When in Sydney
Sydney is a remarkable city, not simply for its sun-kissed beaches and wonderful construction, but also for its people.
Australia is renowned for it welcoming attitude to foreigners and Sydney is perhaps one of the best examples of this. This should not be surprising, however – it is after all probably the most visited city in Australia. The fact that everyone seems to want to come to Sydney can be something of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the rash of visitors means there is always a healthy nightlife and ex-pat community, with a good atmosphere all year round. On the other hand, it means that Sydney is not always the cheapest part of Australia to visit. Having said that, Sydney does cater well for its thriving backpacking business and as such cheap places to stay and eat can be found with a little effort.
Sydney is split into a number of distinct districts, with the central business district forming the hub of the city's corporate section. There are a number of restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels in this area, but they rarely come cheap and most cater for their regular business clientele. The Haymarket area now comprises some of the most interesting parts of Sydney, including its Chinatown and the growing Spanish Quarter near Liverpool Street. This area is also home to the cinema precinct of Sydney.
Darling Harbour used to be the industrial region of Sydney, but has now been transformed into a major tourist attraction. Quite apart from the views out to sea, there are also a variety of shops, restaurants and even museums, with the huge Cockle Bay Wharf complex providing almost all you could possibly need. Tours out to sea also run regularly from Darling Harbour.
Perhaps the most famous sights in Sydney are its wonderful Opera House, with the remarkable Harbour Bridge as a backdrop. Established at Bennelong Point, Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and recognisable buildings in the world, as well as being hugely important in terms of modern architecture.
Many travellers to Sydney will be thankful that local officials did not listen to eminent architect Sir John Sulman when he suggested in 1900 that a tunnel would be the best way to link the two sides of Sydney Harbour. For if they had, then the wonderful Sydney Harbour Bridge would never have been constructed. Another of the world's most famous constructions, the bridge connects the northern and southern sides of the Harbour. It is possible to climb the bridge, which offers tourists spectacular views of the city.
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Introduction
