centered around George Street. On the eastern side of the city, the entertainment centre is on Oxford Street.
Public transport - the airport is very close to the city, about 11 km, and it is the most congested airport on the entire continent. The city’s public transport offers a great benefit. One can purchase an unlimited daily ticket that allows travel on the trains, buses, and tunnels. The metro runs throughout the whole city; in the city centre, the trains are underground. It operates from 5 in the morning till the late hours of the night. If you want to travel to Bondi beach, you have to get off at the Bondi Junction and transfer to the bus that goes straight to the beach. For more information about train services, and for information about the bus service please visit this site. site.
There is also a city tram and monorail- train that runs on one track at an elevation of a few meters from the ground. The latter two are more attractive for tourists than the regular public transport. Another means for touring around the city is by boat, which includes ferries and speedboats.
