Sydney is considered one of the most glamorous and attractive places on earth. The city has already received the status of "The most beautiful city in the world" several times in a row, and in 2000 the Summer Olympics were held here. What makes Sydney so attractive is its magnificent coastline, fringed with luxurious palm trees and white yachts, and numerous clean beaches.
Sydney's current population includes more than 200 nationalities and bearers of different cultures. That is why you can immediately feel at home here. Sydney gives joyful emotions and self-confidence, perhaps this is the reason why the most talented and wealthy people strive here. Walking the streets of the city, you can easily meet a celebrity and even feel like one of them!
Climate and weather
The seasons in Sydney, as in the whole of Australia, are directly opposite to those in Europe: summer falls in winter, although even in winter it is not cold at all here and the sun is constantly shining.
Sydney has a warm subtropical climate with many sunny days. The average annual temperature is around 18-26 ° C. The warmest month is January (26.8 ° C) and the coldest is July (17.2 ° C). The average ocean water temperature is 22.6 ° C in summer and 18 ° C in winter.
The city can be visited literally all year round, since it is not cold at all here even in winter (June-August).
Nature
Sydney is located in the southeastern part of Australia in the Gulf Port jackson... In the west, the city is bordered by the Blue Mountains, and in the east - with the Pacific Ocean, and its coast is indented by numerous bays.
Bay Port Jackson including Sydney Harbor is the largest natural harbor in the world. North of Sydney, there is a scenic Hawkesbury river, in the south lies Voronor plateau.
sights
Sydney was founded in 1788 and its earliest citizens were convicts. Two centuries later, the city has become a huge metropolis, home to approximately 20% of the entire population of Australia. The main symbol of the city and a masterpiece of modern architecture is the Sydney Opera House. At first glance, the ultra-modern huge building may remind many of an incompletely peeled futuristic orange. Every self-respecting tourist strives to get to this theater, regardless of his love for opera.
Also amazing and breathtaking is the famous bridge Harbor bridge connecting the shores of the Gulf of Sydney. After the opening of the Sydney Opera House, the bridge hanging over the bay was jokingly nicknamed by the Sydney people "a clothes hanger" for its peculiar shape.
The Royal Botanic Garden is also interesting, almost all of the plants of which, like most of the city's inhabitants, are immigrants who have perfectly taken root in the friendly and hospitable land of Australia. And you can look at the rich underwater world of the Australian coast in the equally famous Sydney Aquarium. It is worth paying attention to the Rocks city quarter, which was originally the site of the very first settlements of Europeans in Australia. There are many restored and recreated houses from that era, as well as the oldest pub in the country, "Lord Nelson".
Sydney is famous all over the world. Bondi Beach, where shots of many famous films were filmed. The windsurfing festival is held here every year, during which the water rescue service puts on an exciting demonstration show.
There is a nature reserve 40 km from Sydney with wild animals living here in their natural environment. Here tourists have the opportunity to calmly feed a giraffe and a kangaroo, as well as take a photo with a koala, the famous symbol of Australia. And if you go even further, you can visit the Blue Mountains National Park. This natural oasis has preserved the most ancient forests, the age of their trees reaches 2000 years. The park got its name from the color of the haze that forms over the luxurious eucalyptus forests, which more than three million tourists come to see every year.
Food
Fish and other seafood are an integral part of the Sydney menu. The waters surrounding the city are home to a huge variety of fish and invertebrates. Sydney's favorite dish is salmon marinated in lime juice, served with baked tomatoes. Also in many restaurants you can try: eels, green oysters, mussels and crayfish.
Meat pie (puff pastry with a filling), marsupial steak (made from kangaroo meat) and brains in red wine are regular items on the menu of any Sydney restaurant. As a dessert, it is imperative to note the signature dish. Pavlova which consists of creamy kiwi and meringue slices.
Australia is famous throughout the world for its excellent wines. Of these, the most famous is wines Shiraz and Semillon», Which can be tasted in almost any restaurant in the city. In addition, in Sydney hotels (pubs) you can taste Australian beers ( Fosters, Coopers and etc.).
Residence
Australia is not a very cheap country and it can be difficult to find inexpensive housing here. Hostels (from $ 30) are considered the cheapest accommodation option in Sydney. In addition to the reasonable price, their advantage is their location in the city center. YHA is considered the most famous hostel chain in Sydney, offering comfortable rooms and professional service.
Also, the city is full of all kinds of hotels and hotels of different price categories. The most prestigious and expensive hotels in the city are Shangri-La Hotel 5 *, InterContinental Sydney 5 * and many others. Cheaper hotels are more often located outside the central part of the city, and their prices are an order of magnitude lower ( Base sydney and etc.).
The most democratic option for living can be accommodation in campsites and caravan parks (from $ 75), of which there are quite a few within the city - Campgrounds Lane Cove River Caravan Park, BIG4 Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park, Sydney Family Holiday Accommodation and etc.
