Sydney Opera House
When the words "Sydney, Australia" are mentioned, many people immediately think of the Sydney Opera House. The shape of this amazing edifice, which resembles a few shells or sails, is unique. The structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most well-known architectural landmarks in the world. The neighborhood in which the Theater is situated is similarly beautiful. The structure is surrounded on three sides by water, and it is bordered on the south by the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The design style of the Theater was chosen through an international competition. It was first won by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, but due to technical and financial challenges, he was compelled to quit the project. The structure was completed in 1973, with a total budget ten times higher than the original. After leaving Australia, Utzon never returned, and so never saw his children.
Great Barrier Reef
The reef is the world's largest living structure, visible from space and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1975, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was formed with the purpose of safeguarding the reef's delicate ecosystem. There are also over 3,000 coral reefs with 300 different coral species, 600 islands (including the beautiful Whitsunday Archipelago), and coastal mangrove forests.
This is without a doubt one of the world's natural wonders. The park stretches for 2,300 kilometers along Queensland's east coast of Australia (approximately the distance from Vancouver in Canada to Mexico City in Mexico). Of course, scuba diving at the Reef is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are various types of soft and hard corals, as well as over 1,600 tropical fish, sharks, dugongs, dolphins, turtles, rays, and giant mollusks. If you'd rather stay dry, you can see all of this from an underwater observation station or on a tour on a boat with a transparent bottom.
Blue Mountains National Park
The stunning Blue Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is only 80 kilometers from Sydney, making it a popular day trip.
The bluish haze caused by the abundant eucalyptus trees gave the park its name. There are 268,711 hectares of plant life in the park, as well as stunning gorges, waterfalls, Aboriginal rock drawings, and 140 kilometers of hiking paths.
The "Three Sisters" sandstone rock formations are the park's most interesting feature. The Katoomba Scenic Railway, which descends a steep slope into the Jamieson Valley, is well worth seeing. At one point, the road runs through a steep valley that appears to be a natural tunnel. The Park offers hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking, and equestrian riding.
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