Top 12 Areas Visited In Sydney

I traveled to Sydney for 4 times while living in Australia. But the commonality of these 4 trips in the city, all were short trips, mostly from less than 24 hours up to more than 48 hours. Most of my traveled in the city the intention was to just passed it except during my last flight which was really meant for Sydney.

I knew there were so much places to visit in Sydney and I thought that anyone can create a lots of bucket list because the city offers so much to anyone, to everyone. During my few trips in the city I found myself to be in the following places and I ranked them by my own reasoning and personal preferences. If you had visited Sydney and had been in places in my list, what will be your top list?

TOP 1 – BLUE MOUNTAINS

I had a chance to travel to Blue Mountains during my second trip in Sydney. For this trip, my only itinerary was to join a tour in one of the nearest mountain ranges from Sydney which is Blue Mountains and to visit one of the caves which is Jenolan Caves. Since I didn’t knew how to drive, my only option was to be part of a group tour because there was no public transportation available directly to that place. When I saw Blue Mountains, there was another dream that I was thinking at that time, if only I had a chance to explore even just part of that mountain range.

 

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TOP 2 – JENOLAN CAVES

Another part that I enjoyed was tour inside the Jenolan Caves because its one of the caves that even its being protected, the public still got a chance to see the major crystal formations even from a distance since it has tourist trail to follow. The tour is one of the best time I had while visiting Sydney or let’s say visiting New South Wales.

 

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TOP 3 TO  9
BONDI, TAMARAMA, BRONTE, CLOVELLY, GORDONS BAY, COOGEE AND MANLY

If you are fond with water scenery, enjoy water activities or just wanted to have fresh air while enjoying the walk near the sea-shore, you can select any of the above beaches. I don’t have the intention to really walk the trail from Bondi to Coogee since I have no knowledge about the trail, but because I enjoyed the scenery, I just go with the flow and  entrap with the beauty that surrounds me. I never regret that I finished the walking trail.

 

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TOP 10 – SYDNEY HARBOUR

Who does not know about Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge? These are famous icons not only in Sydney, not only in Australia but famous icons in the world. I had a chance to be here twice in my 4 trips in the city, happened during my first and my last trip in Sydney. Here’s my opinion about the place, for me, there is something  in the harbour that keeps people on coming back in the place. It’s a place that I thought I will never be tired to visit the area again and again.

 

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TOP 11 – DARLING HARBOUR

Geographically, Darling Harbour is part of Sydney Harbour. I wanted to emphasize the place since it’s not far from Circular Quay and it offers a different scenery which unique on its own. My visit here was accidental because my intention was really just pass the harbour since I was on my way to a tour. But while walking in the area, I cannot stop myself to stop a bit and enjoy the surrounding area. They usually call the harbour as the ‘Heart of Sydney’ since it’s a place  of entertainments that offers great waterfront dining. But if your intention was just to walk around the area like what happened to me, you will be alright.

 

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TOP 12 – QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING

It is the only building that I visited in Sydney. Just for this building, I was already fascinated. Sometimes I am wondering about the other buildings to see in the city, but I never had a chance to do that anymore. The way I see Queen Victoria Building or QVB, it is the mother of all arcades in Australia as it is the biggest historical arcades  that still exists today that I found while touring in Australia.

 

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Arts and Craft : Guardian Genius of the City

Arts and Craft (Post#5) : Guardian Genius of the City

One of the photo that I took outside the Queen Victoria Building is the exterior design of it. And it happened that I also captured the sculpture entitled “Guardian Genius of the City” in the middle of the building at the top of the entrance in George Street. Marble sculpture by William Priestly MacIntosh. The photo is part of Sydney Walking Tour April 2014 collection.

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Standing upon a raised pedestal in the centre is a female figure lightly draped in flowing robes, representing the “Guardian Genius of the City”, with the symbol of Wisdom in one hand and Justice in the other. She is crowned with the civic crown and waratah wreath. At her feet is a shield bearing the city crest. On her right is seated a semi-nude, muscular, male figure, representing Labor and Industry, with the appropriate symbols, viz., wheat, a ram, fruit, and a beehive, grouped round him. On her left is a corresponding male figure representing Commerce and Exchange. A ship in full sail is shown on his left. A bag of money its in one of his hands, and the ledger book in the other. Both figures are wreathed with olive, the symbol of Peace

excerpt from Wikipedia

Discovery : The Royal Clock

Discovery (Post#13) : The Royal Clock

Another huge and mechanical clock being displayed in Queen Victoria Building is what they call “The Royal Clock”. The clock is also hang from the glass ceiling of the QVB like The Great Australian Clock. The photo is part of Sydney Walking Tour April 2014 collection.

