Explore Sydney, Australia:
Top
Five Things to See
The home of the floating orchestra
and the world’s most beautiful harbors – that’s Sydney!
Revered throughout Australia as the
Queen of the Pacific Rim, Sydney is naturally built so vast and
vibrant that every living creature visiting this area will greatly
be awed. It is the state capital of the New South Wales and has
been the heart of everything artistic. It is even the center for
business and politics, having all the amenities needed for a place
to be called “cosmopolitan”.
If we will see Sydney closely, we can
see it in a position not too close and too far from the sea and the
mountains. The truth is that Sydney, Australia is set beautifully
between those geographic features, making the area perfect for a
great outdoor. On the Pacific side, Sydney is presented with
majestic beaches, while over the Blue Mountains further inland, a
changing palette of hues and colors unfurls. The most scenic
harbors on earth are even set near its beaches, and each is
festooned with large and small boats. Plus, there is the jewel of
the place set on its crown – the Opera House.
With all the natural and man-made
wonders in Sydney, Australia, it’s no surprise that millions of
people all over the world come and visit the place to enjoy an
ultimate vacation or holiday. I say “ultimate” for if known
personally, nothing can beat Sydney as the primary vacation
destination in the Australian continent.
Now, if you are planning to visit
Australia, don’t forget to explore Sydney. There are a lot of
things to be explored, after all. Among them are the following:
#1 Sydney Opera House
Considered as one of the wonders of
the modern era, the Sydney Opera House was first designed by a man
named, Jorn Utzon. It was built under some controversies, and was
only opened in 1973 as part of the Sydney Harbour at Bennelong
Point.
The Sydney Opera House is the primary
cultural center of Australia. It is the home of cultural and
theatre groups namely, The Australia Ballet, The Bell Shakespeare
Company, Musica Viva Australia, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Opera
Australia, Ensemble Theatre, Sydney Festival, Sydney Philharmonia
Choirs, Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Company, and Sydney
Symphony. Each of these groups has already staged several
performances at this cultural theater in Australia.
Well, the Sydney Opera House is
considered as the home of such performance groups for several good
reasons. In the first place, the Opera House was built to serve the
cultural needs of the people, so it’s no surprise that the House
currently possesses five performance theatres, including the Concert
Hall, Drama Theater, Playhouse, Opera Theater and Studio Theater;
two main halls; five studios for practices or rehearsals; six bars;
four restaurants and a number of souvenir stores and shops. What’s
more interesting to know about the place is that some of its huge
portions are also used for wedding purposes, conferences, and
parties.
The Sydney Opera House can now be
reached easily with the major routes available around. Note that it
is located on the water and is surrounded by a number of attractions
in the city of Sydney, making the place truly worth a visit.
#2 Sydney Harbour Bridge
Known by the name “The Coat Hanger”,
the Sydney Harbour Bridge is but another popular landmark in Sydney,
Australia. It was built by 1,400 workers for about eight years and
was only completed in 1932. According to several reports, 16 out of
the 1,400 people who have worked hard just to complete the bridge
had died in the process, but that doesn’t hinder the project to
continue until one of the greatest wonders in the world was made.
The construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is considered by many
as an engineering feat.
Want to see the bridge and its
surroundings by detail? Well, the Pylon Lookout, which is located
across the Sydney Harbour provides you the spectacular views of the
place captured by the earliest photographers. Also located inside
the Lookout are some of the stunning displays of pictures and
information about how the Sydney Harbour Bridge was built. Well,
you can enter the site through the pedestrian walkway or via the
Cumberland Street stairs, as well as on The Rocks and the area close
to the Milsons Point Station. Note that the Pylon Lookout accepts
visitors every day.
But if you think that the views at
the Pylon Lookout are not stunning enough, there’s no better idea
than to consider a bridge climb. Yes, bridge climb is offered for
those who want to experience Sydney Harbour Bridge at the ultimate
level. It was started in 1998 and draws locals and tourists alike
to climb to this beautiful landmark of Sydney, Australia. The climb
just involves hiking up the monument’s stairs and ladders, as well
as through the catwalks. When you reach the top, you are guaranteed
to see breathtaking views not only of the bridge itself, but of the
beauty of its surroundings, including the Opera House. Note that
the bridge climb in this part of Sydney is open for daytime, night
time, and even twilight. For those who have already climbed the
bridge, the experience is said to be beyond words to explain.
#3 Darling Harbour
Formerly known as a dockside area, Darling Harbour is a small
harbour that has been developed into one of the tourist destinations
in Sydney, Australia. It is now considered as a waterfront icon
that attracts locals and tourists from around the world.
There are a lot of major attractions
offered by the Darling Harbour. Included in the list are the
following:
-
Sydney Aquarium
– Considered as one of the biggest aquariums in the world, the
Sydney Aquarium carries more than 11,500 species of Australian
fish. These different species are bred and presented in their
natural habitats for visitors to see. To enjoy all the sites,
all you need to do is to “walk on the ocean floor”, as what many
experts have said, by passing through acrylic tunnels underwater
that covers around 145 meters in length. This aquarium now
accepts visitors from 9:30 in the morning to 9 in the evening,
with 8Pm considered as the last admission. It is open every day
for you to see.