In addition, in Sydney, there is always the opportunity to rent an apartment, studio or furnished room (from $ 600 per week).
Entertainment and recreation
Sydney is renowned throughout the world for its vibrant and vibrant nightlife. Some lovers of nightlife don't even go to bed after a sleepless night. The most famous and fashionable place in the city is the luxurious Black Market Night Club. Jazz lovers gather at night at Real Al Cafe and Harborside Brasserie. In general, the City district is the dream of fans of nightlife, where there is an innumerable number of nightlife venues and bars. The area of King's Cross is also popular, however, it does not have the best reputation, but this gives it a peculiar zest.
Sydney also attracts a large number of beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The most popular beaches are Googee, Bronte, Callory and Palm Beach. In these places, ideal conditions for recreation and water sports are created, diving schools operate. For climbers in Sydney, a decent entertainment is also provided: climbing the giant Sydney Bridge.
In addition, various cultural and sports events are held in Sydney all year round - various festivals, gastronomic competitions, yacht races and many other interesting entertainments. The city's main cultural events are the Sydney Festival, which includes opera and theater productions, and the Sydney Film Festival. The city also hosts the most massive festival of sexual minorities - Mardi Grass.
Purchases
In Sydney, there are entire chains of shopping and entertainment centers and large stores. The most famous shopping center chain is Westfield Shopping Centers, where shops and boutiques of various companies are represented. David Jones and Mayer’s are equally popular.
The most elite shopping destination is the Queen Victoria Building, which amazes not only with its brilliant interior decoration, but also incredibly high prices. Every January, the most luxurious Christmas tree in the city is installed here. Another historic building and shopping center rolled into one is the pathetic Passage Strand.
Souvenirs and things in Sydney are best bought at Peddy's Market, which usually only works on weekends. It is there that a variety of inexpensive cute trinkets are sold. Sydney's most unusual souvenir is kangaroo scrotum openers and key rings. The most expensive souvenirs of the city are opal jewelry.
Other interesting shopping spots include shops on Crown Street and King Street, where you can find interior items, retro items and luxury clothing.
Transport
In Sydney, as in any metropolis, urban public transport is well developed. A huge number of buses run in the city (from $ 2), however, a characteristic feature of Sydney is traffic jams during rush hours. Therefore, it is much faster and more convenient to travel in the metro, which is called the train here. It is located underground and consists of double-decker electric trains with 6-8 carriages. The train fare is quite high and depends on the type of ticket and the distance of the trip.
There is only one tram line in Sydney (Sydney light rail), it passes through several city blocks. The city also has an ultra-modern form of transport - Monorail (monorail). It consists of a small round-shaped train that travels on rails located at a height of about five meters above the streets. In addition, the townspeople actively use numerous water transport.
In addition to all of the above, double-decker tourist (sightseeing) buses run around the city every 25 minutes. A complete such route, including stops, will take about 1.5 hours, the cost of the trip ranges from $ 25.
Connection
You can make calls to Sydney from public telephones that are located throughout the city. Calls within Australia are charged at 0.3 €. You can also make international calls from the machines. For convenience, telephone cards are sold in shops and newspaper agencies.
Cellular communications throughout Australia operate on GSM standards. Therefore, you can use roaming or buy a sim card in any mobile phone store (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Orange one).
Sydney has many internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots (some are free). Also, large hotels provide their guests with Internet access.
Safety
Sydney is considered an absolutely safe city, and there is practically no street crime here. There are even cases when people return their wallets with significant amounts to those who have lost them, without taking a cent from there.
In general, in Sydney one should be afraid not of people, but of sharks, several people die here every year. Therefore, it is necessary to swim only in specially designated places and not to swim far, in this case no danger threatens. It is also best to take care of sunblock in advance, as the sun in Sydney can be very active.
Business climate
Sydney is ranked in the top five in the world as the best place to start and do business. The most developing and profitable industries are mining and chemical, as well as housing construction, telecommunications systems, programming and various types of tourism and services.
Australia has developed a special business immigration program that stimulates the influx of business people and businessmen who can enrich the country's economy through linking with international markets, exporting goods and services, creating jobs and producing new goods.
Real estate
Today Sydney is not only the largest city in Australia, but also one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the world. Property prices here began to rise sharply since the 90s, peaked in 2003, and then dropped by about 6%. At the moment, many analysts are predicting a possible sharp increase in 2013-2014. This is facilitated by the constant migration to Australia and the decline in construction volumes.
In general, housing in Sydney is always more expensive than in other cities in Australia. By the end of last year, the average cost of a house in the city was $ 600,000, which is higher than in the capital.
