Tourism in Sydney

Sydney received 7.8 million domestic visitors and 2.5 million international visitors in 2004. [Tourism NSW. 2004. [http://corporate.tourism.nsw.gov.au/corporatelive/downloads/research/datacard%202004%20forecasts%20(external%20use).pdf Tourism Data Card - Forecasts, Economic Impacts and selected Regional Data - 2004] ] The most well known attractions include the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, the beaches and Sydney Tower. [ [http://www.mpiweb.org/CMS/mpiweb/mpicontent.aspx?id=3918 Showcase Destinations Sydney;Australia: The Harbour City ] ]

ydney Harbour

Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour is the natural harbour of Sydney. It is known for its spectacular natural beauty, and in particular as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The area around the harbour forshore contains pockets of bushland which was once common around Sydney, containing a surprising range of native animals.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most distinctive and famous 20th century buildings, and one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, with parkland to its south and close to the equally famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, the building and its surroundings form an iconic Australian image. It was included in the Olympic Torch route in 2000 to the Olympic stadium, and involved Australian swimmer Samantha Riley standing on top of the Opera House waving the Olympic torch. It was the backdrop of some Olympic events, including the triathlon—which began at the Opera House—and the yachting events on Sydney Harbour. Unfortunately the dramatic exteriors have not been matched with technically superior interiors, and the Opera House's reputation as a music venue has suffered as a result.

ydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbour carrying rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic water vista of the bridge together with the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The South-east pylon for many years operated as lookout and tourist attraction, containing a number of telescopes and antiquated arcade games which operated on pennies, long after that currency had gone out of operation. The couple that ran this tourist venue also kept a number of white cats which gave the interior of the pylon a memorable odour. The pylon has recently been renovated and returned to its tourist function. [ [http://www.pylonlookout.com.au/ Pylon Lookout] ]

Bridge Climb

Since 1998, BridgeClimb [BridgeClimb, [http://www.bridgeclimb.com/ BridgeClimb website] ] has made it possible for tourists to climb the southern half of the bridge. Tours run throughout the day, from dawn to dusk and are only cancelled for electrical storms or high wind. Night climbs are also available. Groups of climbers are provided with protective clothing appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions and are given an orientation before climbing. During the climb, attendees are secured to the bridge by a wire lifeline. Each climb begins on the eastern side of the bridge and ascends to the top. At the summit, the group crosses to the western side of the arch for the descent. Each climb is a three-and-a-half-hour experience.

Historical Forts

The Shores of , some of which are now heritage listed. Some of these forts date back to 1871 and were designed to defend Sydney town in the event of a seaborn attack. There are four historical fortifications located between Taronga Park Zoo and Middle Head, Mosman. The forts were constructed from mostly large sandstone blocks and consist of many tunnels, catacombs and underground rooms. The four forts located between between Bradleys Head and Middle Head are; the Middle Head Fortifications, the Georges Head Battery, the Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position‎ and a small fort located on Bradleys Head. [ [http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/Content/Defence+heritage+in+and+around+Sydney+Harbour Defence heritage in & around Sydney Harbour ] ] See also [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sydney_Harbour_defences Wikimedia Commons, Sydney Harbour Defences]

Watsons Bay

Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula and takes its name from the sheltered bay and anchorage on its western side, in Port Jackson. It provides spectacular views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Gap is an ocean cliff on the eastern side with spectacular views to Manly at North Head and the Pacific Ocean.

Watsons Bay is a mostly residential area with some recreational areas and beaches, including one legal nude beach. Some restaurants, cafes and a hotel are located here, with Doyles on the Beach being one of the most famous Sydney seafood restaurants located on the foreshore of Watsons Bay. The Sydney Harbour Pilot Boat Station is located on the bay, and the HMAS Watson naval station is located nearby at South Head.

City of Sydney

The Rocks

The Rocks is an inner-city suburb, tourist precinct and historic area of Sydney. It is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour adjacent to the city centre, close to where Sydney was first settled in 1788. The close proximity to Circular Quay and the views of the iconic Harbour Bridge, as well as the historic nature of many of the buildings, mean that the Rocks is very popular with tourists. It features a variety of souvenir and craft shops, and many themed and historic pubs. The Rocks Market operates each weekend, with around 100 stalls. There are numerous historic walks through the area, visiting historical buildings such as Cadman's Cottage, Sydney Observatory, and the Dawes Point Battery, which was the first fortified position in New South Wales.clear

ydney Tower

Sydney Tower is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia, the Q1 building on the Gold Coast being the tallest. It is also the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere after Auckland, New Zealand's Sky Tower; though Sydney Tower's main observation deck is almost 50 metres higher than that of the Sky Tower. The Sydney Tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. It is known by locals as the Centrepoint Tower, after the shopping centre building the tower sprouts from.

Sydney Tower Skywalk, or just Skywalk, is an open-air, glass-floored platform circling Sydney Tower at a height of 260m above ground level. The moving viewing platform extends out over the edge of the main structure of Sydney Tower. This attraction is more than twice as high as the popular BridgeClimb walk to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. From the platform the seaward horizon is 58 kilometres away, although inland features such as the Blue Mountains can be seen at further distances. See Sydney Attractions Group.

