Sydney Harbour: with 240 kilometres of shoreline encompass approximately 54 square kilometres of water, Port Jackson, or Sydney Harbour as it is more widely known, is commonly referred to as the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. Surrounded by a mix of former military bases, million dollars homes and extensive tracts of natural bushland, the harbour can be easily explored from the water itself (by ferry or a cruise) or on land (driving or on foot).
Most of Sydney's iconic landmarks - the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo - are on the harbour and are best viewed from it. There are a number of islands in the harbour, some are open to explore, all many played an important role in Sydney's colonial past. Lookouts at various points up and down the harbour shores give different perspectives of the city.
The Rocks/Millers Point precinct: Sydney's historic maritime village. Of all the locations around Sydney Harbour, few have as fascinating a past as The Rocks, a small district near the heart of Sydney on the hillside above the western shore of Sydney Cove and Circular Quay. It is here that Sydney's first permanent dwellings were built, a cluster of humble wattle and daub huts perched precariously amid the rocky inclines that gave the location its name. The Rocks became Sydney's port and maritime village, a position it held well into the 20th century. After decades of decay, tightly controlled re-development and conservation in the 1970s saw The Rocks emerge as a unique and popular tourist precinct which retains much of the character and charm of its colourful past.
Sydney Tower: spectacular views of Sydney from the city's iconic tower. Standing at 305 meters, Sydney Tower was for many years the tallest man made building in Australia. The turret contains two revolving restaurants and a coffee lounge/function room on levels one to three that are all operated by Sydney Tower Restaurants, the Observation Deck is situated on level four, and two telecommunications and three main plant levels above. The Centrepoint development as it was then known, was conceived in 1968 (completed 1977) and comprises over 140 shops, extensive commercial office space, overhead and underground pedestrian promenades and the high-rise tourist and telecommunications tower. 56 cables stabilise the Tower and the strands of these cables, if laid end to end, would stretch from Sydney to Alice Springs or from Sydney to New Zealand. The 3,019 tonne turret is serviced by three high-speed double-decker lifts that can move 2,000 persons per hour at a travelling sped of 426 metres per minute.
The Blue Mountains: Though not in Sydney itself, The Blue Mountains is considered by most people who come to Sydney as a "must see" while visiting the harbour city, so we have included it here. This Heritage Listed area area is one of rugged tablelands, sheer cliffs, deep, inaccessible valleys and rivers and lakes teeming with life. The unique plants and animals that live in this natural place relate an extraordinary story of Australia's antiquity, and its diversity of life.
Location: 60 to 180 kilometres west of Sydney, accessible by road or train.
See separate section for more information.
Bondi Beach: see entry under Sydney's Beaches
| General Interest Attractions |
Darling Harbour: a large recreational and pedestrian precinct on the western outskirts of the Sydney central business district. It was created around the pylons of a freeway interchange on the site of an abandoned railway goods yard and wharf area. The area contains an odd mix of shops, restaurants and attractions that includes the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World; Sydney Conference and Exhibition Centre; National Maritime Museum; LG Imax Theatre; Sydney's Chinese Gardens. On its boundaries are the Sydney Entertainment Centre; Sydney's Chinatown district; Paddy's Markets; Powerhouse Museum; Sky City Casino. Darling Harbour is in walking distance of the city or can be reached by monorail or lightrail. | Website
Paddys Markets: Sydney's main market since early last century. A traditional permanent markets with over 1,000 stalls selling clothes, cosmetics, CDs, sheepskins, food, crafts, and T-shirts. Located on the fringes of Darling Harbour, Paddy's Markets is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Contact: 1300 361 589. Location: Hay St, Haymarket near Central Station. | Website
Hawkesbury River: a vast tranquil waterway on Sydney's northern doorstep, the river winds its way from the highlands at the foot of the Blue Mountains, through a fertile valley and then and then a giant estuary before discharging into the Pacific Ocean at Broken Bay. Between the Hawkesbury River Bridge Brooklyn and the Hawkesbury River Bridge Windsor there is 110 kilometres of navigable river, not to mention the bays, coves and tributaries, many of which are also accessible by boat. In total the Hawkesbury River system has over 1,100 kms of foreshore fringe. The Hawkesbury is a recreational paradise, offering bushwalks, secluded bays to explore, great boating and fishing, ferry trips and cruises, houseboats, Aboriginal rock art, islands, historic villages, waterside apartments and more picnic spots than you could visit in a lifetime. | Website
Barrenjoey Peninsula: situated in Sydney's coastal north, the peninsula is largely residential these days, with wonderful surf beaches on its ocean side, and the expanse of Pittwater and its many bays, inlets and beaches on the other. Home to a colony of koalas, it is a corner of Sydney that few visitors see, yet those who do come here, either to stay a while or for a day trip, leave the richer for the experience. Boating, fishing, surfing, walking up to the lighthouse on Barrenjoey Head, dining at one of the many waterside cafes or restaurants, watching the TV soap "Home & Away" being filmed early in the morning and taking a ferry across Pittwater to Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park (bushwalking, swimming, Aboriginal rock art, coastal scenery) are some of things to do to occupy your time here.
