Sydney is Australia's largest and oldest city, located on the Pacific coast in New South Wales. Founded by the British in 1788 as the continent's first penal settlement, it developed over the following two centuries into the country's most important economic and cultural center, even though Canberra is the official capital.
Pearl of the Pacific Harbour
Two unforgettable landmarks dominate Sydney's harbour front: the Sydney Opera House, with its distinctive white sails, completed in 1973 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the massive steel Sydney Harbour Bridge connecting the two sides of the bay. Beautiful sandy beaches surround the city, the most famous being Bondi Beach, a favorite destination for surfers.
- The Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO-listed architectural masterpiece
- Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the world's largest steel arch bridges
- Bondi Beach, world-famous for surfing
- Taronga Zoo, overlooking the harbour
Sydney is a leading financial center in the Asia-Pacific region and hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics. The city is known for its high quality of life and mild climate, making it one of the world's most attractive destinations for migrants and visitors alike.
