A free-spirited and vibrant city, Sydney is built around one of the world's most beautiful harbours, with more than 70 sparkling beaches in easy reach of its cosmopolitan heart.

Enjoy its legendary beauty, its laid-back outdoor lifestyle and icons such as the Sydney Opera House, the graceful span of the Harbour Bridge and the golden sands of Bondi.

The centre is surprisingly compact and served by an efficient public transport service - so it's easy to pack a lot into a day.

Most visitors start off exploring the Rocks, the harbourside quarter where Sydney began. Today, it's an area of narrow lanes, boutiques, historic cottages, top hotels and restaurants, historic pubs and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Nearby is Circular Quay, where you can take a ferry ride across the harbour to the attractive beachside suburb of Manly, or to dozens of other destinations.

Another area not to be missed is the entertainment centre of Darling Harbour, with its museums, eateries, pubs and clubs. It has one of the world's largest aquariums. Watch out for the three-metre-long sharks as you walk through tunnels moulded into the giant tanks.

Elsewhere you'll find great nightlife - in Kings Cross and the trendy suburb of Paddington, also known for its stately Victorian houses and glamorous boutiques.

Then there are the food emporiums of Chinatown, the vivid street life and inexpensive eateries of inner-city Newtown, and fabulous shopping in the city centre.

Other attractions include the Royal Botanic Gardens, a climb to the top of the Harbour Bridge, and bush walks through Sydney Harbour National Park. Add on a boat tour of the harbour, or a cruise to the site of the Sydney Olympic Games, and you'll be sorry to leave.