1 Cairns and District, North Queensland
2 The Gold Coast, Queensland
3 The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
4 Great Ocean Road, Victoria
5 Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
6 The Kimberley, Western Australia
7 Blue Mountains, New South Wales
8 Sydney Harbour & Sydney Opera House
9 Tasmania's World Heritage Site
10 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
Complemented by the ethereal, sail-like outlines of the famous Opera House, Sydney Harbour is the glittering jewel of Australia's most exciting city.
From the day in January 1788 when the 11 convict-bearing ships of the First Fleet sailed into Port Jackson, Sydney's harbour has been the focus of this great city. A harbour cruise - be it on a luxury boat or a humble Sydney ferry - is a must. From the water you will see the city, including the large areas of bushland of the Sydney Harbour National Park, from a new perspective. Ferries are also the best way to reach waterfront suburbs and the harbour's delightful beaches. From Circular Quay you can take a trip to the beaches of Manly on the north side of the harbour, or to the charming southside suburb of Watsons Bay, close to the harbour's entrance. Ferries also visit some of the national park's islands, including historic Fort Denison.
On the harbour's southern shore, the curved roofs of the Sydney Opera House soar above Bennelong Point. Completed in 1973, after 14 years and many technical and political problems, this architectural masterpiece, designed by Dane Joern Utzon, still inspires controversy. There is no doubt, however, that the structure's stone platform and dramatic white roofs, covered with over a million ceramic tiles, have made it one of the world's most distinctive buildings. Once you have inspected the exterior, attending a performance or taking a guided tour of the five performance halls is highly recommended. Looming above the magnificent harbour is the third ingredient of this classic Sydney scene - the grand old Sydney Harbour Bridge, completed in 1932 and, with a tunnel opened in 1992, still the major link between the south and north shoresAddress: Sydney Opera House: Bennelong Point
Phone: Sydney Opera House: (02) 9250 7250 for tours; (02) 9250 7777 for details of performances; www.sydneyoperahouse.nsw.gov
Open: Sydney Opera House: guided tours 8:30-5 on most days
Restaurant: Bennelong restaurant (Expensive), cafés (Inexpensive)
Metro: Circular Quay
Accessible: Good
Admission: Moderate-Expensive
Other: Mrs Macquaries Point, The Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens
Practical: Markets on Sun
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