Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Travel Destination 1
Sydney has a feel to it like no other city - light reflected on water, buildings and bushland fringing the bright blue of the Harbour, ferries busily churning their passage, seagulls squealing, excitement in the air. Local Sydneysiders from all walks of life and visitors from all over the Planet rub shoulders in a good natured lifestyle ... and life is good. Sydney is a wonderful city in which to spend time wandering, discovering the historic nooks and crannies that make it so diverse and interesting. The Rocks Historic Precinct has been marvelously preserved, Circular Quay is a focal point for Sydney Ferries, and the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge dominate the Center of the City.
For more detail, see the Map of Australia Travel Destination Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains, Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory. Also see the Sydney City Map
.
History of Sydney
It was in late January of 1788 that the First fleet under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip landed at Botany Bay, the site of what is today the Sydney International Airport. A few days after arrival, the settlement site was moved north to Port Jackson and established in the area that is today known as The Rocks Historic Precinct. The just over 1,000 settlers, soldiers and convicts in the First Fleet had a hard time of it over the next few years, but from their efforts both Australia and the City of Sydney have established themselves.
Geography of Sydney
Sydney Harbour (Port Jackson) stretches inland from the Pacific Ocean in the east to Paramatta in the west, and is one of the most beautiful and scenic natural harbours in the world. The red dot on the Satellite View is where The Rocks Historic Precinct, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House
are located. The Central Business District of Sydney runs south from the red dot, and Darling Harbour is just to the left (east). Hotels and Accommodation in Sydney that are located in the area put you in a great position to walk to most attractions. For further detail see the Sydney City Map. The yellow dot on the Satellite view is the location of Botany Bay and the Sydney International Airport. Manly Beach is at the top right corner of the Satellite View, and the famous Bondi Beach is on the right, just south of Sydney Heads, the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
The Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains form a barrier between Sydney and the inland plains, and were the first serious barrier to expansion faced by the first settlers. Today they are the western extreme of Sydney and many residents commute to Sydney City. The blue Mountains can be experienced on any number of Blue Mountain Day Tours from Sydney.
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The Hunter Valley Wine Area
Some two hours drive to the north of Sydney lies the Hunter Valley, home of many of Australia's finest wineries. It can be visited on Hunter Valley Day Tours or enjoyed over a longer period staying at one of the Hunter Valley Hotels, Lodges or Retreats.
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Canberra and the Australian Capital Territory
Established in 1908 to provide an Australian Capital City, and to end bickering between Melbourne and Sydney as to which city should have the status, Canberra is a well planned city of about 400,000 people. Dedicated to providing a centre of Government, it reflects its purpose in that it has a high proportion of public servants among its population. It also houses the Australian Federal Parliament, the Australian War Memorial, Australian National University, the National Gallery, the National Museum, the National Library, The Royal Military College Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. Foreign Embassies are located in Canberra, as is the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister. A 20 minute flight from Sydney, and 40 a minute flight from Melbourne, Canberra can also be visited on Day trips from Sydney. If you would like to study Canberra in depth, there are many excellent Canberra Hotels and other accommodation options.
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