Sydney Travel guide, tips and tourist attractions

The site of the first British colony in Australia, Sydney was established in 1788 at Sydney Cove by Arthur Phillip, commodore of the First Fleet. The city is built on hills surrounding Sydney Harbour where the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge feature prominently. The hinterland of the metropolitan area is surrounded by national parks, and the coastal regions feature many bays, rivers, inlets and, most famously, beaches. Within the city are many notable parks, including Hyde Park and Royal Botanical Gardens.

Sydney is known as an international centre for commerce, arts, fashion, culture, entertainment, education and tourism. Sydney has hosted major international sporting events, including the 1938 British Empire Games, the 2000 Summer Olympics, the final match of the 2003 Rugby World Cup, as well as the 2008 World Youth Day. The main airport serving Sydney is Sydney Airport.

History of Sydney

Radio carbon dating suggests that the Sydney region has been inhabited by indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years. The traditional Indigenous inhabitants of Sydney Cove are the Cadigal people, whose land once stretched from south of Port Jackson to Petersham. While estimates of the population numbers prior to the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 remains contentious, approximately 4,000–8,000 Aboriginal people lived in the Sydney region prior to contact with British settlers. The British called the Indigenous people the “EORA because being asked where they came from, these people would answer: “Eora“, meaning “here”, or “from this place” in their language. There were three language groups in the Sydney region, which were divided into dialects spoken by smaller clans. The principal languages were Darug (the Cadigal, original inhabitants of the City of Sydney, spoke a coastal dialect of Darug), Dharawal and Guringai. Each clan had a territory, the location of said territory determined the resources available. Although urbanisation has destroyed much evidence of these settlements (such as shell middens), a number of Sydney rock engravings, carvings and rock art remain visible in the Hawkesbury sandstone of the Sydney basin.

In 1770, British sea Captain Lieutenant James Cook landed in Botany Bay on the Kurnell Peninsula. It is here that Cook made first contact with an Aboriginal community known as the Gweagal . Under instruction from the British government, a convict settlement was founded by Arthur Phillip, who arrived at Botany Bay with a fleet of 11 ships on 18 January 1788. This site was soon determined to be unsuitable for habitation, owing to poor soil and a lack of reliable fresh water. Phillip subsequently founded the colony one inlet further up the coast, at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. He named it after the British Home Secretary, Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, in recognition of Sydney’s role in issuing the charter authorising Phillip to establish a colony. The original name was intended to be Albion until Phillip decided upon Sydney.

In April 1789 a disease, thought to be smallpox, killed an estimated 500 to 1000 Aboriginal people between Broken Bay and Botany Bay. There was violent resistance to British settlement, notably by the warrior Pemulwuy in the area around Botany Bay, and conflicts were common in the area surrounding the Hawkesbury River. By 1820 there were only a few hundred Aborigines and Governor Macquarie had begun initiatives to ‘civilise, Christianise and educate’ the Aborigines by removing them from their clans. Macquarie’s tenure as Governor of New South Wales was a period when Sydney was improved from its basic beginnings. Roads, bridges, wharves and public buildings were constructed by British and Irish convicts, and by 1822 the town had banks, markets, well-established thoroughfares and an organised constabulary. The 1830s and 1840s were periods of urban development, including the development of the first suburbs, as the town grew rapidly when ships began arriving from Britain and Ireland with immigrants looking to start a new life in a new country. On 20 July 1842 the municipal council of Sydney was incorporated and the town was declared the first city in Australia, with John Hosking the first elected mayor.The first of several Australian gold rushes started in 1851, and the port of Sydney has since seen many waves of people arriving from around the world.

Why Can’t I Just Choose the Cheapest Luggage for My Trip

Why Can’t I Just Choose the Cheapest Luggage for My Trip?

Your choice of luggage can make any vacation or business trip much easier if some forethought is used. Never buy suitcases based purely on price or your favorite color!

Careful consideration should be given to several factors, such as:

1.) How long do you plan to travel?

2.) Do you intend to pack heavy items (like books or sports equipment)?

3.) Are you short in stature?

4.) Do you know the weight/size restrictions of your travel carrier?

5.) Do you intend to transport or purchase any fragile items?

Luggage can be categorized into three main groups: hard-shell, soft-sided, and semi-soft.

No matter which group you choose from, ensure that your bags:

1.) Have lockable zippers and compartments

2.) Are waterproof

3.) Are durable

4.) Are in good repair

Some carriers will refuse to accept your luggage if it looks like it will disintegrate during your trip.

Hard-shell suitcases are ideal if you intend to carry fragile items; but this type of luggage can be very heavy. Be kind to your back and ensure that all of your suitcases have wheels. Try to find luggage with metal-reinforced corners to protect it from damage during baggage handling.

Soft-sided luggage is lightweight – but you won’t get the best protection for fragile souvenir treasures. If you decide on soft-sided baggage, make sure that you cram each suitcase as full as possible to avoid shifting and wrinkling of your clothing.

Semi-soft baggage is constructed with a hard frame (like hard-shell suitcases). Strong fabric is then placed over the frame. The frame provides more protection than soft-sided luggage, with the added advantage of being lighter than hard-shell offerings.

If you are a frequent business traveller, you might want to consider purchasing a good quality suit or garment bag. Try to locate one with multiple pockets and tough zippers. With careful planning, you should be able to pack enough clothing for up to a week.

