About Sydney
Sydney today is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on earth, home to over four million people surrounding Port Jackson, a beautiful natural harbor on the Tasman Sea that has given the city the nickname of “Harbour City”. With its iconic opera house and bridge, surrounded by beautiful natural parks, bays and beaches, make Sydney one of the most pleasant cities to visit. Indigenous Australians had been living in the area for over 30000 years by the time Captain James Cook landed in 1770. The first encounter was hostile, resulting in the exchange of gunfire end spears between the British and the natives. Captain Cook named his landing area Botany Bay and preserved specimens and native spears, some of which survive to this day on display at Cambridge University. British interest in colonizing Australia grew after Captain Cook’s first visit and a fleet; Captained by Arthur Phillip, was dispatched with a cargo of settlers and convicts, arriving in 1778. Captain Phillip found Botany bay unsuitable for settlement and sailed up the coast to Port Jackson, where they found a protected cove, fresh water and a natural harbor. Captain Phillips named the new settlement Sydney Cove in honor of Lord Sydney, the British Home Secretary. The first years of the settlement were very difficult for the settlers who suffered from isolation (it was over two years before a second fleet of settlers arrived), droughts and disease. As difficult as it was for the settlers, the consequences for the native population were devastating, by 1800 only 10% of the original 1778 aboriginal population survived. The gold rush of the early 1850′s bought in a population boom and massive improvements to the port, rail facilities and general infrastructure of the city. The city prospered with industrialization and by the early 20th century the populating had swelled to over one million. Subsequent waves of immigration during the second half of the 20th century gave Sydney a cosmopolitan flavor, with waves of immigrants from the Middle East, Asia, Southern and Eastern Europe that contributed in changing the aboriginal and Anglo-Celtic character of Sydney into a world class city with a semi-Mediterranean climate and culture.
Getting Around:
Sydney is served by Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport. Long Distance buses serve all of Australia and rail service connects Sydney with all mayor Australian cities, including Melbourne and Perth. Sydney has a well developed public transport system, with buses, light rail and ferries. You can an 8 day tourist pass.
Things To Do:
Don’t miss Sydney’s most famous landmarks:
The Sydney Harbour Bridge: You can drive over it, sail under it and even climb on it.
Darling Harbour: A dining and entertainment complex set on a pedestrian boardwalk along the waterfront, with the skyline of Sydney looming, an IMAX theatre and even a monorail.
Hit Bondi Beach: Sydney’s most famous beach. Sydney is surrounded with natural wonders, take a cruise on the bay and explore its Zoos and botanical gardens,
Enjoy Sydney’s vibrant theaters and galleries: Sydney Opera House, Dendy Opera Quays, Sydney Theatre Company, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks Discovery Museum and The Garrison Church
Other Attractions: Royal Botanic Gardens, the Rocks Self Guided Walking Tour, North Head Lookout, Cruise Sydney Harbour, Manly Ferry and Whale Watching
Sydney Climate:
Sydney has 300 Sunny days a year, making it ideal to visit year-round! Sydney enjoys warn summers and cool winters with rainfall spread throughout the year. The summer season i.e.; from November to March is the perfect time to visit especially for tourists who prefer sunshine without the scorching heat. During this season, the outdoor sports and activities are in full swing. The spring season is from March to May when the weather is pleasant with fresh variety of spring flowers. Winter is from June to August when it is normally very cold. Rain is often spread evenly throughout the year. It often rains in the afternoons or at nights. Hailstorms occur a few times, each summer which can be damaging, at times.
Hotel Accommodation:
At Sydney, you can choose luxury hotels to budget hotels. There are plenty of luxury hotel especially in the Rocks district which is the heart of the city and in Darling Harbour. Most of the hotels have tie-up with the car rental services that take you around to the city’s most popular destinations.