Who hasn’t dreamt of taking a trip to the Land Down Under, especially to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales? With its charming façade featuring sky-high buildings, the iconic Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour is one of the biggest attractions that put this city on a traveller’s map. But there’s so much more to Sydney than what meets the eye… Here are some lesser-known, yet exciting facts, that will change the way you see the place.
1. New South Wales sees the highest number of visitors in the country
The pre-covid travel statistics revealed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics tells us that 36% of all short-term visitors in the country stayed in NSW followed by Victoria(27.6%) and Queensland(19.2%). The vibrant harbourfront is one of the most popular destinations to the city with activities like lunch cruises on Sydney Harbour, BridgeClimb, beach visits and walking tours attracting the highest number of visitors. With the onset of the pandemic, the tourism industry may have taken a hit with the number of tourists plummeting. But the tourism industry is slowly on the path of recovery from the gloom brought on by the pandemic. If you’re planning to visit the city in near future, here are some activities that you can safely indulge in: Sydney Bridge Climb, Sydney Harbour dinner cruises or lunch cruises, kayaking and walking tours. For more travel statistics, visit https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/visitor-arrivals-calendar-year-2020
2. Sydharb is an official unit of measurement in Australia
Yes, that’s right! This quirky-sounding unit of measurement is used to measure volume and is equivalent to 500,000,000,000 litres. That’s 500 gigalitres! It’s named after Sydney Harbour and equates to the approximate volume of water that fills up the harbour. The unit can be used in the context of calculating otherwise incomprehensibly vast quantities like the annual consumption of water in a country, the capacities of lakes and dams, the impact of a flood and the like.
3. There are some 600 species of fish that call the harbour waters home
The harbour is filled with rich fauna and flora. According to the records collected from the Australian Museum of Ichthyology, the number of species of fish in Sydney Harbour (as of August 2018) is 596. The Sydney Harbour fauna is still being investigated and we can expect more new species to be added to the list. Some popular species of fish found here include Parore, Australian Bonito, Upeneus Australiae and Trumpeter Whiting.
4. The harbour used to be an estuary some 29 million years ago
Sydney Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world, which is believed to have been an estuary with bays and inlets that was drowned during a flood brought on by a sudden rise in the sea level some 17,000 years ago. Today the entrance to the harbour is approximately 3 km wide and 30 m deep and branches into 3: Middle Harbour, the Parramatta and Lane Cove River. The harbour is also known for its complex shoreline and topography.
5. There are over 20 swimmable beaches in and around the harbour
One of the best things about New South Wales is its beaches, stretching along 2,137 km of its coastline. While Sydney Harbour cannot be associated with beaches in the strictest sense, it is home to a number of idyllic harbour beaches, where you don’t have to worry about rogue waves or losing your beach items. At the harbour beaches, you can bask in the sun, swim around freely and enjoy some of the best views in town. Here are some of the names to keep in mind. Camp Cove, Milk Beach, Nielsons Park, Queens Beach, Lady Martin’s Beach, Murray Rose Pool, Seven Shillings Beach and so on. For more detailed information on Sydney beaches, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_beaches_in_Sydney
6. Four bridges cross the harbour
When you think of Sydney Harbour, the first image that runs to your mind may be of the world-famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. But did you know there are three other bridges that cross the harbour? The Gladesville Bridge, the Ryde Bridge and the Silverwater Bridge. Other bridges of importance in the city are Lennox Bridge (the oldest stone bridge on the Australian mainland), Lansdowne Bridge (largest span stone arch bridge, Lennox Bridge, Pyrmont Bridge and so on.
7. There is an unpublished government report which has mapped a secret reef in the harbour region
Although it ain’t a well-kept secret anymore, the coral reef in Sydney Harbour is still not a part of mainstream discussions about Sydney and its attractions. The marine scientists of Sydney have been closely observing the corals, which have been affected by bleaching events in the recent past. If you’re interested in exploring the underwater wonders of the coral reefs in the region, you could tag along with the leading researchers at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.
From the iconic Opera House to the spectacular Blue Mountains, there are plenty of reasons to visit Sydney. If you’re in the mood to experience the best of Sydney Harbour, come away with us on board one of our cruises and explore the harbourside jewels of Sydney.
