Adam Nagourney Travel Journey

With its status as Australia’s biggest city, Sydney undoubtedly has a wealth of attractions and sights to satisfy all visitors.  Her most famous landmarks are recognised the world over, but Sydney also offers a wide range of hidden gems to reward the more intrepid traveller.  During a sojourn in Sydney, the challenge is rarely in finding something spectacular to see or do, but rather in figuring out how to squeeze it all into one short stay.  The sights detailed below are some of the better known landmarks that you really must experience, but you are sure to find a few of your own to add to the list.

The Sydney Opera House is almost as emblematic of its city as Gustave Eiffel’s tower is of Paris, and this makes it a must-see during any trip to Sydney.  Opened in 1973, Jorn Utzon’s masterpiece retains a feeling of modernity even to this day, giving it a unique character not often found in buildings of its ilk.  More recent attempts at creating such a cultural centre have fallen short of this benchmark, with the Bilbao Guggenheim being one of the few possible exceptions, if only due to the striking nature of its structure.  Moreover, while the Sydney Opera House is primarily famous for its daring outer shell, it is worth noting that it also plays host to over 1500 performances annually.  There can surely be no better place to take in a symphony performance in Sydney than here.

Just a short walk for the Opera House lie the Royal Botanic Gardens.  After a day of pounding the pavements, this is a wonderful place to take a breather and relax in an oasis of calm within an otherwise buzzing city.  The Gardens also boast an array of wildlife to keep visitors, both young and old, entertained for an afternoon.  Why not take a picnic along to enjoy by the picturesque lake?

Departing the Royal Botanic Gardens to the South, you can make your way to St. Mary’s Cathedral.  The Cathedral was opened in 1882, and its imposing twin spires can still be seen from almost any vantage point in the city, even in spite of the spate of high-rise buildings that have been constructed in the modern age. To this day, the Cathedral’s Gothic architectural style remains awe-inspiring, and visitors are advised to approach St Mary’s through Hyde Park to take in the magnitude of its beauty.

During your stay in this great city, you can collect rewards points on a Qantas Frequent Flyer Credit Card. Furthermore, you can then spend the frequent flyer miles accrued on your Qantas credit card on your next flights, so you could be back in Sydney sooner than you think.