Queen Victoria Building, Darling Harbour, Sydney Casino, Centerpoint Tower, Circular Quay, ferry ride on harbour.

START: at Town Hall, which is above one of the stations of the same name on the City Circle underground railway. Adjacent to the station, on the corner of George and Druit Streets, is the Queen Victoria Building, a grand old building that has been converted into a three-level arcade of interesting shops. All the original features of the building have been retained including the magificent stain glass in the large dome that adorns the roof and half-circular windows at the side of the building. Count on spending an hour here, at least, as beside an array of attractive and unusual shops there are also interesting exhibits on different levels, including a magnificent oriental coach.

Next, walk out at the end of the building where you entered, turn right into Druit Street, walk down two blocks and turn right into Sussex Street. Walk one block to Market Street and, looking to the left you will see a large bridge. This is the old Piermont Bridge, once a working drawbridge, which is now a tourist walkway from the city across to Darling Harbour. You will notice the Monorail running across the bridge. It runs from the city, encircles Darling Harbour, then loops back to the city.

Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's most popular destinations. It is a redelopment of a small docklands harbour into a major tourist centre and convention place. Count on spending anything up to several hours here, as there are a number of attractions, including the Chinese Gardens (a small green sanctuary in the heart of Sydney that represents the best place for an hour or two of absolute peace and quiet), the National Maritime Museum, an OmniMax theatre, the Cockle Wharf restaurant complex and the Harbourside Shopping Centre. Tied up to the wharf near the Harbourside shopping centre is the South Steyne, a former harbour ferry that now serves as a floating restaurant. On the other side of Darling Harbour, at the front of the Cockle Bay complex, is a series of boat moorings that can be leased on a daily or weekly basis.

Darling Harbour is also a major terminus for private boat tour operators who run cruises to other points around the harbour.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is situated at the end of the bridge and walkway. You can't miss it as there's a large Navy vessell (part of the exhibition) moored alongside the building. Turn right into Murray Street, and follow it around a bend until it becomes Foreshore Road, and you come to the new Sydney Casino complex. Rather than walk back to Darling Harbour and the city, you can catch a free (black) casino bus. They run every 20 minutes or so and stop at Darling Harbour, then run to the city.

Once back in the city, look for the Sydney Tower landmark. You can't miss it - it's a bowl-shaped construction sitting on top of a high tower, on the corner of Market and Pitt Streets, and it's the tallest manmade structure in Australia. You should be able to see it from wherever you are. Here you can board an elevator and go to the top, where you will find an observation tower (there is a fee involved). It's the best views of Sydney and a good spot to stop for lunch. Lunch in the revolving restaurant at the top of thew tower is another option that might appeal. This will provide you with an unparalleled, 360-degree view of Sydney Harbour and surrounding environs. On a clear day you can see as far west as the spectacular Blue Mountains, and south as far as Wollongong. a major industrial city. The view of the harbour and the outlying surf beaches has to be seen to be believed.

Leaving Centrepoint, walk down Pitt Street through the mall and after five blocks you will arrive at Circular Quay, the hub for most ferry activity on the harbour and perhaps the most visited point in Sydney. Circular Quay was the foundation site for Sydney and everything still pivots around this rather quaint cove. Here you can soak up the atmosphere for hours on end, watching ferries come and go and paying attention to the many buskers who work this area. You might like to take a 40-minute one-way ferry trip to Manly, an outer surf beach and major tourist spot, which would just about take up the rest of the day. Along the way you'll pass the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, beautiful Rose Bay, Taronga Zoo and lots of natural harbour attractions.

Go to Day 2