Australia has a tax refund service (approximately 12%) on goods purchased in the country. In this case, it is necessary that their total cost is at least $ 300, and transportation is carried out in hand luggage. To receive compensation in the store, upon purchase, you need to take a special check and, already at the airport, contact one of the Tourist Refund Scheme offices, present your passport, check, goods and an international ticket.
There are cities to which one would like to return again and again. Sydney is one of them. I have been there more than once, but every time this city inspires and enchants.
The age-old competition for the championship between Sydney and Melbourne (I wrote about this) is held with varying success, but regularly both cities are recognized as one of the most convenient for life. Melbourne is, of course, very good, but in my personal rating Sydney still wins.
Today we will take a walk through the center of Sydney (in Australia, the business center of the city is called CBD - Central Business Distrcit) - from the Circular Quay to Darling Harbor. Other delights of the city - Sydney Bridge, the famous Opera House, a ferry ride along the bay, views from the Sydney Tower - await us in the following episodes.
Today's POIs on Sydney city center map (1):
Circular Key
The view of the Circular Key embankment from the side of Port Jackson Bay is one of the "calling cards" of Sydney, along with the opera and the Sydney bridge. Ferries depart from the piers on the waterfront to different parts of the city, and behind them towering CBD skyscrapers.
The silhouette of the embankment is created (from right to left): Gateway Plaza (black skyscraper on the right, 164 meters, 46 floors), AMP Center tower (188 m, 45 floors). Behind the AMP tower is the Governor Phillip Tower (227 m, 54 floors). To the left of AMR Center - a building with two flags on the roof - AMP Building (115 m, 26 floors). This skyscraper, built in 1962, was the first high-rise after the city was allowed to build buildings over 50 meters. Behind the AMP Building is the Intercontinental Hotel (100 m, 30 floors). Finally, the lonely high-rise on the left is Key Apartments (95 meters, 25 floors). (2)
On the embankment. (3)
Circular Key was once a port area. A reminder of this is the old Custom House. Now the city library is located here. (4)
The Museum of Modern Art is located by the water. (five)
From Circular Quay, you can take a speedboat tour of the bay. (6)
In the CBD, pompous Victorian buildings coexist peacefully with modern skyscrapers, the coolness of Protestant cathedrals and canopy of parks with bustle of streets, and always rushing "white collars" - with idly staggering tourists.
Let's delve into the maze of CBD streets starting from Circular Key. However, when applied to Sydney, "street mazes" are an unjustified cliche. The layout of the center of Sydney, given by Darling Harbor from the west and the parkland from the east, is quite correct - a dozen main streets run strictly from north to south, and as many cross them in a perpendicular direction.
Entering the CBD, you find yourself on narrow streets shaded by skyscrapers. However, the bulk of high-rise buildings do not overwhelm - the lower tier of the urban environment with numerous cafes, restaurants, public institutions is quite friendly.
One of the "vertical" streets of the CDB is Phillip Street. On the right is the Sydney Museum, on the left is the Aurora Place Tower, a 41-story Art Nouveau skyscraper with a height of 188 meters. (7)
The Sydney Museum stands on the site of the first Australian government building, completed in 1878. The museum is located at the base of the Governor Phillip Tower, named after the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip. (eight)
Let's continue our acquaintance with the CBD skyscrapers lined up along Phillip Street. This is Chifley Tower (216 meters, 53 floors). (nine)
The next building is Deutsche Bank (160 meters, 39 floors). The characteristic spire of this structure (and with it the height of the building is 240 meters) is easily recognizable on any panorama of the city. (10)
The tallest structure in the city is the Sydney Tower. This 309-meter tower is visible from anywhere in the city. There is an observation deck on the tower, which we will climb in one of the following episodes. In the lower floors of the tower is the Westfield shopping center. The sandy building in the shot is David Jones Department Store. (eleven)
CBD is not alive with skyscrapers - there are many pedestrian zones, malls and arcades in the center of Sydney. Pedestrian shopping area on Pitt Street. (12)
It has preserved classic buildings with establishments founded, like this pharmacy, back in the 19th century. (13)
Sydney's oldest shopping arcade is The Strand. (14-16)
A diverse crowd on Pitt Street. (17-19)
Sydney Square and Queen Victoria Building
The central point of the CBD is the City Hall Square (Sydney Square) at the intersection of George Street and Druitt Street.