Mrs. Macquarie's Chair (harbour views; picnic areas)
Bundeena (isolated harbourside village; entry to Royal National Park; Aboriginal rock art)
Olympic Park precinct (Olympic Games stadiums; Sydney Showgrounds; wildlife; walking trails)
| Special Interest Attractions |
Aboriginal Art Sites: the whole of the Sydney Basin is a huge art gallery containing some of the oldest works of art by mankind in the world today. It is believed that over 6,000 drawings, most of which are carved into sandstone rock faces, once existed throughout what is now the Sydney metropolitan area, but many have been destroyed, bulldozed or blasted out of existence to make way for farms, bridges and later, suburbs. Many sites have survived, however, but though they have been given legislative protection, there is little known about the best way to manage Aboriginal sites,, so they are not widely publicised. Many are easily accessible and not hard to find by anyone interested in exploring these priceless remnants of a lost culture.
See separate section for more information on the local Aboriginal tries, where the art sites are and what the art means.
Nucote: this residence was the home of children's author and illustrator, May Gibbs. She wrote the wildly popular book Snugglepot and Cuddlepie in addition to illustrating notecards, comics, and calendars. The home is preserved as a museum and gift shop. | More information
Location: 5 Wallaringa Avenue, Neutral Bay
Sydney Cricket Ground: Sydney's iconic cricket ground, it is the home of the NSW Cricket team. NSW played Victoria at the ground in an Australian Rules football match in August 1881, which was the first inter-colonial (State of Origin) football match ever played there. Since that time it has hosted the 1938 Empire (Commonwealth) Games; it saw the debut of famous NSW batsman, Victor Trumper, in 1895; Don Bradman batted for the first time on the SCG in a first-class cricket game in January 1928 - he was batting at number 8, and was bowled by the first ball he faced. Organised tours of the ground are available on non-playing days.
Location: Moore Park Road, Moore Park
Zig Zag Railway: a heritage railway at Lithgow in the Blue Mountains on the site of the famous Lithgow Zig Zag which operated between 1869 and 1910. As built, the line formed part of the Main West line from Sydney across the Blue Mountains and served to lower the line from its summit into the Lithgow valley on the western flank of the mountains. The Zig Zag Steam and Diesel Tourist Railway runs the tourist railway here. It is a great destination to incorporate into a trip to The Blue Mountains. | Website
Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW: library documenting the history of New South Wales
The iconic Mitchell Library Wing of the State Library of NSW was the original State Library building in which the state's book collection was stored for over 70 years. The Mitchell Library Wing is the first in a row of buildings which form the majestic streetscape of Macquarie Street. An impressive sandstone building, it's striking Ionic columns support the huge vaulted ceiling of the vestibule and look down upon a giant mosaic replica of an old map documenting the voyage of Dutch seaman Abel Tasman in the 1640s which forms the vestibule floor.
