Sydney: the place where you will find many of Australia's icons such as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. This vibrant and stylish city is one of the best looking in the world, a place heaving with travellers. With its beaches, bars and bronzed bodies, Sydney has everything you could ask. Although it is Australia's oldest city, Sydney is still the most hip, stylish and glamourous place in the country, a place that keeps reinventing itself. Take a cruise along Darling Harbour and view the historic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Stroll around Watsons Bay and catch the perfect wave at Bondi Beach. The art gallery of New South Wales is the place to go and admire some incredible pieces of Aboriginal art. When you want to take a break from all the sightseeing, go to The Rocks where you can chill out at some great pubs, restaurants and shops. At the weekend there are markets to explore. After dark, head to Kings Cross and Surry Hills. These are the best places to party in town.
This city has something for everyone which is probably why it is consistently at the top of the list for places most world travellers ant to visit.
To see
National Maritime Museum
Sydney Aquarium houses a six-metre crocodile and a pool of sharks
Chinese Garden and Chinatown
Sydney Observatory
Luna Park, the 1930s amusement park under the north side of the bridge
Museum of Contemporary Art in The Rocks
Sydney Tower, in the heart of the city, take in 360 degrees of amazing scenery. See all the way from the Blue Mountains to the Central Coast
Sydney Opera House, a true architectural masterpiece, it is home to more than just an opera, with frequent dance, music and theatre performances. Take a guided tour and learn about Australia's thriving art scene or slip backstage with exclusive access to areas normally reserved for cast and crew
Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbour Bridge, commonly named "the coathanger", is the world wildest long-span bridge. Built in 1932, it took 80 years to build and employed 1400 men. length: 500m, width: 50m, height: 134 m, waterclearance: 49m, railway lines: 2, road lanes: 8. The nearest station is Milson's Point at the northern entrance. You can visit the Pylon Lookout or climb to the bridge summit for an unforgettable view of Sydney harbour
Royal Botanical Gardens, 30 hectares of walking paths bordered by exotic flora
Art Gallery of New South Wales holds a prestigious collection of Australian and European art
Taronga Zoo: koalas, kangaroos, exotic animals
Fort Denison
Shark Island
Bondi Beach where Australia's iconic Surf Life Savers were first established more than 100 years ago. Walk the sandstone cliff path to Bronte or Coogee beaches
The Rocks has a story around every corner and is the site of the first European settlement. Wander the historic cobblestone streets to galleries, shops, cafes and old pubs. Discover Australia's convict past and much more on a walking tour. Experience Sydney's Indigenous and colonial past at The Rocks Discovery Museum housed in a 1850s coach house. Hear colourful stories from former residents at Susannah Place Museum and visit the restored 1915 corner shop
Darling Harbour is renowned for great dining, the unexpected and endless festivals, there is always something on, one of the world's great waterfront leisure precincts. Lose yourself in the zen-like paths of the Chinese Garden of Friendship past traditional pavilions and waterfalls.
