But with so much choice so close to the many hostels in Sydney, here's a small guide separating the prime wheat from the less exciting beach chaff travelers are likely to stumble across in the city.

Palm Beach

One of the most well-known beaches in the city, Palm Beach is a long stretch of faultless sand flanked on one side by lush evergreen bush, and on the other the crystal clear water of the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea.

Barrenjoey Beach

Officially discovered by Arthur Philip in the 18th century, this 1.5 kilometer stretch of sand is the lesser known partner of Palm Beach, which is located nearby. Both are within close proximity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House - and hence the most popular Sydney hostels.

Great Mackerel Beach

Backing onto Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Great Mackerel Beach is generally only accessible by water taxi or neighboring Palm Beach. Surrounded by lush vegetation, it is a great place for backpackers seeking a bit of peace.

Currawong Beach

For tranquility it's hard to do better than Currawong Beach, whose lapping shores are savored by visitors and treasured by locals as an excellent place for couples and families to take some time out from the throng.

Bondi Beach

Perhaps the most popular tourist beach in Sydney, Bondi Beach is renowned the world over for its supreme surf and well-policed waves. Located close to the city centre, Bondi Beach is often the natural choice for new arrivals in Sydney hostels.

Balmoral Beach

Located in the Mosman suburb, the area is as much renowned for its views from the surrounding Balmoral Slopes as for its cool waters and golden sands. However, Balmoral Beach also boasts a number of excellent restaurants.

Avalon Beach

Avalon is most popular among surfers - and rightly so. It enjoys some of the best tides and waves in Sydney, and was also a onetime star of US TV show, Baywatch.

Cronulla Beach

Another great beach for families with children, well-patrolled by lifeguards and with a selection of toddler-friendly rock pools to play in.

Manly Beach

One of Bondi Beach's main rivals for travelers' affections and a great place for travelers to meet each other and exchange travel tips.

Long Reef Beach

The name says it all for this activity hotspot. A 200 meter long stretch of reefs and a good coastal breeze have made this a hotspot for wave-jumping, wind surfing and kitesurfing.

Governor Phillip arrived with the First Fleet with the main aim to make the colony self supporting.

The first dwellings and early ‘official' buildings were crude huts made from wood that warped and shrank as it dried out. Bricks were poorly fired; there was lack of lime to make mortar and structures often collapsed in heavy rain.

By 1802 a map of Sydney shows approximately 70 huts, two windmills for grinding grain, storehouses and a Government wharf, a church and military battery.
Although Governor Lachlan Macquarie was often in conflict with the settlers he devoted a great deal of attention to the construction of roads and public buildings, on which convict labour was largely employed and many still remain, such as St. James Church, the foundations of St. Mary's Cathedral were laid, and the first wharf, called King's Wharf was constructed at Circular Quay. "Mrs Macquarie's Chair" was cut in one of the rocks overlooking the harbour.

The rocks were the focal point for early development in Sydney which still can be seen today.

There are more than one hundred heritage sites and buildings and the oldest house is Cadmans Cottage, built during this era in 1816. The Dawes Point Battery is the oldest remaining European structure, built in 1791, and three remaining walls of Fort Phillip on Observatory Hill, built 1804.

George Street in the Rocks was the first road built by Europeans on the Australian continent and its alignment has not changed since 1788.
Sydney began to show its independence from Britain when under pressure from its citizens England stopped transporting prisoners to the colony in 1840.

During this period Sydney was a successful and profitable city with a population of approximately 30,000 people. Wool, the whaling and sealing industries were providing the drive for this success with ships from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa arriving in Sydney to exchange a variety of goods.

With buildings from this period showing the town's transformation.
In 1842 the City of Sydney was proclaimed and its first municipal council formed.
When gold was discovered in 1851 immigrants arrived from not only Europe and America but from China as well which still has its legacy today, with the southern part of Sydney known as ‘China Town'

Sydney's population continued to grow and by the end of the nineteenth century was one of the largest cities in the Western World with a population of half a million people.
Within the increase in wealth many of the inner city residents moved out of the area to comfortable homes set among gardens in the fashionable townships of Ashfield or St. Peters.

The outbreak of the plague in 1900 finally prompted action and many of the derelict and run down houses were demolished.
In 1932 the first of Sydney's two icons the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened so that motor vehicles and trains could cross the harbour.

It wasn't until 1973 that Sydney's second icon the Sydney Opera House opened to world acclaim.

Over the last two hundred years much has changed. Apartment blocks have replaced factories and terraces have been demolished to make way for shops and offices yet much of the past still exists where aged wharves have been transformed, former convict barracks, grand religious places and public offices are combined with the present to give Sydney its atmosphere

If you've seen most of the USA and are tired of the Caribbean and doing the cruise thing, you might want to spread your wings and fly to The Wonder Down Under, The Land of Oz - Australia . We'll visit Sydney today, the teeming metropolis and ultimate Party City of Australia.

