Attractions in Sydney

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Circular Quay
(02) 9250-7111
Australia's most instantly recognized and enduring symbol, the Sydney Opera House appears to sail the harbor on billowing white wings. A world-class cultural center, the Opera House also hosts the city's symphony orchestra, ballet, dance and drama, and offers free concerts most Sunday afternoons along the outer walk. Hour-long walking tours are available on the half-hour, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.

Royal Botanical Gardens
The Domain
(02) 9231-8125
Cost: Free except for special exhibits
Hours: Daily 7 a.m. to sunset
Originally established as a farm by convicts transported to Australia by the First Fleet, the Royal Botanical Gardens is a lush grove of botanical wonders situated beside picturesque Sydney Harbor. A Tropical Center features the exploits of the Venus flytrap and other intriguing tropical plants that live in the glass-house environment (A$5 adults, A$2 children, A$12 family). Pungent plantings populate the Herb Garden.

Bondi Beach
Campbell Parade, Bondi
Cost: Free
Pronounced bon-die, this magnificent stretch of sand is Sydney's most famous beach, the place to see and be seen either from the sand or from one of the many hip cafes across the street. Prepare for a carnival atmosphere as tourists and locals alike flock to Bondi for an anything-goes frolic in the sun.

Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery Road, The Domain
(02) 9225-1744
Cost: Free, except for special exhibits
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Featuring some of the finest Australian works, the museum is particularly proud of its display of Aboriginal art. The permanent collection also includes European, Asian and contemporary art and photography, as well as ever-changing special exhibits.

Star City Casino
80 Pyrmont Street
Sydney NSW2009
Located at the eastern end of Darling Harbour, Star City Hotel Casino Sydney is a part of the huge Entertainment and Shopping complex. The property is 10 minutes walk across Pyrmont Bridge, from the city as well as 5 minutes walk to Darling Harbour shops and entertainment complex. Star City complex itself houses the casino, a theatre, shops and restaurants.

Star City is New South Wales' only casino and is Sydney's premier 24 hour entertainment facility located on the shores of Sydney Harbour, enjoying sweeping views of the harbour and city skyline. Star City has a huge TAB lounge and sports bar, Star Keno and 200 gaming tables featuring popular games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, Mini Baccarat, Sic Bo, Big Wheel, Caribbean Stud Poker, Pai Gow and Pontoon.

Star City Complex
The Lyric Theatre is located at the eastern end of the Star City complex.
Since opening in November 1997, the Lyric Theatre has presented a wide range of leading local and international entertainment events. With its superb acoustics and intimate design, audiences at the Lyric Theatre have enjoyed concerts by some of the world's leading entertainers. The Lyric boasts an enormous stage and orchestra pit, and is acclaimed as the best commercial theatre in Australia for musicals, theatre, opera and ballet.

The Australian Museum
6 College Street
(02) 9320-6000
Admission charged. Hours: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This natural history museum traces Australia's rich culture over tens of thousands of years. Its Aboriginal section explores the impact of white society on the first Australians. Other exhibits feature the flora and fauna of Papua New Guinea, native insects and fossils.

Darling Harbor (west)
(02) 9552-7777
Admission charged.
Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

National Maritime Museum
Australia's history is vitally linked to the sea, and the museum explores those connections with its exhibits of antique racing yachts, WWII destroyers and an America's Cup champion. There is a replica of the Ship Endeavor (the ship in which Captain James Cook made his historic voyages in which he charted the waters around New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii)

Powerhouse Museum
500 Harris Street
(02) 9217-0111
Admission charged.
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Housed in the shell of an enormous, abandoned power station, the museum presents more than two dozen exhibits themed around applied art, science and technology. Here, find a whole floor dedicated to steam engines, airplanes, computers and decorative arts. The museum also includes a NASA space station and a 1930s cinema exhibit.

Sydney Harbor Bridge
(02) 9247-3408
Admission charged for Pylon Tower
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Completed in 1932, this bridge remains an engineering feat even today. At 1,650 feet, the bridge is the city's most-revered landmark after the Sydney Opera House. Affectionately called "The Coat Hanger," the bridge contains 8 vehicle lanes, 2 railroad tracks, a cycleway and a walkway. The southeast column of the bridge contains a museum that documents the bridge's construction; walk 200 steps up the Pylon Tower for a magnificent view of the harbor and cityscape beyond.

The Sydney Aquarium
Darling Harbor
Admission charged.
Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Home to the most extensive collection of Australian marine life, the Aquarium features crocodiles, seals, fairy penguins and platypuses, as well as an enormous collection of sharks that lurk in its Open Ocean exhibit.