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- Italian - Norton Street, Leichhardt
- Chinese - Dixon Street, Sydney
- Spanish - Liverpool Street, Sydney
- Portuguese - New Canterbury Road, Petersham
- Korean - Beamish Street, Campsie
- Indonesian - Anzac Parade, Kingsford
- Lebanese - Haldon Street, Lakemba
- Vietnamese - John Street, Cabramatta
- Turkish - Auburn Road and South Parade, Auburn
Mixed cuisines
- Oxford Street, Paddington - wide range of cuisines
- Crown Street, Surry Hills - cafes, vegetarian
- King Street, Newtown - vegetarian, Indian, Thai
- Clovelly Road, Clovelly - wide variety, seafood specialities
- The Corsa, Manly - mainly cafes
- Glebe Point Road, Glebe - vegetarian, ethnic
- Willoughby Road, Crows Nest - wide variety
- Military Road, Neutral Bay - modern Australian eateries
- Bourke Street/Crown Street, Darlinghurst - wide range of cuisines and prices
- Argyle Street, George Street, The Rocks - wide range of cuisines and prices
- Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate/Sans Souci - mixed styles
| Zoos, Wildlife Sanctuaries |
Taronga Zoo: opened in 1916, it is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in the suburb of Mosman, Taronga Zoo is home to over 2,600 animals on 21 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind. With its panoramic views of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline, the zoo is a "must see" for visitors to Sydney. Get there by car or by ferry from Circular Quay. | Website
Featherdale Wildlife Park: the focus here is on interactivity with Australia's native fauna. It's about a 45 minute drive from the city in Sydney's Greater West (Doonside). All the expected animals are there - kangaroos, koalas, wombats, and emus, wallabies, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and more. | Factsheet | Website
Koala Park Sanctuary: Opened in 1930, Koala Park was the first private koala sanctuary in NSW and was founded by the late Noel Burnet. The preservation of the koala is the main theme of the park, and it is one of the best places to see koalas up close and learn about them. | Website
Australian Reptile Park: a wide selection of Australian and exotic reptiles such as American alligators, tortoises and pythons are displayed, however there are also platypus, koalas, wombats, Tasmanian devils, echidnas, dingoes and kangaroos. Located at Somersby on the NSW Central Coast. } Website
Waratah Park Earth Sanctuary: Waratah Park is a nocturnal sanctuary open from 4pm till late, offering visitors the opportunity to see free roaming Australian animals and other native wildlife in a mini ecosystem, returned to it's natural state circa 1788. Situated about 30 minutes drive north of the Sydney in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at Terry Hills at the site of the Waratah Sanctuary, famous as the home of "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" after the TV series filmed there during the 1960. | Website
Fairfield City Farm: a 580-acre working sheep and cattle farm in suburban Sydney. Great for families, activities include a Farmyard nursery where people can hold and feed farm animals, cow milking, a sheep shearing show, whip cracking show and working dog show. | Website
Sydney Wildlife World: a mini zoo right in the heart of Sydney, at Darling Harbour next to the aquarium. Includes a large variety of Australian wildlife with over 100 different species of animals. The attraction won the Award for the best family-focused tourism at The Australian's 2007 Travel and Tourism Awards. | Website
Sydney Aquarium: located at Darling Harbour a short walk from the city centre, this aquarium is one of the country's finest, displaying more than 650 species comprising more than 6,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures from most of Australia's water habitats. Its key exhibits are a series of underwater, see-through, acrylic glass tunnels where sharks swim above visitors, and recreation of a Great Barrier Reef coral environment. | Website
Oceanworld Manly: Oceanarium and aquarium featuring a 110m acrylic tunnel, sharks in captivity, stingrays, crocodiles, venomous marine creatures and dangerous Australian animals such as snakes. Situated on the water at Manly Cove beach, close to the Manly Ferry wharf. | Website
Macquarie Lighthouse
Woolwich Dock (historic shipbuilding dock)
Georges Head forts
Middle Head forts
Bradleys Head: forts and HMAS Sydney mast
North Fort
Lapstone historic railway precinct
Windsor historic precinct (historic town and buildings; museums; observatory)
Quarantine Station (historic buildings)
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