A single carry-on, rucksack, or duffel bag is great for a weekend getaway. However, since August 10, 2006, airline restrictions will force you to place liquids, gels, and pastes into another checked bag.

Your luggage should appear distinctive. Having the same beige or black baggage as everyone else makes it difficult to locate your belongings on luggage carousels. You can transform basic black into bold and beautiful with decals, fabric paint, colorful tape wrapped around handles, etc. Your imagination is the only limit!

Short passengers should avoid huge suitcases that are difficult to lug around. Smaller suitcases and baggage with retractable wheels and telescoping handles will make life on the road considerably easier. If you can’t find suitable bags with wheels and telescoping handles, purchase a baggage caddy.

Colorful duffel bags are a favorite with most children. If you do an online search for ‘duffel bags kids’ or something similar, you will find thousands of websites.

After you have packed all your bags, try lugging them around the block the same way you will be carrying them through the airport, railway terminal, or bus station. If you can only walk a block or two, your luggage is too heavy. Repack!

Do you plan to do a lot of souvenir shopping? Squeeze in an extra soft-sided bag – or nest two hard shell suitcases, one inside the other. When you return, you will have an additional bag – so be sure that you don’t exceed your carrier’s restrictions. Remember, also, that charter flights may have different restrictions than regular flights.

Paying attention to your individual needs and personality when you choose your luggage will make your travel much more enjoyable.

©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author’s note below (with active links) are included.

African Shark Eco Charters

On their first visit to Seal Island, while they were scanning the seals for fresh predations, a seal was attacked less that 10 meters from the boat. Subsequent research and shark viewing trips to the area have proven highly successful and over the last 4 years, they have accumulated an intimate knowledge of the cycle of the ecosystem in False Bay and its key player the great white shark.

All of their trips run in Winter and Summer. The weather in Winter is more likely to be suitable for shark watching. This is due to the shelter that the bay provides and the fact that colder water temperatures keep the sharks concentrated around the food sources at Seal Island. This translates to a significantly better chance of finding large numbers of sharks in one spot.

We will collect you from your residence early and transport you to Simons Town, where you are briefed before going to sea. We set a minimum party size of four people, but may be able to accommodate individuals as part of another party if given notice well in advance. Our one day shark trips are generally arranged fairly informally and we do trips on most clear days throughout the year.

For anyone with a deep interest in sharks (we do also allow shark junkies) they offer 10 day great white shark trips (March – October). On these they can provide accommodation and food and can take in up to 8 people per expedition. Expeditions start on the first day of every Month and run the whole year round. On expeditions their main aim is to tag selected sharks and collect environmental and behavioural data on the sharks, seals and birds and the interactions between them. They encourage all expedition members to help with the data collection, entering and preliminary analysis. Specific data is also collected for each shark, such as length, characteristic features (fin or tail shape) and behaviour.

Their Great White Shark expeditions at sea start at dawn and we reach the island just as the sun is rising, which is the best time to observe predator / prey interactions. Once an appropriate anchoring spot is secured they begin to collect environmental and hopefully shark data. Lunch is available at around 12h00. They may stay till dusk depending on the weather and shark activity. Normally they are back off the water by 14h00. They also attempt to collect above and below water pictures to continue our database of known animals. Slides and talks shows will be given on some nights.

Weather statistics predict that on average 7 out of 10 days meet the minimum conditions for going to sea. However, it is at the discretion on the skipper of the boat to decide if conditions are unsuitable for sea work. As an alternative, time will be spent exploring Cape Town’s many world famous landmarks and the well known Cape wine lands.

Cheap Holiday Deals to Paleokastrista Provide Memorable Backdrop for Family Fun

Family holidays to Paleokastrista provide the prime setting for amazing family fun—especially if your family loves their day at the beach. To begin with, there are plenty of beautiful beaches to enjoy in Paleokastrista. Even with this in mind, the beaches are not the only reason to make sure that Paleokastrista is on your list of possible destinations for Greek island holidays.

In case you weren’t aware, Paleokastrista is considered to be one of, if not, the most scenic resorts in all of Corfu. In fact, it is considered one of the most beautiful spots in all of Greece. If that isn’t enough to keep your family excited though there are plenty of great sights to see and places to explore. One place that is a must see adventure that you will want to include in package holidays to Paleokastrista is the Theotokos Monastery. You might also find something interesting to check out in Lakones or one of the other small villages nearby that offer more authentic Corfu charm than you will find in any of the major resorts located on the island.

If you want a little bit of variety in your family holidays there are water taxis that will take you from Paleokastrista to Agios Georgios which is located nearby. You can also charter longer boat trips if you simply want to enjoy a day of sun on the beautiful waters. For a little excitement there are plenty of busses that run regularly between Paleokastrista and Corfu Town.

The nightlife in Paleokastrista can be described as quiet. That being said, there are plenty of taverns available as well as a couple of discos to give you a good taste of nightlife. If you want a more active nighttime crowd you might consider an excursion to Ipsos or Corfu Town for an evening or two during your stay. Some package holidays to the Greek islands will offer accommodations in multiple locations so that you can enjoy a small taste of life throughout Corfu.

If you are looking for lovely family holidays that provide all the amenities you expect without the distraction of some of the larger holiday resorts, then Paleokastrista is ideal. You can enjoy cheap holiday deals to Paleokastrista if you begin your search early as well as a few last minute holidays for your entire family.