Following is an excerpt from this extensive & highly detailed guide by a lifetime resident of Australia. The guide covers all the hotels, restaurants, sights to see and activities, from beachgoing to hiking, kayaking to exploring the Outback or the cultural attractions of Sydney. Flying into New South Wales, it''s undeniable that Sydney''s spectacular setting is simply one of the world''s best: A melding of lushly green parklands, classic historic buildings, and polished modern architecture set back from the glistening water. Gliding above the city shows the spider''s web of highways and bridges linking the sprawling mass of civilization, which extends more than 12 mi/20 km along the Port Jackson inlet. Some four million Australians live here, and 10 million more tourists flood into Sydney each year; little wonder, with attractions ranging from famous museums, gardens, and zoos to dozens of dazzling beaches. And the activities are endless: Bush hiking and bike tracks, harbor cruises and water excursions, and high-powered flights above the whole scene. In short, Sydney is the country''s showpiece for holiday and adventure. The continent''s most active port city, Sydney actually sits inland of the Pacific, around nine mi/15 km inland from the coast along the Port Jackson waterway, which itself is carved into numerous smaller islands and bays. Surrounding the harbor are great patches of pine and semi-tropical forests, which quickly lead up into the bumpy foothills of the Great Dividing Ranges. This is eucalyptus territory, where the arid environment of blue gums is colored by a heated haze given off from the leaves; hence the region''s name OCo the Blue Mountains. Also, of the more than 70 national parks throughout New South Wales, more than a handful are settled right around Sydney itself OCo the coastal Royal National Park, the northern Wollemi National Park, and the western Blue Mountains National Park among them. With its diverse personalities, multicultural flavors, and sophisticated yet down-to-earth airs, Sydney offers something for every traveler. It''s a place where history, culture, activities, and adventure are blended into a well-run and engaging metropolis where locals take pride in their heritage and guests are welcomed like friends. Massive transport systems provide a choice of city-wide links that are clean, quick, and cheap; food runs from simple Australian to worldly gourmet, and endless accommodation options spread from ocean to mountains. With 224 million acres/80 million-plus hectares, the large state of New South Wales has a continually changing landscape which delves into some of Australia''s best scenes. The classic, golden-sand beaches form a string along the east coast, getting more tropical the farther north you travel toward Queens land, or becoming more rocky and chilled the farther south you head toward Victoria. The mighty Murray River forms the southern border, stretching a watery band of blue along the northern edge of Victoria, and providing sustenance to some of both states'' richest farms, grazing grounds, and wine regions. The Darling and Murrumbidgee also feed the dry western plains, and offer a string of charming settlements to explore along their edges. The Great Dividing Range runs parallel to the continent''s edge, curving down all the way from the far north tip of Queensland through New South Wales and on down to Melbourne. Included within the peaks are the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney, as well as the Snowy Mountains in the far south of the state. And the mountains are indeed a dividing factor in the country''s atmosphere, not only in visual landscape from eastern beaches to western plains and deserts; they also form a border between the balmy ocean settings and the scorched western Outback. Fertile farmlands and orchards are tucked into the folds of the mountains, while the state''s famous vineyards spread out through the glistening river valleys."

