Sydney Harbor...Or Harbour? Either Way. Find Out Why It Is The Best Natural Harbor In The World.

Sydney Harbor or Sydney Harbour?

Both are correct. It depends on where you are from. Since I have lived in Australia for more than 20 years, I have adapted to using British English and therefore would write Sydney Harbour. But that was not the case before. In the Philippines where I came from, we were taught American English, and therefore would use and write Sydney Harbor.

For this particular page, I will be using harbor for the benefit of our American English speaking visitors. The rests of the site are in British English. Some American English may had slipped through my net. See if you can catch them as you explore the site.

The 240 kilometres of golden coastline encompassing over 50 square kilometres of the water surface makes it a relatively large area for a visitor to explore, discover and enjoy. It is a heady mixture of parklands, reservesand sandy beaches.

On warm sunny days (actually most days in Sydney are warm and sunny), the harbor has a vibrancy unlike anywhere else I know. The clear blue waters are teeming with sailing vessels, cruise boats and ferries. In fact, what better way is there to see Sydney Harbor than to be on a boat in the harbor's waters. If you choose to do so, don't go for anything else especially if it is your first time here- take the ferry.

Sydney ferries which are run by the New South Wales State government provide you with an inexpensive way to calmly see and take in the breathtaking beauty of the harbor. Traveling on the water is by far the most enjoyable way to move here and can get you to the many interesting sites around Sydney Harbor- from the historical Parramatta, the 2000 Sydney Olympic site at Homebush, Manly and to Taronga Zoo.

Wherever place you are heading to, your journey over the ocean waters will best start at Circular Quay. Circular Quay is the nerve centre of Sydney Harbor and is at the bottom end of the Central Business District. It is here that all the ferries set off to the many Sydney attractions. Circular Quay is well positioned such that no interesting place worth visiting is too far away. From here, you can head out to to Darling Harbor and Bondi beach- or you can make your way to Taronga Zoo.

Taronga Zoo is a must see if you ever visit Sydney Harbor. It has a large collection of animals from both Australia and other parts of the globe. The zoo has plenty of the Ks and Ws that Australia is famous for- Kangaroos, Koalas, Wallabies and Wombats- and of course many more that begin with other letters of the alphabet.

Do you just love the greens of nature? Then you cannot come to Sydney Harbor and not visit the Royal Botanic Gardens. Established in 1836, it has over 7,500 trees. It is situated close to to the world famous Sydney Opera House. The gardens cover over 30 hectares rich with the most colourful flowers, rose gardens as well as some exotic species of plants- and of course, stunning views of the harbor from the side.

Speaking of views, Mrs Macquaries Chair, which is on one side of the Botanic Gardens, has what many visitors consider to be the best views of the Sydney Harbor. But don't let someone else tell you...check it out for yourself and enjoy the view.

Now, if you want to get some perspective of the sheer size and beauty of the harbor, you really should walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and climb to the top of the Pylon Tower. For a fee, you can see spectacular views of the harbor, the Sydney city skyline, the Docks, Opera House, Darling Harbour and Northern Sydney. Watching the passing traffic below is quite the sight.

If you are still into heights, another great way to enjoy a spectacular bird's eye view of the harbor is to take the lift to the top of Sydney Tower which is Australia's second highest man made structure. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner in the revolving restaurant and watch the city go about their business beneath you. There is also an observation tower to take in the breathtaking views. Some say that if you ever wanted to feel on top of the world, this is it.

Last but not least is the building that is the signature picture of not just Sydney but Australia- the Sydney Opera House. Do not visit Sydney andmiss out on a stop at the Opera House. There is a lot to see including plays, jazz, orchestras, performing arts all representing cultures from all over the world. There are guided tours of course and even shopping if you would like to buy a few souvenirs.

Return from Sydney Harbor to Sydney Walkabout Homepage.

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