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August 2006
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Splendid Sydney - Australia’s Gateway City Offers Visitors Plenty To Do
Posted Destination Highlights on Tuesday, August 1st, 2006.

Maybe prison colonies are the way to go. Especially if you build them around a dazzling harbor that fills every nook and cranny of the city with gentle breezes and soft, ambient light. It’s no wonder Americans love Sydney so much. In 2004, some 68 percent of all American visitors to Australia visited Sydney. There’s a lot to love, beginning with an architecture that combines a shining facade of modernist monuments headed by the Opera House with a preponderance of Victorian treasures such as the Queen Victoria Building.

One of the best ways to introduce visitors to the city is by water, and there are two great options: a Sydney Harbor cruise by Captain Cook Cruises or a ride on the Aussie Duck, an amphibious military vehicle that has been transformed into a coach-tour by land and sea. Captain Cook’s three-hour afternoon sail from Circular Quay offers a relaxing way to see the city while the visitor is still recuperating from the flight and the time change.

The 90-minute ride on the Aussie Duck departs from Clock Tower Square, Argyle Street and The Rocks. After touring on land, the duck plunges into the water for a cruise taking in Darling Harbor, Bennelong Point and Kirribilli before coming ashore again at Greenwich and heading back to Circular Quay. Inexpensive ferries also connect different points along the water-front for those who want to wander on their own.

The roots of the city are located in the historic Rocks district, Sydney’s oldest neighborhood. Facing out on the harbor, the cobble-stoned streets, the boutiques, restaurants, cafes and classic pubs belie the savage treatment inflicted upon the original convict inhabitants, who built the foundations of the city in structures such as Parliament House, St. James Church and the Hyde Park Barracks. A good way to experience the Rocks is by pub tour. The Rocks Pub Tour tells the whole story and refreshes visitors at the same time.

PLENTY OF BEACHES

There are more than 30 beaches within easy reach of downtown. During our winter and their summer, November to February, Sydney temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees, while the rest of the year is almost as mild. The great weather makes it a wonderful city to explore on foot.

George Street is the heart of the shopping and business district. It’s also the Victorian heart of the city. Trendy Darling Harbour offers hip bars and restaurants, an aquarium and maritime museum and an IMAX theater. Darlinghurst and Paddington give Sydney two Bohemian districts, while King’s Cross is a classic, big-city district.

You can see it all in one bird’s eye view if they take the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. This three-hour journey led by guides provides a history of both the bridge and the city. Perfectly safe, it does require some fitness on the part of the client, and an advanced fear of heights would not work out. Book well in advance because this has become one of the city’s most popular attractions.

An easy-to-use mass transit system that incorporates trains, buses, ferries and even a monorail makes Sydney a very easy town to negotiate. Sydney Passes come in three-, five-, or seven-day varieties offering unlimited travel on any of the public buses (in addition to the Explorer sightseeing buses that link all of the city’s main attractions), several sightseeing boats, ferries.

The Sydney Pass also serves as a roundtrip ticket on the Airport Express bus, and can be purchased at the airport, from ticket offices at the main ferry terminals, and onboard the Explorer or Airport Express Bus. The cost is about $100 per adult for three days, $130 for five days and $150 for seven days. Children and family discounts are available.