Sydney Attractions.....Sydney Has It All.

Sydney attractions...Sydney has it all.

I know it is a big call. But hey....I came here 22 years ago and never looked back. Just ask anyone you know who had been to Sydney . He/she will give you a glowing report card of Sydney attractions...

Just like Captain James Cook when he landed here more than 200 years ago,'....in this extensive country most sorts of grains and fruits would flourish.'

Imagine Sydney more than 200 years ago. It must be one big bush of gum and eucalyptus trees. Kangaroos, emus, koalas, possums roaming and feeding in the shade. Native birds like kookaburras making their morning calls...parrots, rosellas and rainbow lorikeets feeding on the nectar of the native flowers.

Somewhere in the harbour an Aboriginal man fishing while the woman and children gathering oysters from the harbour rocks. There were no roads, no building, no houses and no bridges. This was the picture that greeted the first white settlers. This was Sydney attractions more than 200 years ago.

With the coming of the British settlers, the landscape began its transformation...

Captain Arthur Phillip in charge of 11 ships full of convicts, soldiers...and many cows, pigs and hens left England in 13 May 1787 for Botany Bay to start a penal colony. Arriving in Botany Bay in 20 January 1788, he decided it was not good site to start the colony. He found Sydney Cove north of Botany Bay instead. It offered deep water shelter for the ships and good supply of fresh water. Six day later, he flew the British flag over Sydney Cove and claimed the area as a British Colony.

Captain Phillip must be cursing Captain Cook during the early life of the colony. They almost starved to death! ...( can't blame him if he did.)

You see the British Government believed Captain Cook that the land was fertile and crops would grow quickly....big mistake! The soil was poor... so the crop growth was stunted ...and so the harvest was small.

And yet they survived and flourished. Captain Phillip sent his flagship Sirius to Cape Town to buy food. They also found fertile lands at Parramatta and along Hawkesbury River. Lands were granted and farms established to raised crops to feed the colony at Sydney Cove.

Whew! Thank goodness for that! Otherwise we would not have the Sydney attractions that we have now if those pioneering spirits had starved to death.

So Sydney during Captain Phillip, later Governor Phillip, Sydney just grew.... nothing was planned. Sydney became a town where shabby houses and streets where built on convenience.Captain Phillip was not responsible for the grand design of Sydney.He was too busy organising the colony so that it can feed and support itself.

The grand design of Sydney began in 1810. It was the vision of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. ( I kind of like this guy. He was a top bloke.) He insisted that all emancipist,ie., convicts who had done their time or who were given conditional or absolute pardon be treated as equals. He even appointed a lot emancipist to government positions which made him unpopular to a lot of free settlers...( Hmmmmm.)

One of his emancipist appointment was Francis Greenway as colonial architect. He was one of the many architects responsible for the many reputable heritage buildings which are landmarks today-- great symbols of colonial Sydney attractions.

Okay!....enough background chatter. First a checklist before we do our Sydney attractions walkabout.

Okay. Let's go!!!!!

Sydney Cove...

Sydney Cove was where it all began and that is where we will begin our walkabout...

Now Circular Quay, Sydney Cove was the site of the first settlement...the birth place of a city...a state... and a nation. This Sydney tourist attraction is now a busy water transport hub servicing the the many Sydney ferries, boats and ships using the harbour. It is a lively foreshore part of the town and a favourite place for buskers performing for the locals and visitors alike.

...now Circular Quay.

Northwest of Circular Quay is the Rocks. A walk in the Rocks is a walk back in time. This sloppy area of winding lanes and alleys connected by sandstone steps and sandstone buildings is a living testimony of the early life of the colony...one of the truly historic Sydney attractions.

The Southern Pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge sits in Dawes Point in The Rocks. Fondly called the 'old coat hanger', the Sydney Harbour Bridge links the city to the northern suburbs. One of the iconic Sydney attractions, it was an engineering and human spirit triumph for it was built during the Great Depression.

Bordering the Sydney Opera House on the south is the spectacular Royal Botanic Garden and the Domain. This 24 hectare lush parkland is home to diverse birdlife and an impressive collection of over 17,000 native and exotic plant species. It was established in 1816 on the colony's first farm.

On the northern part of the Botanic Garden is the Government House . This is one of the many impressive Sydney attractions. It is a Gothic sandstone mansion of the 1840's. Close by is the grand NSW Conservatorium of Music building. It is originally designed as a stable in 1816 by convict architect Francis Greenway.

