Sassy Sydney
It's been said that Melbourne has the culture while Sydney has
the flash. Although Sydney-siders might argue with that assessment,
the attraction of Australia's metropolis has much to do with its
incomparable physical setting, and a cosmopolitan cachet that shows
itself in the plethora of smart stores and restaurants and some
of the world's sexiest beaches.
But Sydney has also preserved its history. A great
way to experience it is by heading to The Rocks (www.therocks.com),
a heritage district that sits at the end of George Street and is
only a few blocks from Sydney's downtown. A dramatic hillside characterized
by outcrops of sandstone, it was here, more than 200 years ago,
that the British under naval captain Arthur Philip first established
a white man's settlement/penal colony that gave birth to the modern
nation of Australia.
Overlooking magnificent Sydney Cove, The Rocks
was once a rough-and-tumble neighborhood populated by prostitutes,
thieves and rowdy sailors' bars. Today, the area has been transformed
into a showcase for dozens of restored 19th-century buildings as
well as restaurants, galleries and a lively weekend market. Savor
Cadman's Cottage, Sydney's oldest dwelling, which was built
in the early 1800s, and marvel at the famous Argyle Cut,
a tunnel constructed through solid rock by convict laborers using
hammers and chisels.
For a different take on this multi-faceted city,
go to Darling Harbour (www.darlingharbour.com),
which spreads in a semi-circle around Cockle Bay. It's a glittering
complex of buildings that includes the Sydney Aquarium, the National
Maritime Museum, a massive convention and entertainment center,
and the 32,500-square-foot Chinese Gardens, which Australians boast
is the only authentic Cantonese-style garden of its size outside
China.
Sydney prides itself on its profusion of parks, and
there are few lovelier anywhere than the Royal Botanic Gardens
(www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au),
laid out on the shores of the harbor and located only minutes from
the Central Business District. Created in 1816, the 74-acre gardens
contain the site of the earliest cultivated land on the Australian
continent.
Divided into three sections and punctuated by tranquil ponds and
extensive lawns, the gardens are noted for their huge variety of
palms like the Bungalow variety with its feather-shaped fronds as
well as a superb rose garden and Herbarium.
Strolling along the footpaths, you'll no doubt encounter some of
the dozens of species of exotic birds like the brightly-tinted Rosella,
White Ibis and Laughing Kookaburra. And in this lush setting, you'll
begin to get an idea of what makes Sydney such a knockout.
|
Weather
January 75°F Sunny
February 75°F Cloudy, rain
March 70°F Cloudy, rain
April 70°F Sunny
May 65°F Sunny
June 70°F Cloudy
July 55°F Rain
August 55°F Cloudy
September 50°F Sunny
October 70°F Sunny
November 75°F Sunny
December 77°F Sunny
Click
to view current weather
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Contact Information
Tourism Australia
6100 Center Drive
Suite 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Tel: (310) 695-3200
Fax: (310) 695-3201
www.tourism.australia.com
|
|
 Search
for meetings in Australia
back
to top
|
