7 Interesting Facts About Sydney

Think you’ve experienced all there is about Australia’s most populous capital city? I have been backpacking across Australia since 2018 and I have loved every moment of it. Besides Sydney’s easy-going lifestyle and highly multicultural population, I bet you haven’t heard of some of the most interesting facts about the city. So keep reading to delight yourself with some amazing facts about this spectacular coastal metropolis.

Sydney Harbour attractions can be best enjoyed from the waters

Sydney Harbour is probably the most popular destination among travellers and visitors in Australia. But the only downside of the harbour is that it can get crowded during peak hours, which is almost throughout the day. If you’re visiting the city and looking for ways to experience the breathtaking harbour views, we have just the perfect answer for you! A lunch cruise in Sydney promises the best and up-close views of the harbour, not to mention, amazing food too. Compared to the numerous sightseeing tours in the city, this one particularly stood out for me as it was not only affordable but also a spectacular experience. Also, did you know…a Sydney Harbour cruise lunch is also an opportunity to glide through the most scenic route across the harbour, featuring prime views of the major landmarks including Kirribilli House, Fort Denison, Campbell’s Cove and more.  

The Sydney Fish Market is one of the biggest of its kind in the world 

Claimed to be the third-largest fish market in the world, the Sydney Fish Market is an authentic working fish market situated in Blackwattle Bay. Open on all days of the year except on Christmas Day, this is where the majority of Sydneysiders come to purchase seafood. As opposed to what one may think, the market is not only a place to purchase seafood but also a great place to enjoy freshly prepared seafood dishes.  

Sydney, the birthplace of the Granny Smith Apple

Ever heard the story of how the green apple or ‘Granny Smith Apple’ was invented? It’s an interesting account of a farmer named Granny Smith who emigrated from the UK to New South Wales. The urban legend says that she grew crab apples in her orchards and accidentally created a new kind of apple when she tossed them onto a compost heam. Today, this green coloured apple is available all around the world. In New South Wales, there’s a Granny Smith festival that commemorates the momentous occasion featuring people dressed in apple-themed clothes, stalls selling apple-based treats and apple baking competitions. 

Home to one of the deadliest spiders in the world

Known to be one of the most dangerous spiders in the world, the Sydney Funnel Web Spider, is found along the eastern coast of Australia, i.e from New South Wales to Queensland. It is believed that this insect can kill a human in under 15 minutes. The species can be found living in suburban regions and bushlands between Newcastle and Illawarra. 

A majority of Sydney’s population was born overseas

The multicultural population in Sydney is a distinctive feature, making the city quite welcoming to all visitors and immigrants. It has been estimated that around 40% of the city’s population was born in a different country, and the census records show that there are some 200 dialects spoken in Sydney. 

Sydney houses the oldest culture in the world

Yes, that’s right! The indigenous Australians have been living on the land for more than 30,000 years. Recently scientists and archaeologists were able to provide an accurate estimate of life on the land using carbon dating. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge breaks the world records in many aspects 

From being called the world’s longest steel arch bridge to the world’s widest and tallest long-span bridge, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is truly a megastructure that has rightfully won its position in the Guinness World Records.