Australia Travel Destinations

Sydney Opera House

The Opera House is one of Sydney’s most popular icons with tourists and travellers from the world over visiting, photographing and standing in awe of the cultural centre of Sydney. It is located on the Circular Quay. Completed in 1973, the Sydney Opera House was designed by Joern Utzon. The first public performance being Prokofiev’s ‘War and Peace’, and the acoustics are fabulous. From outside the Sydney Opera House looks remarkable and if you get up close you will be able to see several of the million or so ceramic tiles which cover the Sydney Opera House shells.

The Opera House features:
The Mikado
The Australian Ballet
Australian Chamber Orchestra
The Bell Shakespeare Company
Ensemble Theatre
Musica Viva Australia
Musica Viva Australia
Opera Australia
Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Festival
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
Sydney Symphony
Sydney Theatre Company

How to get there
Getting to the Sydney Opera is easy as it’s located right on the water and surrounded by many of the main attractions of Sydney.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (Sydney’s greatest tourism icon) – on a par with San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, New York’s Statue of Liberty, London’s Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower in Paris – took eight years to build and opened in March 1932. Once nicknamed the ‘coathanger’ it is now simply called ‘the bridge’ by Sydneysiders.

Linking the city with North Sydney, it carries eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks which form part of the city’s rail suburban network.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened on March 19th 1932 after six years of construction. The bridge is made of 53000 tons of steel and contains 6 million hand driven rivets. The surface area that requires painting is equal to about the surface area of 60 sports fields. The Bridge has huge hinges to absorb the expansion caused by the hot Sydney sun. You will see them on either side of the bridge at the footings of the Pylons. Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest (but not longest) steel arch bridge, and, in its beautiful harbour location, has become a renowned international symbol of Australia.

Sydney Aquarium

Sydney Aquarium lies to the eastern edge of Darling Harbour and closer to the heart of the city, is one of Sydney’s most accessible popular attractions. The Aquarium has more than 650 species comprising more than 11,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures. The Sydney Aquarium is dedicated to the animals welfare and it is for that reason the Aquarium does not support the notion of animal shows, in particular performances and feeding times. Some animals are trained by keepers, but it is for animal husbandry purposes only. Similarly, animals are fed when needed, not according to a time table. At different times of the year, animals’ food intakes can change.

Directions and Location:
The aquarium is conveniently located in the heart of Darling Harbour (just a 5 minute walk from downtown Sydney)
WALKING: Within minutes of the city, use Market St or King St access
BUS: Sydney Explorer Bus Stop 21
FERRY: Ferries from Circular Quay
MONORAIL: Darling Park Station
TRAIN: Town Hall Station

Time:
The Sydney Aquarium is open from 9:00am until 10:00pm

Oceanworld, Manly

Oceanworld Manly features a vast array of marine life and the city’s largest sharks! Boasting three levels, the main aquarium is on the lower level where you’ll come face-to-face with giant SHARKS and stingrays in a walk-through 110 meter long acrylic tunnel. Be intrigued by some of the world’s most venomous sea creatures and discover the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef display with its stunning backdrop of vibrant colors and 100+ species of unique corals and tropical fish!

There is always something happening at Oceanworld Manly!

Oceanworld is also home to some of Australia’s DEADLIEST animals! Daily shows and guided tours allow you to get up close and personal to the dangerous, deadly and often misunderstood Australian wildlife. Interact with crabs, sea urchins, star fish and more at the touch-pool and meet baby Port Jackson Sharks at the Shark Shallows.

Operating Hours: Oceanworld Manly opens daily from 10:00am to 5:30pm (except Christmas Day).
Average Time Required: It is recommended to set aside a minimum 60 – 90 minutes.

The Domain, Art Gallery & Botanic Gardens

The Domain is a large grassy area east of Macquarie St which was set aside by Governor Phillip for public recreation. Today it is used by city workers for lunchtime sports and as a place to escape the bustle of the city. On Sunday afternoons, it’s the gathering place for impassioned soapbox speakers, who do their best to entertain or enrage their listeners. It is also the venue for free events held during the festival of Sydney in January and the popular Carols by Candlelight at Christmas. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is in the northeast corner of the Domain. It has excellent permanent exhibitions of Australian, European, Japanese and tribal art, and has some inspired temporary exhibits.

The Royal Botanic Gardens encompass Farm Cove, the first bay east of Circular Quay, and include the site of the colony’s first vegetable patch. They contain a magnificent collection of South Pacific plant life, tropical displays in the Arc and Pyramid glasshouses, and a beautiful, old-fashioned formal Rose Garden. The spectacularly located gardens are a favoured spot for family picnics and wedding photographs.

Taronga Park Zoo

Taronga Zoo is the Australia’s leading zoological garden. It features Australia’s finest collection of native animals and a diverse collection of exotic species. The Taronga Zoo has its own jetty and you are able step off the boat and walk directly into the zoo. It nestles into bushland surrounding Sydney Harbour, commanding majestic views of the City, Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The animals are housed in sensitive exhibits that are stimulating to the animals concerned.

