Welcome to Sydney, mate! It�s definitely one of the world�s great cities , curling seductively around it�s sparkling harbour. Many consider Sydney to be the �best address on earth� with its incredible harbour views from waterfront residences. It is Australia�s oldest and largest city with almost 4 million people, and capital to the state of New South Wales. [see map of Sydney] To it critics (who mostly live in its big rival city of Melbourne), Sydney is all glitz, obsessed with superficial show, appearances above substance. But none of this seems to matter to Sydnesiders (Sydney folks), and even less so to tourists. The city continually lures the wealthiest, smartest and most artistically talented from the rest of Australia, while real estate values go through the roof!

Sydney�s past history began as a penal colony for convicts in 1788 � quite an uncompromising start and in real contrast to the Sydney of today [learn more of Sydney�s discovery & colonisation]. As the colony became established, free settlers moved in and its population increased when gold was found to the west of the nearby Blue Mountains in the 1850s. By the time the population had reached the million mark in the 1920s, Sydney was a confident, swaggering sort of place, where a strong union movement helped insure one of the highest living standards in the world for her citizens. With migration after World War 2, it became a thoroughly multicultural city.

Sydney is a great tourist destination. Its charms are not hidden away, but put boldly on display. In total contrast is her great rival, the city of Melbourne. [see virtual tour of Melbourne]. Sydney�s intriguing history is readily accessible (e.g. The Rocks), and it has all the museums, galleries, shops, restaurants and entertainment that you would expect from a great metropolis. Without further ado, lets [Click here to START your spin around Sydney]

You can also take a spin to the nearby Blue Mountains National Park - a world heritage site.

ALSO BOOK REAL-LIFE SYDNEY & NEW-SOUTH-WALES TOURS ONLINE.

	Learn more. Checkout this video from Panorama Australia !
	Title: Sydney - Australia's Premier City
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