There are cities to which you want to return again and again. Sydney is one of them. I have been there more than once, but every time this city inspires and enchants.
The age-old competition for the championship between Sydney and Melbourne (I wrote about this) is held with varying success, but regularly both cities are recognized as one of the most convenient for life. Melbourne, of course, is very good, but in my personal rating Sydney still wins.
Today we will take a stroll through the center of Sydney (in Australia, the business center of the city is called CBD - Central Business Distrcit) - from the Circular Quay to Darling Harbor. Other delights of the city - Sydney Bridge, the famous Opera House, a ferry ride along the bay, views from the Sydney Tower - await us in the following episodes.
Today's POIs on Sydney city center map (1):
Circular Key
The view of the Circular Key embankment from the side of Port Jackson Bay is one of the "calling cards" of Sydney, along with the opera and the Sydney bridge. Ferries depart from the embankment piers to different parts of the city, with CBD skyscrapers rising behind them.
The silhouette of the embankment is created (from right to left): Gateway Plaza (black skyscraper on the right, 164 meters, 46 floors), AMP Center tower (188 m, 45 floors). Behind the AMP tower is the Governor Phillip Tower (227 m, 54 floors). To the left of AMR Center - a building with two flags on the roof - AMP Building (115 m, 26 floors). This skyscraper, built in 1962, was the first skyscraper after the city was allowed to build buildings over 50 meters. Behind the AMP Building is the Intercontinental Hotel (100 m, 30 floors). Finally, the lonely skyscraper on the left is Key Apartments (95 meters, 25 floors). (2)
On the embankment. (3)
Circular Key was once a port area. A reminder of this is the old Custom House. Now the city library is located here. (4)
The Museum of Modern Art is located by the water. (five)
From Circular Quay, you can take a tour of the bay by speedboat. (6)
In the CBD, pompous Victorian buildings coexist peacefully with modern skyscrapers, the coolness of Protestant cathedrals and canopy of parks with bustle of streets, and always rushing "white collars" - with idly staggering tourists.
Let's delve into the maze of CBD streets starting from Circular Key. However, when applied to Sydney, "street mazes" are an unjustified cliche. The layout of the center of Sydney, given by Darling Harbor from the west and a parkland from the east, is quite correct - a dozen main streets run strictly from north to south, and the same number cross them in a perpendicular direction.
Entering the CBD, you find yourself on narrow streets shaded by skyscrapers. However, the bulk of high-rise buildings are not overwhelming - the lower tier of the urban environment with numerous cafes, restaurants, public institutions is quite friendly.
One of the "vertical" streets of the CDB is Phillip Street. To the right is the Sydney Museum, to the left is the Aurora Place Tower, a 41-story Art Nouveau skyscraper with a height of 188 meters. (7)
The Sydney Museum stands on the site of Australia's first government building, completed in 1878. The museum is located at the base of the Governor Phillip Tower, named after the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip. (8)
Let's continue our acquaintance with the CBD skyscrapers lined up along Phillip Street. This is the Chifley Tower (216 meters, 53 floors). (nine)
The next building is Deutsche Bank (160 meters, 39 floors). The characteristic spire of this structure (and with it the height of the building is 240 meters) is easily recognizable on any panorama of the city. (ten)
The tallest structure in the city is the Sydney Tower. This 309-meter tower is visible from anywhere in the city. There is an observation deck on the tower, which we will climb in one of the following series. In the lower floors of the tower is the Westfield shopping center. The sandy building in the shot is David Jones Department Store. (eleven)
CBD is not alive with skyscrapers - there are many pedestrian zones, malls and arcades in the center of Sydney. Pedestrian shopping area on Pitt Street. (12)
Here are preserved classic buildings with institutions founded, like this pharmacy, in the 19th century. (13)
Sydney's oldest shopping arcade is The Strand. (14-16)
Diverse audience on Pitt Street. (17-19)
Sydney Square and Queen Victoria Building
The central point of the CBD is the City Hall Square (Sydney Square) at the intersection of George Street and Druitt Street.