As per Wikipedia, it was designed by Neil Glasser and made by Thwaites & Reed of Hastings in England, and when activated, displays scenes of English royalty. The plaque on the side of the clock reads “By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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Discovery : The Great Australian Clock

Discovery (Post#12) : The Great Australian Clock

During my self-guided tour in Queen Victoria Building, one of the interesting item to see and discover is “The Great Australian Clock” which is one of the mechanical clock to enjoy inside the building. The photo is part of Sydney Walking Tour April 2014 collection.

As per Wikipedia, it was designed and made by Chris Cook, weighs four tonnes and stands ten metres tall. It includes 33 scenes from Australian history, seen from both Aboriginal and European perspectives. An Aboriginal hunter circles the exterior of the clock continuously, representing the never-ending passage of time.

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The Classic Time in Queen Victoria Building (QVB)

If I did not fall into IT career, maybe I took an architecture course before. I just remembered before when I was still in my rudimentary studies that I had some talents in drawing things, but that skill wasn’t developed anymore when I went to high school as my life changed and somewhat pressured to be like my siblings and be a student with flying colors so I focused in academics.

During my two-days trip in Sydney, the first day was spent in CBD. I checked-in in one f the hotel located near at Kings Cross station. I rested a bit in my room and then I started my walking adventure in the afternoon. I took train from Kings Cross Station and got off at Town Hall Station. After leaving the station, I wandered and my steps started moving but it does not have its specific destinations at first. I walked along George Street towards Druitt Street. In that walk, one building caught my attention and that is Queen Victoria Building. Maybe because it stands-out within CBD as it is surrounded by buildings and offices which emphasize the building to be unique. I had seen old structures in Melbourne which converted to a commercial space and yet it still able to preserve the lavish design and architecture of the building, meaning the building was not only preserved to be a heritage site but to be a functional building for businesses in our time.

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Exterior of Queen Victoria Building has been familiar to me. I just remembered the following structures that I saw from the past, like Provincial Legislature Building in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada and Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, all of these has a dome structure in the middle as significant architectural design of the building.

Before I crossed Druitt Street and walked towards Queen Victoria Building, I noticed the Statue of Queen Victoria which stands in one side before the entrance/exit of the building. On my way to the door, I felt excited because I was curious what to see and discover in the building. The moment I got inside, I was impressed because of how huge the building is and at the back of my mind, I am trying to imagine its size by thinking how many arcades will fit into the building. My adoration in the following arcades that I visited in Melbourne (don’t get me wrong as I still love all of them) seems to be just a fragment of admiration compared to impression that the building made on me. In terms of size, QVB is already a winner. In all the arcades that I saw in Australia (like Adelaide Arcade, Brisbane Arcade and Melbourne’s Arcades), QVB is the biggest arcades that I discovered so far. I do understand its a building unlike the arcades that I saw in other cities, but I am referring to the vintage styles of shopping stores in one place where the ambiance of the building made me felt that I was back in time between 18th to 19th century. Most of the arcades that I visited are just 2 floors but QVB has 5 floors (lower ground, ground and level 1 to 3). If people were amazed on the global brand stores that can be found inside the building, I was in awe of its beautifully crafted interiors, from its dome, ceilings, walls, pillars, windows, handrail down to its flooring.

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IMG_4469Arches and Colonnades (with Elevator)IMG_4442

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IMG_4449Escalators and Balustrades on large openings

IMG_4471Arches, Balustrades and Ceilings

From the entrance that I walked-in, the first thing that I noticed on its interior are the arches and colonnades. The combination of these two are visible in most of the stores and has been functionally used as division of each establishments.  The balustrades are visible to each floor (except the lower ground) in each large openings so everyone has a chance to see other floors from any level. Though the building is being preserve to be a heritage site, escalators has been added so people can used it conveniently as it become a commercial space building too.

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IMG_4453Dome

My stride continues as I explore QVB, I stopped when I saw the dome ceiling from Level 1, the dome looks so elegant as the scenery are combined with arches in other floor level and balustrades that encapsulated the circle openings aligned to the dome itself. Aside from dome, I also discovered the stained-glass window with its colorful design and a fine handrails that all significantly shows Victorian Style.

