Sydney Australia - Review and Recommendations

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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, is a vibrant and exciting city to visit.  Sydney is the largest city in New South Wales and is the capital of this Australian state.  Built around one of the deepest harbors on the planet, this beautiful city has so much to offer its guests.  Here are just a few things you might want to put your Sydney wish list!

 

Circular Quay:  Circular Quay (pronounced key) was originally the main shipping port for Sydney.  This beautiful and charming area is still used daily as a docking station for cruise ships and ferries alike.  With the Harbor Bridge on one end and the Sydney Opera House on the other, how could you not visit this amazing area?  Circular Quay has a bountiful shopping district, plenty of hotels, and easy access to the main central business district.

 

Sydney Opera House:  Built at the end of Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House provides a stunning backdrop to Sydney Harbor.  Even if you never attend an event at the Opera House, you need to at least walk around this beautiful building.  The Opera House is designed to resemble sails from the ships that frequented the harbor.  Take the opportunity to view it in various lighting conditions.  You will find it changes character with the light.  You can walk all the way around the Opera House and can take tours of the facility as well.  The Sydney Opera House is well worth any time you spend there.

 

The Harbor Bridge:  Did you know that you can climb the Harbor Bridge?  You can!  Besides being a beautiful landmark, the Harbor Bridge is a fun activity as well.  If you do the full climb on the highest arch of the bridge, it will take about 3.5 hours to complete.  They do have shorter climbs on the lower arch that take about 1.5 hours to complete for those not up to the full climb.  The climb is offered several times a day and for those wanting a special treat, you can book your climb at sunrise and sunset to get some pretty spectacular views of the harbor.

 

The Rocks:  The area known as The Rocks is an area down by Circular Quay where the original settlement was built.  The area got its nickname from the building materials.  The area did not have a lot of trees but sandstone was plentiful so they quarried sandstone to build most of the buildings, thus the nickname, The Rocks.  This area is now protected from development to preserve the history and charm of these buildings.  On the weekends, they hold a market here that is full of local goods and artisans.  Plan your stay to include a weekend so you can enjoy the shopping!

 

Darling Harbor:  Though it is darling, the harbor gets its name from one of its earlier governors, Sir Ralph Darling.  This area of Sydney is always busy with a multitude of things to do and a seemingly never-ending array of places to eat.  While most of the Central Business District packs up for the night, Darling Harbor is vibrant and full of life.  This is where you will find something to see and do all day long and well into the night.

 

The Royal Botanical Gardens:  In the same general area as the Sydney Opera House, you will find The Royal Botanical Gardens.  This green space provides a wonderful place to slow down and get some remarkable views of the harbor.  While there, be sure to check out Mrs. Macquarie Chair.  This fun little spot is a place where Mrs. Macquarie would sit and watch the ships coming in and out of the harbor.  Her husband was the Governor of Sydney and the one who was able to make the colony sustainable.  He had his work cut out for him and was often away from home.  The workmen carved a bench out of the stone for her to sit and enjoy the view.  There is even a rock overhand close by for her to stand under during inclement weather.  Right next to her chair is a memorial.  Don’t get the two confused.  There is only room for one on Mrs. Macquarie chair.

 

Taronga Zoo:  This fantastic zoo is best reached by ferry.  You can easily take the hop on-hop off ferry service to the zoo.  Once there, take the tram to the top and work your way down.  The zoo is built on a slope and working downhill is definitely much easier.  The zoo is also in the process of adding a new experience.  They are building accommodations so you can stay at the zoo and have more up-close experiences with the animals.  I would love to go back and experience this first hand.  Great zoo and fun experience.

 

When you get ready to book your vacation to explore Sydney, Australia, contact us, your Australia specialists and experts.  We can help you get the best out of your visit to Sydney, Australia.