Attractions

Sydney is packed with things to see and do (though of course, we're not biased...!). The following are just a small selection of those that we think might be of interest to ESA08 members.

The Australian Museum

The oldest museum in Australia, located in the city centre, the Australian Museum has an international reputation for natural history and indigenous research, community programs and exhibitions. It has unique and extensive collections of natural science and cultural artefacts.
www.amonline.net.au/

The Royal Botanic Gardens

These beautiful gardens cover 30 hectares in the heart of the city, and front onto the Harbour foreshore, with spectacular views over Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Established in 1816, the RBG is the oldest scientific institution in the Australia and home to an important collection of plants from Australia and overseas.
www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

Sydney Aquarium

Sydney Aquarium is located in Darling Harbour, and has one of the largest collections of Australian aquatic life, with over 12,000 animals including huge sharks and rays, platypus, seals, fairy penguins, crocodiles, as well as a exhibits featuring marine and freshwater ecosystems from both the tropics and temperate regions.
www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

Taronga Zoo

Just a short ferry ride across the harbour from Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo is probably Australia's most famous and popular zoo.

www.taronga.org.au/

National parks of the Sydney region

Sydney is surrounded by national parks, many of which are accessible by public transport for day bushwalks and sight-seeing, including:

• Royal National Park, the oldest national park in Australia, and second oldest in the world, and accessible by train then ferry to Bundeena
• Sydney Harbour National Park, which protects various islands and spectacular foreshore areas around the harbour and contains beautiful pockets of the bushland which was once common
• Blue Mountains National Park, an extensive sandstone World Heritage area, accessible with a regular train service from Sydney, with the dramatic Three Sisters and cliffs of Katoomba, Leura, Blackheath and other mountain towns popular destinations.
  

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/parks/RegionSydney.htm

Nutcote - home of May Gibbs, creator of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

Located in the leafy suburb of Neutral Bay, overlooking Sydney Harbour and the city, this lovely location was where she wrote and illustrated many of her books.

www.maygibbs.com.au/

The following websites have a range of other options:

www.sydney.com.au/
http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/practicalinfo/a/sydneysummer.htm
www.whatsoninsydney.com.au/whatsOn.asp

While you’re in Sydney, why not also attend these events…

(1) 2008 RZS Annual Forum “Science under Siege” Saturday, 29 November 2008, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm at the ANZ Conservation Lecture Theatre (top car park) Taronga Zoo, Mosman. See www.rzsnsw.org.au/

(2) Australian & New Zealand Society for Comparative Physiology & Biochemistry 25th Annual meeting: 5-8 December 2008, also at The University of Sydney. See www.zoo.latrobe.edu.au/anzscpb/

(3) Monet and the Impressionists, at The Art Gallery of New South Wales, until 26 January 2009. The only Australian venue for this superb exhibition touring from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, which has one of the world's best collections of impressionist paintings. See www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/coming/monet