Sydney Harbour

Often dotted with sailing and cruise boats, Sydney Harbour's hub is Circular Quay, a ferry terminus located at the bottom end of the Central Business District and a starting point for most of the attractions based around the harbour. From here, there is a walkway to Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens as well as paths to Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Rocks. One of the best ways to see the harbour is from the top of Sydney Tower (Centrepoint Tower), Australia's tallest man-made structure.

The Rocks

The oldest area of Sydney, The Rocks is a maze of narrow streets, packed with attractive sandstone cottages and terraces filled with shops, stalls, cafes and restaurants. Attractions include the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sydney Observatory.

On the eastern boundary of the Central Business District and bordering the Royal Botanic Gardens are a number of historic buildings worth visiting that include Parliament House, Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Hospital and the Mint Building. In this area is the Domain, a grassy park area that houses the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Darling Harbour

From the Central Business District, visitors can catch the monorail that runs to Darling Harbour, where the highlights include the Sydney Aquarium, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Chinese Garden, the Powerhouse Museum and the nearby Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney's major venue for exhibitions and conferences.

Further attractions include:

Bondi Beach
One of Australia's most famous beaches, located in east Sydney in the municipality of Waverley.

Taronga Zoo
The nation's leading zoological garden, in an elevated position along the waterfront at Bradley's Head, Mossman. A fine collection of endemic and exotic animals.

Shopping

Queen Victoria Building
Houses a superb collection of designer-label and speciality stores as well as restaurants and cafes.

Strand Arcade
Contains some of Australia's top designer labels, jewellers, boutiques and beauty salons.

Skygarden
Located almost directly opposite the Strand Arcade, the centre houses over 50 fashion, accessory, furniture, gift and speciality stores.

Chifley Plaza
Towards Circular Quay, the plaza is home to a selection of the world's most famous and stylish international brands.