Sydney, recognized as one of the most liveable cities on earth, provides a very warm welcome to visitors. Stunning harbor, perfect climate, superb restaurants, energetic nightlife this safe efficient city is a must-do destination with lots of Sydney attractions to enjoy.
If Australia is the Land of Oz, then there really can only be one Emerald City, bustling with life and energy, blessed with a beautiful climate, fantastic architecture and oodles of culture, Sydney may not be the official capital of Australia, but it’s definitely its biggest and best city.
Getting a cheap flight to Sydney is easy with the likes of DialAFlight, and you’re guaranteed a holiday that you’ll never forget. First of all, Sydney is the center of Australia, like London or Paris, it is the place where the artists, musicians, and just about everyone else heads to make their fortune. The rest of Australia’s loss is Sydney’s gain, and the city showcases the best of Australian life, from its vibrant theatre to some of the best restaurants on the planet.
Sydney has a little bit of something for everyone, like many big cities it has a thriving fashion industry, albeit one that is a little bit less expensive than what you might find in Europe. Most tourists get sucked into a bit of shopping as well, although the current strength of the Australian dollar doesn’t necessarily help.
Of course, as much as the energy and the friendliness of the locals is attractive, Sydney is a beautiful city in its own right. The most famous parts of the town remain the harbor area, with the iconic Sydney Opera House (it’s possible to get cheap tickets to see performances) and the Sydney Harbour Bridge which offers the best views of the city for those who are brave enough to go up it.
Then there are the natural attractions of the city, Sydney is a very green place with lots of great parks and places to chill out even in the city center. And, if you hop on the metro you’ll soon find yourself at the coast and enjoying some of the most famous beaches in the world, though you may struggle to find a spare stretch of sand to lay your town down.
For all these well-known attractions, however, the city has a few tricks up its sleeve, the museums are excellent, cheap and highly accessible to people of all ages, and a tour around the harbor will reveal some of Sydney’s hidden gems, the old forts that line the steep edges of the bay. These are some of the oldest buildings in Australia and are well worth closer inspection.
Last of all, Sydney is a great location if you want to get out and explore some of Australia’s natural wonders, you don’t have to head far to find yourself in the Wollemi National Park, one of Australia’s finest and a great place to get out and about and explore a truly beautiful country.
There’s no arguing that holidays in Sydney are a little more expensive than some other places, but the extra cash is well worth it for an amazing and unforgettable holiday.
Greater Sydney covers 400 sq km with a twisting coastline extending to over 300 km. A public transport of Sydney ferries, Sydney buses, Sydney trains, monorail, Sydney taxis efficiently move everyone around. The southerly latitude 33’53” ensures a pleasant temperate rising in summer to a maximum of 26 ºC, falling to a maximum of 17 ºC in winter.
George Street is the main thoroughfare and runs from Circular Quay going past Wynard CityRail station and Town Hall to Central Station. Parallel to George Street is Pitt, Elizabeth and Macquarie Street which connects to the Sydney Opera House. A central landmark is the Sydney Tower on Pitt Street. Argyle Street runs from the base of the Rocks to the top of Observatory Hill. Dixon Street is the main street in Chinatown. Market Street cuts the city center from Hyde Park to Darling Harbour.
One-fifth of the population of Australia lives in Sydney, the largest city in Australia. A mix of peoples from over 130 countries ensures vibrancy, diversity and a dynamic economy. cultural basis. Sydney has a prominent gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated at the end of February, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.
Safe Sydney beaches active with surfers and swimmers hug the coastline to the North and South. Mix nature with the man-made attractions led by the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Add in a city center play area, Darling Harbour, with restaurants, museums, shopping, street artists and lots more. Build a complete Olympic park and run the most successful Olympic Games ever. Top it all with theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, a gay/lesbian scene and some of the world’s best restaurants and you have a lively pulsating city offering complete extremes of Sydney entertainment.
