Sydney in Australia is the capital city of New South Wales. Sydney is Australia’s most populated city, with a population of 4.5 million. The city and its metropolitan area cover over 4,000 square miles of the country, from sandy beaches to green hills to rocky mountain terrain.
The city’s heart is on the Tasman Sea coast at Port Jackson, generally known as Sydney Harbor. Sydney enjoys a temperate climate year-round, with a temperature range between 40 and 80 degrees on average. There can be extreme highs in temperatures, though – due to climate changes. The city has also been prone to wind storms, hail storms, and bushfires.
The attraction that residents and tourists have to the city isn’t new. Carbon dating shows that various indigenous people have inhabited Sydney for 30,000 years. Today, Sydney’s population comprises a great mix of immigrants from all over the world, which only adds to its cultural allure. Recent census data shows that just under 200,000 UK-born citizens have made Sydney their home, as have just over 100,000 Chinese.
This cultural allure is part of the reason Sydney hosts so many tourists each year. In 2008 alone, nearly three million people visited Sydney – almost as many as its entire population! We will highlight some of the best places to visit in Sydney and learn a little bit about what brings tourists back there year after year.
The Top 9 Places To Visit And Things To In Sydney, Australia:
1-Bondi Beach:
Bondi Beach is the most popular of the 40 beaches near Sydney. It’s home to the oldest life-saving club in the world and is very popular with surfers. On any given weekend, Bondi Beach attracts around 40,000 people participating in various activities. Aside from surfing, sunbathing, and other water sports, Bondi Beach has a very active nightlife with clubs, restaurants, and a beachfront pavilion that hosts various events throughout the year. Get Delta flights to Sydney with cheap vacation packages & flight fares.
2- Chinatown, Sydney:
One visit to Sydney’s Chinatown and you will completely forget you’re in Australia. The area is dedicated to all things Asian and features several shops and restaurants from various Asian cultures – like Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia. In the same vicinity as Chinatown, the Spanish Quarter features various venues dedicated to Spanish culture.
3- The Rocks:
The Rocks are one of the most historically significant locales in Sydney. It is where British Captain Arthur Philip landed with 1400 settlers to establish an outpost far from the rest of the British territories. Many historical markers and displays tell the history of the area and its significance today. On location at The Rocks, there is a market full of stalls where local vendors peddle everything from farm-fresh produce to clothing and crafts they’ve made themselves.
4- Sydney Harbor Bridge:
Sydney Harbor Bridge is one of those tell-tale landmarks that makes Sydney famous Worldwide. The bridge is the largest and most comprehensive steel arch bridge Worldwide. It was opened to the Public in 1932 and has been an Australian icon ever since.
You can choose to drive across the bridge as most people do. However, suppose you’re a thrill-seeker and want to experience the bridge in all its glory. In that case, there are host climbing tours of the bridge where knowledgeable guides will lead you up to the summit, where you can get a fantastic 360-degree view of the harbor and the city. There’s also a museum on-site that showcases the history of this bridge and its importance to Sydney.
5-Sydney Opera House:
The Sydney Opera House is another Australian icon, instantly recognizable in the city’s skyline. Built on Sydney Harbor, the opera house was designed in 1957 but not completed or opened to the public until 1973. In 2008, the Sydney Opera House was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of the world’s top 20 most distinctive buildings. The venue hosts various performing art troupes and entertainers throughout the year, and nearly seven million visitors pass through its doors every year. A concert hall, a drama theater, a playhouse, a cafe, a recording studio, bars, and retail outlets are just a few of the Sydney Opera House complex venues.
6- Sydney Tower Eye:
The Sydney Tower Eye, looming some 1,000 feet over the city, is the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. There are three floors of this building. Each one is entirely glass-enclosed. There is a Skydeck, a moving viewing platform, and two rotating restaurants with a capacity of 120 patrons each. The tower can hold just over 900 people, and a trip to the top takes 40 seconds via the lifts.
7-Blue Mountain:
The Blue Mountains on the outskirts of Sydney are an essential piece of its history. The mountains were one of the original places where the Aboriginal people (Australia’s earliest natives) settled, worked, farmed, and lived. The area is flooded with history as well as natural beauty. Your options for touring the area are many. You may choose from taking a guided walking/hiking tour with one of the local companies, opt for a four-wheel-drive excursion, or drive along the mountains’ perimeter via a rented car.
8-Sydney Harbor:
Because Sydney Harbor plays a crucial role in the city’s infrastructure, history, and outline, a city visit is not complete without a harbor’s boat tour. As you might have guessed, your tour options are wide and varied. Several tour companies offer a full schedule of harbor tours. Some are all-inclusive with food and drinks, while others focus on giving relevant information to pertinent, significant sights around the harbor. If you get the chance, opt for the nighttime tours when the port is up with hundreds of beautiful lights from the bridge and surrounding venues.
9-Luna Park:
Luna Park is a great place to visit for tourists of all ages. It’s a restored 1930s amusement park – like an Australian version of New York’s Coney Island. Aside from the amusement rides and games, guests can hold birthday parties, weddings, and other events at several buildings on the side. Sydney Harbor makes the perfect backdrop to this nostalgic blast from the past – a must-see for any Sydney tourist.
With an average of 340 sunny days out of the year, it’s a good bet you can experience the Australian sun, which is very strong and emits harmful UV rays. Sunscreen and hats are great if you venture out in it between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Senior Citizens and children are especially susceptible to those harmful rays, so pay special attention to those age brackets.
You won’t need special driving permits if you want to rent a car in Sydney, so long as your regular driver’s license from your home country is English. Be advised, though. You drive on the left side of the road in Australia instead, like in most places. Many accidents are caused by drivers inexperienced with this lane change, so be very sure of your abilities before you attempt it.
Visitor visas, although free, are required to enter the country. Other immigration documentation and proof of citizenship status, identity, and paperwork may be necessary, depending on your country of origin. Ensure you investigate this and prepare yourself thoroughly with any documentation unlike for your travels before you depart.
We would love to hear about your Sydney experience.
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