Sydney City Hall (Townhall) with a high clock tower against the backdrop of skyscrapers looks quite organic. On flagpoles - the flag of Australia and the Aboriginal banner. (twenty)
Near the municipality is St Andrew's Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Australia. (21)
Skyscrapers Sydney Square. Left - Energy Ostrelia (99 meters, 28 floors). Behind it is the HSBC Center (151 m, 37 floors). On the right is the Lumiere residential building (151 m, 47 floors). (22)
George Street is the longest and busiest street in the CBD, spilling north to south from Central Station to Sydney Bridge. An entire block along George Street is occupied by the Quinn Victoria Building (KBB), a building erected in 1898 as a fruit market. It is now home to many shops and restaurants. (23)
Monument to Queen Victoria in front of the KBB (24)
KVB should be visited even if you are not interested in shopping - the architecture and interiors of the building are impressive. (25-26)
One of the decorations of the KVB - the Royal Clock (27)
Another impressive hanging clock, the Great Australian Clock, depicts scenes of colonization of the continent: (28)
Aborigines before the arrival of whites. (29)
Disembarkation of Captain Cook in 1770. (thirty)
Aboriginal children are taken by whites. (31)
Hyde Park and Domain
Sydney is a very green city. To the east of the CBD is an extensive park area - Hyde Park, Domain Park and the Botanical Gardens.
Two blocks from Sydney Square is Hyde Park, with the ANZAC memorial to the south and St. Mary's Cathedral to the north. The compositional center of Hyde Park is the Archibald Fountain against the backdrop of St. Mary's Cathedral and the Sydney Tower. (32-33)
St. Mary's Cathedral is one of the largest Catholic churches in Australia, architecturally more interesting than St. Andrew's Cathedral. (34)
The ANZAC memorial is dedicated to the Australian-New Zealand Allied Corps, which fought in World War I in Europe and suffered huge losses. Monuments to ANZAC and the victims of the First World War can be found in almost every city in Australia. (35)
The alleys and lawns of Hyde Park are a convenient place for people-watching. (36-40)
Hyde Park is adjacent to Domain Park. Football and rugby are played on the park's huge lawns, runners and joggers scurry along the alleys, all against the backdrop of a panorama of high-rise CBD towers. From left to right - Sydney Tower, the multifaceted tower of the insurance company MLC (228 m, 60 floors), Westpack Bank with a red beech W on the facade (119 m, 30 floors) and the Deutsche Bank and Chifley Tower already familiar to us. (41)
Art Gallery of New South Wales in Domain Park. (42-43)
View of Woolloomooloo - a prestigious residential bohemian area east of Domaine Hill. We will also visit Woolloomoolu in one of the next episodes. (44)
Darling Harbor
To the west of the CBD, Darling Harbor, a recreation and entertainment area, is located around the bay of the same name. It houses the Sydney Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, the Congress Center, the casino, and hosts a variety of concerts and festivals. Sydney residents with whole families and companies of visiting tourists come here to relax and have fun.
The modern appearance of the area is determined by the development of the mid-80s - 90s, and Darling Harbor gained particular popularity after in 1988, in the year of Australia's 200th anniversary, the monorail ring road was opened, linking it with the CBD and neighboring Highmarket.
The West Bank Darling Harbor is linked to the CBD by the Pyrmont Bridge pedestrian bridge. There is a monorail over the bridge. (45-46)
At the eastern end of the bridge is Darling Park monorail station ... (47-48)
... and to the west is Harborside Station. (49)
Sydney Aquarium amid CBD. (fifty)
On the other side of the bay is the maritime museum. (51)
One of the exhibits of the museum. (52)
The lighthouse is also part of the exhibition. (53)
Australian flag over Darling Harbor. In the background are exhibits from the Maritime Museum, the destroyer Vampire and the submarine Onslow. (54)
CBD Panorama - View from West Darling Harbor. The white building in the center is the Four Points Hotel. On the right are the three Darling Park towers occupied by the banks Communeles, PWC and Rabobank. (55)
Darling Park Towers and Maritime Museum. (56)
King Street Wharf Marina and several other small skyscrapers (from left to right) - AON Tower (128 m, 35 floors), Veritas Tower (95 m, 32 floors) and Westpack Towers (166 m, 40 floors). (57)
There is a busy cruise and regular ferry traffic in the bay. (58)
If you wish, you can use a water taxi. (59)
Pyrmont Bridge - view from the Maritime Museum. (60)
The Sydney Convention Center is located on the shores of Darling Harbor. (61)
The spiral fountain in front of the convention center adds a bit of coolness. (62)
Darling Harbor is one of the favorite vacation spots of Sydney residents. (63-64)
Highmarket and Chinatown
From the south, Darling Harbor is adjacent to the Haymarket area. There are markets, hotels, Sydney Central Station and Chinatown - Chinatown.
Highmarket Monorail Station. (65)
The main attraction of the area is the huge covered Market City. (66)
Plates with Chinese characters indicate that we are in Chinatown. (67)
A gate is a must for Chinatown in any city in the world. (68)
That's probably enough for today.
Sydney Icons - Sydney Bridge and Opera
- Cruise by ferry on Port Jackson Bay
- The Rocks, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo
- Sydney: top view
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Unfortunately, I cannot make a survey about this (I have a regular account, not a paid one), so if the size of the photo is important to you, please reply in the comments which resolution you prefer.
