Sydney

1. Circular Quay and the Rocks

Here is where some of the iconic historic buildings and famous tourists sites of Sydney can be found. These include Sydney Opera House,  Royal Botanic Gardens and colourful streets like Miller's Point which is full of character. There are several historic pubs here as well, to gulp down beer like a proper Aussie would. Most restaurants and hotels are quite expensive here so keep that in mind.

2. Central Business District (CBD)

The hub of shopping and dining in Sydney, the CBD is where the city is most crowded. With trendy bars, upscale cocktail joints, swanky cafes and restaurants on offer, tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink in this neighbourhood.

3. Bondi

Probably the most popular and instagrammable neighbourhood in Sydney, Bondi is all about the beach, pools and beach bars and boutiques. While not the most affordable in the city, it draws in many sunbathers, surfers, and couples who wish to soak in the Sydney sun in style. The rooms directly near Bondi beach are the most sought after and are almost always booked well in advance.

4. Newtown & the Inner West

Sydney's most student and urban hippie friendly neighbourhood, Newtown & the Inner West are characterised by artsy cafes and vegen friendly restaurants. You can expect to find colourful signs, tiny bars, old bookstores and quirky antique shops to explore every corner in this area.

• Sydney nightlife is absolutely top notch and you will definitely have a good night, every night you go out.
• Beer culture is an integral part of the Aussie social life and they never mind a pint or two.
• Areas such as The Rocks and the Inner City are popular places for nightlife.
• Two pubs on The Rocks actually claim to be the oldest pubs in Sydney, Lord Nelson and the Fortune of War.
• Options for upscale bars are plentiful as well in hotels or generally, such as Posh lounge at The Rocks, Marble Bar in the Hilton and Fix in Kireton Hotel.

• Watch out for no-smoking zones in the city.
• Drinking tap water from your hotel or public water taps is safe.
• Littering is frowned upon, especially at the beaches. So always pick up your trash and dispose of it responsibly.
• When using public transport, be courteous and do not try to force your way through crowds unless it is an emergency. Talking loudly on the mobile phone within packed crowds is seen poorly upon.
• Tipping in Sydney is up to you. Tipping for good service is a common practice in the city and the amount of the tip, or even tipping at all, is totally at your discretion.

Quite remarkably, traces of human activity have been dated as far back as 30,000 years in the Sydney region. However, the history of the city begins with the onset of colonialism. Colonialism came to Australia when the English needed a new place to send their prisoners.

The name Sydney was given to the city by Arthur Phillip, who was responsible for establishing the colony. A lot of the city was built in the early 19th century by prison labour. Sydney became a city in 1942, and the 1890s, the colonies of Sydney formed a federation of the Commonwealth of Australia.

However, significant developments in the city only started during World War II, when Sydney got involved in the war, too, because of Britain. The industrial requirements of the war gave a boost to Sydney's employment and economy. The city built on this and grew throughout the rest of the 20th century, becoming the metropolis it is today.