Sydney is a brilliant hybrid, a dramatic and magnificent waterfront city that’s a mash-up of many places you may have been but unlike any of them. It reminds me of Vancouver and Hong Kong, thanks to towering glass and steel skyscrapers overlooking one of the world’s greatest harbors. Meanwhile, the pastel beach bungalows in the eastern suburbs recall equal parts Brighton and Malibu. Then toss in stately Victorian sandstone architecture that would be at home in Edinburgh, add an overlay of deep Asian culture, and you have some approximation of this marvelous place.

In the land of flat whites, footy, and koalas, here are five things you must do to realize that you have flown halfway around the world to a friendly and energetic city.

Bondi Beach and Icebergs

Half an hour by train and bus from the Central Business District, nothing prepares you for your first glimpse of Bondi Beach, a great half-moon of sand and surf, the heart of Australia’s surfing and beach culture … continue reading