On 3 November 2007, the Royal Zoological Society of NSW held its annual forum, with the topic being The natural history of Sydney. It has remained as the title of this book. The program contained the following introduction as the theme of the forum and it has remained as the theme for this book: “Sydney has a unique natural history, providing a home for iconic animals and plants while remaining a global city. It captured the imagination of prominent naturalists and inspired visits and collecting trips to the infant colony of New South Wales in the late 1790s and early to late 1800s. From these collections flowed great descriptive works detailing the new and unusual animals and plants of the antipodes. Gould, Owen, Huxley, Peron, Banks and many others recounted new and evocative flora and fauna. Many collecting trips for the great museums and institutions in Europe began in Sydney. Sydney still continues to engage naturalists and those grappling with the current drama of climate change and conservation. The Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales, founded in Sydney in 1879, is a product of the grand 19th century tradition of natural history, with a particular emphasis on animal life. Sydney is also home to some of Australia’s oldest and finest institutions, such as the Australian Museum, the University of Sydney and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Throughout Sydney, there are places where the natural habitat has not been supplanted by urban growth, and the interest in Sydney’s endemic flora and fauna remains strong. This forum draws on a magnificent interdisciplinary vision while continuing to employ all the modern tools in the investigation and communication of Sydney’s natural history. It reflects a resurgence in local history and pursues the natural history of our harbour-side city in a modern framework.” The day of the forum was a captivating display of the diversity of the fauna of Sydney, both native and introduced, and its varied habitats, and of the diverse ways of appreciating natural history, including the history of natural history. Also on display was the depth of scholarship lying behind each of the presentations. The subject clearly has a profound hold on many professional biologists, historians and those keen to conserve their local area, but if the day is any guide, there are vastly more people living in or visiting Sydney who have more than a passing interest in this topic. The subject matter ranged from the history of institutions engaged in natural history, through animal groups as diverse as reptiles and cicadas, to ideas on how to see Sydney as a natural setting. Other papers dealt with the use by Aboriginal peopleof the native biota in terms of fishing and being displayed in rock paintings, before the arrival of the colonists. There is little doubt that this theme could run to 10 volumes, not just this one, but the diversity of ideas, skills and organisms displayed in this one book will serve as a guide to what lies beyond these pages. A considerable effort was made by each author to present their material as both interesting and accurate. The material is built on lifetimes of sustained effort to study, record and communicate findings and ideas. It is also built on the lifetime work of our predecessors, who laboured to find and record the natural history of Sydney. We are indebted to their efforts. This book records not only the outcome of a successful day of presentations, but more importantly the lifelong scholarship of those authors in each of the specialist fields. Not only have the authors been absorbed by documenting the biodiversity, they have included studies, or intelligent speculation, on the factors which have impacted on this diversity since Cook sailed along the NSW coast in 1770. The Macquarie Dictionary, e.g. the revised third edition, defines ‘natural history’ as ‘the science or study dealing with all objects in nature’, and ‘the aggregate of knowledge connected with such knowledge’. This makes natural history of wide interest to the entire community of Sydney, both residents and visitors. However, we have specialised to the extent that we have focused principally on fauna, the RZS being a zoological society. Nevertheless, plant communities are recognised as part and parcel of the natural history of Sydney, as is a sense of the geography of the city, with its magnificent harbour, sandstone backdrop and spectacular national parks surrounding the city. Also of great importance is how others in the past have seen the natural history of what is now called Sydney. All these ideas are captured in this book. One of the strengths of being a naturalist, i.e. ‘one who is versed in or devoted to natural history, especially a zoologist or botanist’ (Macquarie Dictionary), is the opportunity to look across the individual disciplines, be it a specialist in birds, mammals or polychaetes, a taxonomist, or an ecologist or writer. Their advantage is the ability to see the richness of a place such as Sydney. Consequently, most botanists and zoologists have one or two highly specialised skills, but a keen interest in the broader picture and can thus appreciate the importance of, for example, cave art or fish diversity in the harbour, and recognise that the vertebrate fauna of Sydney has changed over the 222 years since European settlement, and no doubt the invertebrate fauna has changed although it is less easily assessed. Our aim in this book is to draw attention to the natural history of Sydney for scholars, as well as those who have the task of looking after a particular area, such as within a local government area, or a particular taxon, such as reptiles or fish, and those who have the opportunity to conserve areas, taxa or institutions through their employment or legislative responsibilities. It is also for teachers and lecturers, colleagues in other cities and towns in Australia, and those with a keen interest in managing our urban wildlife, our cultural heritage or promoting the profound value of our natural heritage within a city landscape. It also displays the importance of museum and herbarium collections in documenting the changes since 1770.

Produced by the Australian Beach Safety and Management Program, a joint project of the Coastal Studies Unit, University of Sydney and Surf Life Saving Australia Ltd.

The Sydney Wars tells the history of military engagements between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians – described as ‘this constant sort of war’ by one early colonist – around the greater Sydney region. Telling the story of the first years of colonial Sydney in a new and original way, this provocative book is the first detailed account of the warfare that occurred across the Sydney region from the arrival of a British expedition in 1788 to the last recorded conflict in the area in 1817. The Sydney Wars sheds new light on how British and Aboriginal forces developed military tactics and how the violence played out. Analysing the paramilitary roles of settlers and convicts and the militia defensive systems that were deployed, it shows that white settlers lived in fear, while Indigenous people fought back as their land and resources were taken away. Stephen Gapps details the violent conflict that formed part of a long period of colonial strategic efforts to secure the Sydney basin and, in time, the rest of the continent. ‘A powerful and cogent contribution to one of the most contentious aspects of Australian history: the war between British settlers and the First Nations. The fine detailed research will mean that we will have to radically reassess our understanding of the history of the first thirty years of settlement.’ —Henry Reynolds

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Sydney is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Take to the water and explore the spectacular harbour by boat; laze on the beach at Bondi and watch the waves - and the surfers - roll in; and hunt down the latest trendy bars and restaurants. All with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Sydney and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Sydney: Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, cuisine, politics Covers Circular Quay, The Rocks, Sydney Harbour, City Centre, Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, Inner West, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross, Potts Point, Paddington, Centennial Park, Bondi, Coogee, Manly The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Sydney is our most comprehensive guide to the city, and is perfect for discovering both popular and offbeat experiences. Looking for just the highlights? Check out Pocket Sydney, our handy-sized guide featuring the best sights and experiences for a shorter visit.. After wider coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's East Coast Australia or Australia. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia) eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

The University of New South Wales, from its gestation in the Sydney Technical College and its controversial beginnings in 1949, has grown into a diverse, innovative institution, one of Australia's premier universities - with, in 1999, a student population of 30,000 and a staff of 5,000. Since its foundation it has been a leading player in the redefining of traditional notions of university life and character in Australia, maintaining its contributions to public life and its continuing focus on the incorporation of change. The book sets out to capture the spirit and achievement of these first fifty years.

When Archibald Liversidge first arrived at Sydney University in 1872 as reader in Geology and Assistant in the Laboratory he had about ten students and two rooms in the main building. In 1874 he became professor of geology and mineralogy and by 1879 he had persuaded the senate to open a faculty of science. He became its first dean in 1882. In 1880 he visited Europe as a trustee of the Australian Museum and his report helped to establish the Industrial, Technological and Sanitary Museum which formed the basis of the present Powerhouse Museum's collection. Liversidge also played a major role in the setting up of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science which held its first congress in 1888. For anyone interested in Archibald Liversidge, his contribution to crystallography, mineral chemistry, chemical geology, strategic minerals policy and a wider field of colonial science.