World-renowned for its magnificent Opera House and Harbour Bridge and after successfully hosting the Olympic Games in 2000, Sydney has a reputation of being one of the world's major centres of sport, art and entertainment.

Sydney's climate is comfortable with average temperatures ranging from 18-28 degrees celsius in summer and from 7-16 degrees in winter.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the harbour tunnel link the city centre with the satellite CBD of North Sydney and the suburbs of the North Shore. The city's airport, Kingsford Smith (otherwise known as Mascot), is about 9km (6mi) south of the city centre. Central station, Sydney's main train station, is in the south of the city centre, and the main bus terminal is just outside the station.

The city has a population of over 4 million and is growing fast. The inner city areas of Woolloomooloo, East Sydney, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Paddington, Newtown, Glebe and Balmain are an interesting mix of bohemian, gentrified, and traditional working-class suburbs.