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Sydney is considered one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, it is unique, distinctive and dynamic, and Australia can rightfully be proud of this picturesque and unique place. It presents a contrast between skyscrapers typical of big cities and an incredibly huge green space of squares, parks and boulevards. In just two hundred years, Sydney has grown from a small settlement of convicts into an ultra-modern huge city, which in spite of everything, carefully preserves the monuments of its still short history.
General information
Sydney is a business center, financial capital and the largest city in Australia, located in the southeast of the mainland. It is in this city that most of the country's manufacturing industry is concentrated.
The area of the city is 12 thousand square meters. km, and its population today exceeds 4.5 million people. The founding of the city dates back to 1788, and Arthur Phillip is considered to be its founder, who headed the first European settlement of colonialists who arrived on the shores of Australia.
Sydney can rightfully be proud of being the most significant city in the southern hemisphere. It includes more than 38 districts. Despite its relatively short history, there are a large number of sights and cultural monuments that can hardly be covered in full in one trip.
The Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House are considered the unspoken symbols of the city, whose images can be seen on numerous postcards and posters.
Sydney weather
Due to the fact that Australia is entirely located in the Southern Hemisphere and is as close as possible to the southern policy, the seasons here are opposite to the seasons in Europe. When we have winter, there is a hot summer here, and vice versa. True, even in winter it is not very cold here and the bright sun shines most of the day.
In general, the climate is fully consistent with its subtropical climatic zone - warm, a lot of sun and never snow. There is no particular time to visit, you can come here all year round without worrying about getting into a cold or rainy season. Winter is reminiscent of winter in the best Mediterranean resorts in France or Spain.
In addition, Sydney is most often visited for the sake of local attractions, and they are available for viewing all year round. Average summer temperatures are 30-35 ° C, and winter temperatures are 25-28 ° C.
Sydney Transport
The public transport system in Sydney is very confusing and, according to experts, quite expensive and overhead. It includes metro, monorail, trams, buses and water transport. The fare will be directly proportional to the distance traveled and the number of stops. At the same time, there are passes for each of the listed types of transport. You can buy a pass for the required number of days, especially for tourists.
Sydney districts
Sydney includes about 38 counties, most of which are located on the coast of Sydney Bay. In turn, the districts are divided into districts, the most famous and popular of them are:
- The Rocks is a historic part of the city, one of the oldest English settlements in Australia
- Darling Harbor - the inner harbor of the city with an abundance of museums, parks and cinemas
- Paddington is one of the most popular residential areas in the city center, mainly consisting of two-story historic buildings in Victorian style
- City - the business part of the city is easily recognizable by the number of skyscrapers.
- Point Peeper and Davl Beach on the north coast are lined with luxurious villas of wealthy Sydney residents
- Wollara and Double Bay are fashionable suburbs, behind which are the popular beaches of Sydney
Sydney landmarks
Sydney is the largest and oldest metropolis of the continent, which is rightfully considered its pearl. In this city, modern skyscrapers of office and business centers peacefully coexist with small buildings and structures in the Mediterranean style. Sydney is often called the “capital of emigrants”, as representatives of all nationalities of the planet live here.
The main attraction of Sydney, as well as its symbol is the building of the Opera House, this building is absolutely unique and has no analogues. As a rule, sightseeing tours of the city start from here.
Darling Harbor is one of the attractions of Sydney and, at the same time, its tourist center. A festive atmosphere reigns here with cafes, shops, restaurants, parks, fountains working around the clock, which creates a feeling of eternal relaxation. It also houses the Maritime Museum, Sydney Aquarium, Casino, Pyrmont Bridge, Chinese Garden and much more, which will surely attract and interest travel enthusiasts.
The historic Rocks district still contains the houses, bars, warehouses and shops of the early settlers. Today this place is a subject of pilgrimage for all lovers of museums, restaurants, galleries, etc. On weekends, bazaar fairs are held here, which are so nice to just go for a walk.
Sydney Bridge was opened in 1932 and cost the state government A $ 20 million. In order to keep the bridge in working order, all motorists passing through it must pay a toll of three dollars. From the observation deck of the Sydney Bridge, a magnificent panoramic view of the city opens, from where it is very convenient to take photos and videos.
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in the world, created in the heart of Sydney. The central composition here is the most beautiful fountain of the city, not far from it is the monument to James Cook. Across the street from the fountain is the National Australian Museum.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are a great place to stroll among exotic flowers and trees. A beautiful view of the opera and the bridge opens up from here. The garden also boasts a colony of flying foxes that is unique in size.
Paddington is a bohemian community with a crowd to match, and neighborhoods are filled with clothing stores, galleries, cinemas, trendy nightclubs and restaurants.
Wonderland Sydney is an amusement park located in a Sydney suburb.