You'll also want to break into the family piggy bank because this trip is not cheap but if you want the most bang for the buck in the Pacific, you can't beat Sydney.

One look out of the plane window as you're approaching Sydney, will cause you to draw in your breath as you lay eyes on all the homes with the ubiquitous red tiled roofs, not to mention the sight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the famous Sydney Opera House.

Once you've landed and cleared customs and been met with a cheery G'day, you should waste no time taking in all the sights. Five must-sees are:

POINTS OF INTEREST

The Sydney harbor Bridge (affectionately known as the “coat hanger” to Aussies) - You can even pay to climb this bridge to view one of the most beautiful harbors in the world, Darling harbor. This is not a trip for the faint-hearted, with the top of the bridge at 450 feet. Nor is it a trip for the tipsy. Though you might want to fortify yourself for this dangerous ascent, don't even think about it. If the authorities have the slightest suspicion that you might have imbibed any alcohol at all you will be breathalyzed! And that is fair dinkum (the truth).

You will be outfitted with a special suit without pockets so that you can't drop anything, either inadvertently or intentionally. No cameras, no bracelets or hairclips, not even pen and paper. Everything, down to your issued handkerchief, has to be tied to you securely. It took 10 years to make the bridge climb a reality with the organizers having to overcome a multitude of objections and obstacles. The first tours started in 1998 and have become an ever increasing popular attraction. The tour lasts a couple of hours so you will be given a last call to go to the “loo,” and then you'll be strapped into a climbing harness with all climbers attached to a guide rail.

Once you reach the top you will be afforded the most magnificent vista, a 360 degree view from the mouth of the Darling River to as far away as the beautiful Blue Mountains.

The Sydney Opera House - Ridiculed by many in its early stages of development and amassing great cost overruns and adding years to the time from start to finish, it is now regarded as one of the great architectural achievements and wonders of the modern world. The area surrounding the Opera House is awash with people from every nation, from the very old to visiting schoolchildren in their mandatory school uniforms.

The opera house is home to the Australian Ballet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Opera Australia, the Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, the Sydney Symphony and the Sydney Theatre Company and much more. The acoustics inside the opera house are said to be some of the best in the world. It is truly a breathtaking sight.

The Rocks and Circular Quay - About a five minute walk from Circular Quay where all the grand ships dock, is an area known as The Rocks. This area has a colorful history dating back to the convict days. A proud Aussie today is one who can lay claim to convicts in their ancestry. It is a badge of honor. The Rocks is a maze of sandstone lanes, cul-de-sacs and courtyards, filled with shops, restaurants and pubs which serve some of the best (and most potent) beer in the world. When in Sydney make sure you have a tinny or two of Tooey's Old. It makes Foster's look like sarsaparilla! In one of the courtyards you may find yourself being serenaded with some good, old-fashioned Australian folk songs. And yes, the unofficial Aussie national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, will be one of the songs you'll hear.

Kings Cross, Sydney - “The” place to be for the nightlife. The main thorofare running through Kings Cross commonly referred to as The Strip, has more exotic bars (around 60 of them) than any place else in Australia. If you're in the area on a Tuesday night, you are in luck. Tuesday night is opening night at the area's galleries where you will be able to see many artists' shows. The streets are lined with beautiful trees dotted with thousands of fairy lights twinkling their magic all night long. You'll want to take a tour on a double decker bus.

Sydney Harbour cruise and Sydney Tower - Sydney Harbour is arguably the most beautiful natural harbor in the world. Besides the many beautiful exclusive homes along the water's edge, there are large tracts of parklands, reserves and gardens. It is possible to walk around much of the harbor edge and picnic in many spots. But a wonderful way to view the harbor is to take one of the government run Sydney Ferries. These ferries provide an inexpensive way of seeing this most beautiful harbor in the world.

There are private cruises that range anywhere from a short trip around the harbour to an evening cabaret/dinner cruise with a four-piece band with a dance floor. You can dance the night away under the southern sky with the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge as your backdrop. Another way of seeing the harbor, and gaining some perspective on its size and beauty, is to walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and go to the top of the Pylon Tower. For a fee you will have a magnificent view of the harbor, the city skyline, the Opera House, The Rocks and Darling Harbour.

A lovely way to see the harbor from an even loftier position is to take the lift to the top of the Sydney Tower, Australia's highest man-made structure. The Tower has a revolving restaurant just perfect for lunch or dinner and to watch the city go by beneath you. There is also an observation tower for general viewing.

SAVE YOUR MONEY - THIS IS NOT A CHEAP TRIP

And I didn't even mention the kangaroos and koalas! One side note: Don't call them koala bears. Koalas are not bears, they are marsupials.