For the 10th consecutive year Sydney has been voted one of the world's best cities (Top 10 Cities Overall) by the international "Travel & Leisure Magazine". It scored an 87 per cent approval rating among travellers and sydney accomadation tourist industry workers. It was fourth after Florence (87.09%), Rome (86.15 %), and sydney accomadation Bangkok (86.11%).
The last two years it has been number one on this list. Judge by yourself and sydney accomadation take a trip to one of the worlds most beautiful cities!
Size
Sydney is one of the largest cities in its land size. It reaches across 1580 square kilometres. This is the same as London and sydney accomadation more than double New York's 780 square kilometres. Amsterdam is 167 square kilometres, and sydney accomadation Paris is a mere 105 square kilometres. There are 1, 426, 266 dwellings in Sydney.
Population
Sydney's population is 3,536,000 people.
Sydney is Australia's oldest city, the economic powerhouse of the nation and sydney accomadation the country's capital in everything but name. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and sydney accomadation daring restaurants, superb shopping and sydney accomadation friendly folk.
Although it's come a long way from its convict beginnings, it still has a rough and sydney accomadation ready energy, and sydney accomadation offers an invigorating blend of the old and sydney accomadation the new, the raw and sydney accomadation the refined. While high culture attracts some to the Opera House, gaudy nightlife attracts others to Kings Cross.
It's a city blessed with long stretches of heavenly beaches, a pleasant climate that sees over 300 sunny days a year, an economy that's stronger than it should be, a stable local government, and sydney accomadation a population of open-minded, outgoing entrepreneurial types who are itching to show the whole place off.
Orientation
Sydney wasn't a planned city and sydney accomadation its layout is further complicated by its hills and sydney accomadation the numerous inlets of the harbour, its focal point. The centre of Sydney is on the south shore of the harbour, about 7km (4mi) inland from the harbour heads. Skyscrapers in the Central Business District (CBD) vie for dominance and sydney accomadation harbour views, but the city's relentlessness is softened by shady Hyde Park and sydney accomadation The Domain parkland to the east, Darling Harbour to the west and sydney accomadation the main harbour to the north. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and sydney accomadation the harbour tunnel link the city centre with the satellite CBD of North Sydney and sydney accomadation the suburbs of the North Shore. Sydney Airport is about 10km (6mi) south of the city centre. Central station, Sydney's main train station, is in the south of the city centre, and sydney accomadation the main bus terminal is located outside it.
Currency
Dollars and sydney accomadation cents. Notes: $5, $10, $20, $50 and sydney accomadation $100 bills. Coins: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $1 and sydney accomadation $2. The Australia dollar is floated on the world currency market and sydney accomadation is presently fluctuating at around 74 to 75 cents to the US dollar.
Health
Sydney, like most parts of Australia, presents no real health risks for foreign visitors. Tap water is good, restaurants and sydney accomadation eating places are required by law to maintain a high standard of food preparation, and sydney accomadation the city is generally clean. Smog is less of a problem than with cities such as London, Hong Kong and sydney accomadation Bangkok, but is still quite high. Exposure to the sun can be a problem for those who are fair-skinned. Also, those with little experience in swimming in the surf should be cautious when swimming at Sydney's famous surf beaches, Bondi and sydney accomadation Manly, and sydney accomadation should always swim between the warning flags erected by lifeguards. Medical costs in Australia are not exorbitant like in the United States and sydney accomadation Europe, but travel insurance is still recommended.
Handy to Know:
Electricity voltage: 240.
Units of measure: metric.
Public phones: 50-cent local calls (Sydney metropolitan area).
Phone directory assistance: 1223 (Sydney area), 1223 (Australia), 1225 (International).
Phone international dial out prefix code: 0011
Coffee: around $3.50 a cup, sometimes less, quite often more in tourist areas.
Petrol (gas) in cents per litre: approximately 120 (as at October 2006)
Emergency phone number for police, ambulance and sydney accomadation fire is 000.
Sydney is also one of the safest cities to live in, with a reputation for fine eating. Two Sydney restaurants have been named in the world's top 50 for 2006, with Tetsuya's ranked fifth and sydney accomadation Rockpool coming in at 30th.
About the author: Bruce Gow is the owner of http://www.bestrealestate.com.au , an Australian real estate agent guide .
Feel free to use this article unedited, as long as you add a link to http://www.bestrealestate.com.au plus make reference to the author. |