Sydney Holidays
Sydney has some truly epic celebrations and festivals such as:
Sculptures by the Sea - a festival held on a city beach, during a month everyone can construct sculptures from a variety of materials and display them for everyone to see. What you will not find here - transparent wire machines, ocean waves from branches, etc.
New Year's Fireworks is a truly fantastic spectacle known all over the world, during the whole New Year's Eve from December 31 to January 1, thousands of rockets fly up into the sky every minute, painting it in a variety of colors.
Fat Tuesday is an analogue of the Russian Shrovetide, the Australians celebrate it before the beginning of Lent.
Australia Day is a national public holiday celebrating the first raising of the British flag. On this day, mass events and grandiose shows are held in Sydney Bay, which are incomparable with anything else in their scale.
Sydney Restaurants
Throughout Australia, Sydney has become famous as a city with the most diverse cuisine borrowed from around the world. There are also Chinese restaurants (Chinatown). Incredibly delicious Italian cuisine can be enjoyed in the Inner West area and on Leichhardt "s Norton. Indian cuisine is presented here on Parramatte Street, but on Liverpool Street anyone can taste the famous pungent Mexican dishes.
Not far from Darling Harbor, one of the attractions of Sydney was built - a three-hundred-meter TV tower, on its observation deck at the very top, there is a restaurant where tourists are offered to taste dishes from a crocodile, kangaroo meat or possum. In order not to miscalculate with the choice of a restaurant, it is best to use a special guide to restaurants in Sydney.
Shopping in Sydney
Due to the very high competition among stores, many things can be bought in Sydney much cheaper than in the rest of Australia. However, in the last couple of years, this trend has somewhat smoothed out due to the fact that brand boutiques and shopping centers with original collections of clothes and works of art began to appear.
In the event that you need to make a large number of purchases, it is best to go to the City. The center of Sydney is dotted with numerous shops, and these are both very small boutiques and huge supermarkets. On Castlereagh Street, anyone can choose a piece of jewelry to their liking, since it is here that all the jewelry workshops and shops of the city are concentrated.
The Rocks area is considered to be the best place to buy memorabilia and souvenirs. There are about a hundred souvenir shops here.
Sydney Accommodation
Sydney is not yet as popular with Russian tourists as it is in other countries of the world. Perhaps this is due to too long travel or expensive ticket prices, but these difficulties are worth it. Australia itself is an extraordinary country with a culture and atmosphere that is different from other parts of the world. Of course, we must not forget about the historical originality of the continent itself, with its natives, unique flora and fauna.
Yellow and blue tones. In the heraldic symbol of Sydney, the blue color emphasizes the geographical position of the capital - on the ocean coast, splashes of yellow remind of sunlight, in addition, yellow corresponding to gold in heraldry is a symbol of wealth.
Description of the coat of arms of Sydney
The simplicity of the color palette of the heraldic symbol is offset by the complexity of the composition, which includes the following elements:
- shield with the image of a white anchor, a gold crown;
- three emblems related to the history of Sydney, located at the top of the shield;
- a snake wrapping its tail around the end of a sea rope;
- the city's motto at the base of the coat of arms;
- a six-pointed star crowning the coat of arms.
In general, one can feel the harmony of colors and symbols, one can see the thoughtfulness of the compositional construction and a serious selection of material for inclusion in the heraldic sign of Sydney.
Symbolic meaning of elements
The coat of arms was approved in 1996 by the City Council, but the long history of the country is hidden in the elements of the symbol. The anchor located on the shield emphasizes the importance of the city as a major seaport, the crown is a symbol of state power.
The most interesting objects are the fragments located at the top of the shield. These are simplified versions of the emblems from the previous symbol, they are associated with the history of the city, and with famous people who contributed to the appearance of a new point on the world map. The left square is a kind of reference to Thomas Townsend, who played a role in the founding of the urban settlement in 1788.
The centerpiece is a tribute to James Cook, the legendary naval officer who discovered the east coast of the Australian continent. The square on the right contains a blue chevron and three lion heads and is associated with Thomas Hughes, the city's first mayor.
The symbolic snake reminds of the aborigines, the first inhabitants of these lands, their folklore. The rope symbolizes the appearance of immigrants from other lands, and the interweaving of these two elements is a symbol of the harmony of cultures.
On a distant continent, in the land of kangaroos, the Great Barrier Reef and emerald lagoons, the seasons are diametrically opposed to ours. When we have a fierce winter, people in Australia are exhausted from the heat. How is life there, on an overturned continent, in a city standing in the most beautiful harbor in the world - Sydney?
Where Australia Was Born
Sydney is the largest city on the Australian continent. The name of the city comes from the English The Harbor City, which translates as "city-bay". It is the oldest settlement on the continent, the capital of South Wales. But 30 thousand years ago, Australian aborigines lived and flourished in these territories. Their calm and unhurried life ended in 1770 with the arrival of the ships of the navigator James Cook in the beautiful harbor. Cook in his Endeavor moored in Botini Bay (now there is an international airport).