Sydney City Hall (Townhall) with a high clock tower against the backdrop of skyscrapers looks quite organic. On flagpoles - the flag of Australia and the Aboriginal banner. (20)
Near the municipality is St Andrew's Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Australia. (21)
Skyscrapers Sydney Square. Left - Energy Ostrelia (99 meters, 28 floors). Behind it is the HSBC Center (151 m, 37 floors). On the right is the Lumiere residential building (151 m, 47 floors). (22)
George Street is the longest and busiest street in the CBD, spilling north to south from Central Station to Sydney Bridge. An entire block along George Street is occupied by the Quinn Victoria Building (KBB), a building erected in 1898 as a fruit market. It is now home to many shops and restaurants. (23)
Monument to Queen Victoria in front of the KBB (24)
KVB should be visited even if you are not interested in shopping - the architecture and interiors of the building are impressive. (25-26)
One of the decorations of the KVB - the Royal Clock (27)
Another impressive hanging clock is the Great Australian Clock depicting scenes of colonization of the continent: (28)
Aborigines before the arrival of whites. (29)
Disembarkation of Captain Cook in 1770. (thirty)
Aboriginal children are taken by whites. (31)
Hyde Park and Domain
Sydney is a very green city. To the east of the CBD is a vast park area - Hyde Park, Domain Park and the Botanical Garden.
Two blocks from Sydney Square is Hyde Park, in the southern part of which is the ANZAC memorial, and on the north is St. Mary's Cathedral. The compositional center of Hyde Park is the Archibald Fountain against the backdrop of St. Mary's Cathedral and the Sydney Tower. (32-33)
St. Mary's Cathedral is one of the largest Catholic churches in Australia.In architectural terms, it looks more interesting than St. Andrew's Cathedral. (34)
The ANZAC memorial is dedicated to the Australian-New Zealand Allied Corps, which fought in World War I in Europe and suffered huge losses. Monuments to ANZAC and the victims of the First World War can be found in almost every city in Australia. (35)
The alleys and lawns of Hyde Park are a convenient place for people-watching. (36-40)
Hyde Park is adjacent to Domain Park. Football and rugby are played on the huge lawns of the park, runners and joggers scurry along the alleys, all against the backdrop of a panorama of high-rise CBD buildings. From left to right - the Sydney Tower, the multifaceted tower of the insurance company MLC (228 m, 60 floors), Westpack Bank with a red beech W on the facade (119 m, 30 floors) and the Deutsche Bank and Chifley Tower already familiar to us. (41)
Art Gallery of New South Wales in Domain Park. (42-43)
View of Woolloomooloo, a prestigious bohemian residential area east of Domaine Hill. We will also visit Woolloomula in one of the next episodes. (44)
Darling Harbor
To the west of the CBD, Darling Harbor, a recreation and entertainment district, is located around the bay of the same name. The Sydney Aquarium, the Maritime Museum, the Congress Center, the casino, and a variety of concerts and festivals are located here. Sydney residents with whole families and companies of visiting tourists come here to relax and have fun.
The modern appearance of the area is determined by the development of the mid-80s - 90s, and Darling Harbor gained particular popularity after in 1988, in the year of Australia's 200th anniversary, the monorail ring road was opened, linking it with the CBD and neighboring Highmarket.
The West Bank Darling Harbor is connected to the CBD by the Pyrmont Bridge pedestrian bridge. There is a monorail over the bridge. (45-46)
At the eastern end of the bridge is Darling Park monorail station ... (47-48)
... and to the west is Harborside Station. (49)
Sydney Aquarium with CBD background. (50)
On the other side of the bay is the maritime museum. (51)
One of the exhibits of the museum. (52)
The lighthouse is also part of the exhibition. (53)
Australian flag over Darling Harbor. In the background are exhibits from the Maritime Museum, the destroyer Vampire and the submarine Onslow. (54)
CBD Panorama - View from West Darling Harbor. The white building in the center is the Four Points Hotel. On the right are the three towers of Darling Park, occupied by the Banks Communeles, PWC and Rabobank. (55)
Darling Park Towers and Maritime Museum. (56)
King Street Wharf Marina and a few other small skyscrapers (from left to right) - AON Tower (128 m, 35 floors), Veritas Tower (95 m, 32 floors) and Westpack Towers (166 m, 40 floors). (57)
There is a busy cruise and regular ferry traffic in the bay. (58)
If you wish, you can use a water taxi. (59)
Pyrmont Bridge - view from the Maritime Museum. (60)
The Sydney Convention Center is located on the shores of Darling Harbor. (61)
The spiral fountain in front of the convention center adds a bit of coolness. (62)
Darling Harbor is one of the favorite vacation spots of Sydney residents. (63-64)
Highmarket and Chinatown
In the south, Darling Harbor is adjacent to the Haymarket area. There are markets, hotels, Sydney Central Station and Chinatown - Chinatown.
