Sydney

Sydney is the largest city in Australia. It sits on the southeast coast of the country, wrapped around one of the biggest natural harbors in the world. About 5.5 million people live there, which is roughly one in five Australians. Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales, though it is not the capital of Australia. That honor goes to Canberra.

People have lived around Sydney Harbour for a very long time. The Gadigal people, part of the Eora Nation, have called this land home for at least 30,000 years. That is more than five times longer than the pyramids of Egypt have existed. British ships arrived in 1788 and started a colony there. For its first 80 years, the colony was mostly a place where Britain sent prisoners. Over time, free settlers came too, and the city grew.

The city is famous for its harbor. Two huge landmarks sit on the water. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a giant steel arch that opened in 1932. Australians nicknamed it "the Coathanger" because of its shape. You can climb to the top on a guided walk, 440 feet above the water. Right next to the bridge is the Sydney Opera House. Its white roof looks like sails or seashells, depending on who you ask. It took 14 years to build and opened in 1973. More than eight million people visit it each year.

Sydney has warm summers and mild winters. Because it sits in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flipped from North America and Europe. Christmas falls in the middle of summer. Kids often spend the holiday at the beach. The city has more than 100 beaches, and Bondi Beach is the most famous one. Surfers ride its waves all year long.

Wildlife in and around Sydney can surprise visitors. Flocks of large white cockatoos screech through parks. Possums climb on rooftops at night. Giant fruit bats, called flying foxes, sleep in trees during the day and flap across the evening sky in long lines. Even in the middle of the city, nature is never far away.

Sydney is a popular starting point for people exploring Australia. From the city, you can travel west to the Blue Mountains, north toward tropical rainforests, or out to sea to spot whales during their yearly migration. The harbor, the beaches, and the bridge make Sydney one of the most recognized cities in the world.