For me, the best description of Sydney is ‘a City in a Playground’.

But, more about that later.

First, can I ask:
“Is Sydney on your list of destinations to visit, sometime soon? ”

If it isn’t, then you are truly missing out on a really special experience!

And, if you have visited Sydney some time ago (like, say, around the 2000 Olympics), then there have been some BIG changes in recent times that deserve a return visit, before too long.

A Quick Outline

In this Post, we shall explore:

The Gateway to Australia…

Now, let’s be quite clear about this – Sydney is the true gateway to Australia!

Other Australian cities might dispute that, but their claims are based on bull ant dust ⁽*⁾, rather than on reality.

I am a Melburnian, and proud of my home city. But, truthfully, Sydney has so much more to offer its visitors.

Sydney is like an adventure wonderland, with year-round attractions, for all generations.

Which is why I describe Sydney as a ‘City in a Playground’.

That said, beyond Sydney, a range of other exciting experiences are waiting to be had in various parts of Australia.

* while bull ants are an Australian native species, ‘bull ant dust’ is a mythical substance, unknown to both humankind, and Google.

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Hi there! I’m Marlene,
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A Quick Peek Inside "Hey there, B4 U go, have you…"

When the time comes to lock my door and head out on a new adventure, truthfully I'm usually quite excited and a bit stressed, often a bit tired, and sometimes even running behind schedule.

And that’s when mistakes can easily happen. Which is why I always use my B4 I Go Checklist.

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• Home Security (doors, windows, gates, alarms, any out-buildings)
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Spruiking Sydney, honestly…

From its less than fashionable beginnings as a British convict settlement almost 250 years ago, today’s Sydney is very much a real player on the world stage.

The majestic harbour is Sydney’s centre-piece, with its incredible towering cliff-faces as its guardians, at the entrance from the Tasman Sea.

Sydney’s numerous beautiful beaches, both outside and inside the harbour, are like sparkling jewels.

And, surrounding the city, are a series of magnificent national parks, providing a green wrapper around the entire Sydney basin.

All of this means that Sydney abounds with the riches of nature, both on the land, and in the ocean.

Added to this, Sydney’s geographic position, and the tempering effects of the ocean, give it a sub-tropical climate with warm summers and mild winters.

Indeed, throughout the whole year, Sydney is surely one of the world’s greatest outdoor cities, making it particularly attractive to a broad cohort of visitors, both domestic and international.

If you like to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature and the outdoor environment, then Sydney is most definitely where you need to be!

On the other hand, if your interests are more towards things that are less physically strenuous, Sydney offers an extensive choice of things to see and do, across a broad range of interest areas.

Now, I’ll let you decide whether Sydney’s crown goes to its Harbour Bridge, or to the Opera House, or something else, like either Bondi, or Manly, beach.

Outlining Sydney’s Attractions…

Let’s make a quick outline of Sydney’s attractions.

Because we are individuals, we each visit different destinations for our own reasons. And, of course, each destination will have different attractions to offer its visitors.

Sydney’s range of attractions will surely have something that suits your style.

From ‘food, art and culture’, to ‘history and architecture’, or ‘nature, outdoors and recreation’, not forgetting ‘shopping and leisure’, also ‘sports and events’, and all things in between, including the ‘weird and wonderful’, Sydney has it ALL!

1. Food, Art, Culture

Sydney is a particularly diverse and multicultural city, with over 45% of its residents having been born outside of Australia.

Sydney’s cuisine scene reflects this, as the once traditional British diet was disrupted by post WW2 migration from central and southern Europe, bringing Greek and Italian influences. In turn, subsequent arrivals from eastern Europe, the Middle East, and various nations of Asia have brought with them a wealth of international cuisines.

Sydney has a number of art galleries that offer free entry. But some of the best free art in Sydney is to be found in back-streets and secluded laneways, often partly obscured by rubbish bins or motor vehicles.

2. History & Architecture

Sydney’s central city area offers a range of architectural styles that illustrate its more than 200 years of European history. This includes several well-preserved examples from the early-19th century colonial period. Fortunately, many of Sydney’s historical pieces have been spared from the various waves of demolition and reconstruction that have swept through the city.

While Sydney’s architectural showpiece is clearly the Opera House, in recent times the city has also acquired a number of impressive pieces of modern architecture, many of these around the waterfront.

