Australia – a continent of beauty, a land of diversity – we are coming! Our flight from Vienna via Frankfurt to Sydney takes more than 24 hours. On departure, we still had snowfall and very cold temperatures. The sun here in Sydney burns from the sky with a hot 30 degrees Celsius. We arrived at the other side of the globe. In the middle of summer. Down under, as the saying goes.

Sydney is located along the Pacific Ocean on the southeast coast of Australia. It is the largest city on the continent with about 5 million inhabitants.. Sydney is not only the cultural and economic centre of Australia but also the most important financial and commercial hub of the country.

We can hardly wait to see the world-famous sights and landmark of the city — the Sydney Opera House — with our own eyes. The unique building with its shell-shaped roof construction in front of us is breathtaking and fascinating. Depending on the angle of view and the position of the sun, the Sydney Opera House always shows a new, impressive face.

The Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and opened in 1973 after 14 years of construction. The fascinating building has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. The Sydney Opera House is one of the largest cultural centres in the world with around 1,600 events per year. The cafes and restaurants on the terraces around the Sydney Opera House are a popular meeting place. From here you have a fantastic view of the city, the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is another famous landmark of the city. It stretches across the largest natural harbor in the world, Port Jackson. The bridge was opened in 1932 and is the main link between Sydney’s north and south coasts. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a span of 503 meters, is one of the longest and heaviest arch bridges in the world. The bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” by the locals because of its arch-based design.

Sydney is the oldest city in Australia. The first settlements were located near the harbor in today’s district “The Rocks”. The first immigrants settled here as early as 1788. Today you can stroll through winding, cobbled streets. Past old warehouses, historic brick houses, food street markets and original pubs.

The vibrant centre of the Sydney Harbor is the Circular Quay ferry terminal. Ships, water taxis, buses and trains arrive and depart here. It’s a busy place, day and night. In addition to inviting restaurants, the Circular Quay also houses the Museum of Contemporary Art and the historic Customs House.