Sydney is the capital city of the south-eastern Australian state of New South Wales, situated on Port Jackson, a waterway including Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour, and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers. With a population of over four million, Sydney, the “Harbour City”, is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia.

Sydney holds a reputation worldwide as one of the world’s most beautiful and liveable cities, brimming with historical associations and globally influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design. The city is also home to many unique architectural styles, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two of the most iconic structures on the planet.

Sydney is a dynamic centre for Australian economic activity and one of the most important cities for finance in the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney was also the host of the 2000 Olympic Games, which successfully raised the city’s global profile.

Though comprised of a large, sometimes sprawling population, Sydney nonetheless retains many large public spaces and lush green parklands. The city is literally surrounded by national parks, which extend into the suburbs and to the shores of the harbour.