Sydney – Australia’s vibrant harbourside destination

Cosmopolitan, diverse, energetic and easygoing, Sydney has colonial heritage, dazzling modern buildings and a free-wheeling lifestyle. Its iconic, glorious sheltered harbour and its sunny, subtropical climate help make it a major tourist destination. It is clean, unpolluted and relatively safe, and its not surprising that it is most often voted as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

But, far from being the clichéd sun, sand, surf and sport scene you might expect, Sydney also has world-class museums and galleries as well as a roster of shops that include branches of world-renowned stores such as Tiffany and Cartier. The cuisine is excellent – Sydney is now one of the modern food capitals of the world. And some of the finest wines on earth come from Australia’s many vineyards. After dark you can take in an opera or ballet at the Sydney Opera House, see a first-class theatrical production, dance the night away in a classy pub, take in the sparkling vistas from a vantage point such as Sydney Tower, or spend the evening sampling local beer in a historic sandstone hotel at Sydney’s birthplace, The Rocks.

A vibrant world business capital, Sydney has a commercial buzz that permeates the CBD. The city embraces people of all races and nationalities and, although this doesn’t make it a multicultural utopia, you certainly get the feeling that you are visiting an international destination. An Asian presence is strong, and you’ll overhear conversations in any number of European languages.

The pace in Sydney is faster than in other parts of Australia, so the nasally Australian English, with its distinctive colloquialisms, is delivered double time. The often-heard expressions ‘No worries, mate’ and ‘She’ll be right’ say much about the attitudes here. Come to Sydney with an open mind, meet them halfway, take Sydney as it comes, and you’re bound to have a relaxing, good time.