Watson's Bay
Manly Beach
Darling Harbour, Powerhouse Museum
Shopping
A true fashion palace, the Queen Victoria Building is worth visiting for the outstanding architecture alone. For more alternative shopping head to the weekend markets. Paddington Markets features many young designers and the area has little art galleries at every turn. Bohemian shoppers head to Glebe Markets. The beachside Bondi Markets or The Rocks Market both have unique gifts in beautiful settings. Food lovers, be sure to catch the Fish Market, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Eat & Drink
King Street, Newton boasts more than 100 restaurants with more than 20 exotic cuisine as well as a young eclectic crowd. Oxford Street, Paddington is home to the Sydney Mardi Gras, trendy cafes, bars and great nightlife. Victoria Street, Darlinghurst is a favourite local spot for brunch and dinner. Cafes, bars and restaurants are found throughout Surry Hills. Stanley Street, East Sydney offers a taste of Italy. Inner city suburbs offer endless activity
Beaches
For more dramatic scenery, the Federation Cliff Walk on South Head is absolutely breath-taking. On a walk from The Spit Bridge to Manly Beach, venture through rainforests, over turning cliffs, to incredible harbour views and more beaches
Blue Mountains: situated 65km inland from Sydney, the Blue Mountains are part of the Great Dividing Range, a huge rocky backbone spanning three Australian states. This is where most Sydneysiders come to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is the perfect wilderness retreat with its gorges, gum trees and rock formations. Spread over three national parks, this area is renowned for its incredible sandstone rock formation, the Three Sisters. View this wonder of nature from Echo Rock and explore other areas in the Blue Mountains on a plethora of bushwalking tracks. If you want to take things a bit easier then check out the area by riding the steepest railway in the world in Katoomba which also has a thriving pub and cafe scene. Pull up a chair, grab yourself a beer and let the locals tell you about the indigenous history of the Blue Mountains. After you have ridden the Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow, you can cruise back into Sydney on the Patterson River.
Hunter Valley: Australia's oldest wine region, Hunter Valley has over 100 wineries. The valley is divided into upper and lower regions with the majority of the vineyards in the lower area. Try some of Australia's best cabernet sauvignons and semillons in the Hunter Valley while enjoying some awesome scenery and gourmet food. There is plenty of bushwalking, cycling and horse riding in the national parks here and hot-air ballooning is a fantastic way to get a different perspective of the area.
Newcastle: When you are ready to hit the road again, stop over in Newcastle and check out the heritage architecture and the beautiful coastline. This former steel town has an art scene which sometimes challenges art conventions due to its heavy industrial overtones. There is a good live music scene here where grungy clothes are the order of the day.
Port Stephens: an idyllic coastal paradise where the emphasis is on pleasure. From the fabulous scenery typified by volcanic peaks along the coastline to crystal clear bays fringed by golden sand, Port Stephens has lots to offer. Port Stephens is also a good place to go dolphin and whale watching. Between the end of May and the middle of November, you may be lucky enough to glimpse a humpback whale as it swims along Australia's east coast. If you don't happen to see one then don't worry because there are plenty of bottlenose dolphins around.
Coffs Harbour: if you like bananas then slip into Coffs Harbour, the largest town between Newcastle and the Gold Coast. This is probably the only place in Australia where tourism and bananas are under the same skin. The Big Banana complex is a tourist icon. To those of you who thought Australia's national icons were emus and kangaroos think again. In this part of the world bananas rule and just to prove the somewhat Messiah-like quality of this fruit (although the locals will argue that it is actually a herb), they have erected a gigantic concrete banana outside the Big Banana complex. It is compulsory to try their home-made banana ice cream. To get rid of the kilo you are likely to put on, grab a surfboard and head into the water. Or perhaps get your diving gear and explore the pink corals at Fish Rocks or raft down the Nymbodia River. You can also sea kayak. The hinterland of Coffs Harbour is swathed in rainforest and contains some gorgeous panoramas.
Byron Bay: this is one of the few places in the world where you won't find a McDonalds. Local pressure groups have ensured the fast food giants can't trade here. Life in Byron Bay is anything but fast. With its health-conscious hippy community, the area is blessed with long beaches and consistently weather. Known as the rainbow region, this beautiful little town is a good place to chill out or get active. Go mountain biking in the hinterland (spot kangaroos, koalas, dolphins, turtles, wallabies and flying foxes), snorkel or scuba dive at some of Australia's most gorgeous diving sites, enjoy the view during an open cockpit flight or a sky dive, have fun kayaking next to dolphins and turtles, relax in the Minyon Rock Falls and meet the friendly hippie community of Nimbin. This is definitely a part of the world that enjoys an alternative lifestyle.
