"Sydney"

Sydney is the largest Australian city. And the most beautiful. Its natural beauty, tourist attractions, urban development and quality of life put it in a strong position to compete with the best cities in the world.

In the annual Mercer surveys of local living conditions of more than 400 cities, Australia's premier city ranks high. Its quality of living earned it an enviable place at number 10 for both 2008 and 2009.

Various other surveys prove that it is one of the best cities to live in or to travel to. For example since 2002 the travellers reading the Condé Nast Traveller magazine have rated the capital city of New South Wales (NSW) as one of the top 3 world cities.

And while there is a strong competition with Melbourne, another top city in Australia, people love Sydney for its attractions, climate, food, shopping and accommodation.

City skyline view from Darling Harbour

The History

In 1770, a significant year in the history of Australia, James Cook dropped anchor at Botany Bay.

18 years later, in 1788, Arthur Phillip in command of the First Fleet entered the Harbour and established the first British colony in Australia. The Rocks is considered the birthplace of Australia.

More about the Rocks and Sydney history

The Present

It starts from Port Jackson which includes the magnificent harbour with its Circular Quay (here at the left).

Then extends west towards the Blue Mountains, north towards the Central Coast and Gosford and borders Wollongong in the south.

For more information about the population and where they live read some facts.

But its heart is the City and its CBD (Central Business District).

It is there that you can find the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Here they are photographed at night during an amazing lights festival.

Then there are museums, parks, gourmet restaurants, luxury hotels, dance clubs, entertainment. They are just some of the temptations that pull you into the City. But there are so many things that make you love Sydney.

First it's the weather. Then the vibrant atmosphere every month. Both combine to offer you such a nice climate and make it a desirable city to live in. Here is more information about the weather and what to do in spring, how to enjoy the summer, where to go in autumn and what to do in winter.

Entertainment is big. There are many annual festivals and events. Here is just a brief line up of some of the events celebrating:

• Australian arts and culture with the famous Sydney festival in January
• various ethnic cultures that combine to make this city a cosmopolitan place, such as the Chinese New Year, or the Primo Italiano event
• music with a jazz and blues festival in Darling Harbour,


• books with a writers’ festival,
• movies with a film festival
• Opera House lights that have created a spectacular display of images, colours, and a vivid atmosphere.

Tourist Attractions in Sydney

• Opera House, built by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon.
The construction project took about 14 years and has quite a controversial history.
• Harbour Bridge;
• Taronga Zoo;
• Bondi and Manly beaches;
• the Centrepoint Tower;
• the Australian Museum.

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