VISIT THE HEART OF AUSTRALIA
Visit the vivid Sydney!
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The Sydney area has been inhabited by indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years. Lieutenant James Cook first landed at Kurnell in 1770, when navigating his way up the east coast of Australia on his ship, HMS Endeavour. It was not until 1788 when the First Fleet, which contained convicts and was led by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in Botany Bay to found Sydney as a penal colony, the first European settlement in Australia. Phillip named the city “Sydney” in recognition of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, Home Secretary in 1788. The Sydney region is one of the richest in Australia in terms of Aboriginal archaeological sites, with significant rock art and engravings located in the protected Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the world, the 2018 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranks Sydney tenth in the world in terms of quality of living, making it one of the most livable cities. It is classified as an Alpha World City by Globalization and World Cities Research Network, indicating its influence in the region and throughout the world.Ranked eleventh in the world for economic opportunity, Sydney has an advanced market economy with strengths in finance, manufacturing and tourism.There is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as one of Asia Pacific’s leading financial hubs. Established in 1850, the University of Sydney is Australia’s first university and is regarded as one of the world’s leading universities. Sydney is also home to the oldest library in Australia, State Library of New South Wales, opened in 1826.
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Sydney hosted international multi-sport events such as the 1938 British Empire Games and 2000 Summer Olympics. The city is amongst the top fifteen most-visited cities in the world, with millions of tourists coming each year to see the city’s landmarks. Boasting over 1,000,000 ha (2,500,000 acres) of nature reserves and parks, its notable natural features include Sydney Harbour, the Royal National Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden. Man-made attractions such as Sydney Tower, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Sydney Opera House (which became a World Heritage Site in 2007), are also well known to international visitors. The main passenger airport serving the metropolitan area is Kingsford-Smith Airport, one of the world’s oldest continually operating airports. Opened in 1906, Central station is the main hub of the city’s rail network.
- Day 1-2
- Day 3-4
- Day 5-6
- Day 7-8
- Day 9-10
Walking Tour
Kick off your first day in Sydney with a self guided walking tour starting at Circular Quay. Here you can inspect the iconic Harbor bridge up close, and stroll through the historic Rocks District towards the Opera House. Then walk through Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, enter Sydney’s city centre, and finish your day in Darling Harbor. There are a number of museums along your way, including Museum of Contemporary Art, the Sydney Museum, and once you reach Darling Harbor, the Powerhouse Museum and Australian National Maritime Museum. The harbor is also home to Sydney’s IMAX Theatre, Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Sydney Zoo and Madam Tussads.
Cruise the Harbor
Taking a cruise on Sydney Harbor should be an essential part of any Australian itinerary – Sydney is, after all, a harbor city. Numerous cruises are available and travelers can choose between sightseeing cruises, a dinner cruise, a dance cruise, or choose from the multitude of ferries which operate out of Circular Quay to a number of destinations within greater Sydney. Cross the harbor to Manly or head to Watsons Bay for phenomenal seafood. A ferry to Manly is a great way to spend your day – home to Shelly Beach which is one of Sydneys best spots for snorkeling. You can also Navigate to Cockatoo Island – a historic island now a haunted naval storage facility. The island provides stunning views overlooking Sydney Harbour and is home to the Island bar, famous for its tropical cocktails and wood-fired pizza.
View Sydney
Spend your day taking in breathtaking views of the city. Head to the summit of ‘Sydney Tower Eye’ which offers views across the city to the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Blue Mountains in the west. For those feeling daring, the Sydney Skywalk experience is a moving, glass-floored viewing platform which sits at the top of the Tower. Book in to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge – not only is the climb incredibly adventurous and will keep your adrenalin pumping, but you’re greeted with spectacular views over Sydney once at the top. The bridge climb is relatively expensive – for those traveling on a budget, crossing the bridge on foot is free and offers just as spectacular views and photo opportunities.
Australian Wildlife
Spend your last day relaxing on Sydney’s most iconic beaches. Particularly in the warmer months, from November – March, Sydney’s beaches are the place to be. Opportunities to partake in water sports are ample – go swimming, surfing, water skiing or simply laze in the sun and tan. Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous – glittering sapphire water, fabulous waves, golden sand; Bondi epitomizes sun, sand and surf. After a 2 hour surf lesson why not take in the spectacular views of Bondi’s sandstone cliffs and coves and complete the Bondi-Bronte walk. This walk is a 1 hour, 2.5km stroll. You can’t get closer to the beach than by staying at Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach. This is the first Mad Monkey hostel in Australia, located steps from Coogee Beach, and is the perfect location for the famous Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk. They offer apartment style dorms and private rooms, with amenities which include an onsite bar and restaurant, shared kitchen facilities, live events, and surf equipment rentals.
Go to the Beach
Spend your last day relaxing on Sydney’s most iconic beaches. Particularly in the warmer months, from November – March, Sydney’s beaches are the place to be. Opportunities to partake in water sports are ample – go swimming, surfing, water skiing or simply laze in the sun and tan. Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous – glittering sapphire water, fabulous waves, golden sand; Bondi epitomizes sun, sand and surf. After a 2 hour surf lesson why not take in the spectacular views of Bondi’s sandstone cliffs and coves and complete the Bondi-Bronte walk. This walk is a 1 hour, 2.5km stroll. You can’t get closer to the beach than by staying at Mad Monkey Hostel Coogee Beach. This is the first Mad Monkey hostel in Australia, located steps from Coogee Beach, and is the perfect location for the famous Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk. They offer apartment style dorms and private rooms, with amenities which include an onsite bar and restaurant, shared kitchen facilities, live events, and surf equipment rentals.
More about Sydney
Travelicious Review
Sydney, capital of New South Wales and one of Australia's largest cities, is best known for its harbourfront Sydney Opera House, with a distinctive sail-like design. Massive Darling Harbour and the smaller Circular Quay port are hubs of waterside life, with the arched Harbour Bridge and esteemed Royal Botanic Garden nearby. Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.
More about this tour
Sydney, spectacularly draped around its glorious harbour and beaches, has visual wow factor like few other cities. Scratch the surface and it only gets better.
Surry Hills & Darlinghurst
Sydney's hippest and gayest neighbourhood is also home to its most interesting dining and bar scene. The plane trees and up-and-down of increasingly chic Surry Hills merge into the terraces of vibrant Darlinghurst. They are pleasant, leafy districts appealingly close to the centre.
Harbourside
Stretching inland from the heads for 20km until it morphs into the Parramatta River, the harbour has shaped the local psyche for millennia, and today it’s the city’s sparkling playground. Its inlets, beaches, islands and shorefront parks provide endless swimming, sailing, picnicking and walking opportunities. It's a jewel you can never tire of.
Paddington & Centennial Park
A byword for Eastern-Suburbs elegance, this band of suburbs is distinctly well-heeled – and in Paddington's case, they're probably Manolo Blahniks. This is still Sydney's fashion and art heartland, full of pretty corners, quality commercial galleries and eye-catching boutiques. Curiously, Paddington's gorgeous Victorian terraces, so desirable nowadays, once formed a desperately poor slum.
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