As one of Australia’s most popular cultural festivals, the Sydney Festival is a must see if you are visiting the city in January. The festival was first held in 1977, and has since grown to include performances in music, theatre and dance, and also showcases the visual arts. Over the course of the three week festival, over one million people will attend shows and performances. In addition to such celebrities as Philip Glass and Ian McKellen, the festival showcases native Australian talent and provides an excellent forum for the arts in such a vibrant city.
The Sydney Festival’s opening night is a huge outdoor party with a wide range of activities occurring in many different venues. Families are important to the festival, and opening night includes a family friendly event just for kids. Family theatre is also showcased throughout the festival with innovative water shows occurring on Darling Harbour. Arrive early to get a good seat. The outdoor movie screenings are also a popular attraction for families.
A vast array of musical styles are represented in performances, and the festival often attracts artists known throughout the world as well as traditional Australian artists. For those who enjoy dance, shows ranging from the traditional to the contemporary are available for very reasonable ticket prices. Innovation is the key to this festival, and this is no more evident than in the visual arts presentations, where technology is fused with old time storytelling to create a wondrous experience for visitors. If you enjoy meeting the artists and discussing what you’ve seen with others, then you’ll want to join in on the free conversations offered at the Mint.
If you plan on visiting the festival, tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person. Every box office will release a small number of $25 tickets on the day of the event, however be aware that restrictions are in place of only two tickets per person, and the tickets must be purchased in person at the Tix for Nix box office.
This restored heritage district is absolutely a must see for all visitors to Sydney. In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip established an outpost here on the western side of Sydney Cove. Captain Phillip had over 1400 men, women and children with him, with over half this number convicts. His outpost became the farthest in the British Empire. Today, the Rocks district has been exquisitely restored and offers visitors an experience they aren’t soon to forget. With old buildings and cobbled streets combined with excellent tourist amenities such as shopping, dining, hotels and attractions, this area is sure to please everyone.
The Rocks is home to one of the oldest buildings in Australia, Cadman’s Cottage. Built in roughly 1816 as barracks, the building is now run by the Parks Service and is a great place to get more information on local parks. Garrison Church was built in 1840 to provide a place for soldiers to attend religious services. The area also boasts many of Australia’s oldest pubs, including the Lord Nelson and the Hero of Waterloo, both built in the 1840s. Susannah Place Museum is located in terracehouses also built in the 1840s, and showcases a 19th century corner store.
For those with a taste towards things more modern, how about a walking tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge? BridgeClimb takes visitors on a walking tour along the steel supports of the bridge. Be sure to book early as this is a popular attraction! The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Sydney Observatory are also located in the Rocks, and the Sydney Opera House is but a short walk from the area. If you visit the Rocks on the weekend, plan to spend some time at the Rocks Market, a fabulous outdoor market. Try taking the train or the ferry to the area, as parking is difficult on busy days.
When gold was discovered in Melbourne in 1852, it prompted a gold rush that had far reaching effects – immigrants in Britain purchased more tickets to Melbourne in 1852 than to any other place worldwide. It also had far reaching effects on the city, and to get a taste of how the gold rush impacted Melbourne you’ll want to take the Golden Mile Herigate Trail.
The trail starts in Federation Square at the Melbourne Museum. Guided tours are available daily, but be sure to call ahead for bookings. You can also explore the trail on your own with a booklet purchased from the visitor’s centre, an option that provides a very flexible way to enjoy the city. The trail is an easy walk of about four kilometers, taking about two-and-a-half to three hours and explores the so-called ‘golden mile’ of outstanding architecture built when the city was flush with money from the gold rush. With thirty-three stops, there is really no better way to begin exploring the sights of Melbourne.
As you make your way along the route, your tour guide will share stories of colorful characters and historic places. The trail opens with the Immigration Museum, which was the old Customs House. Further along you’ll see the La Meridien Hotel, formerly the Rialto, which was created by its architect to look like a Venetian building. Enjoy Melbourne’s equivalent of England’s Chancery Lane, and in the financial district marvel at the gothic architecture of the ANZ Banking Museum. In the Parliament area you’ll notice several prominent statues, and you can explore the supposedly haunted Princess theater. The tour ends at the Royal Exhibition Buildings where visitors can head back to the museum or enjoy a stroll around Carlton Gardens.
