You might like to come because not only is it a great relatively safe place but we have a different view on life.Isnt that what travel is about?

Yes, the media usually shows the Waterfront Cultural Center in Sydney, just as they usually show the Golden Gate Bridge or Venice Beach when they show San Francisco or L.A. However, it would be a mistake to think that identifiable landmarks are all that a city has to offer. I suggest that you read a good guidebook on Sydney(I like the "Time Out" series)and educate yourself on the city and on Australia in general. While some people have compared Sydney to San Francisco and Vancouver, having lived in both places, I think the comparisons are superficial at best. In January I will be going to Sydney for the third time, so obviously I think it is well worth the long trip from the U.S. and would highly recommend it. But to appreciate Sydney or any foreign city, you must have a love of travel, the spirit of adventure,and a respect for the people and places you are visiting. From the tone of your question, though, I have the feeling that you would be disappointed in Sydney and might be better off staying closer to home.

There is not much outside of Sydney except burned forests. The forest fires have destroyed what beauty that was once there.

Fires....have you been there recently Linda?<BR><BR>We went in October and went up to the blue mtns to the same exact areas that had fire a year ago. <BR><BR>THERE was already TONS of green on the trees and the ground.<BR><BR>The bark would be black and then the rest of the tree was just like normal...leaves were sprouting etc....<BR><BR>Yes, it was DRY and the CAIRNS area probably would have been much prettier with a splash of water as would the Blue Mtns...but the drive up was still quite beautiful and the views were breathtaking despite the dust.<BR><BR>The wildlife was still out...I stood barely 6 ft from a wild Kangaroo &quot;family&quot; while they were feeding on grasses in a place that obviously had been badly burned just 10 months prior.

Well my friend<BR><BR>You've got your answer. An astounding YES it's really that interesting.<BR><BR><BR>And not only that - so is the rest of the country along with the countrymen. As one poster said it best - the Aussies are a laid back group.<BR><BR>If you don't go you'll always wonder. If you do go you'll be glad you did.

Happy New Year Bruce!<BR><BR>I believe that the question has been answered rather well. We live just outside of Tampa, Florida and it took us 24 hours to get to Sydney (we went via Auckland) and loved it. We were there in August of 2002 and already have tickets to go back in April. Sydney is wonderful, but like it has been said, you need to see things outside of the tourist attractions. The nicest thing about Sydney is that you can walk everywhere, and everyone is happy and friendly. While we are going to see more than just Sydney again this coming April, if all we could get was Sydney, believe me we would go just to be there again.<BR><BR>When you think about other places in the world to see, or just other places to visit in the states, well I can visit a lot of places that are closer, which means I can visit them anytime. But a trip to Sydney takes a while, so go when you can, and after you have been there, you will go back.<BR><BR>Cheers<BR><BR>Steve and Andrea

I have to laugh at Mina's post - my first morning ever in Sydney, I walked through the Botanical Gardens only to see a ton of flying foxes (scared me to death), several large Ibis birds (thought they had escaped from a zoo and tried to herd them back away from a road), and cockatoos grazing on the grass. That was in the first few hours I was there. The rest of the trip was AMAZING.<BR><BR>No other city I've ever been to is like Sydney...it's worth the flight. Sydney uses its waterfront unlike any other place I've been, has unique culture and wonderful people. As other posters have stated, I could DEFINITELY live there for a couple of years, and still not see everything.