Known as the Harbour City, Sydney is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia with a desired reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful and accommodating cities to live in. It’s surrounded by iconic beaches such as the famous Bondi and Manly beaches, world heritage sites and acclaimed wine regions which makes it easy why people come here and stay a while or for some for life. It definitely has the look and climate, the vibe and surroundings to make any visitor want to stay and explore some more. There’s the first rate museums which shows a lot of Australia’s history, the famous opera house, innovative restaurants, verdant parks, glittering beaches that one would forget that it used to be a hardscrabble British penal colony two centuries ago.

There are a lot of tourists place which one can visit while in Sydney. Read along as I list some of them:

1. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the star attraction of the harbor, one should not forget to visit the world’s great icons; the Sydney Opera House. The elegant building shaped like billowing sails is perched on a small area of land surrounded by water.
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries vehicular and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore; it’s considered as the highest arch bridge in the world.
3. Sydney’s tallest free-standing structure is the Sydney Tower. It stands 1014 ft above the Sydney Central Business District. Four sections of the tower are open to public, three of which is occupied by Sydney Tower Dining. Sydney Tower Eye takes you to the highest point above Sydney for breathtaking 360 degree views of the beautiful harbour city. From the golden beaches to the distant Blue Mountains, you’ll be amazed by the views. A place near the area is a hot Sydney real estate item so best get one immediately if you plan on moving to Sydney.
4. Visit The Rocks. Located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, northwest of the Sydney Central Business District, The Rocks is known for its historical sites such as Cadman’s Cottage and its museums and galleries like: the Sydney Observatory which is Australia’s oldest Observatory.
5. If you and your family is interested in seeing some awesome greenery then a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a must. Located at the heart of Sydney, the garden is the oldest scientific institution In Australia and one of the most historic botanical institutions in the world. It’s also near a lot of other tourist spots such as the Sydney Harbour, the Opera House among other places so it’s definitely a tourist attraction.
6. Last but definitely not least a trip to Sydney means a trip to the beach and what better beach to visit than Bondi Beach. Bondi Beach is famous for its great sandy beach and a place to surf. It has numerous cafes and restaurants which look out over the beach where one can wine and dine while enjoying the view. It’s also a popular place for rollerbladers, skaters and cyclists; as it was even the location used on Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 video game.

Image Credit: Corey Leopold Eugene Regis Under Creative Common License

Traveling can be very stressful, but you can also cut out a lot of the anxiety by making your holiday preparations in advance. Here are just seven steps for getting to Melbourne with the least amount of hassle.

1. Create a Budget

How much can you afford to spend on your dream vacation? Consider the following expenses:

– Food
– Flights
– Accommodation
– Attractions
– Transportation
– Souvenirs

The best way to budget is to allocate a certain percentage of your funds to particular travel needs. For example, you might set aside 30 percent for lodging but only five percent for souvenirs because the former is much more important than the latter.

2. Book All Flights and Hotels in Advance

You should never fly somewhere without knowing where you’ll stay once you hit the ground. The good news is that there are plenty of affordable hotels in Melbourne, including places like the Seasons Botanic Gardens Hotel. You might also look into travel agencies that will offer special discounts if you book flights, hotels and car rentals with the same service package. The deals are out there; you just have to find them.

3. Pack Correctly

What will the weather be like while you’re in Melbourne? Will you need special shoes to visit certain attractions? Are there toiletries or medications that won’t be available from local stores? Be sure that you understand how to pack, too. Rolling your clothes instead of folding them is a technique used by stewardesses and a great way to squeeze more room out of your luggage.

4. Arm Yourself With Information

You can never have too much information when you’re traveling overseas. In addition to doing your research and taking virtual tours while you’re still at home, you can also do some digging when you’re actually in Melbourne by visiting the official Melbourne Visitor Centre. They’ll give you maps, pamphlets, guidebooks and advice so you can make the most of your trip.

5. Follow an Itinerary

With so much to see and do in Melbourne, you’ll need an itinerary to keep yourself on track. Just be sure not to over-schedule yourself and give your trip unrealistic and unnecessary goals. For example, instead of plotting your activities hour by hour, give them big, flexible swatches of your time. Say that you’ll “visit this museum all afternoon” or “enjoy that neighborhood until sundown.”

6. Save Money Where You Can

Paying full price is for people who didn’t do their research! Look into all the deals and discounts that you possibly can while on your vacation in Melbourne. Zoos may have half-price days for children; amusement parks may sell all-day passes; operas might offer inexpensive tickets for last-minute shows.

7. Have a Blast

Last but certainly not least, remember that your trip is supposed to be fun! Don’t get so bogged down in the planning that you lose sight of why you needed rest and relaxation in the first place. Melbourne is a wonderful city for a vacation, and you deserve to enjoy it to the fullest. If you ever find yourself overly frazzled by your preparations, take a deep breath, re-focus and set your sights on having fun.

These are just a few tips for planning your trip to Melbourne. Good luck!

Image Courtesy to PreciousBytes under cc license