Darling Harbour was known as Long Cove in the past and is adjacent to Central Sydney. It extends from Chinatown along the sides of King Street Wharf 3 and Cockle Bay to the Pyrmont Suburbs in the west. It has a number of waterways, which open northward into Port Jackson. The best way to commute here for your travel group is through bus charter in Sydney.
About Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is named in honour of Ralph Darling, who served as the governor of New South Wales between 1825 and 1831. It formed part of Sydney’s commercial port and most of the land had been used by NSW Railways. In recent years it has been subject to redevelopment with a portion of the area being allocated for commercial enterprises while the remainder is reserved for residents. Darling Harbour was home to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, which hosted the Summer Olympic Games of 2000, but has been replaced by the ICC, or International Convention Centre Sydney.
Darling Harbour is best known for its numerous modes of transport for the public, which includes train stations, ferries and buses. The government of New South Wale plans to construct Globe Street, which is an area which is expected to become a major business centre for Asia, Australia and the Pacific which is akin to Wall Street, and will be geared towards corporate trade.
Tumbalong Park
Tumbalong is a large park within Darling Harbour that was constructed through the usage of local Australian foliage which is combined with various types of streams and fountains. The park has served as an important venue for multiple events, such as Australia Day and New Year’s Eve. It has been expanded and is now about five hectares in size. It is popular among families with children due to its large playground which has jumbo swings, slides, jungle gyms and dozens of water jets. The park offers free entry, and is located in close proximity to Town Hall and the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
This is the perfect place for those who are interested in marine life or activities. The Sydney Aquarium contains an extensive collection of aquatic animals native to Australia, including hundreds of species of fish and themed zones such as Shark Walk, Jurassic Seas or the Discovery Rockpool. Other animals that can be seen here include penguins, stingrays, various types of tropical fish and sharks. The Sydney Aquarium is a public facility and can be found in east Darling Harbour in close proximity to Pyrmont Bridge. The architects responsible for its design constructed the museum to look like a big wave, a reference to its underwater theme. It took twenty four months to construct and was opened in the midst of bicentenary celebrations within Australia. It is one of the world’s biggest aquariums, and is one of the Sydney’s biggest tourist attractions, with over 50% of its visitors coming from international destinations.
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum is part of Sydney’s Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, and is considered by most to be a scientific museum. It has a large and varied collection of different types of technology, in fields such as communications, art, computers, steam engines and aerospace. It is one of the oldest institutions in the area, having gone through numerous transformations over the last 125 years. Today it is the site of approximately four hundred thousand historical items. It is situated within an electric power station for trams which has been converted, within Ultimo’s west suburb.
The Powerhouse Museum is home to the world’s oldest steam engine which is rotative and still operational, which was built in 1785. It is also home to Locomotive No. 1, which is the first locomotive operated by steam to carry passengers to New South Wales, which was constructed in 1854. Another exhibit popular with visitors is the Strasbourg Clock, which was constructed in 1887.
Chinese Garden of Friendship
This Chinese inspired garden can be found in Sydney’s Chinatown, and is modelled after a famous garden that was constructed by the Ming Dynasty. It is named the garden of friendship due to the fact that it was constructed by Sydney’s sister city in China, which is Guangzhou. Being situated in Chinatown, the garden already complements the area’s rich Chinese culture and heritage. It was first opened to the public in 1988 and was featured in the city’s Bicentennial Celebrations. The garden is said to symbolize the bond that exists between Australia and China as neighbours in the Australia Pacific region. The garden is full of waterfalls, bamboo plants, and the Dragon Wall.
Wild Life Sydney Zoo
This wild life park used to be known as Sydney Wildlife World and can be found in the center of Sydney. It was first opened to the public in 2006 and is situated near Darling Harbour’s retail and leisure districts. This park is unique in that it is mostly enclosed, with much of the facility being air conditioned. The exhibits on the upper level however are open air, and are only enclosed with a stainless steel mesh which was designed to look like the ribs of a serpent.
The zoo’s biggest exhibit is about 800 square metres in size, and features red sand that has been brought in from Australia’s central interior. Some of the most popular animals here include the red kangaroo, Tasmanian devils, Koalas, the Kakadu Gorge (which features crocodiles), and the Wallaby Cliffs. Also featured are various species of butterfly and the infamous Cassowary. The zoo was redeveloped in 2009 so that it could house a 16 foot (five metre) saltwater crocodile male which the zookeepers named Rex. It has since become one of the zoo’s most popular attractions and the enclosure has viewing galleries which allow visitors to see beneath and above the waterline.