Sydney Attractions

For many visitors to Australia, their first port of call is Sydney due to its busy international airport. If you are anything like me after a long international flight, then the first thing you want to do once you clear customs is head straight to the hotel.  Sydney Airport is linked to the city by the usual cabs, limousines, and shuttle buses (many of which are free and run by the better hotels), but if you are a little more adventurous then you could also try the metropolitan rail system which has a station at both the domestic and international terminals of Sydney Airport. 

My recommendation is to ask for the railway day pass that also allows you to travel on the famous harbour ferry network as well as the rail network. When I travel to Sydney I usually dump my bags at the hotel and head straight for the ferry terminal (there is a rail station there as well) and catch the ferry over to Manly.  This not only allows you to view the city's most well known attractions (the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge) but you also get up close and personal with the beautiful Sydney Harbour itself.  Once at Manly Ferry Terminal it is only a short walk from harbour side to surf side for a swim at the Manly Surf beach. If you are hungry there are multitudes of restaurants there as well.  It truly is a great place to chill out after a long flight, and if you like to dine and drink in the open air, you'll love the options available to you.

If you are on a tour of Sydney, the best place to start is, of course, the Sydney Opera House. It really is worth going on one of the regular guided tours.  Likewise, Sydney's other eye catching landmark, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, also runs climbing tours that take you to the top of the bridge.  If thrills are your game, then look out for  Luna Park which is harbour side and a fantastic fun park with a huge Ferris Wheel, it is located on the north side of the harbour just west of the bridge.

In Sydney, do not limit yourself to the traditional tourist activities such as seeing the Opera House or spending a week lazing on the beach. One of the most charming places to visit in Sydney is The Rocks, which is an historic neighbourhood complete with cobblestones and colonial architecture.

The central city is brimming with shops, parks, eateries and historical buildings, and well worth a walk around. Another great way to get around Sydney is by the monorail system, which takes you out to Darling Harbour.  Darling Harbor is a newer Sydney entertainment precinct that encloses a large number of shops, restaurants and other facilities in a spectacular scenery.  There is a spectacular aquarium, maritime museum and many other attractions.

If you would like to see some of the flora of Australia, head to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Here you can stroll leisurely through rose gardens and glass houses, breathing in the fragrance of the beautiful flowers. Take your camera to capture some shots of the colorful foliage.

Sydney has many great