Sydney

Can Australia's unofficial capital do no wrong? It seems not. As if its setting around one of the world's most beautiful harbours isn't enough, it's also got the spectacular steel Harbour Bridge spanning its watery middle and the shell-shaped, eye-grabbing Sydney Opera House.

To add insult to injury, in 2000 Sydney couldn't resist throwing a well-organised, spectacular Olympic Games - triumphantly sealing its reputation as one of the world's great cities.

Whether you visit Sydney purely for its own charms or as the starting point of an epic Australian adventure, forget about seeing it all in a day - it covers 1580 square kilometres of land. Instead, enjoy yourself chugging around the harbour in the local ferries (fantastic views free of charge), hopping off to explore the waterside districts, or jumping on a bus to sample as many of the other hotspots you have time for.

The Rocks is the oldest part of town and an essential stop, for its cobbled streets, historical buildings, galleries and pubs. In contrast, Darling Harbour is all modern glisten and gleam, lined with upmarket watering holes and restaurants and also well worth a visit for its amazing Sydney Aquarium.

Just across the way, the pubs and atmospheric eateries of Balmain are more down to earth, while buzzing Chinatown, left-of-centre Glebe and eclectic Newtown - to name but a few possible venues - all have their own distinct charms. Drinking and nightlife, though splashed generously all around the city, is at its most wild and plentiful in Oxford Street.

If the weather's fine, there's also no excuse not to take advantage of Sydney's seaside charms - tuck into a mountain of seafood in Watsons Bay, go bodysurfing at Bondi Beach, and try riding a plank with the big boys at Manly.

If this weren't enough, Sydneysiders also have verdant national parks, the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley wineries on their doorstep. Life is certainly sweet down under.