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Sydney Skyline |
The splendid city of Sydney
has rapidly become one of the most sought-after travel destinations on the planet.
And no wonder, Sydney has it all, a spectacular ocean-side location, a wonderful
climate, a lively and unique cultural and
entertainment scene, and a variety of charming character-filled neighbourhoods.
The highly successful 2000 Sydney Olympics did nothing but enhance the city's
appeal as a destination and position as the focal point of a young and vibrant
nation. Sydney is a wonderful combination, a successful centre of commerce and
a lively beach-oriented party town. Perhaps the key to its charms lies in the
word 'town.' Although Sydney is a teeming metropolis of over four million people,
it still retains a small town intimacy and friendliness. Maybe this is because
the city is divided up into so many distinct districts. Whatever actual size
of the city, visitors always remark upon the friendliness and helpful attitude
of the locals. Of all the world's major cities it can probably safely be said
of Sydney that no other place is more coveted by those not fortunate enough
to live there.
HISTORY
The area of Sydney has always been significant in Australian history, both
prior to and since the arrival of European settlers. To the nomadic Aboriginals
the area was known as Warrane. With the relatively new discovery of some prehistoric
grindstones, evidence of Aboriginal settlement dates back 50,000 years. While
other Europeans - in particular the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese - sighted
or landed on other parts of the great island continent the most highly regarded
in popular culture, as the 'discovery of Australia' was when Captain James Cook
landed at Botany Bay 19th April 1770. The Bay was named for the amazing
variety of fauna that of course was totally new to Europeans. Botany Bay is
close to modern day Sydney.
It was some years before the British started to settle the land they claimed.
With the American War of Independence Britain needed another place to instigate
its newly developed policy of sending convicts to the colonies. The First Fleet
landed in January 1788. They considered Botany Bay as a landing point but it
lacked fresh water so they sailed north to Port Jackson (now known as Sydney
Harbour). The cove they landed at was named Sydney Cove after Baron Sydney,
the British government minister responsible for the colony. Soon the cove was
dropped and the area became known as Sydney. So Australia's inauspicious beginnings
as a penal colony took place in Sydney.
Treatment of the convicts and (even more outrageously) the local aboriginals
was appalling. An officer elite soon developed and corruption was rife. Rum
was the local currency. People lived in huts constructed of cabbage-tree palms.
But building permanent dwellings became a priority and many of the convicts
were 'employed' in construction.
The colony transformed quickly, especially after the so-called Rum Rebellion
when Governor Bligh (of Bounty fame) was dispatched from the colony by corrupt
officers. Never a man to take criticism lightly, Bligh sent word to England
and in 1810 the 87th Regiment under the command of Lachlan Macquarie arrived
to govern. The positive changes that Macquarie undertook can still be witnessed
in today's Sydney.
In 1813 a way was found to cross the Blue Mountains and the hinterland, which
was a land of great bounty, was soon exploited. This enabled Sydney to grow
at an even more rapid pace. In 1840 the policy of transporting convicts was
abolished and Sydney was declared a city in 1842. As with many places in the
Americas, the discovery of gold created a huge economic boom and Sydney expanded
once again. The Goldrush brought many American migrants and also marked the
beginning of a significant Chinese presence in the city. By 1925 Sydney's population
had reached one million, this doubled to two million by 1963 and had doubled
once again to over four million by the turn of the 21st Century. Today Sydney
is a world-class city in every sense.
CLIMATE
|
Month
|
Average
daily temperature in Celsius
|
Monthly
Average Rainfall in mm
|
|
.
|
Max
|
Min
|
.
|
|
Jan
|
26
|
18
|
879
|
|
Feb
|
26
|
18
|
102
|
|
Mar
|
24
|
17
|
127
|
|
Apr
|
22
|
14
|
135
|
|
May
|
19
|
11
|
127
|
|
Jun
|
16
|
9
|
117
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|
Jul
|
16
|
8
|
117
|
|
Aug
|
17
|
9
|
76
|
|
Sept
|
19
|
11
|
74
|
|
Oct
|
22
|
13
|
71
|
|
Nov
|
23
|
16
|
74
|
|
Dec
|
25
|
17
|
74
|
Being a beach-oriented destination, summer is obviously the favoured time to
visit. Summer runs from late October through to late March/early April. But
this does not preclude a visit at any time of year. Winter in Sydney is often
better than summer in many northern countries and some would prefer the winter
months to the oppressive humidity and sweltering sun that are prevalent from
the middle of December to the end of February. For some though, it is this heat
that makes the city so attractive.
The spring months of September and October are sunny and bright, and Sydney's
many gardens as well as natural flora come into their prime at this time. Fall
is similar, April is usually wet, but May tends to be pleasant and relatively
dry.
TRANSPORTATION
Sydney has a major international
airport, which is the main gateway that links Australia to the rest
of the world. Sydney is also linked to the rest of the country by an extensive
domestic airline network.
Sydney is also linked by Australia's long-distance bus network to practically
everywhere else in the country. Rail travel in Australia may be slow but it
provides a very comfortable way of seeing the country up close. Sydney is linked
to Adelaide, Perth
and Alice
Springs (and points in between) by the various long-distance trains
that provide an incredible travel experience. Many of these are run by Great
Southern Railways. There is also a luxury train tour that goes up to
Brisbane connecting to
Cairns this is operated by The Great
Southern Pacific Express. CountryLink
connects Sydney with Canberra,
Melbourne and Adelaide.
