Sydney is, certainly to its residents, one of the world's most beautiful cities. Set on a large harbour it has the natural advantages of walks around the harbour foreshores, spectacular views bayside parks and gardens and the architectural magic of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

The best way to understand the greater Sydney region is to think of it as a huge saucer-like bowl with drowned river valleys in the north (the Hawkesbury River-Broken Bay area), the south (Port Hacking) and in the middle (Sydney Harbour). These three fine waterways were formed during the last ice age when the sea was more than 100 metres lower than its current level. When the sea level rose the river valleys were drowned. These drowned valleys can be easily seen if you fly over the city
 
The centre of the greater metropolitan area is a low-lying plain which stretches west for nearly 50 kilometres until it reaches the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains. The westerly extremity of the city is drained by the Nepean River which flows along the base of the Blue Mountains and joins the Hawkesbury River near Windsor. In turn the Hawkesbury cuts a valley until it reaches the sea at Broken Bay.
Lying to the north and south of the entrance to the harbour are more than twenty excellent beaches all of which are ideal for swimming, surfing and sun-baking in the summer months.

The Harbour Bridge
The Bridge is Australia's most famous and distinctive construction. It took nine years to build, weighs 60 000 tonnes and, at its highest point, is 134 metres above the harbour. The bridge forms a vital link between Sydney's northern and southern suburbs. Prior to its completion people living on the North Shore either caught ferries to the city centre or made the long journey to Parramatta where the harbour could be crossed by a number of small bridges.

The Rocks 
The Rocks remain Sydney's most concentrated area
of historic significance. The Sydney Cove Authority recognises twenty important nineteenth century buildings in the area bound by the Cahill Expressway, Sydney Cove and Cumberland Street.

Circular Quay
Circular Quay is the hub of Sydney. It was the centre of Australia's first European colony and, even today, it is still the place where Sydneysider congregate on special occasions. On a warm, sunny Sydney day there can few greater pleasures than idly wandering around the foreshores of Sydney Cove. Lying at anchor in Campbells Cove is the tall ship Bounty, a faithful replica of Captain Bligh's 18th century vessel which
was built for the Mel Gibson film Mutiny on the Bounty.

Opera House
The actual construction took 14 years and cost over $100 million. The project was funded by a state lottery. The buildings famous 'wings' or 'shells' required extraordinary engineering skills. People often think
of the Sydney Opera House as just a single opera theatre. In fact it has a five theatres - a concert hall, an opera theatre, a drama theatre, a cinema and a recording hall - as well two restaurants, a number of bars, six lounges, a library, five rehearsal studios and 65 dressing rooms.