Sydney, New South Wales — Activities
Sydney Culture
Sydney's cultural life is uniquely diverse, from high classical at the Sydney Opera House to cutting-edge contemporary and experimental performance art. The opera house is the major focus of attention for classical music, opera, theater and dance.
Cultural productions and events are listed in 'Metro', the Friday edition entertainment section of the Sydney Morning Herald (www.smh.com.au), and the weekly arts and entertainment magazine Time Out is a comprehensive guide to what's going on in the city.
Tickets are available for purchase from Ticketek (tel: (02) 9266 4800; www.ticketek.com) and Ticketmaster (tel: 136 100, in Australia only; www.ticketmaster.com.au). The Halftix booth, 91 York Street (tel: 1300 302 017, in Australia only; www.halftix.com.au), offers reduced price tickets on the day of the show.
Music
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, one of the city's iconic landmarks, is a premier performance venue for classical music. Sydney Symphony (tel: (02) 8251 4600; www.sydneysymphony.com), the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (tel: (02) 9251 2024; www.sydneyphilharmonia.com.au), Opera Australia (tel: (02) 9699 1099; www.opera-australia.org.au) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra (tel: (02) 8274 3800; www.aco.com.au) hold most of their performances at the Opera House. The Australian Ballet (tel: 1300 369 741, in Australia only; www.australianballet.com.au) performs mainly traditional pieces during its summer and winter season at the Sydney Opera House. Similarly, the Sydney Dance Company (tel: (02) 9221 4811; www.sydneydance.com.au), the city's leading contemporary dance group, performs at the opera house for two seasons per year.
Bennelong Point, Circular Quay
Tel: (02) 9250 7111.
Website: www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Eugene Goossens Hall
This particular venue tends to be used for smaller performances.
ABC Ultimo Center, Harris Street
Tel: (02) 8333 1500.
Conservatorium of Music
This place hosts symphony, wind and chamber concerts as well as jazz big bands.
Macquarie Street
Tel: (02) 9351 1222;
Website: www.music.usyd.edu.au
Theater
Sydney Theater
The Sydney Theater Company is the city's stylish flagship theater company. Performances take place at Sydney Theater.
22 Hickson Road
Tel: (02) 9250 1999.
Website: www.sydneytheater.org.au
Belvoir Street Theater
Acting luminaries, such as Geoffrey Rush and Cate Blanchett, have performed at the highly respected Belvoir Street Theater
25 Belvoir Street
Tel: (02) 9699 3444
Website: www.belvoir.com.au
Dance
Bangarra Dance Theater
This dance theater performs a fusion of contemporary and traditional dance at various venues throughout the city. The company also tours extensively, both nationally and internationally.
Pier 4/5 Hickson Road
Tel: (02) 9251 5333.
Website: www.bangarra.com.au
Sydney Tours
Walking Tours
The Rocks Self-guided Tour leaflet is available from the Sydney Visitor Center and covers approximately 30 historic buildings and points of interest in The Rocks district. The heritage walk takes one to three hours, beginning at the visitor center (a former sailor's home) and ending at Cadman's Cottage. The Rocks Walking Tours operates 90-minute guided tours, taking in all the historic sites. Tours depart three times per day (twice per day on the weekend and in January) from 23 Playfair Street. Sydney Aboriginal Discoveries runs a number of tours with a focus on Aboriginal history and culture. Visitors explore sacred sites, taste Aboriginal foods, experience Dreamtime music and stories, and discover Aboriginal names and their meanings. Sydney Architecture Walks offers four themed walking tours - Sydney Opera House, Public Art, Harbour Features & Buildings and Urban Patterns of Sydney - led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides.
Rocks Walking Tours
Tel: (02) 9247 6678.
Website: www.rockswalkingtours.com.au
Sydney Aboriginal Discoveries
Tel: (02) 9231 8134.
Website: www.sydneyaustour.com.au/Abordiscover.html
Sydney Architecture Walks
Tel: (02) 8239 2211.
Website: www.sydneyarchitecture.org
Bus Tours
City Sightseeing Sydney covers 22 points of interest in the city, Kings Cross, Woolloomooloo and Darling Harbour, with a hop-on, hop-off service. Departures are every 15 to 30 minutes daily.
Tel: (02) 9567 8400.
Website: www.city-sightseeing.com
Boat Tours
There is a plethora of harbor cruises available from a number of operators; many of them based at Circular Quay. Captain Cook Cruises offers the luxury 'MV Sydney 2000 Dinner Cruise', departing every evening from No 6 Jetty Circular Quay. The fee includes an à la carte three-course meal with coffee (wine is extra). The ‘Sydney Harbour Explorer' and ‘Harbour Highlights Cruise' are fully narrated cruises, leaving from No 6 Jetty Circular Quay or Pier 26 in Darling Harbour, with a fixed number of stopping points. The ‘Sydney Harbour Explorer' tour takes two hours and departures are every two hours daily. The ‘Harbour Highlights Cruise' takes approximately 75 minutes with regular departures daily.
Tel: (02) 9206 1111
Website: www.captaincook.com.au
Aerial Tours
For aerial views of Sydney, Australia By Air offers a one-hour ‘Sydney Scenic Flight' in a twin-engine aircraft. Flights depart Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and include a complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off. The 90-minute ‘Sydney and Mountains Scenic Flight' includes all of the above plus flight over the Blue Mountains.
Tel: (02) 9982 9666.
Website: www.australiabyair.com.au