The two oldest and largest cities in the country - Sydney and Melbourne - vied for decades for the honorary title of the capital of Australia, until the authorities broke off the dispute by starting the construction of a new city. Thus was born Canberra, destined to become the capital of the continent.
The city of the most beautiful harbor
One short trip is not enough to experience all the wonders of the Australian city. And hardly anyone will go on such a long journey for a week. Sydney is worthy of the most careful study. We will show today the sights of the "gateway to Australia" (as Sydney is called), those structures that have become the hallmark of the continent along with kangaroos and baobabs.
Opera House - Sydney Opera House
The main attraction of the city, and indeed of the whole of Australia, is the Sydney Opera House, made in the shape of a lotus. This incredible structure was created by Jorn Watson, an architect from Denmark. He won an international competition for an original design in 1957. The construction was completed in 1973 and was solemnly and pompously opened by the British Queen Elizabeth II. True, for the architect, the joy was overshadowed by disagreements with the customers, who broke the contract with him.
There is a scandalous fact about the "construction of the century": the government initially allocated seven million Australian dollars for the project. However, the final figure was 105 million. Was it because of this that the contract with the architect was terminated?
In such a huge building there are many halls:
- a 2500-seat concert hall with a huge organ;
- chamber music hall for 420 seats;
- drama theater with 550 seats;
- opera house for 1500 seats.
To get to the opera in this theater, tickets must be ordered in advance, and they are not cheap. But you can just sign up for an excursion, they are held daily.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are located next to the Sydney Opera House; it was laid out in honor of Elizabeth II. Until 1973, a tram depot was located on this site.
Arched harbor bridge
The list of must-see places is the arched Harbor Bridge (in the local dialect "old hanger"). The weight of the structure is 61 thousand tons, the length of the bridge is 1150 meters, which is only a few meters shorter than its San Francisco counterpart Golden Gate Bridge, the height is 503 meters. The Harbor is worth 20 million. The city acquired a ferry between the southern and northern regions in 1932.
Guided tours last three hours on this bridge. Or you can rent a taxi and ride across the bridge. The view from this bridge is impressive - half of Sydney is visible from it. It is in the Harbor Bridge area that fireworks are launched on the holidays.
The Sydney Aquarium is the pride of the continent!
Sydney has the largest aquarium in the world. It can be found in the city center near the Tower (which will be discussed below). This is the real pride of the Australians. Imagine a huge glass tunnel that is located in the water column. Unprecedented marine life is floating around you, which swim very close - you can touch it with your hand, if not for the glass partition. More than 11,000 fish and marine mammals from three oceans can be seen in the aquarium.
For a fee, you can dive to the bottom of the aquarium with scuba diving.
Each year, the aquarium is visited by about a million people. Interestingly, half of them are Australians. According to statistics, it turns out that every indigenous inhabitant of the continent visits marine life twice a year. That's what a popular attraction it is!
Interesting Aquarium Facts:
- its reservoirs hold seven million liters of water taken from Darling Harbor;
- the water temperature in the aquarium is +25 degrees, this is the most comfortable environment for most marine inhabitants;
- The walls of the underwater tunnel are made of acrylic. Its strength is incredibly high. To break through the bulkhead, you need a submarine accelerated to the speed of a racing car.
All premises of the aquarium are divided into several interesting zones:
Open ocean
River depths
Shark possession
Seal reserve
Replica of the Great Barrier Reef
A stunningly beautiful corridor with fauna and flora of the famous Reef, reduced by 932,432,432 times!
Sydney Tower: Bird's Eye View
Another pride of Sydney, included in the top attractions, is the tallest building in Sydney. Its height is 309 meters. The tower cost the authorities 36 million AUD and was built from 1975 to 1981.
AMP Tower (also called the Tower) is a member of the World Association of High-Rise Towers.
To go up to the upper floor to a height of 260 meters (above - only technical floors), you need to use the high-speed elevator, which will gently and smoothly bring you up in just 40 seconds. You will be taken to a protruding observation deck with a glass floor. From here there is simply a stunning view of the whole of Sydney, its surroundings, the bay with ships and the endless sea merging with the horizon. From here, the Earth appears to be convex.
Below this site there is a closed area with a circular view, and even lower - a restaurant. Many people mistakenly think that AMP Tower is a telecentre. No, it has nothing to do with television, although there are radio transmitters on it. Those who wish can try their hand and climb to the upper floor along the spiral staircase, overcoming 1054 steps.
