Australia has a lot going for it. There’s great harbors, an outback and a rainforest and barrier reef.  There’s lots to see and do in Melbourne, the coastal capital of Australia, but don’t skip a visit to Sydney. It’s a dazzling, but complex city and that’s one of the reasons it has earned then nickname of Emerald City. The city’s distinctive Opera House is an iconic feature that is as recognizable as the Eiffel Tower. Sydney is one of the top 15 visited cities in the world. It has hosted major sports events including the 2000 Olympics, the 2023 FIFA Cup and the Women’s World Cup Finals.

There’s plenty of other things to see in the city and travel advisors at GetAway Travel are ready to help plan your adventure to Sydney and the Land Down Under.

Inspiring buildings and bridges

 Inspired by the designs of nature, Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s drawing was the winner of an international design contest for the new Sydney Opera House. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the multi-venue building has top-notch acoustics and is one of the world’s most recognizable and distinctive buildings. Ground-breaking engineering was used to set up the concrete sail-like outer shells.

The 2,700 tulipwood acoustic panels inside the various venues shape the sound making for marvelous acoustics. The bold, purple carpeting is a perfect backdrop for the dramatic staircases and the harbor views from the tall windows are spectacular.

Nicknamed “the coat hanger” the Sydney Harbor Bridges the world’s largest steel arch bridge. Visitors can get great pictures from the bridge. Take a tour to climb it for panoramic views of the harbor, skyline and opera house.

The Queen Victoria Building is the city’s premier shopping destination and so much more! It was built in 1898 to replace the old markets and to honor Queen Victoria on her diamond jubilee. The one-block five-story building underwent a restoration in the 1980s and its an amazing blend of historic grandeur and modern retail space. This Romanesque revival landmark, with its amazing domes, has more than 140 shops as well as cafés and eateries. There are intricate mosaic tiled floors, grand staircases and awesome stained glass windows.

You can take a historic tour and then feed your shopping fix with Australian top brand stores like Country Road and Anna Thomas and International brands like Calvin Klein. Shop for shoes, jewelry, clothes, skin care products and fine chocolates. Drop by the wine bar and check out the Aboriginal Art Gallery.

St. Mary’s Cathedral sits on land once occupied by the first Catholic chapel built in the country. Construction of the cathedral began in 1826 and was completed in 1928. Built in a Gothic revival style, the spires were finally added in 2,000. It is known for its beautiful stained glass windows. The stunning mosaic tiled floor depicts the creation.

Harbors, museums and other attractions

 Circular Quay is a historic port in what is referred to as the Rocks Neighborhood. The name comes from the sandstone rocks that line the Sydney harbor. This is a quant, cool neighborhood with cobble-stone streets, 19th century buildings, shops, pubs, galleries and restaurants. It is a very popular area on Saturdays and Sundays when the Rocks Markets are open. There’s food stalls and stalls with artisans selling everything from candles to jewelry. There’s live music and free yoga classes.

Manly Beach is 10 miles from downtown Sydney. Catch a prime surfing wave here, but also enjoy the scenic walking and hiking trails, restaurants, cafés, shops, boutiques and playgrounds. Bondi Beach is also a surfing destination with strolling, sunbathing, souvenir shop and picnicking opportunities.

Darling Harbor is another pedestrian district with plenty of hotel and entertainment options. There’s street performers, fireworks SEALIFE, the Australian Maritime Museum and the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

SEALIFE Sidney Aquarium has 700 species of Australian aquatic life with more than 13,000 individual fish and sea creatures. The facility is divided into nine zones including Shark Valley, Penguin Expedition, the Barrier Reef and Discovery Rock Pool.

The Australian National Maritime Museum has great exhibits and also is open for ship tours on vessels docked in Darling Harbor.

Built and designed by Chinese landscape architects and gardeners, the Chinese Garden of Friendship was built as a symbol of friendship by Sydney and the city of Guangzhou. The walled garden is a serene and “zen” space. You’ll enjoy the waterfall, lakes, exotic plants, pavilions and hidden pathways.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hyde Park Barracks Museum chronicles the progression of prisoners transported to the island. It initially housed men and boys convicted of crimes in Great Britain and that population was moved to Cockatoo Island.

The barracks were then converted to a Female Immigration Depot and hosted orphan girls who fled to Sydney to escape the potato famine in Ireland. It later housed elderly women, then closed in 1886 and was later renovated into a museum.

More than 5,000 animals representing more than 350 species call the Taronga Zoo home. Here you can visit everything from Asian elephants to a stunning Sumatran tiger. For a bit of a fee you can hangout with dingoes, meet a koala, try out the high ropes course and take the Nura Diya Australia quarter-mile walking trail that takes you through four different geographic areas. The zoo has its own hotel, with themed rooms, some of which overlook the animal enclosures.

Ready to include Sydney in your next adventure? GetAway Travel advisors will plan you trip Down Under with travel plans that check off all the boxes. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel