When you are a visitor to a place, there is nothing like the knowledge of a local to take you to some of the lesser known but equally interesting corners of a city. Sydney has plenty of fascinating nooks and crannies, many of which a lot of the locals don't even know about. So if you are a visitor or a local and eager to do a little exploring on or off the beaten track, here are hundreds of suggestions to get you going.
Most major towns and cities are in a constant state of change. The old is removed to make way for the new; infrastructure is expanded or replaced to keep up with growth and technological advances. Every generation removes a little from its past and replaces it with something relating to the present in the hope that it will be of use in the future. From its beginnings in 1788 as a haggle of tents in the virgin bushland that once surrounded Sydney Cove, to the international city we see today, Sydney has gone through some incredible changes. We look back at some of the things Sydney has lost during two centuries of change.
Sydney's cultural diversity has shaped the city and its suburbs in a major way. Many localities have the unique smells, sights and sounds, cultural, community and family events that typify the cultures and nationalities that are predominant there. In other places, restaurants and shops of diverse ethnic backgrounds form an intoxicating mix that provides both visitors and locals a smorgasbord of choice, often within a single street.
Unlike the ancient cities of the world whose detailed history has been lost in time, Sydney was established during the 17th and 18th century era of European exploration, an era when the events of the day were recorded for posterity. Sydney's history has been well documented from day one - from its establishment in the woodlands of Sydney Cove in 1788 until the present day.
Neighbourhoods