"Golden Basket" Towers
Such a beautiful name was given to the round convex structure at the top of the Tower, which really looks like a basket. It houses revolving restaurants. There are as many as eight floors in the "basket" - a full-fledged multi-storey building located at a dizzying height! The views are unmatched from 420 windows. The "basket" contains not only restaurants, but also expensive shops, boutiques, souvenir shops - everything that a demanding tourist wants.
Tower Restaurant
Chinese Garden of Friendship
The name speaks for itself - this wonderful park was laid out in honor of the establishment of friendly relations between the twin cities of Sydney and Guangzhou in 1988. The park is designed in such a way that visitors can capture only a small piece of the landscape at one glance. However, at every turn, new wonderful, pacifying views open up.
In the Garden of Friendship, it is always quiet and calm, you can hear only the singing of birds. The whole atmosphere adjusts to a philosophical contemplative mood. Having found harmony in their souls, those who walk with pleasure savor different varieties of Chinese tea in the Tea House.
The Garden of Friendship is full of truly Chinese plants and landscape elements: waterfalls, ponds, neatly trimmed small trees, intricately laid out compositions of large boulders. Every square meter of this park just asks for a photographer's lens.
Cinema IMAX Theater
You say - well, a cinema, and what is so unusual about it? And the fact is that the IMAX Theater has the world's largest screen! It is 29.42 m high and 35.73 m wide. The area of the giant monitor is more than a thousand meters. Imagine an eight-story house. The same screen at the IMAX Theater. For a heightened effect and better brightness, the screen is silver-plated. It is convenient to watch the film from any point of the auditorium, the impressions are such as if you yourself are inside the action of the picture, because the heroes of the film and the environment are not only in front of you, but also around you. This achieves the effect of complete immersion in the atmosphere of the cinema. The effect is completed by a powerful and spacious sound.
In addition to novelties and classics of feature films, the cinema shows documentaries about countries and continents, nature, fauna, space and the depths of the sea. If you are in Sydney, be sure to visit the cinema, the impressions will last for a long time!
The Beast Kingdom: Taronga Zoo
And again Sydney is ahead of the rest. This time it houses the world's largest zoo, located in the suburb of Mosman. In 2016 Taronga Zoo will celebrate its centenary. This name translates as "beautiful view". On the territory of the zoo (21 hectares!) There are eight different zones, where 2600 animals and birds have found shelter. Residents of Taronga regularly participate in performances: elephants, birds, dolphins and other pets of the zoo show the highest class.
- In Australia, the national currency is the Australian dollar (AUD). Exchange rate against the US dollar: 1 AUD = $ 0.92. Further prices are given in AUD.
- You can get from the airport to the city in different ways. A taxi will cost 30, a train - 16, a minibus delivering to hotels - 13, a city bus - 3 AUD. But the bus will only give you a ride if you have little luggage.
- The city has a single ticket for all types of transport (buses, trains, some ferries). A daily pass will cost 20 AUD (children - 10). But: on Sunday for traveling families, the pass costs 2.5 AUD per person.
- Do you want to rent a car? Consider the crazy city traffic jams. It is better not to go to the streets of Sydney in the morning from 7 to 10 and in the evening from 4 to 17. In addition, there are always traffic jams on the roads towards the beaches and the harbor on weekends.
- Parking in Sydney is paid and very expensive, in the region of 25 AUD.
- Special excursion buses Red Sydney Explorer Bus are organized for tourists. Having bought a ticket, you can go around all the main sights of the city in two hours - 27 pieces!
- As you walk around Sydney, look up into the treetops. Possums can be seen there. And whales are swimming in Darling Harbor! It is also full of bats at sunset in the area of the bridge and the opera house.
- At the Sydney Zoo, you can watch the animals from the height of the funicular, or you can go into some of the enclosures and play with the kids.
- The most popular beaches in Sydney are Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. Bondi, which stretches for a kilometer, has amazing golden sand and raging waves. It's always full of surfers. It is better to get to Manly by pleasure boat. Manli has a picturesque promenade dotted with souvenir shops and cafes.
- Tourists are offered the opportunity to ride on a steamer of the last century along the Sydney Bay to the sound of jazz. They will provide lunch to choose from - Asian or Australian cuisine.
Open your heart towards Sydney
The architecture of the city is very interesting, modern skyscrapers are built next to the old districts of the city. Walking the streets is a pleasure. A must-see is the Rocks area. There you will find many old shops, restaurants with Mediterranean and Australian cuisine, souvenir shops and much more.
Australia is a multinational country. There were no immigration restrictions for a long time, so many foreigners came to Sydney. The streets of the Australian city speak Chinese, Russian, Greek and Indonesian.
Sydney is a city with a very good climate and friendly people. Every traveler will find something for himself here, this city is very well suited for both active holidays and relaxing lying on the beach. On its streets and embankments, the best photographs are obtained, since there are a lot of beautiful places there. Sydney is worth visiting more than once. It is about him that you can say "shining city".
