Sydney, Australia Hotels and City Guide

Sydney Hotels and Sydney Guide with Sydney maps, top attractions, room reservations and hotel deals at a wide range of the best Sydney hotels
What is the secret to happiness? Is it being surrounded by beauty? Feeling the sun on your face and the cool waves lapping at your feet? Or does it come from within, from the self-confidence that comes from being strong, vital, and fresh? It’s not such a secret to beautiful Sydney, Australia, recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the happiest cities in the world. The sand, the surf, the laid-back friendliness: you don’t need to be a resident to enjoy the riches of this incredible city.

Sydney, known as “Harbour City,” is located in New Wales, in the southeastern portion of Australia. It is the country’s oldest and largest city and has always been the cultural hub as well. Sydney has a rich heritage and a great deal of cultural diversity: one-third of its residents are born overseas, and many have English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. The White Australia Policy limited immigration to northern European countries in the 20th Century– though a good number of Chinese people emigrated. After World War II, immigrants from eastern and southern Europe and Asia began moving to the city. Today, the city boasts an interesting and diverse population that is reflected in its art, cuisine, and its many cultural offerings.

Even the land is diverse in Sydney; where else can you find lush tropical rainforests, refreshing beaches, marshes, and agricultural fields? This variety benefits not only the Sydney economic and ecologic systems, it also provides numerous opportunities for adventure for its residents and visitors. You may have images of kangaroos bouncing around the Outback, but also picture world class opera and theater, beautiful botanic gardens, beaches and gorgeous mountain views, wonderful parks, and interesting architecture.

Anthony Trollope wrote the following in 1888 of the Sydney Harbour: ‘It is extremely difficult - and in truth, well-nigh impossible - to convey to one who has not visited Sydney any adequate idea of the beauties of its scenery. Words can give you a glimpse into this incomparable world, but to experience the many beauties of Sydney, walk along its gorgeous beaches, stand beside its rushing waterfalls. Discover, explore, and see why this is “where everybody wants to go.”