Sydney, recognised as one of the most liveable cities on earth, provides a very warm welcome to visitors. Stunning harbour, perfect climate, superb restaurants, energetic nightlife this safe efficient city is a must do destination.

One-fifth of the population of Australia lives in Sydney, the largest city in Australia. A mix of peoples from over 130 countries ensures vibrancy, diversity and a dynamic economy. cultural basis. Sydney has a prominent gay community. Every year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is celebrated at the end of February, drawing people from all over Australia and the world for the celebrations.

Greater Sydney covers 400 sq km with a twisting coastline extending to over 300 km. A public transport of Sydney ferries, Sydney buses, Sydney trains, monorail, Sydney taxis efficiently move everyone around. The southerly latitude 33’53” ensures a pleasant temperate rising in summer to a maximum of 26 ºC, falling to a maximum 17 ºC in winter.

George Street is the main thoroughfare and runs from Circular Quay going past Wynard CityRail station and Town Hall to Central Station. Parallel to George Street are Pitt, Elizabeth and Macquarie Street which connects to the Sydney Opera House. A central landmark is the Sydney Tower on Pitt Street. Argyle Street runs from the base of the Rocks to the top of Observatory Hill. Dixon Street is the main street in Chinatown. Market Street cuts the city centre from Hyde Park to Darling Harbour.

Safe Sydney beaches active with surfers and swimmers hug the coastline to the North and South. Mix nature with the man made attractions led by the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Add in a city centre play area, Darling Harbour, with restaurants, museums, shopping, street artists and lots more. Build a complete Olympic park and run the most successful Olympic Games ever. Top it all with theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, a gay/lesbian scene and some of the world’s best restaurants and you have a lively pulsating city offering complete extremes of Sydney entertainment.

Sydney 's skyline is large and widely recognizable dominated by the Sydney Tower. Buildings range from the simple Francis Greenways Georgian buildings, to Jorn Utzon's expressionist, the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also has a large amount of Victorian buildings, such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building . The most architecturally significant being the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney areas

Bondi
Bondi is famous for the beach but is also a fairly large urban area with plenty of shops and restaurants and a short journey from Sydney CBD.

Bronte
An eastern suburbs beach with cafes and close to Bondi.

CBD
The Central Business District (CBD) of Sydney is the historical centre of government, retail, finance, culture and entertainment. At the centre is Martin Place, Pitt Street Mall, Strand Arcade and the Queen Victoria Building.

Chinatown
Chinese culture and cuisine near Darling Harbour.

Circular Quay
Circular Quay is between Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House....read more

Glebe
Glebe is an inner city suburb with restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops along Glebe Point Road and a cheaper place to stay.

Darling Harbour
An extensive, leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the CBD with many hotels. At Darling Harbour you will find the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Australian Maritime Museum, Powerhouse Museum, lots of shops restaurants and even an IMAX cinema. At the entrance to Darling Harbour are the Chinese Gardens of Friendship with ponds, pavilions, waterfalls and even a traditional teahouse.

Darlinghurst
Area of restaurants and and the heart of the gay community between Kings Cross and Oxford Street.

Kings Cross
Bars, clubs and red light district with plenty of action. A good area for cheap eats, internet, discount travel and hostels.

Milsons Point
Across the harbour from the Sydney Opera HOuse and home to Luna Park.

Paddington
Paddington is a busy area with bars and fashion outlets built around Oxford Street with a large Gay community.

Newtown
Newtown is a student area around King Street with alternative shops, bookstores and ethnic restaurants.

North Sydney
The area across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the beaches beyond.

The Eastern Suburbs
The area between the City and the sea with Bondi Beach.

The Inner West
Sydney 's original suburbs with King Street, Newtown with good shopping and eating.

The Rocks
Bordering Sydney Cove to the west, includes the first colonial village of Sydney and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

South Sydney
Between Central Railway Station and Sydney Airport

Town Hall
Town Hall is in the centre of Sydney and the area of shopping malls including the historic Queen Victoria Building.

Watsons Bay
Watson Bay is known for the sea cliffs and several well known restaurants.

Woolloomooloo
An area of trendy new hotels built on the old wharves.

Greater Sydney

North
The northern suburbs start beyond the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The coastline has many beaches and runs from Manly to Palm Beach and on to the Hawkesbury region. The Hawkesbury runs from the ocean to Richmond and Windsor district. Some 30 km north of Sydney CBD is Ku-ring-gai Chase national park with bush land, waterways and fauna.

West
Sydney has moved west and almost reaches the Blue Mountains. The west side of Sydney includes the Sydney Olympic Park, Parramatta and Penrith. Parramatta was once seen as a country retreat and now a vibrant city with many historic buildings and easily reached by the River Cat from Circular Quay and will take around 50 minutes.

South
To the south of Sydney is Sydney airport, Botany Bay, Cronulla and the Royal National Park.

Further away are the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, South Coast and Southern Highlands.