Sydney
The Harbor City of Australia is also its most populous. Sydney is the capital city of southeastern state New South Wales. In history, Sydney has earned its prominence and importance as the first-ever British colony in the whole of the country. Sydney was put up in 1788 by Arthur Phillip, who was the leader of the first British fleet that reached the region. Hundreds of years after its establishment, the city is still standing tall and proud gearing towards a brighter future.
Sydney is a natural tourist magnet. For quite some time, the city has enjoyed its status as being the most visited city in Australia, both by domestic and international travelers. When it comes to important and popular global landmarks, Sydney carries Australia's flag and marquee. The famous Sydney Opera House is a must see for everyone. The center has been conferred the UNESCO World Heritage Site title in 2007 for its being one of the globe's most distinct 20th century edifices. The Opera House is also a renowned performing arts venue and is a candidate into the New Seven Wonders of the World title.
Sydney is surrounded and adorned by numerous bays, inlets, rivers and national parks. The Harbor Bridge and several beaches are among the other top tourist drawers in the city aside from the Opera House. In terms of sports, cultural and political events, Sydney is an important center where the most curious and the most significant people converge. Sydney in the past has hosted the 1938 British Empire Games, the 2000 Olympic Games, the Rugby World Cup in 2003, APEC Australia 2007 and recently, the World Youth Day in 2008.
Sports and outdoor activities are usually facilitated and further make Sydney famous the world over. Proof to Sydney's penchant for sports is its being a home for 16 National Rugby League teams. The city is also home to the A-League's Sydney FC and the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League.
When it comes to other attractions, Sydney has a diversity of museums to national parks to World Heritage nature sceneries. The Powerhouse Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales are among the top anthropology and natural history centers. Natural areas include the Hyde Park, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Domain.
The most popular Sydney events drawing crowds and audiences from all over the world are: the Biennale of Sydney, the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the Sydney Film Festival and the Sydney Festival, the country's biggest arts festivity celebrating indoor and outdoor performances every January. Australia Day commemorations and Australian Fashion Week in April or May are also must-see events held only in Sydney.
Sydney's central business district (Sydney CBD) extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove.
Sydney's entertainment and arts include: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Push.
Sydney has several popular museums. Sydney's biggest are the Australian Museum, the Powerhouse Museum, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Sydney's sporting teams include: Canterbury Bulldogs, Cronulla Sharks, Manly Sea Eagles, Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters, Wests Tigers (NRL), Sydney Swans (AFL), Sydney FC (A-League), Sydney Swifts (Netball), Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Most Sydney residents travel by car through the system of roads, and motorways. Sydney trains are run by CityRail. Kingsford Smith International Airport, located in Mascot, is Sydney's main airport.
Regions of interest in Sydney include: Ashfield, Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Botany Bay, Burwood, Camden, Campbelltown, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Fairfield, Holroyd, Hornsby, Hunter's Hill, Hurstville, Kogarah, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Liverpool, Manly, Marrickville, Mosman, North Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith, Pittwater, Randwick, Rockdale, Ryde, Strathfield, Sutherland, Sydney, Warringah, Waverley, Willoughby, Woollahra.
Sydney's inner-city suburbs include Eastern Suburbs, Hills District, Inner West, Lower North Shore, Northern Beaches, Northern Suburbs, North Shore, St George, Southern Sydney, South-eastern Sydney, South-western Sydney, Sutherland Shire and Western Sydney.
Other things to see in Sydney include: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour, Port Jackson - better known as Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach, Central Coast New South Wales, Blue Mountains, Sydney Cove, The Rocks, Sydney Town Hall, Hyde Park, Sydney Mint.
