Many a Maltese has washed up on the shores of Australia over the past 100 years or so. At first they arrived out of necessity; now it’s by choice, for Australia is a vast land of promise and pleasure.
Sydney may not be the capital, but it is certainly the heartbeat of Australia.
One of the most beautiful cities on the planet, Sydney is renowned for its breathtaking surroundings, dazzling beaches, deep blue waters... and that distinctive bridge and Opera House that glistens in the sunlight.
No matter how long the flight, the cabin will be abuzz with excitement as the plane circles the city and the passengers watch thousands of yachts zigzag across the sea.
Sydney harbour is a must for all visitors. Take a harbour cruise tour and see the Harbour Bridge and the Jørn Utzo-designed Opera House as God intended.
The harbour shoreline offers many great walks suitable for all tastes and levels of fitness.
You can even walk across the Harbour Bridge and stop off at the Harbour Bridge Museum for some of the best views in Sydney.
Tourists flock to the south side of the harbour, within an area bounded by Chinatown in the south, Harbour Bridge in the north, Darling Harbour to the west, and the beaches and coastline to the east.
Indeed, much of Sydney’s charm lies on the cosmopolitan south side. Darlinghurst with its Italian influences, Surrey Hills with its market and pubs, the Victorian terrace houses of renovated Paddington, the harbour view apartments of Elizabeth Bay and the wall-to-wall yachts at Rushcutters Bay are all worth a visit.
Ocean beaches, Taronga Zoo, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and great shopping in the village of Mosman are the most likely reasons to venture north of the harbour.
Among Sydney’s famous beaches, surfer magnet Bondi is perhaps the most famous and a must for any Sydney itinerary.
Coogee has an excellent ocean beach and fine hotels, restaurants and cafés, while Fairy Bower has plenty of stunning ocean walks. And don’t miss Cronolla, the longest beach in Sydney, with its great walking track around the cliffs, sea pools and coves.
Swimming, surfing, sailing, boating, cruising, windsurfing, diving, jet-skis... if it can be done on water, you can do it in Sydney... and you should.
Outside the city, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains and the renowned Hunter Valley vineyards can be reached in just a few hours in Sydney by car – that’s nothing in a land where you can drive for days without seeing another soul.