Around the Sydney area there are numerous examples of First Nations Rock Art engravings. These are a valuable part of the history of Sydney, and of the people that lived here prior to arrival of Europeans. There are many mysteries surrounding Rock Art engravings, not the least of which is how old they are, and why were they made?

What is known, is (1) engraving sites are fragile and subject to weathering, (2) many have been destroyed by European settlement, and (3) all are protected by NSW State law.

Because of the significance of Rock Art engravings to First Nations communities, the locations of many sites are kept private to protect them and maintain their sanctity. For more detail about this, see:

Before moving on, it is appropriate to consider that Australia’s European history is a little over 250 years old, with Captain James Cook having visited Sydney’s Botany Bay in late April 1770. At that time, the area was called Kamay by the local First Nations peoples.

In comparison to the European arrival, archaeological evidence indicates there has been a First Nations presence in the Sydney region for around 30,000 years, perhaps even longer. Some researchers suggest the original First Nations ‘migrants’ to the Sydney region arrived around 45,000 years ago.

3. Nature, Outdoors, Recreation

Sydney, built around one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, and surrounded by National Parks, is the ultimate outdoors city.

Along with its harbour and coastal shoreline, on land, Sydney is encircled with many National Parks and nature reserves. Perhaps the most well-known of these is the incredible Blue Mountains National Park.

Sydney’s geography offers an abundance of opportunities for immersion in nature and various outdoor recreational activities, such as surfing, diving, kayaking, fishing, hiking, climbing, camping, etc.

And Sydney’s sub-tropical climate allows Sydneysiders (and visitors) to take full advantage of these incredible opportunities and assets, all year round.

4. Shopping & Leisure

For those who like to shop, Sydney offers numerous opportunities for retail therapy, both within the inner-city area, and in several of the outer suburban centres.

Both upmarket international and local designer brands can readily be found in both a number of department stores and specialty stores across the city. My personal favourite shopping centre is Westfield, at Bondi Junction.

For those seeking health and wellness retreats, Sydney can offer several options. And for those into sun-bathing, there are beaches galore, including some which offer a degree of privacy.

5. Sports & Events

In the year 2000, Sydney hosted the Olympic Games. Today, Sydney regularly hosts a number of international sporting events. Sydney is also the base of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which is home to the famous annual Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race.

Throughout the year, venues across Sydney also conduct a number of festivals and exhibitions, celebrating music, arts, film, and numerous other themes. At the same time, throughout the year, the Opera House offers a busy program across an extensive range of genres.

6. Weird & Wonderful

Sydney offers a number of items which fit this description. Some of these are really ‘hidden gems’. One candidate is the antique cast-iron urinal, found at the top end of George Street, beneath the Harbour Bridge.

Other candidates include the symbolic ‘Underwood Ark’ suspended Blackbutt tree, close to Circular Quay; the Domain Travelator; the Mortuary Station in Chippendale; the Paddington Reservoir Gardens; and the Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf. And little further afield, you can find the Floating Forest, at Homebush Bay.

There is one other weird quality about Sydney that all travellers need to recognise – its weather. The sub-tropical climate means that it is wise to always be prepared for rain. Sometimes it will come and go quickly, other times it will stay for a while. Just be prepared!

And now, Your Arrival in Sydney…

So, now that I am sure you have Sydney on your radar, let’s take a moment to consider your arrival.

The most breath-taking way to arrive in Sydney is definitely by sea, via the Sydney Heads, and into Port Jackson (aka Sydney Harbour).

The harbour entrance is dominated by massive and unforgiving cliffs, known as the Sydney Heads, that have claimed several ships.

As you move into the harbour, you will pass numerous bays and coves, with beautiful golden beaches, while you travel towards the Harbour Bridge, before finally arriving opposite the Sydney Opera House.

If you arrive by air, depending on the direction of your approach, and your seat position, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Sydney Harbour, and perhaps also the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. That view is a close second to arriving by sea, but not so many will get to see it.

Arrival by road or by rail is much less exhilarating. That said, as you close on your destination, leaving the green of the hills and passing through the outer suburbs, the excitement and anticipation will surely begin to build.

Whichever way you choose to arrive, from the moment you reach Sydney, your adventure begins.