Multicultural wining and dining
Dining out is an essential part of a Sydney city break. Savour the modern Australian mix of French techniques and superb local produce at seductively sleek restaurants lining
Circular Quay. The dining is more relaxed and pan-Asian in inner-east
Surry Hills and
Darlinghurst, where Thai and Malaysian flavours spice the air. In the evenings, find a slinky bar with city views, an old-style corner Sydney hotel or an outdoor terrace by the harbour.
Sydney arts and culture
The
Sydney Opera House is Australia’s premier concert venue for opera, theatre, dance or music. Catch a concert or watch a West End-style show in the suitably dramatic setting of Sydney’s Art Deco theatres. Get the lowdown on Australian art at the
Art Gallery of New South Wales, by the harbour in the Domain, and get a feel for the colonial past in
The Rocks precinct at Circular Quay. Australia’s most dynamic, forward-looking city is also the country’s oldest settlement, with immaculate Georgian buildings and a collection of beautifully restored homes across the city from
Vaucluse to
Elizabeth Bay.
Family fun
Sydney is surrounded by safe
family beaches watched over by lifeguards dressed in red and yellow. Head north to Palm Beach, south to Bondi and Manly, or swim in the calm seawater baths at Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee. The world-class
Powerhouse Museum near Darling Harbour makes history hands-on for kids, and sea creatures swim overhead at the nearby
Aquarium. Animals at
Taronga Zoo have million-dollar city views, and getting there is half the fun by ferry across Sydney Harbour.
