Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is the most famous landmark of Australia with the Uluru (Ayers Rock). The shell-like opera stands on a headland on Sydney Harbor. The Danish architect Jørn Utzon designed the wonderful building in 1957. After the costs increased tenfold and the construction period was extended by eight years, the opera house was opened in 1973. You can find more photos of the opera in the Sydney picture gallery.

 

Circular Quay E

www.sydneyoperahouse.com

 

Harbour Bridge

The construction of the 134 m high and 1.149 m long Harbour Bridge was started in 1923. The bridge was opened 1932. Who dares to climb up the bridge, can join a guided tour.

 

Bradfield Highway

www.bridgeclimb.com

 

Sydney Cove

The First Fleet landed here in 1788 and established the first colony in Australia. Today Sydney Cove is the place where all famous sights are concentrated, like the Opera, the Harbour Bridge, The Rocks and the Ferry terminals. It's also a good place to relax and enjoy the view.

 

Circular Quay

 

Sydney Tower

The "Sydney Tower" was built in 1981 and is 309 m high. The tower offers a spectacular view over Sydney, from its observation platform at 251 m. The entrance is somewhat hidden in the Westfield Shopping Center on Pitt Street. The Tower offers the best view over the city and is one of Sydney's top attractions.

 

Pitt St./Market St.

www.sydneytowereye.com.au

 

Darling Harbour

The "Darling Harbor" was named after the former governor Ralph Darling. Around 1980, people began to liven up the run-down harbor with restaurants, theaters and shops. Today "Darling Harbor" is a very popular place to end the evening. The Australian National Maritime Museum is also located here.

 

Darling Drive

www.darlingharbour.com

 

Sydney Town Hall

The Sydney Town Hall was built around 1880 in Victorian eclecticism. The building houses the Centennial Hall, which was used as a concert hall before the opera was built. The slender tower is now overshadowed by the high-rise buildings in the surrounding area.

 

George Street

www.sydneytownhall.com.au

 

Queen Victoria Building

The 190 m long Queen Victoria Building was opened in 1898. The Neo-Romanesque building was built on the first market square of the city and is now a very popular luxury shopping arcade. In 1959 the building was so dilapidated that one even thought about the demolition. Around 1970, the QVB was extensively renovated and shines now again in old splendor. In front of the South façade stands a sculpture of Queen Victoria, which stood before the Parliament in Dublin until 1947.

 

455 George Street

www.qvb.com.au

 

The Rocks

"The Rocks" was for a long time the run-down harbor district with sailors, prostitutes and criminals. Today, the district at the Harbor Bridge is one of the most popular pub districts of Sydney, with many pubs and restaurants.

 

Cumberland Street

www.therocks.com

 

Chinatown

On the gate at the entrance to Chinatown stands "Si Hai Yi Jia" (4 seas one family). In the pedestrian zone of Chinatown there are many Asian restaurants with interesting specialties. Sydney Chinatown is a very popular tourist destination.

Dixon Street

www.sydney-chinatown.info

 

Pitt Street Mall

The "Pitt Street Mall" is a tree-lined pedestrian zone in the Central Business District of Sydney. The shopping street is located between Market and King Street. Pitt Street is the center of the city, there are many shopping centers and shopping arcades. 

 

Pitt Street

 

Central Station

The City of Sydney decided to build a central railway station, when the predecessors became too small. The Sydney Central Station was opened in 1906 and in 1920 the 75 m high clock tower was added. The Sydney Central Station is the biggest train station in Australia.

 

Eddy Avenue

www.sydneytrains.info

 

Anzac War Memorial

ANZAC is the abbreviation for "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps", which landed during the First World War, on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey to set up a supply point. By the Australians this bay is called "Anzac Cove". This monument was erected in 1934, in memory of the fallen soldiers from New South Wales. In 1984 the monument was dedicated to all Australian soldiers who were killed at war. The Anzac War Memorial is located in Hyde Park, in the center of Sydney.

 

Hyde Park

www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au

 

Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is the place where surfing began. The first Lifesaving Club was founded here in 1907. Also very famous is the "Icebergs swimming club" that maintains a pool on the seafront.

 

Campbell Promenade

 

Manly

"Seven Miles from Sydney, but a Thousand Miles from Care." as the saying goes on the harbor of Manly. As the first ferry arrived from Sydney in 1854, Manly became quick a popular seaside destination. Manly is a beautiful town with shops, restaurants and a perfect beach.

  

The Corso

 

Map of sights in Sydney

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Travel Guide Sydney

Welcome to Sydney

Sydney was founded as a British penal colony in 1788, making it the oldest city in Australia. The first European ship to discover Sydney Bay was the "Endeavor" of "Capitain James Cook" in 1770.

Today Sydney is the largest city in Australia with around 5 million inhabitants. It could not agree with Melbourne who should become the capital of the country. The result is Canberra, a new capital city. Even if Sydney did not become the capital of Australia, it is the country's cultural center.

 

 

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Discover Sydney

Central Sydney can be explored on foot. It is around 2.5 kilometers from the Central Station to the port. Most of the city's attractions are located in this area. Sydney is also known for its great beaches. The most famous is Bondi Beach. If you don't have a car, take the metro to "Bondi Junction" and change to one of the many buses that go to the beach. From Bondi you can hike along the coast and pass other beautiful beaches to the south.

Trips from Sydney

One of the nicest excursions is the ferry ride through Sydney Harbor to the small beach town of "Manly". From the ferry you will have fantastic perspectives on the Opera, the Harbor Bridge and the skyline of Sydney. A very popular excursion leads to the Blue Mountains. Close to the city of Katoomba is one of Australia's most famous rock formations, the "Three Sisters".

Museums

Those interested in art, culture and history will find many beautiful museums in Sydney. The most famous museums are the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Sydney.

 

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