Canberra: Australia's capital and centre for parliament, Canberra is a picturesque city surrounded by green hills. In the city itself you will find lakes, parks and lots of trees. There is a thriving art scene and you will find some interesting work in the numerous galleries around town. This place is claim to fame is that it is the home of Australian politics. It roughly marks the halfway point between Melbourne and Sydney and it is for this reason that it was chosen as the country's capital. Even though Canberra doesn't have a hip and trendy reputation like Melbourne and Sydney, it still has a lot to offer. Start your day by going for a walk in the Australian National Botanic Gardens where you will find every plant endemic to this country. The National Art Gallery of Australia has over 100000 pieces on display and is a good place to spend several hours. Great exhibitions can also be found at The Australian War Memorial where you can view weapons that were used during the wars. If you feel like a breather then rent a paddleboat and relax on Lake Burley Griffin. The Australian Institute of Sports has interactive basketball, rowing and skiing activities where you can pretend to be a champion.
Snowy Mountains: situated on the NSW-Victoria border, most of the Snowy Mountains are contained within the Kosciuszko National Park where you will find Australia's tallest mainland peak, Mt Kosciuszko (228m). You will also find Snowy River, immortalised in Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River which was also made into a film. If you want to check out Australia's highest mountain and immerse yourself in a winter wonderland then come to the Snowy Mountains. With deep canyons, windy roads to snow-capped plateaus and jagged peaks, this is some of Australia's most serious snow country. You can hike, ski, go horse riding or test your wits on the Murray River where you can go whitewater rafting. Or just sit in the car and cruise along the scenic Kosciuszko Alpine Way (be sure to carry chains if it is snowing). En route you can check out the ghost town of Kiandra which was once a boomtown during the gold rush and visit Australia's highest town before you head down to Perisher Blue and Thredbo. During the summertime this area is quieter and perfect for bushwalking and spotting wildlife. In winter the goggles and snowboards are out and the adrenaline pumps.
Lord Howe island: New South Wales has its very own Pacific Island paradise and it is right on Sydney's doorstep. Less than a two-hour flight from Sydney or Brisbane, Lord Howe is the most accessible Pacific island for Australian travellers. It has been described as the most beautiful island in the South Pacific. One of only four island groups to have World Heritage listing, Lord Howe lies on the southernmost coral reef in the world (just walk in off the beach) which is home to 500 species of fish and over 90 species of brilliantly coloured coral. The island is 11km long and barely 2km at its widest point. Most of the island is covered in lush natural forests and it is laced with walking trails. Mt Gower affords one of Australia's best day hikes while the island's crystal-clear lagoon and surrounding waters offer swimming, snorkelling, SCUBA diving, surfing, kayaking, glass-bottom boating and fish feeding. Along with seabird watching, the island is renowned for some of the world's best fishing. There are 11 pristine beaches to choose from, all free from stingers or other bities. With a limit of 400 visitors on the island at any one time and just 17 accommodation choices the island retains its peaceful, small-town charm and welcoming atmosphere and despite its size, Lord Howe offers several exceptional restaurants serving modern Australian cuisine. It is a place where the kids are safe and no-one locks their door. With a speed limit of 25km/h and very few cars, most folks get around by bicycle. It is a little-known wonder but those who have discovered the secret have been coming back to Lord Howe for generations.
Wollongong: experience Wollongong's spectacular coastal drive, Grand Pacific Drive, Sydney to Wollongong and beyond. Grand Pacific Drive is a 140km award winning coastal drive beginning at the Royal National Park which is the second oldest National Park in the world. Enjoy driving through coastal rainforests and villages and traverse along the magnificent Sea Cliff Bridge. From here, the drive makes its way into the bustling city of Wollongong, offering adventure activities, great beaches, fantastic restaurants and cafes, golf courses, art galleries and more. Wollongong has a huge mix of accommodation options from international hotel brands to unique B&Bs and backpacker accommodation. The drive then takes you through to the beautiful coastal towns of Shellharbour and Kiama and ends in the Shoalhaven region. Grand Pacific Drive now has themed directional signage guiding you through the significance of each region.