Sydney ‘s skyline is large and widely recognizable dominated by the Sydney Tower. Buildings range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings to Jorn Utzon’s expressionist, the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large number of Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building. The most architecturally significant being the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Central Business District (CBD) of Sydney is the historical center of government, retail, finance, culture, and entertainment. At the center is Martin Place, Pitt Street Mall, Strand Arcade and the Queen Victoria Building. Central is the area around Central Station and is a busy not so interesting part of Sydney. The Eastern Suburbs is the area between the City and the sea with Bondi Beach. The Inner West is Sydney ‘s original suburbs with King Street, Newtown with good shopping and eating. South Sydney is the area between Central Railway Station and Sydney Airport.
Town Hall is in the center of Sydney and the area of shopping malls including the historic Queen Victoria Building. Nearby are the Sydney Tower and the shopping on Pitt Street Mall. George Street has a number of larger cinemas and off George Street is the start of Chinatown.
Greater Sydney is the area beyond the inner suburbs and where most of the population lives. The northern suburbs start beyond the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The coastline has many beaches and runs from Manly to Palm Beach and on to the Hawkesbury region. The Hawkesbury runs from the ocean to Richmond and Windsor district. Some 30 km north of Sydney CBD is Ku-ring-gai Chase national park with bushland, waterways, and fauna.
Sydney has moved west and almost reaches the Blue Mountains. The west side of Sydney includes the Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta, and Penrith. Parramatta was once seen as a country retreat and now a vibrant city with many historic buildings and easily reached by the River Cat from Circular Quay and will take around 50 minutes.
To the south of Sydney is Sydney airport, Botany Bay, Cronulla, and the Royal National Park. Further away are the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, South Coast and Southern Highlands.
Sydney things to do
Sydney is a great place to get active and there are many Sydney things to do. We have experiences Guide lots of activities do have a look at our: Sydney activities. For the visitor, it is the water that will dominate. Surfing is possible on most beaches and equipment can be hired and lessons available. Swimming is done on one of the many beaches or if you prefer the sheltered enclosed harbor bays then try Manly which offers within one kilometer both ocean and harbor beach. Sailing on the harbor is offered by a number of companies along with high-speed boats. Golf in Sydney means a trip out of the city center. Possibilities exist to fly, skydive, balloon and enjoy aerial exploits. The mountains, bushland, and coastal headlands provide opportunities for hiking, climbing, caving, mountain biking and other more extreme sports.
- Sydney ferries
Ride the Sydney ferries and the trip to Manly has to be one of the best value Sydney tours you can take. - Sydney aquarium
A large aquarium in Darling Harbour with plenty of sharks to see. - Taronga zoo Sydney
Taronga zoo is located on Sydney harbor and along with a wide selection of animals has excellent views. It is possible to reach Sydney Zoo on one of the Sydney ferries. - Sydney harbor bridge
You cannot really miss this Sydney tourist attraction and if you fancy a Sydney adventure then there is the bridge climb. - Sydney Olympic Park
For those interested in Sport the Olympic Park is worth a visit but is about 17km west of Sydney.
5 Museums to Visit in Sydney
Sydney is home to many beautiful museums and cultural venues. The city located in Australia is actually well known for its great cultural heritage. In the most impressive museums in the city, visitors will discover Sydney’s history, as well as its cultural and artistic past. Below you can discover more about five of the most popular museums located in Sydney.
Australian National Maritime Museum
One of the finest maritime museums in the world, the Australian National Maritime Museum is home to many great collections. The collections displayed here explore the relationship Australia has with the waters surrounding this continent. An interesting exhibit area here is the Sea Journeys, where visitors will discover the story of the people who were brought to the area as prisoners.
Nicholson Museum
The Nicholson Museum was created in 1860 by Sir Charles Nicholson, who wanted to bring here some of the most impressive artefacts in the world. There is no wonder after all that nowadays this is one of the only places in Sydney where visitors can actually see a real mummy. The museum provides tourists with the possibility to examine tomb carvings. A plaster skull from 6,000 B.C., a 250,000-year-old hand ax from France and more can be seen in this museum.
