When I was a child, the only people I knew who went to Australia went there to live. All I knew about the country was that it was on the other side of the world and that all Aussies celebrated Christmas on the beach. But even before I became a teenager, all that was changing. And nowadays, just about everyone I know has visited Australia for a holiday.
Thanks to flights to Sydney this has become one of the most popular holiday destinations; and its iconic opera house is now one of the world's most famous landmarks. This is a stunning piece of modern architecture, standing proudly against the dramatic backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most active performing arts venues in the world, drawing in 1.2 million people to its fifteen hundred performances each year.
Sydney is a great holiday destination for families with children. With its parks, museums, zoos and water parks there is always something to keep children engrossed. Koalas and kangaroos can be seen in their natural habitat and feeding time at the pelican sanctuary is one of the most popular tourist attractions. There are paddle boats to explore Sydney Harbour by water or a 3.6 kilometre monorail ride to see the sights by land.
Added to the Wildlife World, Water Garden, City Farm, Aquarium and Reptile Park, Botanical Gardens, picnics in Bicentennial Park and numerous child-friendly beaches what more could you want on a family holiday? Being the choice of venue for the Olympic Games, Rugby World Cup and World Youth Day this decade, Sydney has definitely earned its reputation as an alpha world city.