Bondi Beach

Australias most famous beach, is located in the suburb of Bondi, in the Municipality of Waverley, seven kilometres from the centre of Sydney. Bondi is believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning the sound of breaking waves. There are Aboriginal Rock carvings on the northern end of the beach at Ben Buckler and south of Bondi Beach near McKenzies Beach on the coastal walk. Bondi Beach is approximately one kilometre long. The width of Bondi Beach averages 50m at the north end, widening out to 100m at the south end. It is the widest beach in the Sydney region. The average water temperature at Bondi Beach in summer is 21 degrees. The average water temperature in September/October is 16 degrees. A shark net is laid about 150m off the beach, set in 8m of water. (There has been no shark fatality since 1937). At the southern end of the beach is the Bondi Baths, which are over 100 years old and have been used by the famous Bondi Icebergs for many years. At the northern end of the beach there is the Childrens Wading Pool and the Wally Weekes Pool. Swimming areas are designated by red and yellow flags, which are moved according to surf conditions. The northern end and the centre of the beach is usually the safest for swimming. The south end of the beach is available for board riders who are not permitted to go into the areas set aside for swimmers.

Life Guards & Life Savers
Waverley Council employs professional lifeguards to protect visitors at Bondi. These professional lifeguards wear blue uniforms and work 365 days a year.

Buildings on the Beach
Bondi Pavilion: the Pavilion, designed in Mediterranean Georgian Revival style was opened in 1929 and built at a cost of 100,000. Among the other pavilions erected at this time, such as those at Balmoral and Cronulla, Bondi is unique as the grandest. (When woollen swimwear was replaced by synthetics which dried quickly swimmers no longer required these changing pavilions.) In the 1970s when no longer needed as a bathers pavilion it was adapted to become the Bondi Pavilion Community Cultural Centre with art gallery, theatre, classes and other cultural activities. A caf/gelateria, restaurant and a souvenir shop also operate out of the Pavilion.

Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club: the club was founded in 1906. Members claim the Bondi Surf Club is the oldest in Australia. The present club house was opened in 1934.

North Bondi Surf Club: the club was founded in 1907. The present Club House, situated to the north of the Bondi Surf Club was opened in 1932. With great views of the beach!!

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is the most beautiful natural harbour in the world. There are infinite opportunities to walk, eat and relax throughout the harbour; along the waterfront and amidst the many parks and reserves along the way. The best way of seeing the harbour is to be on it and that’s easy to do. Sydney Ferries, which are also government run, provide an inexpensive way of seeing the most beautiful harbour in the world.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge constructed in 1924 which took 1500 men eight years to build at a cost of 4.25 million. Six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction. It now carries eight traffic lanes and two rail lines, one in each direction, but at the time of its construction the two eastern lanes were tram tracks. They were converted to road traffic when Sydney closed down its tram system in the 1950s. Before it opened, its entire length was packed with railway carriages, trams and buses to test its ability to support a total traffic jam. It was designed to withstand winds of 200 kilometres and hour, which are cyclonic (hurricane) in force and have never been recorded in Sydney.

The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is also a well known attraction of the Harbour. It was built to cope with ever increasing harbour traffic problems and opened in August 1992 . It is 2.3 kilometres long and cost A$554 million to construct. It is strong enough to withstand the impact of eathquakes and sinking ships. It carries around 75,000 vehicles a day.

Sydney Harbour Attractions

Zoopass
This all-in-one pass includes the return ferry trip from Circular Quay to Taronga, Zoo entry, sky safari ride and bus connection to main entry gate.

Aquariumpass
Sydney Aquarium is located next to the Darling Harbour wharf.
This pass combines entry and return ferry.

Manly
Manly is one of the most popular beaches in Australia and a short walk from Manly Wharf.

Darling Harbour/Pyrmont Bay
If you’re looking for somewhere to go for the day, Darling Harbour has plenty to offer, and we can get you there with services running regularly from Circular Quay.

Sydney Aquarium, Maritime Museum, IMAX Theatre, Star City Casino, Cockle Bay, the King Street Wharf precinct and the Chinese Gardens are all within walking distance.

Balmain
This quiet, charming harbour-side village is just the place to go with Saturday markets, traditional pubs, contemporary art galleries and cool cafes.

Sydney Harbour North
We can take you to places many locals haven’t even been to including Mosman, North Sydney, Luna Park, and Neutral Bay. Neutral Bay is where you will find ‘Admiralty House’, the official home of the Governor General. It offers walks alongside the Harbour and some of the most exclusive views in Australia. Mosman is one of the most exclusive suburbs in Sydney with sweeping views of the Sydney CBD skyline.

Eastern Suburbs
Watsons Bay is home to the world-famous Doyles Seafood Restaurant and some of the best fish & chips in Sydney at the Watsons Bay Hotel. Our service will drop you at their front door. It’s a short walk from there to the spectacular views from Sydney Harbour’s South Head. This service also stops at Double Bay, with some of the most exclusive shopping in Sydney.

Parramatta River
Our popular Parramatta River Services are something out of the ordinary.
Parramatta is full of culture, historic Sydney architecture and plenty of great places to eat.
A single trip takes around 50 minutes.

Harbour Sights Cruise Passes
Experience the natural beauty of Sydney Harbour and Sydney’s stunning skyline on the Sydney Ferries Harbour Sights Cruise. Our Cruise Ferries depart Circular Quay in the morning, afternoon and evening – and provide an interesting commentary about the Harbour and its many attractions.