Travel to Australia

Day 6 Sydney

We arrived in Sydney after about 11 hours of train, and after leaving our luggage in the Backpacker, the first idea we had was to go on a must-see visit, the Opera House, probably the most famous building in Australia. Sydney is the oldest city in Australia, with more than 3 million inhabitants.

Sydney Bay divides the city into two zones, North and South Sydney, connected by the Harbor Bridge and an underwater tunnel. The charismatic Harbor Bridge, in the opposite direction of Circular Quay, crosses the city since 1932. When it was built, it was the largest arch bridge in the world. In November 1998, Bridge Climb began its advertising campaign to bring small groups. There is an observation point inside the southern pylon of the bridge where, in addition to enjoying the views of the port, you can study a photographic exhibition about the history of the bridge.

At the southern end of the Sydney Inlet, Circular Quay is the starting point for the port and river ferries (next to the skyscrapers of the financial center). While walking you have to look at the plates engraved on the pavement in Writer's Walk, which offer an introduction to the canons of Australian literature. In this area you can visit some of the best museums in Sydney, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Justice and Police Museum, or the Customs House that was first built in 1845 and redesigned in 1885 by the colonial architect James Barnet, who gave it his current classical renaissance facade. The next thing to do is embark on a tourist cruise or enjoy a ferry ride through the harbour.

The Sydney Opera House is located by the water, at Bennelong Point, adjacent to Circular Quay. The best way to admire it is in profile, when its very high white roofs evoke at the same time boat sails and white shells. As you approach, you can see that the effect is created with carefully fitted white tiles. Inside the shell there is a large Concert Hall, a smaller hall, Opera Theater, and two theaters, the Drama Theater and the Playhouse, as well as restaurants, bars, a cinema, a gallery of aboriginal artists and a library. The building is especially amazing when it is illuminated and, once accessed inside, the large windows are the protagonists.

The project of its construction generated a lot of controversy during its long planning, the result of a contest in the late fifties, until it was completed in 1973. For 16 years, the construction was plagued with fights and scandals, to the point that the Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who won the contest at the age of 38, was forced to leave the project, in 1966, after 9 years of work. After going through three architects and after 7 years later, the interior was completed, although it has always been believed that the acoustics were not perfect, despite the investment of 102 million dollars (more than ten times the estimated price).

The Rocks, just under the bridge, is the heart of historic Sydney. On this rocky cliff the establishment of Sydney Town was proclaimed in 1788, the first permanent European settlement in Australia. Today, the restored old town is one of Sydney's main tourist attractions and is worth exploring. The best place to start your tour of The Rocks is Sailor´s Home, at 106 George St, built in 1864 to offer decent accommodations to visiting sailors. Today it has become the Sydney Visitor Center.

The small sandstone house, located next to the Visitor Center, at 110 George St, is Cadman's Cottage, the oldest private house still preserved in Sydney, built in 1816 for John Cadman, a former convict. Beyond the Millers Point docks serves as a reminder of how The Rocks used to be. There are also elegant areas, such as the Observatory Hotel, on Kent Street; However, the traditional neighborhood pubs and the terraced houses on the hill remind of the vulgar atmosphere typical of the whole area. Another attraction in the neighborhood is the Italian-style astronomical observatory located at the top of the hill. The best thing about The Rocks is to explore the narrow alleys hidden in the original rocky spur, a journey full of discoveries that requires going up and down several stairs and levels. Among the ships is a replica of Captain Bligh's ship, the Bounty.

After taking a ferry we arrive at Darling Harbor, which combines walking trails, gardens, museums, an aquarium, a convention center, a casino and places to eat and drink. The most important points are the Sydney Acquarium, the maritime museum, the water sculpture, the Chinese Garden, the IMAX cinema, the Sega World theme park and the nearby Powerhouse Museum, one of the most spectacular in the city. It also highlights the monorail that crosses the harbour and that can bring us closer to the city center.

Finally, and at the end of the day, we will have dinner at the nearby Chinatown, where Dixon Street Mall is the main street, full at all times of people who go to the many restaurants, pubs, cafes, cinemas, food stalls and Asian grocery stores.