About  Australia

Sydney, Australia
Sydney is one of the world’s greatest cities. Famous for its twin landmarks, the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and for its spectacular success in hosting the 2000 Olympic Games, it has consistently been ranked among the world’s Top Ten Cities in terms of both tourist destinations and quality of living.

Sydney is Australia’s oldest and biggest city (with an approximate population of 4.4 miilion people) as well as its financial and tourism capital. Built around the breathtaking Sydney Harbour, it is surrounded by beaches to the east and National Parks to the north, west and south. Sydney is one of the most diverse cities in the world, which reflects its role as a major destination for immigrants to Australia. It enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters. International students frequently comment on what a safe, clean, and friendly city it is.

With people from over 180 countries living here, it is little wonder that Sydney offers food-lovers such a dazzling array of international cuisine. From pie carts and food courts to fine restaurants and dinner cruises on the harbour, Sydney offers epicurean delights to suit every budget! The high quality of cuisine on offer owes much to the fresh produce available from food markets including the famous Fish Market in Pyrmont and Paddy’s Market in Chinatown, as well as countless specialty shops selling exotic imported foodstuffs. Of course supermarkets stock a wide range of goods and most are open for extended hours, often until midnight. Most shops are open from about 9am to 5.30pm. On Thursday nights most shops stay open until 9pm.

Aussies love the Great Outdoors, especially the beach and Sydneysiders are no exception. Sydney has more than 70 beaches and swimmers, surfers, and sunworshippers flock to them on the weekends, especially when the sun is shining – which is most of the time! There are also numerous parks, swimming pools, and other sporting facilities where residents and visitors alike can enjoy fresh air and exercise.

If you feel the need to escape from the city, you can take a day trip to the Blue Mountains to the west and enjoy their spectacular scenery, or explore Botany Bay and the Royal National Park to the south, or Pittwater and Kuringai Chase to the north. And beyond the confines of the city, the Outback beckons: Ayer’s Rock (Uluru), the Great Barrier Reef, and Australia’s other natural wonders are easily accessible through a variety of transport connections from Sydney.