Highmarket Monorail Station. (65)
The main attraction of the area is the huge covered Market City market. (66)
The signs with Chinese characters indicate that we are in Chinatown. (67)
The gate is a must for Chinatown in any city in the world. (68)
That's probably enough for today.
Sydney Icons - Sydney Bridge and Opera
- A ferry ride on Port Jackson Bay
- The Rocks, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo
- Sydney: top view
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Unfortunately, I cannot make a survey about this (I have a regular account, not a paid one), so if the photo size is important for you, please reply in the comments which resolution you prefer.
1000 x 667
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Modern and prosperous Sydney, spread out on the shores of the picturesque bay of the Tasman Sea, used to be a city of convicts and daring adventurers exiled to the end of the world. And now it has turned into a corner of the well-fed Western world on the most distant inhabited continent of the planet.
Sydney has business districts like the City of London and gorgeous beaches like Rio de Janeiro, cosmopolitanism and a trendy mix of cultures. City streets, parks and promenades attract tourists from all over the world. Here you can visit the best aquariums in the world, take a cruise and admire the rugged coastline of Port Jackson, or sunbathe on the city's well-equipped beaches. In the evenings, the city comes alive and opens the doors to nightlife. Hundreds of bars, pubs, restaurants and clubs await visitors and offer a wide variety of menus and shows.
The best hotels and hotels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles / day
What to see and where to go in Sydney?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
The very first European colony on the Australian continent was founded on the shores of Port Jackson Bay. The bay consists of three bays: Middle Harbor, North Harbor and Sydney Harbor. The coastline is intricately indented, which is very convenient for navigation. Since its first port, Port Jackson has played a key role in Sydney. Nowadays, a national park is organized on a part of the natural territory of the bay.
An outstanding example of modern architecture and one of the symbols of Australia. The roof of the building resembles flying sails or giant sea shells. The architects wanted to convey the image of a frozen melody through these unusual forms. The opera house is built on stilts in the middle of the water, the roof is supported by powerful metal cables. The building was included in the UNESCO heritage list during the lifetime of its creator J. Watson.
The structure is considered one of the largest arched bridges not only on the continent, but also in the world. It was built in the 30s. XX century in order to connect the northern regions of Sydney with the central ones. The bridge has an observation deck offering views of the scenic Sydney Harbor and cityscape. The Harbor Bridge is designed for road, pedestrian and rail traffic and was tested for strength with heavy trains before opening.
Sydney's oldest neighborhood, a former haven of adventurers and desperate adventurers. At the beginning of the 20th century, this place had a rather ill fame; today the Rocks is a prestigious area with fabulous real estate prices. There are many galleries, museums, historic neighborhoods, pubs and restaurants. The area is quite popular with tourists.
One of the central areas of Sydney, there are the best restaurants, luxury hotels and modern skyscrapers. Darling Harbor is home to many offices and is considered the business center of Sydney. However, the area is also perfect for recreation, as there are many city attractions on its territory.
The best oceanariums tend to be in coastal cities. So the Sydney Aquarium boasts size, variety of marine life and an incredible scale of the exposition. It seems that all the inhabitants of the world's oceans are represented here. A huge number of fishes of unimaginable color, reptiles, sharks, seals, octopuses, rays, sea urchins, crabs and many others.
The museum exposition tells about the history of the Australian fleet. Here you can see local Aboriginal ships, modern warships, weapons, and surfing gear. Ships and a submarine are moored near the building. One of these ships is a copy of J. Cook's ship, on which the discoverer sailed to the Australian continent.
Museum, opened at the end of the 19th century. It exhibits examples of European, Asian and Australian art. The collection is housed in a building of classical architecture, built at the beginning of the 20th century. In the Gallery, you can see works by Australian painters of the last two centuries, as well as works of art created by Monet, Rodin, Picasso, Rubens and other masters.
The oldest museum in Australia, which is active in research and scientific activities. One of the priority areas is the study of the culture and history of the indigenous peoples of the continent. Also at the museum there are scientific institutes that study evolutionary processes, environmental protection, a variety of biological and geological species.
