It's hard to imagine that the vibrant capital of New South Wales, with its impressive harbor, white sails of the Opera House and the graceful arch of the Harbor Bridge, was once a criminal colony. The oldest, largest and most beautiful of all Australian cities with the sea at its heart is Sydney.
A bit of history
After the landing of the first expedition of James Cook at the end of the 18th century. a settlement was founded on the banks of Botany Bay, which consisted of pardoned English criminals. Constant riots and uprisings in the town, named after the British lord, continued until the first half of the 18th century. The situation changed with the discovery of a nearby gold deposit. The beginning of the industrial mining of the precious metal contributed to the influx of the able-bodied population into the city and the development of infrastructure. The rapid growth in the number of residents (from 39 thousand to 200 thousand in a period of less than 20 years) had a positive effect on the political structure and development of Sydney. Educational and administrative institutions, theaters and clubs, hospitals and schools were erected. The sea, rivers and numerous bays and channels have made it possible to create a good network of water transport links on the coast. You can learn more about the history of the first British colony in Australia, founded in 1788 by Captain Arthur Philip, with the help of guides in the city's magnificent museums and its ancient stone-paved streets.
Famous landmarks of Sydney
- Port Jackson Bay
- arched Harbor Bridge
- Opera theatre
- Taronga Zoo
Also worth visiting are the Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, Hyde Park and museums (Australian, Marine, Sydney, etc.)
Entertainment, excursions and popular places
Tourists come to Sydney not only to admire the many architectural sights of the city or go on a sightseeing tour. During the summer season, you can go surfing on the sea, and some very interesting day trips are held in the nearby nature reserves surrounding the city.
The world famous beaches of Bondi and Manly, Bronte Beach, Palm Beach, Avalon, the manicured and secluded shores of Australia's Royal Park are accessible by public transport.
Bondi Beach, where athletes ride the waves from dawn, is sometimes called the National Surfing Reserve. It is located 30 minutes by train or bus from the Town Hall in the city center.
The 6 km long excursion along the famous coastal trail from Bondi to the Kuja Coast is one of the most sought after hiking trails. It runs along the most picturesque Sydney beaches - Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee. The trail begins at the Bondi Iceberg Pool, past the carved rock carvings at Marks Park, and ends at the rooftop of the Kuji Pavilion for a beautiful 270-degree view.
On the southern beaches of Marubra, Cronulla or Wattamolla, there is a ferry to Bundina, which also leads to the Royal National Park.
An interesting place can be called a camping for tourists located in the center of Sydney Harbor on the island of Kakalu. You can get here by ferry from Manly Beach. The rules for visiting the camp allow you to rent a tent or set up your own. Campers are provided with hot showers and cooking utensils, and there is also a breakfast and barbecue menu for dinner. For a more comfortable stay in the camp there are cabins with beds and all the necessary amenities.
A trip to the unique and incredible Taronga Zoo will add variety to your Sydney seaside holiday. There are over 4,000 animals here, both local and imported from other countries. Anyone who dares to climb suspended trails, zip lines and aerial bridges of four difficulty levels is offered to look at the wild nature from the other side. To complete the picture, you can stay overnight at the zoo in one of the safari tents (advance reservation is required).
The Harbor and Sydney Opera House tours are a great opportunity to experience a masterpiece of 20th century architecture.
Exciting excursions to the arches of the Harbor Bridge will allow you to climb to a height of 134 meters and enjoy unrivaled panoramic views of the city, sea and bays.
For a beach holiday, Sydney's seaside is ideal. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here; everyone is offered different types of activities:
- boating and fishing;
- kayaking and paddleboarding;
- outdoor pools;
- snorkeling and much more.
In addition, there are surf schools along the quays and many restaurants, hip bars and interestingly decorated pubs.
