Sydney is Australia’s largest city and one of the most important ports in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s also the capital of the state of New South Wales. Sydney is built on low hills surrounding a wonderful harbor on Australia’s southeastern coast. Its beaches are very popular, especially for surfing. And in 2000 the city hosted the Summer Olympic Games.
Sydney Cove is the small sheltered inlet where Australia’s first permanent European settlement began. It is used to be Sydney’s shipping center, andits old landing place (or quay) is now a tourist center called Circular Quay. The quay has many walkways, cafés, parks, and docks for the ferries that crisscross the harbor. The nearby Sydney Opera House has a glittering white roof that looks like seashells. Besides opera, the Opera House presents plays, classical music concerts, ballets, and films. Darling Harbour just west of downtown has an aquarium, museums and gardens. The oldest part of Sydney is called The Rocks. This historic district has cobbled streets lined with housesbuilt by the first British settlers. The Rocks draws crowds of shoppers during the weekend market and has many galleries selling arts and crafts. Here you’ll also find the Museum of Contemporary Art. Macquarie Street is known for its early public buildings. The street is named for the governor who had them built. Landmarks include the Parliament House, Sydney Hospital, the Mint Building (which used to produce money), and the beautiful Hyde Park Barracks (which are used to house soldiers). Nearby, is the large grassy field called the Domain, which was once set aside for public ceremonies, and today provides a place for lunch time, sports and candlelight Christmas carolling.
Sydney is Australia’s largest city and one of the most important ports in the South Pacific Ocean. It’s also the capital of the state of New South Wales. Sydney is built on low hills surrounding a wonderful harbor on Australia’s southeastern coast. Its beaches are very popular, especially for surfing. And in 2000 the city hosted the Summer Olympic Games.
Sydney Cove is the small sheltered inlet where Australia’s first permanent European settlement began. It is used to be Sydney’s shipping center, andits old landing place (or quay) is now a tourist center called Circular Quay. The quay has many walkways, cafés, parks, and docks for the ferries that crisscross the harbor. The nearby Sydney Opera House has a glittering white roof that looks like seashells. Besides opera, the Opera House presents plays, classical music concerts, ballets, and films. Darling Harbour just west of downtown has an aquarium, museums and gardens. The oldest part of Sydney is called The Rocks. This historic district has cobbled streets lined with housesbuilt by the first British settlers. The Rocks draws crowds of shoppers during the weekend market and has many galleries selling arts and crafts. Here you’ll also find the Museum of Contemporary Art. Macquarie Street is known for its early public buildings. The street is named for the governor who had them built. Landmarks include the Parliament House, Sydney Hospital, the Mint Building (which used to produce money), and the beautiful Hyde Park Barracks (which are used to house soldiers). Nearby, is the large grassy field called the Domain, which was once set aside for public ceremonies, and today provides a place for lunch time, sports and candlelight Christmas carolling.