Former market aisles, now a modern shopping center. The building was built at the very end of the 19th century in the classic "Victorian" style, popular at that time in the metropolis. The structure is crowned with a large patterned dome, the walls and the facade are decorated with arched spans, stained-glass windows, the floor is paved with mosaic tiles. In front of the building there is a monument in honor of Queen Victoria.
A Victorian style building of Sydney City Hall, built of sandstone. The city administration is located here. This is the only historical civil structure that has fully preserved its appearance since the 19th century. Before the appearance of the Sydney Opera House, the City Hall housed the City Concert Hall. The building is listed as a National Monument in Australia.
Observatory of the mid-19th century, where the oldest telescope in the country (made in 1874) is located. In the 80s. XX century, the observatory turned into a museum, where the latest instruments for studying the starry sky are exhibited. Also on the territory of the observatory there is a 3D cinema and a lecture hall. The building of the observatory itself is of historical value and is considered a national monument.
The trading floor was founded in 1945. In terms of size and variety of seafood delicacies, it is second only to the fish market in Tokyo. Here you can taste the products in a cafe or buy something for yourself at home. Delicious dishes are prepared right in front of customers. In addition to fish and seafood, the market stalls sell wine, cheese and various sauces.
Sydney Catholic Cathedral, which has the status of "minor basilica". The construction of the temple began in the first half of the 19th century, and was completed only in the 2000s. The cathedral is a typical English Gothic church. Until 1820, Catholics were prohibited from practicing their religion, but after the declaration of freedom of religion, the efforts of the local community laid the foundation stone for the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary.
Anglican Temple, built in 1868. The architectural style of the building imitates the medieval English style. The cathedral really looks against the background of modern buildings as if it was built several centuries ago. The temple is the oldest in Australia. A huge organ is installed inside, which is considered one of the largest in the world.
Tallest building in Sydney (309 meters high). The structure is not a broadcasting tower, it is just a popular tourist attraction. There are two observation platforms - stationary at an altitude of 250 meters, and retractable at an altitude of 268 meters. Also, for the convenience of tourists, inside the tower there are restaurants, cafes, shops, convenient places for recreation.
A former prison where dangerous criminals were held awaiting execution. Later in the 19th century, defensive structures were erected here to protect against a possible attack from the sea (they were mainly feared by the American and Russian navies). Nowadays, the fort is included in the territory of the National Park, there are museum expositions inside.
A bench in a rock on the shore of the bay, where at the beginning of the 19th century the wife of the local governor, Elizabet Macquarie, loved to relax. This location offers the best views of Sydney Harbor, downtown areas and suspension bridges. The Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge are on one side, the picturesque mountains and quaint coastline of the bay on the other.
The zoo is located in the suburb of Mosman in the north of Sydney Harbor. It arose in 1908 on an area of \u200b\u200b17 hectares. Now the zoo is home to 2.6 thousand animals, making it one of the largest zoological gardens in the world. The rich fauna of the Australian continent and the southern seas is represented here: emu, kangaroo, platypus, wombat, wallaby, koala, leopard seal, sea lion, penguins and other animals.
Garden and city park located near the Sydney CBD. It is surrounded by attractions: Sydney Opera House, National Library, Parliament Building. The history of the park began with a small agricultural farm organized in 1788 under the Governor of New South Wales A. Philippe. For several decades, gardeners were engaged in the arrangement of the territory, after which the Botanical Garden appeared.
City Park, appeared in 1810 under the governor L. Macquarie. It has a rectangular shape and covers an area of \u200b\u200b16 hectares. The park is home to several hundred trees, gardens, flower beds and promenades. The place was named by analogy with London's Hyde Park, apparently to remind the colonists of a distant homeland that remained far beyond the ocean.
A picturesque city park open to celebrate Australia's 200th anniversary. The Garden of Friendship is a classic example of the imperial landscape design of the Middle Kingdom. The same plan was used in the past to create gardens for the rulers of China. There are no flower beds, flower beds and even lawns, but real corners of wildlife have been created, harmoniously diluted with bridges, gazebos and stone statues.
A nature reserve located in the as yet unoccupied areas of Sydney Harbor (Port Jackson). It includes a coastline, small islets and rocky peninsulas that are generously strewn with the coast. In the park, you can go on a guided tour with an Aboriginal guide, enjoy water sports, view ancient indigenous rock paintings, or enjoy the beautiful beaches.
