Sydney ● One of the world's great cities.  This thriving harbourside metropolis, populated by more than four million people, is Australia's best-known city, renowned for its great natural beauty and world-famous buildings.  Visit the Sydney Opera House. Cruise on beautiful Sydney Harbour.  Have your photo taken with a koala and see kangaroos and other native fauna at Taronga Zoo.  Go shopping for gifts and souvenirs.  Enjoy a lunch or dinner at one of the city's harbourside restaurants.  Sydney offers an incredibly diverse range of experiences to enjoy.

The Best of Sydney

Top 5 Beaches:
● Avalon. One of the prettiest Northern Beaches, plus plenty of cafes and restaurants.
● Bondi. Surf, sand, clifftop walks, cafes and entertainment at Australia's most famous beach.

● Cronulla. A long, sandy (and uncrowded) surf beach in Sydney's southern suburbs.

● Manly. Excellent surf, plus a calm harbour beach for the kids.
● Palm Beach. Golden sand and surf at the city's most northerly beach.

Top 5 Walks:
● Bondi to Bronte. A spectacular clifftop walk along the Eastern Suburbs coastline.

● Harbour Foreshore. Around the city's fringe: taking in Darling Harbour, The Rocks and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

● Manly to The Spit. A longish walk at 10 km, but you'll be rewarded with some stunning coastal scenery.

● The Rocks. Explore Sydney's oldest precinct - at your own pace, or on a guided tour.

● Watsons Bay to South Head. This easy stroll takes you up to South Head, guarding the southern entrance to Sydney Harbour.

Top 5 Parks & Reserves:
● Centennial Park. Walk, cycle, rollerblade, go horseriding, or simply unwind in this vast reserve.

● Chinese Garden of Friendship. Relax in this tranquil oriental oasis at Darling Harbour.

● Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Rugged natural bushland, wildlife, Aboriginal carvings and quiet waterways.

● Royal Botanic Gardens. Over 30 hectares of trees, lawns, gardens and greenhouses.

● Sydney Harbour National Park. Beaches, bushland, cliffs and islands - all just a short distance from the City Centre.

Top 5 Parks & Reserves:

● Government House. Experience the splendour of Govenrment House with free guided Friday-Sunday.

● St. Mary's Cathedral. Take a free tour of Sydney's Catholic cathedral and its stunning mosaic-floored crypt.

● Sydney Observatory. Free hands-on astronomy displays by day and low-cost sky viewing at night.

● Sydney Opera House. Although there's a charge for a tour of the interior, a walk around this world-famous building is both free and a must!

● Victoria Barracks. Visit on a Thursday for a free tour and Army band performance.

Top 5 Places for Kids:

● Fairfield City Farm. This working farm, west of the City Centre, offers farm shows, baby animals, native fauna, horse riding, and mountain biking.

● Featherdale Wildlife Park. A winner of many tourism awards, this is a fun day out for all the family.

● LG IMAX Theatre. Watch thrilling larger than life movies on this eight-storey-high screen.

● Sydney Aquarium. Walk beneath the harbour and see sharks and seals at this large aquarium.

● Taronga Zoo. Australian fauna-plus tigers, elephants, bears, and much more.