Sydney City
The city has many hearts, each as vibrant as the other. From Haymarket’s cosmopolitan melee to chic streets lined with fashionable shops, hotels and restaurants, Sydney’s centre is alive with busy people, happening events and the beauty of heritage architecture and expansive parks.
You can see the lot in one breathtaking panorama from the top of the Sydney Tower, Australia’s tallest structure. But nothing beats street level for feeling the pulse of the city.
Immerse yourself in Haymarket’s exotic sights, sounds and aromatic smells. Adjacent to Darling Harbour, this energised area is home to Chinatown and Spanish Quarter. Buy a bargain at Paddy’s Market, try paella and experience all the traditions of the East.
Wander the city centre’s maze of cobblestone lanes and elegant arcades which connect and contain a shopping paradise. Discover the beautifully restored Strand Arcade and the Queen Victoria Building – both brim with great retail. Browse the boutiques of international designers including Chanel, DKNY and Versace along Castlereagh and Elizabeth Streets or the floors of fashion in David Jones.
Take a well-deserved break downstairs in DJ’s famous Food Glorious Food Department or a quiet stroll beneath the arbours of Moreton Bay Figs in Hyde Park. The buttress roots of these ancient giants are like cathedral walls, or climbing frames for kids. They are a legacy of previous generations of Sydneysiders, as are the ANZAC Memorial and Archibald Fountain in the centre of the park.
Let the city’s undulating streets lead you down to another natural oasis in the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney on the harbour’s edge. Here you can lose yourself in floral abundance before stepping back into the throng of the city.
Sydney Olympic Park
If ever there was a truly Australian pilgrimage it is to Sydney Olympic Park, nerve centre of the Sydney 2000 Games and the Rugby World Cup 2003. As well as the country’s sporting Mecca, the Park is home to many attractions including wonderful entertainment events and exhibitions, guided tours, restaurants, movies and marketsall set amongst spectacular architecture and beautiful natural parklands.
The Park hosts the Sydney Royal Easter Show every April and the Bledisloe Cup Rugby Union Test in September, plus individual events varying from symphony concerts to motocross in the Sydney SuperDome – the largest indoor arena in Australia.
The beautiful expanse of natural Parklands is a great place to walk, ride a bike or relax. It is also a wildlife haven especially for birds. Did you know the Sydney 2000 Games was dubbed ‘The Green Games’ due to its plant and animal protection, water and energy conservation and development of the first solar-powered athletic village?
There are tons of reasons to come to Sydney Olympic Park, but for most people sport is the most compelling. Or you can emulate great sporting moments yourself and swim in the wake of winners at the Aquatic Centre or draw a bow at Archery Park where Australia won its first gold medal in the sport.
Whatever the attraction, there’s no doubt this is a place fit for every occasion. Sydney Olympic Park is constantly changing and developing and is a ‘must see’ while in Sydney. Check out what’s new at one of Australia’s truly great places.
The Blue Mountains
This mountain range is not blue, as the name would suggest, but is called the Blue Mountains because of a natural release of eucalyptus from the forests in the ranges.
The Blue Mountains, once thought as the barrier to freedom, sit on the west side of Central New South Wales.
From Penrith right through the Mountains to Jenolan Caves; from Bathurst and Mudgee to Mount Tomah and Windsor, the Blue Mountains are the perfect place to get away from the rat race of the city whether it is for a weekend or a week!
Bondi & Sydney’s East
The areas nudging the centre of the city create a melting pot of style, attitude and activity – one which bubbles most vigourously in Kings Cross and Darlinghurst. This is where Oxford Street starts, one of the city’s most famous thoroughfares and scene of the annual Mardi Gras. It showcases fashion from the tacky and tempestuous to the stores of premier Australian designers.
A change of pace a stone’s throw away, beautiful bay after bay give spectacular views of the harbour, the city and the North Shore. Here you will find the most exclusive homes in the city. Visit Elizabeth Bay or the even more wealthy Vaucluse both of which have stunning historic houses giving you a chance to peek into the opulence of an age gone by.
For a very modern view of the city, visit Fox Studios, packed with cinemas, shops and restaurants, or tour the nearby Sydney Football Stadium and Cricket Ground. Bondi Beach is the most famous spot in Sydney’s East – and you don’t even need to get your feet wet to feel part of the surf culture. Sunning yourself on the sand, it is hard to believe that you are just a few short kilometres from the city centre.
Any weekend the cool set will be brunching at beachfront cafes while exercise enthusiasts power walk and run along the spectacular cliff path to the equally beautiful beaches of Bronte and Clovelly. There is so much to this easy to access area of the city, and living life to the max is what Sydney’s East is all about!
Circular Quay
Get under the skin of Sydney in The Rocks. Immerse yourself in history, architecture, culture and cuisine. Not just as an onlooker but as a participant; climb the Harbour Bridge, haggle in the weekend market, explore the galleries and shops or down a draught beer in one of the old pubs.
If that isn’t involved enough, The Rocks hosts regular festivals including the Sydney Festival in January, the Sydney Writer’s Festival in May and the Aroma Coffee Festival in July. When the time comes for refreshments, settle back and soak up the atmosphere over lunch at any of the foreshore restaurants and cafes. Many are run by some of Sydney’s best chefs so expect flavour with flair, as well as the experience of spectacular harbour views.
This was once the bustling port that served Sydney’s first European settlement. Imagine it alive with tall ships unloading supplies and the cobblestone lanes behind as a rollicking rough-house of sailor’s pubs, storehouses and ship’s chandlers. The ambience remains in the sandstone buildings, including the terrace houses that cling to the hill on Playfair Street. Today, The Rocks is a blend of every age and interest, and thoroughly captivating as a result.