The beach is located in the North East of Sydney. It is a wide strip of the purest golden sand and azure water. Manly is very popular with surfers, athletes and lovers of boarding from all over the world come here. A strip of hotels has been built along the coast; guests are served by restaurants, bars and cafes. The beach is municipal, so admission is free for everyone.
The most popular city beach located in the suburbs. After the end of World War II, emigrants from Eastern Europe settled in this place, therefore, throughout the 20th century, Bondi was considered a working-class area. Not all of the beach area is safe for swimming, some parts are only open for surfing. Sharks often hunt in coastal waters in summer.
Sydney is considered one of the most glamorous and attractive places on earth. The city has already received the status of "The most beautiful city in the world" several times in a row, and in 2000 the Summer Olympics were held here. What makes Sydney so attractive is its magnificent coastline, fringed with luxurious palm trees and white yachts, and numerous clean beaches.
The current population of Sydney includes over 200 nationalities and bearers of different cultures. That is why you can immediately feel at home here. Sydney gives joyful emotions and self-confidence, perhaps this is the reason why the most talented and wealthy people strive here. Walking the streets of the city, you can easily meet a celebrity and even feel like one of them!
Climate and weather
The seasons in Sydney, as in the whole of Australia, are directly opposite to those in Europe: summer falls in winter, although even in winter it is not cold at all and the sun is constantly shining.
Sydney has a warm subtropical climate with many sunny days. The average annual temperature is around 18-26 ° C. The warmest month is January (26.8 ° C) and the coldest month is July (17.2 ° C). The average water temperature in the ocean is 22.6 ° C in summer and 18 ° C in winter.
The city can be visited literally all year round, since it is not cold at all even in winter (June-August).
Nature
Sydney is located in the southeastern part of Australia in the Gulf Port jackson... In the west, the city is bordered by the Blue Mountains, and in the east - by the Pacific Ocean, and its coast is indented by numerous bays.
Bay Port Jackson including sydney Harbor, is the largest natural harbor in the world. North of Sydney is a scenic Hawkesbury river, in the south lies voronor plateau.
sights
Sydney was founded in 1788 and its earliest citizens were convicts. Two centuries later, the city has become a huge metropolis, home to approximately 20% of the population of all Australia. The main symbol of the city and a masterpiece of modern architecture is the Sydney Opera House. At first glance, the ultra-modern huge building may remind many of an incompletely peeled futuristic orange. Every self-respecting tourist strives to get to this theater, regardless of his love for opera.
The famous bridge is also amazing and breathtaking. Harbor bridgeconnecting the shores of the Gulf of Sydney. After the opening of the Sydney Opera House, the bridge hanging over the bay was jokingly nicknamed by the Sydney people "a clothes hanger" for its peculiar shape.
The Royal Botanic Garden is also interesting, almost all of the plants of which, like most of the city's inhabitants, are immigrants who have perfectly taken root in the friendly and hospitable land of Australia. And you can look at the rich underwater world of the Australian coast in the equally famous Sydney Aquarium. It is worth paying attention to the Rocks city quarter, which was originally the site of the very first European settlements in Australia. It houses many restored and recreated houses from that era, as well as the oldest pub in the country, Lord Nelson.
World famous is Sydney bondi Beachwhere shots of many famous films were filmed. The windsurfing festival is held here every year, during which the water rescue service puts on an exciting demonstration show.
There is a nature reserve 40 km from Sydney with wild animals living here in their natural environment. Here tourists have the opportunity to calmly feed the giraffe and kangaroo, as well as take a photo with the koala, the famous symbol of Australia. And if you go even further, you can visit the Blue Mountains National Park. This natural oasis has preserved the most ancient forests, the age of their trees reaches 2000 years. The park got its name from the color of the haze that forms over the luxurious eucalyptus forests, which more than three million tourists come to see every year.
Nutrition
Fish and other seafood are an integral part of the Sydney menu. The waters surrounding the city are home to a huge variety of fish and invertebrates. Sydney's favorite dish is salmon marinated in lime juice, served with baked tomatoes. Also in many restaurants you can try: eels, green oysters, mussels and crayfish.
