Sydney
Sydney has one of the most iconic skylines on earth: If the Sydney Harbour Bridge doesn’t catch your eye, surely the white sails of the Sydney Opera House roof will. What will keep your attention, though, are the world-famous beaches, unique museums and zoos, and the city’s signature “mod Oz” cuisine, influenced by European and Asian flavors.
Activities and Attractions:
The Sydney Opera House is admittedly more impressive from the outside than it is inside—but don’t let that stop you from taking in a performance. The acoustics in the five separate performance spaces are superb, and you can see everything from opera to rock concerts there. (It’s also possible to take a guided tour of the building.)
For a major city, Sydney offers a remarkable number of places where you can get up close to wildlife. The aquarium is one of the best in the world, with an underwater walkway passing through two enormous tanks. Sydney also has a zoo, a wildlife park, and the unique Koala Park Sanctuary, where you can hold one of the little marsupials.
Other attractions include the 1,000-foot-tall, Plexiglas-floored Sydney Tower, and several good museums, including the Susannah Place Museum, where 19th-century working-class life is preserved. The Art Gallery of New South Wales, highlighting Aboriginal and European-Australian art, is also excellent.
But possibly the greatest attraction, at least during the southern summer, is the beach. Bondi is the most famous, though Bronte, a 20-minute hike away, has better swimming. Just north of Sydney is golden Manly Beach, perhaps Sydney’s finest.
Dining can also be a major pastime in Sydney. Forget what you think you know about Australian food (vegemite, pavlova) and try some of the pan-Asian eateries the city has to offer.
Insider Tip:
Australian menus follow the continental tradition of calling the first course an entrée. The main course is referred to, sensibly, as the main.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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