Tourism in Sydney
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sydney received 7.8 million domestic visitors and 2.5 million international visitors in 2004.[1] The most well known attractions include the Sydney Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Other attractions include Royal Botanical Gardens, Luna Park, the beaches and Sydney Tower. 70% of tourists travelling to Australia visit Sydney.[2]
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[edit] Sydney Harbour
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour (the largest natural harbour in the world), is the natural harbour of Sydney. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Bradley's Head within Sydney Harbour was used to shoot scenes for Mission: Impossible II. The area around the harbour forshore contains rare pockets of bushland which was once common around Sydney, in these remnants you'll find a surprising range of native animals.
[edit] Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is located in Sydney. It is one of the most distinctive and famous 20th century buildings, and one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, with parkland to its south and close to the equally famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, the building and its surroundings form an iconic Australian image. It received attention during Sydney 2000 Olympics. It was included in the Olympic Torch route to the Olympic stadium, and involved Australian swimmer Samantha Riley standing on top of the Opera House waving the Olympic torch. It was the backdrop of some Olympic events, including the triathlon—which began at the Opera House—and the yachting events on Sydney Harbour.
[edit] Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbour carrying rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic water vista of the bridge together with the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The South-east pylon for many years operated as lookout and tourist attraction, containing a number of telescopes and antiquated arcade games which operated on pennies, long after that currency had gone out of operation. The couple that ran this tourist venue also kept a number of white cats which gave the interior of the pylon a memorable odour. The pylon has recently been renovated and returned to its tourist function.[3]
[edit] Bridge Climb
Since 1998, BridgeClimb[4] has made it possible for tourists to climb the southern half of the bridge. Tours run throughout the day, from dawn to dusk and are only cancelled for electrical storms or high wind. Night climbs are also available. Groups of climbers are provided with protective clothing appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions and are given an orientation before climbing. During the climb, attendees are secured to the bridge by a wire lifeline. Each climb begins on the eastern side of the bridge and ascends to the top. At the summit, the group crosses to the western side of the arch for the descent. Each climb is a three-and-a-half-hour experience.
[edit] Historical Forts (Sydney Harbour)
The Shores of Sydney Harbour are home to a number of Historical forts, some of which are now heritage listed. The forts date back to 1871 and were designed to defend Sydney town in the event of a seaborn attack. There are four historical fortifications located between Taronga Park Zoo and Middle Head, Mosman. The forts were constructed from mostly large sandstone blocks and consist of many tunnels, catacombs and underground rooms. The four forts located between between Bradleys Head and Middle Head are; the Middle Head Fortifications, the Georges Head Battery, the Lower Georges Heights Commanding Position and a small fort located on Bradleys Head.[5] See also Wikimedia Commons, Sydney Harbour Defences
[edit] The Rocks
The Rocks is an inner-city suburb, tourist precinct and historic area of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour. The close proximity to Circular Quay and the views of the iconic Harbour Bridge, as well as the historic nature of many of the buildings, mean that the Rocks are very popular with tourists. It features a variety of souvenir and craft shops, and many themed and historic pubs. The Rocks Market operates each weekend, with around 100 stalls. There are numerous historic walks through the area, visiting historical buildings such as Cadman's Cottage and Sydney Observatory, and the Dawes Point Battery, which was the first fortified position in New South Wales.
[edit] Darling Harbour
The Darling Harbour precinct is home to a number of major public facilities and attractions, including:
- Sydney Entertainment Centre
- Paddy's Market
- Sydney's Chinese Gardens
- Tumbalong Park
- Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Australian National Maritime Museum (featuring museum ships including HMAS Vampire)
- Star City Casino
- Powerhouse Museum
- Sydney Aquarium
- the IMAX theatre
- Wildlife World
- Sega World Sydney (closed in 2000)
The Darling Harbour precinct is linked to the CBD by the Sydney Monorail.
[edit] Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula and takes its name from the sheltered bay and anchorage on its western side, in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). It provides spectacular views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Gap is an ocean cliff on the eastern side with spectacular views to Manly at North Head and the Pacific Ocean. Vaucluse is the only adjacent suburb, to the south.
Watsons Bay is a mostly residential area with some recreational areas and beaches, including one legal nude beach. Some restaurants, cafes and a hotel are located here, with Doyles on the Beach being one of the most famous Sydney seafood restaurants located on the foreshore of Watsons Bay. The Sydney Harbour Pilot Boat Station is located on the bay, and the HMAS Watson naval station is located nearby at South Head.
[edit] Kings Cross
The Kings Cross area is infamous in Australia as being a red-light district, similar to Kings Cross in London with numerous strip clubs and "girlie" bars along Darlinghurst Road, although many now accuse the City Council of seeking to gentrify the area, and the demographics have changed in recent years. It is also known for its Neon signs and advertising posters, the most famous being the iconic Coca-Cola sign. It is often referred to by Sydneysiders by the affectionate colloquialism "the Cross". The Kings Cross district was the City of Sydney's bohemian heartland from the early decades of the 20th Century. From the 1960s onwards it also came to serve as both the city's main tourist accommodation and entertainment mecca, as well as its red-light district. It thereby achieved a high level of notoriety out of all proportion to its limited geographical extent.
