Sydney Harbour

陳曉鵬

GETTING OUT ON THE water in Sydney， whether by kayak， sailboat， or ferry， is a requisite part of visiting the city. There， visitors will experience the heart and soul of what many proclaim to be the worlds most beautiful natural harbor. The water glitters. Seabirds swoop. Countless coves， waterfront parks， and hidden beaches beckon. And its all backed by the glamorous city skyline， a reminder that this is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the planet. Its easy to understand what Australian author Miles Franklin meant when she wrote， “A month would not be long enough to imbibe such beauty.”

Sydney Harbour comprises more than 149 miles （240 km） of spectacular meandering shoreline between the Heads （the entrance to the harbor） and the Parramatta River. For millennia， the Aboriginal Gadigal peoples fished and lived along its fertile headlands and deep channels. But in 1788， a fleet of ships laden with convicts and marines and their families arrived from England—and this was the start of Australias first city. Its said even the convicts cheered when they beheld the beauty of their new home.

The city began at the Rocks， today a neighborhood with tiny cobblestone lanes and historic stone houses that buzz with new life as pubs， restaurants， and inns. Around the corner， Darlington Harbour recalls the citys industrial past， its revitalized① buildings along the wharves now bustling with restaurants and shops.

But Sydney Harbours iconic reputation wasnt secured until two architectural marvels came along to complement it.

The picture is Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lovingly dubbed the “coat hanger，” this steel-arched bridge has connected the northern and southern shores of Sydney Harbour since 1932. It originally reigned as the worlds longest single span steel arch bridge. Anyone daring enough to climb to the tip-top of the arch will look out on the citys most spectacular views， all the way to the Blue Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

注：① revitalize 振興