Permanent menu items in any Sydney restaurant are meat pie (puff pie with filling), marsupial steak (made from kangaroo meat) and brains in red wine. As a dessert, it is imperative to note the signature dish. Pavlovawhich consists of creamy kiwi and meringue slices.
Australia is famous all over the world for its excellent wines. Of these, the most famous is wine Shirazand Semillon», Which can be tasted in almost any restaurant in the city. In addition, in Sydney hotels (pubs) you can taste Australian beers ( Fosters, Coopersand etc.).
Accommodation
Australia is not a very cheap country and it can be difficult to find inexpensive housing here. Hostels (from $ 30) are considered the cheapest accommodation option in Sydney. Apart from the reasonable price, their advantage is their location in the city center. YHA is considered the most famous chain of hostels in Sydney, offering comfortable rooms and professional service.
Also, the city is full of all kinds of hotels and hotels of different price categories. The most prestigious and expensive hotels in the city are the Shangri-La Hotel 5 *, InterContinental Sydney 5 * and many others. Cheaper hotels are more often located outside the central part of the city, and their rates are much lower ( Base sydney and etc.).
The most democratic option for living can be accommodation in campsites and caravan parks (from $ 75), of which there are quite a few within the city - Campgrounds Lane Cove River Caravan Park, BIG4 Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park, Sydney Family Holiday Accommodation and etc.
In addition, in Sydney there is always the opportunity to rent an apartment, studio or furnished room (from $ 600 per week).
Entertainment and recreation
Sydney is renowned throughout the world for its vibrant and vibrant nightlife. Some lovers of nightlife don't even go to bed after a sleepless night. The most famous and fashionable place in the city is the luxurious Black Market Night Club. Jazz lovers gather at night at Real Al Cafe and Harborside Brasserie. In general, the City district is the dream of fans of nightlife, where there are innumerable nightlife spots and bars. The area of \u200b\u200bKing's Cross is also popular, although it does not have the best reputation, but this gives it a peculiar zest.
Sydney also attracts a large number of beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The most popular beaches are Googee, Bronte, Callory and Palm Beach. In these places, ideal conditions for recreation and water sports are created, diving schools are working. For climbers in Sydney, a decent entertainment is also provided: climbing the giant Sydney Bridge.
In addition, various cultural and sports events are held in Sydney all year round - various festivals, gastronomic competitions, yacht races and many other interesting entertainment. The main cultural events of the city are the Sydney Festival, which includes opera and theater productions, and the Sydney Film Festival. The city also hosts the most massive festival of sexual minorities - Mardi Grass.
Purchases
In Sydney, there are entire chains of shopping and entertainment centers and large stores. The most famous shopping center chain is Westfield Shopping Centers, where shops and boutiques of various companies are represented. David Jones and Mayer's are no less popular.
The most elite shopping destination is the Queen Victoria Building, which amazes not only with its brilliant interior decoration, but also incredibly high prices. Every January, the most luxurious Christmas tree in the city is installed here. Another historic building and shopping center rolled into one is the pretentious Passage Strand.
Souvenirs and things in Sydney are best bought at Peddy's Market, which usually only works on weekends. It is there that a variety of inexpensive cute trinkets are sold. Sydney's most unusual souvenir is kangaroo scrotum openers and key rings. The most expensive souvenirs of the city are opal jewelry.
Other interesting places to shop include shops on Crown Street and King Street, where you can find interior items, retro items and luxury clothing.
Transport
In Sydney, as in any metropolis, urban public transport is well developed. A huge number of buses run in the city (from $ 2), however, a characteristic feature of Sydney is traffic jams during rush hours. Therefore, it is much faster and more convenient to travel on the metro, which is called the train here. It is located underground and consists of double-decker trains with 6-8 carriages. The fare in the train is quite high and depends on the type of ticket and the distance of the trip.
There is only one tram line in Sydney (Sydney light rail), it passes through several city blocks. The city also has an ultra-modern mode of transport - Monorail (monorail). It consists of a small round-shaped train that travels on rails located about five meters above the streets. In addition, the townspeople actively use numerous water transport.
In addition to all of the above, double-decker tourist (sightseeing) buses run around the city every 25 minutes. A complete such route, including stops, will take about 1.5 hours, the cost of the trip ranges from $ 25.
Communication
Calls to Sydney can be made from public telephones that are located throughout the city. Calls within Australia cost 0.3 €. Also, you can make international calls from the machines. For convenience, telephone cards are sold in shops and newspaper agencies.