[edit] Museums
Sydney is home to a number of established museums. The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, and is particularly renowned in the fields of natural history and anthropology. The Powerhouse Museum specialises in science and technology, and its exhibits include the oldest steam engine in the world with a rotating action that is still in operation. The Australian National Maritime Museum focuses on Australia's maritime history.
[edit] Fox Studios
Fox Studios Australia is a major movie studio located in Moore Park. The studio has been involved in the production of a number of blockbusters, including The Matrix, Moulin Rouge!, Mission Impossible II, Star Wars Episode II, Star Wars Episode III and Superman Returns. Located ten minutes from the Sydney city centre. An adjacent precinct provides restaurants and cafes, a retail complex, parklands, entertainment venues, and sporting facilities.
[edit] Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower is Sydney's tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia (with the Q1 building on the Gold Coast being the tallest). It is also the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere (after Auckland, New Zealand's Sky Tower); though Sydney Tower's main observation deck is almost 50 metres higher than that of Auckland's Sky Tower. The Sydney Tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers.
Sydney Tower Skywalk, or just Skywalk, is an open-air, glass-floored platform circling Sydney Tower at a height of 260m above ground level. The moving viewing platform extends out over the edge of the main structure of Sydney Tower. This attraction is more than twice as high as the popular BridgeClimb walk to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. From the platform the seaward horizon is 58 kilometres away, although inland features such as the Blue Mountains can be seen at further distances. See Sydney Attractions Group.
[edit] Parks and nature of Sydney
Hyde Park contains well-kept gardens and approximately 580 trees; a mixture of Moreton Bay Figs, Palms and other varieties. It is famed for its magnificent fig tree lined avenues. At the park's southern end is the ANZAC War Memorial A monument consisting of a 104-millimetre gun from the German light cruiser SMS Emden. Any traveller who visits Sydney, should take some time out to go for a walk through Hyde Park.
Centennial Park is located 4km south east of the Sydney central business district. It is suited for family picnics, horse riding, sightseeing, scenic walks and those who wish to keep fit. Those who wish to go horse riding may do so in Centennial Park, there is a place just across the road from the park, right next door to Fox Studios where one can hire a horse. It is also suited for those who wish to go bushwalking without straying to far from the city.
The Royal Botanic Gardens is the largest of three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney. One may enter the park free of charge and it is open to the public every day of the year.
[edit] Wildlife
Sydney Wildlife World is a zoo in the city of Sydney. It officially opened in September 2006. It is located on the shores of Darling Harbour and is attached to Sydney Aquarium. The Sydney Wildlife World is unusual for a zoo in that it is entirely enclosed and air-conditioned. The indoor zoo features a one-kilometre walkway which snakes through 7000 square metres of enclosures. The enclosure features around 6000 native animals.
Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, officially opened on October 7, 1916. It is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Mosman. Taronga is linked to Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo in terms of breeding programs. Taronga Zoo is home to over 2,600 animals on 28.7 hectares, making it one of the largest of its kind, and it divided into eight zoogeographic regions with numerous indoor pavilions and outdoor exhibits. Taronga Zoo has about 340 species and over 2600 individual animals. They are housed in a large variety of exhibits.
[edit] Beaches in Sydney
Sydney is renowned for its beaches and, with its warm climate, attracts people to the beaches almost all year round.
[edit] Bondi Beach
Large numbers of tourists visit Bondi Beach throughout the year with many Irish and British tourists spending Christmas Day there. Bondi Beach features many popular cafes, restaurants and hotels, with spectacular views of the beach. The beach itself is approximately one kilometre long.
[edit] Manly Beach
Manly Beach is a well known beach situated in Sydney's Northern Beaches. Manly Beach is highly popular with tourists and locals alike; a popularity rivalled only by the famous Bondi Beach south of the harbour. Travelling to Manly from Sydney's main ferry terminal, Circular Quay, takes 30 minutes by ferry or 15 minutes by the faster 'Jet Cat' catamaran.
[edit] Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains National Park is one of the most popular parks in Australia. The majority of tourists to the Blue Mountains see the National Park from one of the many lookouts between Wentworth Falls and Blackheath, and many of these never actually set foot in the park.
Despite this, there are many activities for the visitor. Short walks to impressive lookouts above cliff and waterfalls abound. Overnight and longer walks allow access to some of the more remote areas of the park. Other popular activities include canyoning and mountain biking.
[edit] Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park is a 640-hectare site located adjacent to the suburb of Homebush Bay, New South Wales, Australia. It was built for the 2000 Olympics and continues to be used for sporting and cultural events, including the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Festival, Big Day Out and a number of world class sporting fixtures. It is served by the Olympic Park railway line and station. There are also regular services to the nearby wharf which to and from run from various point around Sydney Harbour.
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] See also
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