sydney

SYDNEY

Sydney is a vibrant, dynamic and accessible city waiting to be explored. Find out more about the city's diverse localities, rich history, world famous tourist attractions and exciting events calendar.

The City of Sydney's Barani website contains the history, life stories and images of many Indigenous men and women who have made great contributions to their people and their country. The story of Aboriginal Sydney could not be told without recognising their achievements.

www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani/

Top 5 things to do In Sydney includes: Catch the Manly Ferry Sydney Harbour Cruise Sydney Ferry To Darling Harbour Manly North Head Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb Sydney Open Air Cinema Palm Beach  Northern Beaches Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens Mrs Macquaries Chair

Catch the Manly Ferry

Catch the Manly Ferry from Circular Quay for great views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Manly will make you wonder if you are still in Sydney. You can walk through the Manly 'Corso' to the ocean beach, turn right and keep going to Shelly Beach and beyond. Explore historic North Head with breathtaking Sydney Harbour views.

Sydney Harbour Cruise

If you like commentary take a Sydney Harbour Cruise. If you don't fancy being on a ferry for too long catch a ferry to Darling Harbour from Circular Quay. The trip only lasts a few minutes and will take you under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

You'll find information and links to Sydney's top attractions and tours as well as local tips and advice.

PLACES TO VISIT

Inner Sydney

The inner Sydney suburbs that form a ring around the city centre are lively precincts, packed with attractions and plenty of things to see and do. To the east are Paddington, Surry Hills and Darlinghurst, each with its own unique style. Take your time exploring the fashionable boutiques, bookshops, cafes, bars and restaurants. At night, Oxford Street buzzes with nightclubs, pubs and late-night bars.

Glebe, Newtown, Balmain and Leichhardt make up Sydney's inner west. Second-hand shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, bookshops and design shops line the main streets of each neighbourhood- Glebe Point Road, King Street, Darling Street and Norton Street respectively. Weekend markets are popular offering everything from organic produce to vintage fashion and artworks. Getting around inner Sydney is easy with regular bus, train and light rail services.

Sydney city

Sydney is one of the busiest commercial hubs in the Asia-Pacific region with a cosmopolitan population, many historic sites, museums and parks. Sydney’s city centre offers visitors a huge variety of attractions, including designer boutiques, fine restaurants, hip bars and lavish department stores.

The city fans out from the focal point of Circular Quay. This transport hub is within walking distance of the city’s star attractions – Sydney Harbour Bridge and theSydney Opera House, hailed as a 20th-century architectural masterpiece.

Sydney has two World Heritage cultural sites - Sydney Opera House and Hyde Park Barracks, an Australian convict site.

Sydney east

Located between the city and the coast, the eastern suburbs are home to some of Sydney's best outdoor attractions - iconic Bondi Beach, Watsons Bay, South Head and Nielsen Park. In Centennial Parklands, just 15 minutes from the city centre, you can go horse riding, cycling or hiking through a 360-hectare green space.

double bay

Beaches here have always had a style of their own for great waves, great cafes and great shopping. The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk is a highlight, especially during the outdoor sculpture event, Sculpture by the Sea. Paddington, Bondi Junction and Double Bay offer some of the best Sydney shopping experiences with a mix of high street shops and boutiques and stylish malls.

Sydney north

Just across the harbour from the city lies a cluster of leafy northern suburbs known for their easy bushwalks, bustling markets and family entertainment. Some of the city's most stunning views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House can be enjoyed from North Sydney's foreshore or from Kirribilli's cottage-lined streets.

Famous beaches - Manly and Palm Beach are at either ends of a beautiful stretch of coastline that has great surfing beaches, clifftop walks plus cafes and Sydney restaurants where you can dine outdoors. At Mosman, you.ll find Taronga Zoo in a dramatic harbourside location, perfect for a day out with the kids. Further north is the beautiful Hawkesbury River which you can explore by boat and even stay overnight in a cosy riverside boathouse

Sydney South

cronulla

Dramatic cliff tops that you can explore on foot, great surfing beaches, lush countryside and historic landmarks make this a fascinating part of Sydney. Beachside suburbs include Cronulla, Maroubra and Malabar; Bundeena is just a short ferry ride away, on the edge of Royal National Park. At Mascot you’ll find Sydney International Airport as well as excellent shopping at factory outlets.  

The southern beaches were the scene of first contact between European and Aboriginal people when Captain Cook sailed into Botany Bay in 1770.  Cook’s original landing place is in Botany Bay National Park; nearby La Perouse is where French explorer, Comte de la Perouse, arrived in 1788. 

 Sydney West

As you head west from the city centre to the foothills of the Blue Mountains, you'll uncover plenty of things to see and do in Sydney's west. Highlights include historicParramatta, Australia's second oldest European settlement, and the space-age complex that was the location for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

You can travel to Parramatta from Circular Quay by rivercat, following Sydney Harbour as it heads west to become the Parramatta River. Sydney Olympic Parkcan also be reached by rivercat as well as train. You can easily spend a day touring the famous site with its outstanding stadiums, sports facilities and parklands via cycleways and walking trails. Other attractions in Sydney's west can be found at Penrith and Windsor.