Photo Credit: Richard Gifford

To end the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne for capital status, the Australians built the city of Canberra and declared it their capital in 1913.

Lake Burley Griffin divides the city center the shopping and commercial area on the north, and the parliamentary and embassy area on the south.

Canberrans are also known to be friendly and helpful, especially to lost tourists. A lot of the citizens of the city are transplants from other parts of the country to study or work so the locals are used to being asked for directions.

Most of the structures in the city are already quite modern. The premier museum is the Australian War Memorial, a fascinating place to visit that covers the country’s military history. It is at the other end of the ANZAC Parade from the Parliament House of Australia, in its own, a wonderful piece of architecture. This is the current seat of the government.

While there, you can also visit the controversial National Museum of Australia; the National Gallery of Australia, which is the largest art gallery in the country; and National Library of Australia.

The city’s shopping center is called the “Civic”, and covering that shopping district is the Canberra Center with department stores, restaurants and fast foods, and shops for most anything you want to buy. For an alfresco dining and shopping experience, the City Walk is an outdoor mall in the same area.

Photo Credit: PhotoFusion
Sydney, the “Harbour City”, is located in a waterway and is the oldest city in Australia. It is also famous for being one of the world’s most beautiful cities, cosmopolitan, influential and historical.

Sydney City, the central business district, looks closest to Manhattan with its skyscrapers and towering buildings. This is where the Sydney Opera House can be found. It is one of the city’s most unusually-shaped buildings, and inarguably, the most famous. It hosts most of Sydney’s classical music performances. The spectacular Sydney Harbour Bridge is nearby, and you can walk or ride a bike across it. Another landmark is the Sydney Tower, the city’s tallest structure standing at 205 meters high.

Love shopping? The Strand Arcade is an elegant Victorian shopping arcade, one of the last few remaining in the world. It houses the top names in design and jewelry, and should be on everyone’s to-visit list.

Historical Sydney can be found in the center if the city known as The Rocks. It is the part of the city most visited by tourists for being “Sydney’s outdoors museum”. This is the oldest area of Sydney and had been recently transformed into a hip and vibrant place with cafes, bars, restaurants and stores. You can also pass Cadman’s Cottage, a small sandstone structure built in the early 1800’s, the Argyle Cut, an historic road, and the Garrison Church, the first military church in Sydney.

Photo Credit: Sammis Co

The Land Down Under offers quite a few of the world’s best beaches. One of them is Bondi Beach, located in a suburb of Sydney, Australia. Well served by public transport, it is quite easily the most accessible beach in Sydney, and has an alternative feel. You may (or may not) want to keep a lookout for people who would go topless (or more) while walking down the shops.

There are two coastal walks that you might want to traverse to see and be seen. They offer great views of the sea and are great for people watching.

You can also learn to be one with the waves at , the coolest surf school in Australia. You shouldn’t have any problems with equipment as Bondi Beach is dotted with shops that sell or rent anything and everything a surfer, budding or otherwise, would need.

And why go to the beach if not to swim? Be sure to stay between the flags so that the gorgeous lifeguards can keep watch on you, and you can keep watch on them.

There’s also plenty to eat and drink in Bondi. Try the relaxed and friendly atmosphere at Sports Bar(d) and dig into their fish and chips. Or gorge on Thai cuisine at Monkey Magic.

And when you get tired with all the swimming and surfing, you can always crash in any one of the bed-and-breakfasts and apartments for rent nearby, and wake up to the sound and sight of the surf.
Bondi Beach, one of a beach bum/bunny’s paradise.