Date travelled: 27-30 April 2009
Despite the fact the city of Sydney is not the capital of Australia; it is still the largest city on the largest island on Earth.
Citizens holding United Kingdom passports do need a visa to visit Australia, and you must have one before you arrive into the country. Luckily, this can be done with ease. Visitors can apply online for an eVisitor visa using the official Australian Government Electronic Visa Application Form. It will cost $20 (about £10), you get instant confirmation and as it's electronic, you won't need to present a printout upon arrival. If you plan to work during your visit to Australia, the rules are a little different. Your best bet is to talk to the experts at STA Travel, who will be able to provide you with the correct working visa for your visit. Prices start at about £99 for a 6 month working visa.
From Kingsford-Smith airport, the easiest and cheapest way to get to the centre of Sydney is by train. The Airport Link service connects the airport to the cities rail network. Trains arrive every 15 minutes, and the journey time also takes about 15 minutes. A single journey costs $15.20 (about £7.60). I stayed at the Hotel Chifley Potts Point, which is situated in the King's Cross area of the city, 2 train stops from the central railway station.
The best way to explore what Sydney has to offer is by purchasing a DayTripper ticket ($17 - about £8.50), giving you 24 hours of unlimited transport on the CityRail, Sydney Buses and Sydney Ferries services. The ticket also gives you discounts to some of Sydney's best tourist attractions, so it is a worthwhile investment.
To set your bearings, start your visit to Sydney by visiting the Sydney Tower, Sydney's tallest free-standing structure. Take the lift to the top to witness nice views over the city. Entrance price $25 (about £12.50), but DayTripper ticket holders can enjoy a 15% discount on the entrance fee.
Sydney Tower
By far the best way to see Sydney's beautiful harbour is by taking a ride on the water. Sydney is lucky enough to have an extensive ferry network, with scheduled services travelling all along the harbour. The first sight you will see is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Built by a British consortium, and completed in 1932, is listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's widest long-span bridge and the World's tallest steel arch bridge. It is also one of the heaviest bridges in the World, capable of carrying not just road traffic, but also rail and pedestrian traffic.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Situated by the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the area of Sydney known as "the Rocks", the site of the first European settlements in Australia during the 1780s. Once formally dominated by violent gangs, the area now has all its historic buildings restored to their former glory, and makes a nice walk along the bay.
The Rocks
Just around the corner from the Sydney Harbour Bridge opposite the Rocks is perhaps Australia's most famous landmark. The Sydney Opera House, officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1973, is without doubt one of the most famous performing arts centres in the World, and looks simply magnificent from the water.
Sydney Opera House
Across the other side of the harbour is Luna Park, a small but fun amusement park. From outside the main gates, you will be able to see both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House together for the first time. This makes for a perfect photo opportunity.
Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House
Instead of taking the ferry back to the other side of the harbour; why not walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge instead? You will be able to view the Sydney of city as you walk back over the bridge, and because the pedestrian path is fairly well covered from the wind, you won't feel a chill.
Sydney from the Sydney Harbour Bridge
At the other end of the bridge is the lookout platform (entrance price $9.50 – about £4.75). As well as learning more about how the Sydney Harbour Bridge was built, you can also climb to the top of the platform, to look back across this incredible feat of engineering.
Sydney Harbour Bridge from the Pylon Lookout
If you are feeling hungry, and fancy some lunch, head to Darling Harbour, a large modern recreational and pedestrian precinct situated towards the West of the city. There are many harbour side restaurants here, all offering discounted lunch menus. I for example got a steak lunch with a beer for $12 (about £6), which is at least 50% cheaper than it would have been for dinner.
Darling Harbour
After a spot of lunch head to Hyde Park, a peaceful green park, situated towards the east of the city. You will also find here the ANZAC memorial, which commemorates those Australian and New Zealand soldiers that lost their lives during World War I.
Anzac Memorial
Sat next to Hyde Park is St Mary's Cathedral, the seat of the Roman Catholic church of Sydney, and is the largest church in Australia. The present church was built on the site of the colonies first Catholic church during the 18th century.
St Mary's Cathedral
Sydney boasts quite an impressive Royal Botanical Gardens, which like Hyde Park makes a nice peaceful walk during the late afternoon. Within the Botanical Gardens is Mrs Macquarie's Chair, a sandstone rock carved into a shape of a bench. The bench is named after a past governor of Sydney, who folklore has it used to enjoy sitting on her bench, watching the ships arriving from England. Today, the bench also offers the modern visitor a lovely view of the harbour, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House from Mrs Macquarie's Chair
The eastern outskirts of Sydney is also home to one of the World's most famous beaches. Bondi Beach is a 15 minute train and bus ride from the centre of Sydney, and features plenty of souvenir stalls, and is also a nice place to enjoy fish and chips overlooking the Tasman Sea. Blink and you think you were at the English seaside.
Bondi Beach
If you have a spare afternoon during your visit to Sydney, I recommend a visit to Taronga Zoo, a short ferry ride away from the centre of the city (entrance price $41 – about £20.50). DayTripper ticket holders can get 10% off the admission price.
Taronga Zoo
The zoo offers visitors the chance to see for themselves some well known Australian and international animals, such as:
African Lion
Bengali Tiger
Kangaroo
Koala
You may think Australian's like their beer, and you would be right! There are many different varieties of lager available in Sydney, some that you may encounter include Crown (4.9%), VB (Victoria Bitter - 4.8%), Hahn (5%), Fosters (4.9%, and much nicer than what is available in the UK), XXXX Gold (3.5%, and again, much nicer than what is available in the UK) and James Boags (5%). Australia is also famous for its excellent varieties of vineyards, so you're guaranteed to find the bottle of wine that's perfect for you.
If you are after a city break, with an added X-factor, say g'day to Sydney!
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