Port of Call: Sydney, Australia
Sydney Opera House
As one of the most iconic and most recognizable landmarks of Sydney, the Sydney Opera house welcomes sea travelers to the land “down under.” Located on Bennelong Point, the Opera House serves as an ideal focal point within Sydney’s harbor. This 11-acre architectural wonder boasts amazing views of the harbor. The Opera House offers tours of the building or you could take in a show — the Opera House is comprised of multiple performance venues, so there are always performances to choose from. The Opera House hosts over 1,500 performances a year, making it one of the busiest performance centers in the world!
Sydney Opera House, photo courtesy of wikipedia.com
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Spanning Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour), adjacent to the Opera House is another remarkable Sydney landmark. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the tallest steel arch bridge in the world, rising 134 meters from the water level with eight lanes of traffic, two rail tracks and room for pedestrians and cyclists. An exciting way to experience the Harbour Bridge is by climbing it. A BridgeClimb tour equips you with the necessary gear and outerwear as well as a climb leader to journey to the top of the harbor.
Sydney Harbour Bridge, photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk
Bondi Beach
One of the most visited beaches in Australia, Bondi Beach is located just outside of the city-center of Sydney. The expansive beach area provides plenty of space to spread out—even on crowded days. The excellent surfing conditions make Bondi Beach an excellent place to try surfing—or just watching others surf. For a fun daytime activity try walking from Bondi to Coogee Beach. This beautiful six-kilometer coastal walk offers exceptional views of the Australian cliffs and surf.
If you want to try something off the beaten path, try snorkeling Gordon’s Bay underwater nature trail. This 600 meter underwater trail takes about 40 minutes to complete. An abundance of species can be found throughout the trail, and the trail offers many plaques along the way that provide more information about the environment and sea life.
Bondi Beach, Australia; photo courtesy of wikipedia.org
Sydney Tower
One of the best ways to see all of Sydney is from above in the Sydney Tower. Measuring at 309 meters, it is the tallest structure in the city, and offers amazing views of the city, harbor and beaches. There is even a skywalk — an outdoor 360-degree walkway that encircles the top of the tower. After taking in the city you can dine in the restaurant, Cod & Co, located at the very top of the tower.
Skywalk at Sydney Tower, photo courtesy of www.lonelyplanet.com
