Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and Australia's largest city with a population of around 4.5 million people.

Sydney is situated within a coastal basin bounded by the Blue Mountains in the west, the Hawkesbury River in the north and the Woronora Plateau in the south. The city is built around the magnificent and world-famous Sydney Harbour - the world's largest natural harbour.

The city is noted for its parks and gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens and Hyde Park in the city centre were both established in the 1800s. To the north of the city is Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and to the south is Royal National Park - both are vast, covering around 15,000 hectares each.

A popular destination for both domestic and international visitors, Sydney boasts a number of leading attractions including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Sydney Tower, Taronga Zoo and a number of museums and art galleries.

Sydney is a multicultural city which is reflected in its large range of food outlets covering the cuisines of Europe and Asia.