-
Chinese Garden of
Friendship – This attraction was
actually built as a gift to Sydney from Guangdong, China. The
design of this garden was made in China and was only introduced
to Sydney to commemorate the Australian Bicentenary. According
to several claims, the Garden presents visitors with all the
greenery, making it perfect for those who love the greens and a
sense of peace. Although the garden is located at the middle of
Sydney’s bustling city, the Chinese Garden of Friendship still
holds the title of being the ideal place for those who wants to
solitude, or those who want to escape from the sounds of the
Darling Harbour.
-
IMAX Theatre
– If you want to enjoy a great movie while in Sydney, the IMAX
Theater at the Darling Harbour can be your exact location to
relax and enjoy. The theater gives you the chance to experience
movie in a giant screen that measures over eight stories high.
The films shown here are shot in a format of about 75mm with an
ultra high definition, plus speakers are installed in different
areas of the theatre to provide the moviegoers a realistic
sense.
-
Powerhouse Museum
– What more can you expect from a
large museum than a line of artifacts and preserves. Well, the
Powerhouse Museum at the Darling Harbour possesses all that, and
what’s nice to know about their collection is that all are
unique and strongly depicts the history and culture of the
Australian people.
-
Sydney Wildlife World
– This is but the newest
attraction at Darling Harbour. More than 6,000 species of
Australian animals can be seen here, including frilled neck
lizards, koalas, taipans, wallabies, bilbies, and a lot more.
This is great for children and adults alike.
-
Sydney Convention and
Exhibition Center – If you are
coming to Australia for business purposes, expect this site to
be the center for your conferences. Yes, the Sydney Convention
and Exhibition Center is the people’s favorite venue for
conferences and major events.
-
Harbourside Shopping
Centre – For shoppers, diners and
leisure seekers, this is the right place for you to go while in
Sydney.
-
Cockle Bay Wharf and
King Street Wharf – Known as
Sydney’s center for dining and entertainment, thousands of
tourists visit the site year round. This is but a good place
for you to dine and be entertained.
Reaching these destinations is easy
for both tourists and locals. The place can be reached in a just a
matter of minutes walk from CBD, or you can take a water ride from
its neighboring harbors.
#4 The Rocks
Regarded throughout the Australian
continent as the historical birthplace of Sydney, The Rocks is
composed of winding streets collages and some of the oldest pubs in
the city. It is for these establishments basically that The Rocks
is named as the foundation place of Australia.
It is located at the base of Sydney
Harbour Bridge and has undergone certain renovations, with the
century-old district being developed into a lively compartment of
restaurants, tourist stalls and shops, as well as cafes. It is nice
to know that all of these renovations are done without destroying
the historic buildings and old charm of the area. Until these days,
the historic aura of the place is strongly preserved.
There are a lot of activities and
services offered at The Rocks. Most of the activities are centered
on dining, strolling and looking. So don’t forget a self guided
walking tour on your visit. This is one best way to discover and
explore some of the hidden assets of the place. Aside from that, it
is through walking that you can learn the history and everything
about the place at your own pace.
If you need a time to eat, The Rocks
can also provide you the best places to dine. Consider the Italian
Village restaurant, one of the most interesting dining options to
choose from. At this place, you can enjoy a complimentary lunch and
dinner date.
The Rocks also offer a number of
museums and galleries for you to consider. To mention but few,
there are the Museum of Contemporary Art, Discovery Museum,
Susannahs Place, The Merchants House, as well as the Cadman’s
Cottage for you to enter. All of these centers can provide you the
best touring and learning experience of your life.
But, how can you get to The Rocks?
Simple! All you need to do is to take a train to Circular Quay.
From there, you can stroll along the George Street which gives you a
direct access to the Sydney Bridge.
#5 Bondi Beach
Located 30 minutes drive away from
the heart of Sydney, the Bondi Beach is considered as one of the
world’s perfect surfing destinations. It is known primarily for
its white sand and great waves, making surfing in Bondi a must for
every beachgoer. The beach is nestled at the middle of two rocky
headlands, fronting the towering buildings and structures of the
city. It is at here where street musicians play their beautiful
pieces and where the topless swimmers bathe.
Spanning on the white sand beach
stretches and across the Campbell Parade are restaurants and bars
for the swimmer to dine in. There are also some shops selling
souvenirs, as well as hotels, apartments and all sorts of
accommodations that are ready to serve and comfort both the short
term and long term visitors.
There’s a lot more to say about Bondi
Beach. If you will try to walk to its parkland which is located
back of this coastal area, you can see rollerbladers, cyclists and
skaters doing their exhibitions. Backing the Bondi Beach is even a
line of spectacular promenade which extends throughout the headland.
Walking towards the northern part of
the headland, you can see a number of aboriginal sites where great
lines of rock engravings made by the Aborigines can be found. This
is no doubt a good way to obtain a break from your favorite game.
With all those must-see attractions
in Sydney, Australia, it’s no surprise that millions of people from
different areas in the world visit the place every year. Some are
even returning visitors, and there’s a great possibility that those
who have come to visit Sydney for the first time will be back to
continue the thrill and excitement of being in a country full of
wonders to see. That, in a sense, is one of Australia’s greatest
achievements.
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