Running parallel with the western side of the Botanic Garden is Macquire Street. On the eastern side of this street overlooking the Botanic Garden is the State Library of New South Wales. The library holds one of the world's extensive collection of Australian arts and manuscript, archives and historical records. Adjacent to the Library are the New South wales Parliament House, Sydney Hospital and the Sydney Mint. The Parliament House and Sydney Mint are two of Sydney's oldest building attractions.

Going south, Macquarie Street finally ends at Queens Square to Hyde Park. At this southern end of Macquarie Street are two great works of Francis Greenway, St. James Church and Hyde Park Barracks. St. James Church was originally intended to be a court house and it is Sydney's oldest church. Hyde Park Barracks was built to house the convicts. It is now a museum showcasing Sydney's colonial past.

From Hyde Park Barracks crossing Prince Alfred Road is St. Mary's Cathedral. This alluring Sydney attraction is a 19'th century Gothic structure and is the place of worship for Roman Catholics of Sydney. Farther south in the corner of College St. and William St. is the Australian Museum. It is established in 1827 and it is Australia's first museum. Its exhibits includes a big collection of artifacts of natural and cultural history.

Hyde Park is a gem in the heart of the city. It is a beautiful oasis providing a restful place for the busy city workers under the shade of the magnificent fig trees. North of the park is Archibal Fountain constructed in 1932 and in the southern part is the ANZAC Memorial erected in 1934.

Dissecting Hyde Park from north to south is Park Street. Going west, this street leads to the Sydney Town Hall in George St. after passing Elizabeth, Castlereagh and Pitt streets. The Sydney Town Hall which is a Victorian style sandstone building was built on the site of an old cemetery in the 1880s. This refutable Sydney attraction houses the world's largest mechanical pipe organ.

St. Andrew's Cathedral lies in the southern side of the Town Hall. The Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture and the cathedral church of Sydney Anglicans.

Opposite the Town Hall is the Queen Victoria Building. Build on an old Sydney market, the Queen Victoria Building is a Romanesque Revival sandstone building occupying a whole block in the city. With a copper domed roof, this four story building Sydney attraction delights its visitors with its elegant decor and boutique shopping.

A block away northeast of Queen Victoria Building is the Sydney Tower with its entrance in Pitt St. Being the tallest building in Sydney (second tallest in Australia and Q1 Building on the Gold Coast being the tallest), the Sydney Tower offers a breathtaking 360 degrees panoramic view of Sydney in its Observation Deck, an exhilarating walk outside the building in Skywalk and the most thrilling simulated ride of Australia's history and culture at OzTrek.

Back in Market Street, walking west is a walkway going to Darling Harbour. Darling Harbour is a 54 hectare entertainment, recreation, dining and shopping complex. This Sydney attraction was once a derelict harbour precinct. It was redeveloped for the 1988 Bicentenary celebration. It is now home to the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World and the revitalised chic Cockle Bay and King Street Wharves in the eastern side.

The Pyrmont Bridge which is closed for vehicular traffic connects the eastern and western sides of Darling Harbour. It is a swinging bridge and is one of the first to be operated by electricity and one of the largest swing spans in the world.

In the northwestern end of Pyrmont Bridge is the Australian National Maritime Museum. It hosts lively exhibitions, fun activities, and a chance to board a fleet of historic vessels.

South of Darling Harbour is the Imax Theatre. Be mesmerised by its 2D and Imax 3D films in its giant screen and 15,000 watts surround sound.

In Harris Street south of Darling Harbour is the Power House Museum. This popular Sydney attraction is a converted electric tram power station and Australia's largest museum housing some 400,000 artifacts. It is one of Sydney's best and well known tourist attractions.

Further south is the traditional Chinese Garden of Friendship, China's gift to Sydney. This tranquil Sydney attraction was officially opened in 1988 as part of Sydney's bicentenary celebration. The garden offers insight into Chinese culture and and heritage.

If there is a Chinese Garden, there must be a China Town! This southern part of Sydney central business district is home to China Town. Dixon street is the centre of China Town. This pedestrian street mall is home to many Chinese restaurants and shops, and with a Chinese archway at each end.

If you are after some souvenir and bargain shopping in Sydney, Market City is the place to be. This building complex is at the southern end of China Town. It has a modern shopping centre, boutique shops, restaurants, cinema and the famous flea market called Paddy's Market.

What Is Your Favourite Amongst The Sydney Attractions?

With so many things to see and do, it could be a hard call. But I am sure, there is one or two things that could be your favourite...and for very good reasons.

Why not share? We'll love you for it!

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