Destination: Sydney
Why Go Now Text Size A A A
Sydney’s time is now—and the city knows it. Once down-at-the-heels neighborhoods are being revitalized at a scorching pace: run-down port areas such as the Pyrmont wharves are making way for luxury apartment buildings; the onetime industrial wastelands of Alexandria are being transformed into an urban utopia; and the red-light district of Kings Cross has managed to maintain its delicate balance of seedy and sophisticated. All are undergoing a rebirth and emerging as exciting destinations with galleries, cafés and vibrant street life.
I gave up Sydney life for New York three years ago, and whenever I return, another corner of the city seems to be getting the gentrification treatment. The things I took for granted when I lived there—the spectacular, clear light, which first-time visitors always remark on; the obsession with being out of doors; the sheer grace of the harbor, with its many secret coves and beaches are the very things that strike me anew each time I visit. You can feel it in the attitude of Sydneysiders too. The Aussie penchant for looking overseas for clues on how to dress, eat, shop and play is fast disappearing. Instead, Sydney is busy carving its own identity as the world’s most livable and laid-back international city. The cultural melting pot here is one of the most diverse around. The mass immigration of southern Europeans in the 1950s and ’60s—from Greece, Italy and Turkey—has been enriched over the years by an influx from China, Vietnam and Thailand as well as Israel, South Africa, Lebanon and the Middle East.
Indeed, egalitarianism—epitomized by the uniquely Australian notion of “a fair go for all”—is in Sydney’s DNA. The beaches and parks are for everyone, and you’re as likely to discover yourself sitting next to a CEO as a backpacker when you stop to take in the stunning harbor views from the steps of Sydney Opera House or the Botanic Gardens. Longtime residents still get all misty about their city, like stylist Megan Morton, who describes “driving over the bridge when the Opera House is opening a show and the entire foreshore is abuzz and glowing” as one of her favorite Sydney experiences. Elitism has never taken hold here, which is why so many international visitors find the relaxed friendliness of the locals so striking. Even as Sydney races toward the future, that legendary, down-to-earth Aussie spirit remains. The residents of this city might have robust investment portfolios and increasingly refined tastes, but it’s still de rigueur to duck down to the beach before work for a quick surf or to linger over superb rich coffee on a café terrace during a breakfast meeting. Shelley Barrett, founder and CEO of cosmetics success story ModelCo, sums up the feelings of many Sydneysiders: “I love the Emerald City for many reasons, but most of all for its raw energy, multiculturalism, amazing weather and incredible harbor. It means that so much of a Sydneysider’s life can be spent enjoying the outdoors, and that’s something I never take for granted.” I’m reminded each time I return to Sydney of that classic saying from childhood visits to the ocean: Come on in, the water’s great.
Search By Keyword
Popular Destinations
New on Indagare
Give the Gift of Indagare The perfect present for travelers: a membership to Indagare. Buy now
Indagare Insider Trips: Cuba, Myanmar and India: We’re planning trips throughout the year. Contact Indagare (212-988-2611) to be added to the wait list.
Indagare’s Mapped Out City Guides on Paris, London, Rome & more
Le Dolce Città: Rome & Florence Updates
Chile’s Landscapes: Patagonia and Atacama
Fashion Spotlight: Migrants du Monde
SPECIAL OFFERS
Member Reviews
- Community: Share advice with fellow members asking about your favorite travel discoveries.
- Indagare Insiders: Three-day itineraries for families in London and art lovers in Vienna. Plus, fashion insider Chiara Ferragamo’s picks on what not to miss in Florence, Bonnie Gokson, owner of Hong Kong’s lofty Sevva on Hong Kong, Culinary Insider: Budapest.
- Rant & Rave: Indagare members can share their advice with the community by logging in first, then clicking here: Rants & Raves.
- Give the Gift: Indagare: Give the gift of travel intelligence with a membership to Indagare. For details or to order, call us at 212-988-2611 or click here: Gift Membership.
- Indagare Plus: Remember that hotels marked by an Indagare Plus symbol offer preferential rates and benefits to members.
- Indagare Share Feature: Share articles, postcards and reviews with family and friends on such networking sites as Twitter, Facebook and Delicious. Simply click on the three small dots that symbolize our connect icon, at the end of every article, and follow the link to the networking site of your preference.
- Sample Indagare: With free bi-weekly email blasts on new hot spots and insider tips when you sign up for our mailing list.
- Profile feature: Members share your profiles, comments, favorite articles and IQs. Just click on the Profile tab on the upper right of your screen and look for the Edit My Profile blue tab.
- Indagare means to discover, explore, seek, scout in Latin.



Facebook
Delicious
Twitter


