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Travel guides
Think of Australia and you can’t help but think of Sydney, with its iconic landmarks, multicultural feel and oodles of natural beauty. To get the best out of your visit to the gateway of Australia, here’s my Sydney city guide.
Sydney is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities and it is clear to see why, with a relaxed feel, stunning vistas from every angle, masses of fantastic food with flavours from all over the world and some pretty good weather to boot.
Sydney Harbour: At some point or another you have to get on the water and there are so many different possibilities you are spoiled for choice. If on a budget the best way is to take one of the many ferries from the Circular Quay over to North Sydney or Manley. A ferry trip to Manley passes the stunning harbour sites and heads onto the ocean past Sydney's famous North Shore beaches. If you have a bit more to splurge then charter a yacht and explore some of the secluded harbour islands. More mid-budget, you can take a jet boat tour for a speedy ride or a slow and steady cruise.
Combine shopping and eating with stunning architecture at the Queen Victoria Building, a beautiful 1890s building. Originally built as a fruit and vegetable market, tours are offered from the Information Desk on the ground level providing a good insight into the building. Shops are a combination of one off, chains and tourist type outlets with something for everyone all under one roof.
Affectionately known as the coat hanger, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Sydney’s premier tourist attractions with many ways to explore. The most popular is the bridge climb with unrivalled views and a rather fetching grey boiler suit to match the bridge so you don’t distract the drivers below. If your budget doesn’t stretch this far there are some pretty impressive views from the south eastern pylon called Pylon Lookout for a small fee. You can also walk the path along the bridge with some great views across the harbour to the Opera House.
The Sydney Opera House is iconic of the city and a must whether you take in a show or just marvel from afar. The Opera House hosts theatre, classical music, ballet and film, as well as the seasonal opera performances and an outdoor Sunday market. Various tours are available including a look backstage. It’s Sydney’s most photographed site with photo opportunities from many great vantage points around the harbour. Many think it was designed on boat sails but it was actually the segments of a mandarin!
There are plenty to of beaches in Sydney to choose from with a different feel and atmosphere at each. The most popular being Bondi with its eclectic vibe and white sands, although you can’t always see the sand – this place gets busy especially at the weekends. Do the cliff walk to Coogee taking in the dramatic cliffs, little coves and cafés, stopping off for a smoothie or coffee on the way. Surfers head to Manley for some great waves, but also offering a calmer swimming area. Further up north and you will find a continuous selection of superb beaches ending with Palm Beach, famous as a filming location for a popular Australian soap and some great surf too.
To make the most of your trip to this iconic city, get your hands on some travel guides, which will help you plan out your trip so that you don’t miss out on any of the amazing things there are to see and do in Sydney.
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