Local public
transport in Sydney is well developed. There is a network of buses,
trains, ferries, a monorail, and light rail. One of the best ways for visitors
to take in all the various sights and attractions Sydney has to offer is to
purchase a Sydney Explorer ticket. This is a pass that allows you unlimited
travel on the local bus and ferry system.
ORIENTATION
Sydney is very much defined by Sydney
Harbour, the large body of water that bisects it. Sydney Harbour Bridge
is Sydney's most well known landmark - it links the two halves along with the
Sydney Harbour Tunnel. The City Centre is located on the South Shore and it
is here that much of what Sydney has to offer is located. Circular
Quay was once the arrival dock for immigrant ships. It is now the focal
point from which the bridge and the now almost equally famous sight, the Sydney
Opera House, can be viewed.
East of the City Centre is Sydney's renowned gay area Darlinghurst.
Continuing east is the formerly notorious Kings
Cross District. To the northeast of here the area becomes more and more
upmarket until the land reaches the sea at South Head. South of the head
are the popular Eastern Beaches including the legendary Bondi, and these work
their way west around to La Perouse culminating in Botany Bay.
The Western suburbs are perhaps the least attractive or interesting part of
the city. Visitors pass through them on their journey from the airport at Mascot
as they head for the City Centre.
North of the Harbour are the areas that are largely home to Sydney's establishment.
The most pleasant and picturesque way to visit these is by ferry, taking in
the popular images of Sydney en route. Manly
is perhaps the most well known of the northern suburbs. The seaside property
on Military Road, running from the very affluent suburb of Neon Bay to
Mosman, is well worth a look. The Central Coast is popular with Sydney
locals for a weekend break. Nearby is the wine country of the Hunter
Valley.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
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Sydney Harbour
Bridge
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When it was completed in 1932, the Sydney
Harbour Bridge was the longest single span arch in the world. The bridge
is aptly nicknamed the "Coathanger." It has become such a prevalent symbol of
Sydney, that few people who know the city do not form a mental image of the
bridge as soon as the City of Sydney is mentioned. The Harbour Bridge was based
on the design of the much smaller Tyne
Bridge in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
England. The bridge is
much larger in reality than any photograph can justify. The sandstone structures
that link the metal span of the bridge with the banks of the Harbour on each
side appear like huge castles.
Any visitor here is likely to cross the bridge in a vehicle or as a pedestrian.
However there is a much more interesting way of experiencing it, that is totally
breathtaking and adrenaline producing. It is possible to partake in an escorted
bridge climb. Kitted out in suits that blend with the colour of the
steel of the bridge, well-harnessed participants can climb to the top of the
span. No cameras are allowed but a group picture is taken and provided as part
of the overall cost of the climb. Individual photos are available at extra cost.
Below the Harbour Bridge is the phenomenally fascinating area known as The
Rocks. This was formed out of the rocky spur that was the site of the
original European settlement of Sydney. In line with Sydney's beginnings as
a penal settlement, the Rocks was rarely an A list neighbourhood through the
various phases of the city's growth, and into the 1970s was an unsavoury area
in continuous decline. However insightful redevelopment has transformed this
area into a very functioning example of Sydney's history. Today it consists
of narrow cobbled streets that exist on several different levels hewn out of
the rock. There are many colonial buildings and classic-styled warehouses. Most
notable of these is Cadman's
Cottage - Sydney's oldest house. The highpoint of the Rocks though is
the ambience; just strolling through the streets here is a wonderful experience.
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Sydney
Opera House
Photo Courtesy of Kim Everingham |
On the opposite point of Sydney Cove lies what has become almost as much of
an evocative symbol of the city as the Harbour Bridge. The Sydney
Opera House was only completed in 1973 after years of debate and construction
delays. The end result is worth it though. As with the Harbour Bridge photographs
can never adequately represent the real structure. The millions of tiny white
tiles that make up the roofs of the sail-inspired structure provide a shimmering
effect in tune with the neighbouring harbour. The structure is actually a series
of modular buildings as opposed to one whole.
The name Opera House is somewhat misleading, perhaps Centre for the Performing
Arts would be more appropriate - as a plethora of musical and stage events take
place here. There are five performance venues within, as well as restaurants
and bars. The steps of the Opera House are also utilized as seating for a variety
of free events from rock concerts to outdoor movies that take place on what
is known as the Forecourt.
Culturally Sydney is as diverse as cities come. Various festivals abound and
these serve to attract even more visitors to the area. Obviously summer is the
high season for these. New Year promises a remarkable fireworks display that
focuses on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Harbour is full of small craft and
larger vessels - it is a tremendous sight. The second day of the year marks
the opening of the Sydney
Festival, which is a massive celebration of music, dance and theatre.
Sydney has a large gay and lesbian community and the city is host to the biggest
gay festival in the world: Sydney
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This is held in February and consists of
gay-oriented arts and exhibitions ranging from the outrageous to some that are
so serious that they can be quite disturbing or at least thought provoking.
The festival culminates in one of the biggest street parades in the world and
this certainly rivals the New Orleans Mardi Gras or Rio de Janeiro's Carnival
in scope and imagination. The parade is definitely not serious and although
raucous and risqué is certainly not intended to offend anyone, rather to promote
tolerance and good times in a city that has already evolved into a bastion of
both.