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IMG_4457Balustrades

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IMG_4491Stained-Glass Windows

I went up to the next floor using stairs as I followed the dome ceilings and stained-glass windows. I reached the third level or the highest floor of the building where I can see dome ceiling up-close. The dome is at the center of the building, looking at the other side of the dome, the Great Australian Clock can be found hang from the glass-ceiling and it is one of the mechanical clock to be found in QVB and  while on the other side of the dome, the second mechanical clock is visible which is the Royal Clock.

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IMG_4466Great Australian Clock

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IMG_4481Royal Clock

The building has different style when it comes to its flooring, from lower ground to first level it emphasized its mosaic-tiled design while in second and last level are more into carpeted floors. If the other establishments enjoys huge arches in their stores the other appreciated the stained windows in their own space, a truly crafted and elegant interiors.

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IMG_0482Tiled-Mosaic and Carpeted Flooring

IMG_4470Carpeted Flooring

After the building tour within QVB, I went outside, I took sometime to see the building from a distance. And there I learned that the building has lots of cupolas which complimented the main dome at the center of the building. And from a distance, I saw how magnificent the building is.

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Walking Around Sydney

After writing lots of post for Melbourne (though I still have lots in my plates for Melbourne and Victoria State), now I am moving to Sydney for the mean time where I also enjoyed a walking tour. I had been in Sydney for 4 times while I was in Australia. But some of those were just peeking and passing. If you had a chance to read some of my post for Melbourne, I mentioned that I only travel every weekend or public holiday. Why? Because I was in Australia for work and not for holiday, that’s why I grab my chance to go around the country most of the time during weekend or holiday.

And maybe you are wondering, I had been 4 times in Sydney which means I went to many places within the city, but on the contrary I had visited just few places. The first ever I landed in Sydney was during the time that I attended Music Collaboration activity and stayed in the city for at least 33 hours which happened second week of April 2013.

After two weeks, second trip happened when I joined Blue Mountains and Jenolan Cave tour for a day and I logically stayed in Sydney for 11 hours. Third trip to the city, was during my visit to Canberra for a day tour on June in the same year since its more expensive to fly directly from Melbourne to Canberra and again I spent 11 hours in the city which mostly in the airport and accommodation.

During my forth and my last travel in the city which happened last April 2014, I dedicated the trip only to to see Sydney. The plan were walk around the city in some popular areas like Opera House and Circular Quay for the second time. Next, was the walked inside Queen Victoria Building. Then followed by an adventure walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. And last but not the least was a night walk in Manly Beach.

Here’s the list of places all combined from all my walking trips to the city that I had a chance to see in this incredible metropolis down under that so popular in the world and always thought to be the capital city of Australia, even myself made that mistake before.

  1. Queen Victoria Building IMG_4496
  2. Sydney Beaches
    1. Bondi Beach IMG_4657
    2. Tamarama Beach IMG_4735
    3. Bronte Beach IMG_4744
    4. Clovelly Beach IMG_4766
    5. Gordons Bay IMG_4771
    6. Coogee Beach IMG_4779
    7. Manly Beach IMG_4819
  3. Opera House and Circular Quay – First Glimpse P1080225
  4. Opera House and Circular Quay – Second Time
    1. Opera House IMG_4577
    2. Circular Quay IMG_4604
    3. Sydney Harbour Bridge IMG_4624
  5. Darling Harbour P1080955

Some of the place included a post link which means there is a published article for that specific place. For the rest that link is not available,  write-up will be coming soon.

Chromatic Outlook : Queen Victoria Building

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Chromatic Outlook (Post#15) : Queen Victoria Building

As part of my walking tour in Sydney Australia which is my 4th time visit in the said city, I got a chance to enter and explore Queen Victoria Building. As I realized touring around Australia, I saw similar style of its interior in different part of Australia. Though the said building is much bigger or probably let say more levels than other arcades that I saw in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. The hallway is in the middle and different stores are on it’s both lanes. I like this building and other arcades because every time I go inside similar places I felt the ambiance of turning back a hundred years ago because of the external styles of the stores which designed in 19th century. And I admired Australia for being able to keep such stores and able to maintain historical design and style of 18th to 19th century markets with a little bit of touch of our time. Photo captured last April 2014.