Powerhouse Museum
This is considered to be the most kid-friendly museum in Sydney. The highly interactive cultural venue is located in the old power station of the city. One can find numerous collections displaying the history of technology. Visitors have the possibility to attend a shocking demonstration to learn how lightning strikes. Why magnets attract metals is a question that will find its answer in this museum.
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum was established in 1827. This is the place where visitors will find important collections of minerals, fossil and anthropological collections, among many others. Collections include boomerangs, baskets and also a kangaroo tooth drill. The Australian Museum also hides knowledge about the most dangerous predators of the country, the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger and the most poisonous snakes in Australia.
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
This museum is located in an impressive Georgian building, dating back to 1819. This building was actually meant to house convicts, serving as an immigration depot. Nowadays, visitors can discover at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum a beautiful collection of more than 100,000 historic objects. This is an interactive museum, so tourists can experience the everyday life of prisoners by lying down in hammocks or trying leg irons.
Sydney Weather
Sydney weather is temperate, with warm summers and mild winters. Rainfall is pretty evenly spread throughout the year but Summer tends to be slighter wetter. The average annual rainfall is 1217 mm with rain actually falling on 138 days a year. Sydney is famous for its clear blue sky days and it experiences more clear days in winter than any other capital city. The warmest time is between October and March and the autumn/winter period is April – September. During the spring/summer period temperatures will be in the range 15 – 26C and in the autumn/winter period in the range 10 – 22C.
Sydney has a temperate climate. Rain is not predictable but most likely in the period February to July, however, in recent years Sydney has been very dry as shown by the number of bush fires in the summer months.
Hot summer days often end with a “Southerly buster”, a cold front sweeping up from the south which cools the temperature.
Snow is extremely rare – the last time reported in the CBD area was in 1836. Hailstorms are regular – and often mistakenly reported as snow – and in 2008 a major storm saw many news outlets reporting a snowstorm. The city is not affected by cyclones but can experience some heavy storms with flash flooding, the worst being on August 6, 1986, when 327.6mm of rain was dumped on the city in 24 hours.
Sydney weather is generally determined by the ocean, preventing some of the more extreme temperatures experienced further inland. Sydney experienced its hottest day on January 14, 1939, when the thermometer reached 45.3C. The warmest month is January with an average temperature of 25.8C, although the temperature can climb into the low 30s centigrade. Afternoon sea breezes are normal for Sydney – and on a hot day very welcome – nut they rarely reach the western suburbs where temperatures can be up to five degrees higher.
Autumn can be very pleasant in Sydney with slightly milder temperatures, down to the low 20s centigrade, with humidity disappearing to make nights more bearable. Winter (between June and August) is mild, with some rainfall, the occasional storm, and average temperatures in July of 16-18C. Temperatures at night will rarely drop below 5C in coastal areas but western and south-western suburbs will experience a ground frost.
Springtime in Sydney brings strong westerly winds, which can last well into October, cooling the city down, before Summer arrives with its long hot days and strong sunshine. Sydney has a great climate – just be aware of the humidity in Summer and for visitors, the strength of the sun.
Sydney Tours
Explore the sights of Sydney Harbour from the comfort of a luxury cruiser, or charter a sailboat and feel the wind in your hair as you cut through the water.
Look out for the two most famous harbor landmarks – the glamorous architecture of the Sydney Opera House and the structural wonder of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tour during the day for the gorgeous views of the shoreline and golden beaches, or take a romantic dinner cruise and share the views of the twinkling city lights with someone special. Visit one of the world’s most recognizable architectural structures and be guided through the drama and scandal that makes up the history of the grand building.
Tour backstage and get a first-hand look at where usually only the stars of the theatre are granted access. What better way to top off your tour with high tea overlooking the fabulous Sydney Harbour.
Explore the beaches famous for their beautiful people and toned lifeguards. In Bondi, take a relaxed tour through the home of Australia’s oldest Surf Lifesaving Club (or the one where they film Home and Away!), before catching some waves with a professional surfing lesson. Join a guided shopping tour to find the hidden gems tucked away in the trendy Bondi back streets.
