Top 5 Sydney Attractions
- City: Sydney
- State: New South Wales
- Country: Australia
Established as a penal colony for the Colonial British, Sydney holds the record for being the first ever colony in Australia. Today, Sydney is a cosmopolitan major world city, with a melting pot of cultures, and an urban landscape that co-exists with its natural surroundings of parks, beaches and a beautiful harbour.
Here are the Top 5 Tourist Attractions to visit in Sydney, all of which hold important cultural or historical significance. All these are permanent locations which can be visited and viewed at any time throughout the year.
1. Opera House
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Facing the beautiful Sydney Harbour, and beside the equally famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is the premier performing arts venue of Australia. The iconic shell shape of the Opera House roof is designed to look like a boat’s sails from afar.
2. Art Gallery Of New South Wales
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The Art Gallery Of New South Wales is considered to be the most important museum in Sydney, and is among the largest in Australia. It has an extensive collection of artwork ranging from settlement to contemporary. The Art Gallery Of New South Wales has 7 permanent galleries (Australia, Asia, Europe, Aboriginal, Contemporary, Modern, Photography) and several rotating exhibitions.
3. Taronga Zoo
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The Taronga Zoo in Sydney has over 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians on display over 8 zones. Besides this diverse collection of animals, many of which are native to Australia, the Taronga Zoo also offers a great view of the city skyline and Sydney Harbour, as befitting its name which means “Beautiful View” in Aboriginal language.
4. Sea Life Aquarium
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The Sydney Sea Life Aquarium, formerly known as the Sydney Aquarium, has over 650 species of fish and marine animals, most of which are native to Australia. Considered to be among the largest oceanariums in the world, highlights in the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium include the Mermaid Lagoon, the Great Barrier Reef Complex, and the Open Ocean Oceanarium housing the world’s largest collection of sharks.
5. Royal Botanic Gardens
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The Royal Botanic Gardens is considered a landmark in Sydney, and houses over 7,500 species of plants in a beautiful landscaped setting. Home to a massive showcase of plants from Australia, the Royal Botanic Gardens also serves as a recreational area, and a research area to acclimatize plant species imported from overseas.