Australia's biggest and brightest city, with over 3 million people from many cultures. Sydney boasts one of the world's most beautiful harbours, fine beaches, nearby snow skiing, gourmet restaurants, nightclubs, great shopping and more.

Sydney has excellent public transport with extensive and regular trains and buses but a ride on the famous harbour ferries is one of the best ways to see the sights.

Sydney City
Sydney's compact high-rise CBD stands out between the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The narrow city steets are bustling with office workers and shoppers. From small boutiques and retailers to large department stores, there is a great variety of quality products on offer. Martin Place Mall, in the very centre of the city, the Domain Parklands next to the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour foreshore provide a break from the busy streets and traffic. Pop in to one of the numerous bars, pubs, restaurants or al fresco cafes for a snack or more substantial meal.

	To the north, the Harbour Bridge encloses the historic Rocks area, with its bars, restaurants and shops. There are a few hotels in this most convenient of locations.
	Circular Quay dominates the north of the city as a railway station and the main ferry terminus for harbour cruises and commuter services. Next to Circular Quay, the Botanic Gardens provide the foreground to Sydney's second famous landmark, the Opera House.
	All these buildings, together with the blue of the harbour that they are set on, and the myriad colours of yacht sails, makes this one of the world's most spectacular city settings. South and west of the city centre the Central railway station and Darling Harbour mark the edge of the CBD.
	A monorail does a loop from Town Hall, across the old Pyrmont Bridge to the redeveloped Darling Harbour with its Casino and several large hotels. There's a food market there too and Darling Harbour itself is often the site for performances and events. To the south, the monorail loops past the Sydney Entertainment Centre and Chinatown, which is, not surprisingly, a really good place for authentic and cheap Chinese food.
	The Sydney Tower has a great view from the top and is a good way to get your orientation. This view is looking to the harbour heads and Pacific Ocean to the east.

Eastern Suburbs and Bondi
East of the city, Oxford Street wheels its way up hills and through the trendy eastern suburbs. Close in suburbs like Kings Cross have red-light nightlife but it's not all strip shows as residential mixes with entertainment, cafes, restaurants and bars. Just east of the Botanic Gardens the ritzy suburbs of Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay run down the hill from Kings Cross to the harbour. These suburbs are just a couple of kms from the city but are very quiet and leafy and a great accommodation option as there are some good boutique hotels and suite apartments here.

Further east, expensive villas hide in Rose Bay with their million dollar views of Port Jackson. Watsons Bay is the last bay before South Head and the ocean. It's famous for its waterside seafood restaurants. Take a river taxi from the city or join a culinery tour.

About half-way between the city and the beaches, Paddington with its rows of 2 and 3 level terrace homes is another cafe and shopping hub of Sydney. Trendy Oxford Street runs through the middle of the suburb and on to Bondi Beach. The Paddington Bazaar, on Oxford Street has local crafts including ceramics, jewellery, glassware, etc. Open every Saturday from 10am. There's entertainment and food stalls too.

Sydney Beaches
Besides Bondi Beach the coast from South Heads to La Perouse is dotted with lovely beaches and coves and their associated suburbs. From tiny Brighton Beach to Coogee and Maroubra there's sun, sand and surf the equal of many world famous resort strips.

On the north side of the Harbour Bridge there are also excellent swimming and surfing beaches like Manly, DeeWhy and Narrabeen. Manly is accessible by harbour ferry being built across a narrow peninsula. It has a unique mix of old and newer cafes and restaurants. Oceanworld Manly is by the ferry jetty - see Sydney Tours section.

	Six kms from the city is Bondi Beach and the cool breezes of the Pacific Ocean.
	Bondi has a very lively beach scene with cafes, shops and pubs surrounded by apartments for locals and visitors.
	The Bondi Public Baths are home to the Bondi Icebergs swimming club. Visitors are welcome to this unique ocean water pool and there is a restaurant with excellent views above the baths.

Western and Northern Suburbs

West of the city, the harbour gets gradually narrower although the upper harbour is still an impressive expanse of water. Most visitors tend to stay in the city or Eastern Suburbs areas for their convenience although outer areas to the north and west can offer savings on accommodation for those with a car or willing to use public transport more extensively.

Suburbs immediately north and west of the city such as Neutral Bay, Lane Cove or Balmain are quiet and tres chic. West of Darling Harbour the inner suburb of Glebe has an alternative cosmopolitan ambience.