In Manly, hire a bike and explore the 20 kilometers of bike trails winding around the coastline and explore the old North Head forts and tunnels, offering awesome views of the city. At night, face your fears with a sleepover at Manly’s former Quarantine Station – a hotbed of paranormal activity!
The mysterious Blue Mountains offer a perfect day trip destination from Sydney. Just 90 minutes from the city, Katoomba township is home to the impressive Three Sisters, a touring geologic formation with strong cultural significance. Head to Scenic World on the glass-bottomed cable car, suspended over 700m above a forest filled ravine. Once there, enjoy a thrilling ride on the world’s steepest incline railway in the world, then take a leisurely walk through the ancient rainforest.
Immerse yourself in the underwater world of Sydney Aquarium – one of the largest collections of Australian sea life in the world. Great whites cruise lazily overhead in the shark tunnel, while the two dugongs, Pig and Wuru, hang out at Mermaid Beach. Make sure you catch the live feedings daily – the shark feedings can be viewed from the safety of the center’s glass-bottomed boat!
Life’s an Adventure
Daily guided tours and adventures around Sydney & the Blue Mountains. Choose from guided bushwalks (treks/hikes), guided kayaks or guided mountain bikes on any one of our many itineraries. We’ll take you away from main tourist areas so you discover magnificent scenery many visitors don’t get to experience. All tours offer the option of a pick-up and drop-off from any Sydney Hotel in the CBD.
AAT Kings’
Sightseeing tour programs in Sydney that offer a great introduction to the various regions and are ideal to familiarise yourself with an area or for travelers with limited time. Using 5-star coaches, AAT Kings provides exceptional service with professional and experienced tour directors.
Australian Wild Escapes
Specialized Eco Tours from Sydney since 1989 and are Sydney’s most awarded Eco Tour Company with five State and two National Awards for excellence. Our Tours are an unforgettable and educational experience, transporting guests to areas well off the “beaten track”, with historical, ecological and cultural interests.
Captain Cook Cruises
Award-winning small ship cruise line offering a range of sightseeing, dining and overnight cruises on Sydney Harbour, Murray River, and Fiji Islands. The fleet includes small cruise ships, tall ship sailing vessels, motor yachts, and cruisers, plus two exclusive island resorts.
Chic in the City
Fast tracks visitors to Sydney’s fashion elite hotspots coveted by A-listers and the most stylish. This highly selective and fashion-forward tour ruthlessly handpicks the crème of Sydney boutiques that have won recognition nationally and internationally. Rub shoulders with the designers and learn their fashion secrets in the most prestigious shopping haunts in Woollahra, Paddington, Double Bay, and Mosman.
Surfing Kangaroo Day tour
Fun! Sightseeing day tours from Sydney. Dolphin Daytrip Tour to South Coast – Grand Pacific Drive including 2.5 Hour Dolphin cruises tour – Jervis Bay, Hunter Valley Wine Tours, various options – Wine & Wildlife Tour, Wine Country Tour & the infamous Wobbly Wine Tour. Blue Mountains Day Tour (eco-tour) guided walking trip in the Blue Mountains National Park. Sydney Australia tours. Adventure Travel Tours. Things to do Sydney Australia.
Sydney HeliTours
Tours range from low cost/high excitement 20 minute Harbour Flights to luxurious half-day and luncheon tours. For the adrenalin junkies, we are the only helicopter tour company to offer flights with the doors OFF!
Blue Mountains tour
Founded in 2006, The Happy Coach Sydney is a small organization run by two professional guides from the Blue Mountains who love to have a laugh and have a love for the bush. Come along for a great day out, have some fun and learn some interesting facts and local knowledge… Small groups (22 max) Medium grade walking.
Vagabond Cruises
Join us for the experience of a lifetime! Enjoy spectacular Sydney Harbour with Vagabond Cruises. Our food is great. our staff is brilliant and the atmosphere onboard oh so pleasant! Try our Daily Seafood Lunch or hop on an informative Sightseeing Cruise. We offer the best value cruises on the harbor with the longest cruising route! Select a table by the window or choose the timber benches on our sunny alfresco decks.