Sydney Harbour at Night

It's a good thing that the original English settlers of Sydney decided to move a little up the coast from their original base at Botany Bay. Where Botany Bay is flat and nondescript, Sydney Harbour--or Sydney Cove, as it was known at the time--is riddled with inlets, rocky outcrops, and ringed by high ground. The combination makes for a spectacular place to put a city. And the layout of the city affords panoramic views from multiple vantage points of two of Australia's architectural icons--the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The view from Kirribilli on Sydney Harbour's northern shore. At extreme left is the Sydney Opera House and at right is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Circular Quay, Sydney Cove, the Rocks, and Sydney city are between the two.

Sydney City skyline from across Farm Cove and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are off-frame to the right. Sydney Tower is toward the left of the buildings.

The Bridge, locally known as 'the coat hanger' for fairly self-evident reasons, spans the harbour connecting the historic Rocks are, the oldest settled area of the city, with North Sydney and Kirribilli.

First opened in 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression, Luna Park has become an icon on the banks of Sydney Harbour, sitting virtually under the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Milsons Point. It has had a checkered past through multiple owners, incarnations, and a spotty safety record on some of its rides.

Photos of Sydney Harbour at Night

Map

Travel Advice for Australia

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Australia (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

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Health & Vaccinations

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Guidebooks for Australia

If you're looking for a guidebook to make the most of your visit, these are some of the most popular ones currently for Australia. Some are available in both paper and e-book formats.