Cellular communications throughout Australia operate on GSM standards. Therefore, you can use roaming or buy a sim card in any mobile phone store (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and Orange one).
Sydney has a variety of internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots (some are free). Also, large hotels provide their guests with Internet access.
Safety
Sydney is considered an absolutely safe city, and there is practically no street crime here. There are even cases when people return wallets to those who have lost them with significant amounts, without taking a cent from there.
In general, in Sydney it is not people who should be afraid, but sharks, several people die here every year. Therefore, it is necessary to swim only in specially designated places and not to swim far, in this case no danger threatens. It is also better to take care of sunblock in advance, as the sun in Sydney is very active.
Business climate
Sydney is ranked in the top five in the world as the best place to start and do business. The most developing and profitable industries are mining and chemical, as well as housing construction, telecommunications systems, programming and various types of tourism and services.
Australia has developed a special business immigration program that stimulates the flow of business people and businessmen who can enrich the country's economy through linking with international markets, exporting goods and services, creating jobs and producing new goods.
The property
Today Sydney is not only the largest city in Australia, but also one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the world. Property prices here began to rise sharply since the 90s, peaked in 2003, and then dropped by about 6%. At the moment, many analysts are predicting a possible sharp increase in 2013-2014. This is facilitated by the constant migration to Australia and the decline in construction volumes.
In general, housing in Sydney is always more expensive than in other cities in Australia. By the end of last year, the average cost of a home in the city was $ 600,000, higher than in the capital.
Australia has a tax refund service (approximately 12%) on goods purchased in the country. In this case, it is necessary that their total cost is at least $ 300, and transportation is carried out in hand luggage. To receive compensation in the store, upon purchase, you need to take a special check and, already at the airport, contact one of the Tourist Refund Scheme branches, present your passport, check, product and international ticket.
Building
The building was designed in 1970, and its construction lasted for 6 years, from 1975 to 1981. The unique project cost AU $ 36 million. The main architect of the building was Donald Krohn. At that time, the Sydney Tower was the tallest building not only in Australia, but in the entire Southern Hemisphere. Only in 1997, the New Zealand Sky Tower broke its record.
The original height of the Sydney Tower was 305 meters. In 1998, a lightning rod was added to the top of the spire, after which it grew to 309 meters. The strong concrete structure is stabilized by 56 cables stretched around the tower shaft.
The natives of Sydney call the tower the Centerpoint. This is not surprising, because it was officially named so in the first years after construction. Then the facade of the building was decorated with the abbreviation AMP, and the Central Point was renamed the AMP Tower. After the Westfield Group acquired the tower in December 2001, it became known as Sydney Tower.
Tourists
Like most high-rise structures of this kind, the Sydney Tower, in addition to its main functions - television and radio broadcasts, is a popular entertainment center, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
The tower has 3 main sections:
- Closed observation deck at an altitude of 250 meters. From it comes a luxurious 360-degree view. On the observation deck there is a small souvenir shop and a scoreboard where you can always find out the state of the tower, wind speed and atmospheric pressure.
- Open area with glass floor - Skywalk platform. It is located 18 meters above the closed observation deck. Her visit is included in special tours, which may also include a virtual trip across Australia - Oz Trek.
- Restaurant for 220 people. It is located under the main observation deck. More than 185 thousand people visit it annually, of which at least 50 thousand are foreigners.
These sections together form the “Golden Basket” - an 8-storey glass tower that gives the entire structure a graceful, memorable silhouette.
The tower has a maximum capacity of 960 people. The rise is carried out by 3 double-decker high-speed elevators, which can take visitors to the observation deck in 40 seconds. As an alternative to the elevator, you can climb the stairs, consisting of 1,054 steps.
By the way, the championship in high-speed climbing to the top of the tower is held here annually. The record, set in 1998, is 6 minutes 52 seconds and has not yet been broken.
The Tower of Sydney houses a wide variety of shops offering interesting goods and themed souvenirs to tourists. Sometimes the tower is used to launch fireworks, and on Christmas and New Year's holidays it is beautifully illuminated with colorful lights.
Sydney Tower is open daily from 9:00 am to 10:30 pm. The ticket price for an adult is $ 25, for a child - $ 15. Discounts are provided for students and seniors.