SYDNEY - Australian Way Agency

With nearly 5 million inhabitants, Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales, is the most populous Australian city in Oceania. Recognised as one of the liveliest and most spectacular cities in the world, Sydney ranks 14th in the ranking of global cities in the world.

Geography

One of Sydney's most unique geographical features is its expansion.

With an area of 12367 square kilometers, the population density is less than 400 inhabitants per square kilometre. This is due to the fact that the most densely populated urban area is only a small part of the city with over 300 suburbs and neighborhoods.

In , there Sydneyare also the largest natural harbour in the world, Port Jackson and over 70 beaches (Bondi Beach, Manly Beach, Palm Beach and Balmoral Beach, to name a few).

Weather

Sydney's climate is a humid subtropical type. What does it mean? It means that summers are hot or very hot and winters are generally mild with rainfall distributed throughout the year, but it's more intense between March and June.

Although winters are not particularly cold and summers not too hot, Sydney's climate is highly variable and often windy. The average temperature of the water is 20 degrees.

History

Inhabited for millennia only by Aborigines, the city of Sydney was founded on January 26, 1788 by Captain Arthur Philipp who made of it a prison settlement. In 1800 the British government put an end to the deportation of prisoners and that's when Sydney began to flourish as a cultural, political and economic centre.

Thanks also to more and more frequent and abundant waves of immigrants (especially Asians and Europeans), Sydney continued to expand to become the cosmopolitan city we know today.

PS: Note that Captain James Cook had already spotted Botany Bay (a suburb of today's Sydney) in 1770.

Things to see

The list of things to see in Sydney can be quite long.

We at Australian Way Agency have selected everything you must visit, depending on how much time you have, be it days, weeks or months.

Manly Beach — don’t miss Shelly Beach and North Head
Newtown and Glebe — the “alternative” neighborhoods of Sydney
Haberfield and Leichhardt — the Italian neighborhoods
Museum of Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian Museum
Circular Quay and the Rocks
Sydney Opera House inaugurated 40 years ago and designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon: in 2007, it was declared a World Heritage Site. The debate about "what" inspired the Danish architect is still open: some say orange slices, some say sails, some turtle shells.
Surry Hills and Darlinghurst - try one of the thousand restaurant and cafes in the area
Bondi Beach - a scenic walk to Coogee beach is a must

If you want to do a trip out of town we suggest:

Jervis Bay - the bay where the world's whitest sand beach is located, Hyams beach
The Blue Mountains and the three sisters (find out what they are) link
The Royal National Park, Australia's oldest nature park

Things to do

Sydney is also a city rich of tourist attractions.

Do not miss the Blue Mountains, named after the characteristic blue color given off by eucalyptus plants, and also don't forget to visit the Taronga Zoo - I suggest you take a ferry to enjoy a magnificent view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

For the more adventurous we also recommend Sky Diving at Jervis Bay or the climbing of the Harbour Bridge, while for those looking for some suggestions regarding the nightlife, well an aperitif at the O'bar, a rotating rooftop bar downtown, or a cocktail at the Baxter Inn, a half-hidden venue in Clarence street, where you can enjoy the real nightlife of Sydney.

Useful info

Don't ever walk around Sydney without an umbrella, a hat and sunscreen. You should probably even carry a raincoat in your bag. You will be amazed at how variable the weather is! Public transport operates regularly and you'll need a magnetic card, named Opal card (link), which can be topped up as you please. Like most things in Sydney, public transport is quite expensive.

Fun facts

Sydney was chosen as the capital to host the XXVII Olympics Games.
In 2008 it was the venue for the 23rd World Youth Day.
Sydney holds the world record of consumption of alcohol per capita ever recorded in history (dating back to before 1800, when rum was also considered a commodity for economic exchange).
Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia - although wages are high, spending your money is very easy.
Ian Thorpe, the famous swimmer, and actor Hugh Jackman are both originally from Sydney

All you need to know to move to or visit the city of Sydney