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour was redeveloped from an industrial wharf to a major tourist and retail precinct in 1988, and is home to a number of major public facilities and attractions, including:
* Sydney Entertainment Centre
* Sydney's Chinese Gardens
* Tumbalong Park
* Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
* Australian National Maritime Museum (featuring museum ships including HMAS Vampire)
* Star City Casino
* Sydney Aquarium
* the IMAX theatre
* Wildlife WorldThe Darling Harbour precinct is linked to the CBD by the Sydney Monorail and Pyrmont Bridge.

Kings Cross

The Kings Cross area is infamous in Australia as being a red-light district, similar to Kings Cross in London with numerous strip clubs and "girlie" bars along Darlinghurst Road, although the demographics have changed in recent years and gentrification of the area has led to clashes between new and established elements.Kings Cross is also known for its Neon signs and advertising posters, the most famous being the iconic Coca-Cola sign. It is often referred to by Sydneysiders by the affectionate colloquialism "the Cross".

The Kings Cross district was the City of Sydney's bohemian heartland from the early decades of the 20th Century, but due its proximity to the naval docking area at Garden Island it also came to serve as the city's main tourist accommodation and entertainment centre, as well as its red-light district. The drugs and crime associated with this trade led to Kings Cross achieving a high level of notoriety.

Museums

Sydney is home to a number of established museums. The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, and is particularly renowned in the fields of natural history and anthropology. The Powerhouse Museum specialises in science and technology, and its exhibits include the oldest steam engine in the world with a rotating action that is still in operation. The Australian National Maritime Museum focuses on Australia's maritime history.

City Parks

Hyde Park contains well-kept gardens and approximately 580 trees; a mixture of Moreton Bay Figs, Palms and other varieties. It is famed for its magnificent fig tree lined avenues. At the park's southern end is the ANZAC War Memorial and a monument consisting of a 104-millimetre gun from the German light cruiser SMS|Emden|1906|6. Any traveller who visits Sydney, should take some time out to go for a walk through Hyde Park. The Royal Botanic Gardens is the largest of three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney. One may enter the park free of charge and it is open to the public every day of the year.

Beaches in Sydney

Sydney is renowned for its beaches and, with its warm climate, attracts people to the beaches almost all year round.clear

Bondi Beach

Large numbers of tourists visit Bondi Beach throughout the year with many Irish and British tourists spending Christmas Day there. Bondi Beach features many popular cafes, restaurants and hotels, with spectacular views of the beach. The beach itself is approximately one kilometre long.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach is a well known beach situated in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Manly Beach is highly popular with tourists and locals alike; a popularity rivalled only by the famous Bondi Beach south of the harbour. Travelling to Manly from Sydney's main ferry terminal, Circular Quay, takes 30 minutes by ferry or 15 minutes by the faster 'Jet Cat' catamaran.

Wildlife

Taronga Zoo

Taronga is the city zoo of Sydney, officially opened on October 7 1916. It is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Mosman. Taronga is linked to Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo in terms of breeding programs. Taronga Zoo is home to over 2,600 animals on 28.7 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind, and it divided into eight zoogeographic regions with numerous indoor pavilions and outdoor exhibits. Taronga Zoo has about 340 species and over 2600 individual animals. They are housed in a large variety of exhibits.

ydney Wildlife World

Sydney Wildlife World is a zoo in the Sydney CBD. It officially opened in September 2006. It is located on the shores of Darling Harbour and is attached to Sydney Aquarium. Sydney Wildlife World is unusual for a zoo in that it is entirely enclosed and air-conditioned. The indoor zoo features a one-kilometre walkway which snakes through 7000 square metres of enclosures. The enclosure features around 6000 native animals.

Whale Watching

Sydney's coastline is part of the annual group 5 Humpback migration path from Antarctica to the Coral sea. From mid May to Early December they can be seen in the waters of the coast and on rare occasions swimming into Sydney harbour itself. Whale Watching can be done from any of the clifftop walks or lookouts, however there are volunteer locations at North Head and Cape Solander at Botany Bay and a number of boat based whale watching tours departing from the Sydney CBD.

ydney suburbs and Daytrips

Fox Studios

Fox Studios Australia is a major movie studio located in Moore Park, around 4km south-east of Sydney's city centre. The studio has been involved in the production of a number of blockbusters, including "The Matrix" trilogy, "Moulin Rouge!", "Mission Impossible II", ', ' and "Superman Returns". An adjacent precinct known as the Entertainment Quarter provides restaurants and cafes, a retail complex, parklands, entertainment venues, and sporting facilities.

Centennial Park

Centennial Park is located 4km south east of the city. It is traditional European parkland, laid out for the centenary of European settlement in 1888. It is suited for family picnics, horse riding, sightseeing, scenic walks and those who wish to keep fit. Those who wish to go horse riding may do so in Centennial Park, there is a place just across the road from the park, right next door to Fox Studios where one can hire a horse.

ydney Olympic Park

and a number of world class sporting fixtures. It is served by the Olympic Park railway line and station. There are also regular services to the nearby wharf which operate from various points around Sydney Harbour.

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most popular parks in Australia. The majority of tourists to the Blue Mountains see the National Park from one of the many lookouts between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath, and many of these never actually set foot in the park.
Despite this, there are many activities for the visitor. Short walks to impressive lookouts above cliff and waterfalls abound. Overnight and longer walks allow access to some of the more remote areas of the park. Other popular activities include canyoning and mountain biking.

Notes and references