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Enjoy the Harbor Views from Sydney's Opera House

Not yet published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: Australia

The Experience

Sydney, Australia, with a population of nearly five million inhabitants, is one of the world's most fantastic cities. And nowhere is this more evident than looking out across the Sydney Harbor from the architecturally-impressive Sydney Opera House. Located on the south side of the harbor, all of Sydney's most impressive sites are visible from the Sydney Opera House and the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney.

Glimmering in the day's sun, Sydney's skyscrapers cluster on the south side of the harbor. It is the central business district for one of the world's largest cities. It is also home to the oldest dristrict in Australia, the Rocks; just a short walk around the quay from the Sydney Opera House, the Rocks is a perfect place to sip on an afternoon coffee or a late night drink.

Stretching from the Rocks is one of the most photographed bridges in the world - the Sydney Harbor Bridge, also amusingly known as the Coathanger. It is a quick drive across the 2.4 mile (1.5 km) bridge, but the nearly 80-year-old bridge is much better appreciated from either the Sydney Opera House; climbing tours of the bridge are offered daily and offer spectacular views of the surrounding harbor for those willing to brave climbing to the top of what was Sydney's tallest structure for 35 years.

High on the hills of the north side of the Sydney Harbor, a short distance from the harbor bridge, is the beautiful Sydney Taronga Zoo. Impressive views of the south side of the Sydney Harbor are afforded while walking down the zoo's cobblestone pathways - which is the way to go after a relaxing gondola ride to the hilltop. From there it is a short ferry ride back across the harbor to the second-most-photographed building in the world: the Sydney Opera House.

Neighboring the Sydney Opera House are thirty hectares of what can be described as an oasis: the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust of Sydney. Established in 1816 and constructed in 1831, the Sydney Botanic Gardens are the perfect spot to get away from all of the hustle of the city. Relaxing on the green, walking the pathways, or looking out on Sydney Harbor from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair - a sandstone bench cut by convicts for Governor Macquarie's wife, Elizabeth - are all fantastic ways to get away from the concrete and recharge.

The Sydney Opera House is the center of the Sydney Harbor and near all of what is happening in the city. The opera house is within reach of everything - the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney's Taronga Zoo, nearby Darling Harbor or Bondi Beach, the hustle of the business district, and the leafy escape of the botanic gardens - and the heart of the town. The Sydney Opera House is, without a doubt, the place to enjoy all of the best of Sydney; so, sit back, enjoy a drink, and take it all in from the perfect perch after a tour of the Sydney Opera House.

Photos

Puzzle

When to Go

The best time of year to visit Sydney is in the warmer summer months - which, remember, is the opposite time of year than that from the northern hemisphere. While the Opera House tour may be indoors, the nearby gardens can be no fun to walk through in the cold winter. It also offers perfect opportunities for other fun outdoor activities, such as a trip to nearby Bondi Beach, the Taronga Zoo, or any other of a number of fantastic things to do and see in the Sydney area.

Odds n' Ends

A full day can be spent touring the Sydney Opera House and the nearby Sydney Botanic Gardens, all the while enjoying the view of the harbor and the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge. So, make sure to have a good pair of walking shoes as you'll surely put on some miles, or kilometers for that matter, throughout the day.

Language Guides

Italian , Japanese , Lao , Spanish , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in Australia. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!


Discussion

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