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By Robert Selwitz
Home to over 26 million people and increasingly popular with visitors who travel long distances to get there, Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the sixth largest country by area. Visitors will want to set aside time to explore Australia’s major cities, whether they’re starting or ending a cruise, exploring the Great Barrier Reef or looking to encounter unique flora and fauna. You will find many reasons to spend time and a wide variety of experiences.
Sydney, now home to about 6 million people, was the destination of British convicts in 1788 “in transit”. While many were convicted of crimes including stealing bread, the sentence created a new option for people to start their lives anew.
The Rocks, where those first ships were laid to rest, is today a very trendy and lively place, combining restored historic buildings, fascinating museums and plenty of dining and drinking options. Adjacent to the Deep Water Harbour, it is less than a mile from the Sydney Opera House, which comes to mind when you think of Australia.
World-class opera, theater and symphonic music performances here make a visit a must. Ideally you should come at least twice: first for one of the many daily site tours and later for a live performance.
A 90-minute boat ride through the harbor is a wonderful experience, with tours departing regularly from docks on the harbor side. Along the way, you’ll pass under the 3,770-foot-long Harbor Bridge that connects the Rocks area to the North Shore. This bridge can be crossed by a footpath on the side of the road, as well as by adjusting the arch itself. This can only be done through a special, highly sought after and expensive tour.
The boat tour also takes you to Darling Harbor, passing a wide range of craft from boats to yachts and cruise ships. On a clear day this is the perfect change of pace from a hiking break.
Sydney is home to a wide range of interesting dining options, especially if you appreciate South East Asian cuisine. One of the best is mamak for Malaysian food.
Other highlights of Sydney include the world-famous Bondi Beach, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Queen Victoria Building, which dates back to 1898 and 190 retail outlets, and Taronga Zoo, home to koalas, kangaroos, emissaries and Tasmanian devils.
Sydney is a great place to get a taste of Australian rules football. An act that seems to combine rugby, soccer and American football requires a relentless streak of rage and extraordinary endurance. Your hotel concierge should be able to tell you when and where you’re going, and if it’s during your stay in Sydney.
Melbourne is an unusually user-friendly city of 5.3 million inhabitants, 640 miles to the south-west. In the year Founded in 1835 on the Yarra River, it rose to prominence as a result of the vast wealth gained from the gold rush of the 1850s. Today, while it’s great for easy walking, Melbourne is also criss-crossed by the Surface Rail, which is free to use in the city centre. Fares are charged only for non-mainstream travel.
A walk along the Yarra River is a great way to see modern Melbourne, admire unique examples of modern architecture, and sample some of the best places to eat and drink. Crossing the river, you’ll quickly come to Arts Center Melbourne, home to a great symphony, great theater and the National Gallery of Victoria, which showcases Australian and Indigenous art.
There are many beautiful Victorian era structures in the Old North. Among the most delightful are the beautifully preserved and renovated malls, none better than the Royal Arcade and Block Arcade, where one can shop, stop for a variety of food or snacks, or admire the artistic and architectural details that seem to be everywhere. .
Other highlights include the exterior of Flinders Street train station, the sprawling Queen Victoria Market, a stroll down Hoosier Lane – famous for its street art – and Parliament House and the old Melbourne Gaol, where the famous Ned Kelly was executed. Ligon Street is a delight to explore, home to dozens of Italian restaurants and the unforgettable Pakistani restaurant Zeika.
Plenty of options for sports fans include the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground. It has the largest seating capacity in the Southern Hemisphere and is a key venue for cricket and Australian Football League matches.
In both Sydney and Melbourne, credit cards have replaced cash for every purchase. Whether buying the ubiquitous “tall white” coffee, using transit or making any other purchase, there is no minimum amount required to use one’s card.
With many short daily flights, a range of scenic train options connect two of Australia’s most dynamic centres. Trips usually take about 11 hours.
when you go
Mamak Sydney: www.mamak.com.au
Ziyka: www.ziykarestaurant.com.au
Modern architecture dominates the skyline in Sydney, Australia. Photo courtesy of Barbara Selwitz.
Flinders Street Railway Station is a major architectural landmark in Melbourne, Australia. Photo courtesy of Barbara Selwitz.
Sydney offers plenty of options to enjoy flexible Australian rules football. Photo courtesy of Barbara Selwitz.
Robert Selwitz is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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