SYDNEY OPERA HOUSEA gothic church, orange segments or inspirationgleaned from the architect's father, a yachtdesigner? Wherever your imagination takes you,the Sydney Opera House is a breathtakinglyfamiliar sight. Take the Manly ferry, and for afew dollars you can putt slowly out of CircularQuay and around Bennelong Point to view thisalmost floating icon from every angle. If you arenot content to just gape from the outside,attend an evening performance; wanderingoutside during the interval, lights glittering onthe inky waters, you may just forget to returnfor the second half. Small groups of early riserscan take a look behind the scenes, explorerestricted areas, view the architect's originalplans and perhaps even 'tread the boards'. Yourpick of how you explore this distinctive emblemof Sydney is as varied as your funds permit.Park Hyatt, SydneyTwisting out from under the Sydney Harbour Bridge,the sails of the famous Sydney Opera Housedominate the scene; this is one of the best locatedhotels in the world. Not content with occupying aprime position, the Park Hyatt offers the epitome ofservice complete with a 24-hour butler service. Dineat the waterfront setting of 'Harbourkitchen&bar',mouth-watering seafood, just one of the specialities,chomp on a cigar whilst supping a cognac in thetraditional Club Bar or splash around in the rooftoppool: the Harbour Bridge to one side, the OperaHouse the other. The spacious guestrooms leave nocomfort to chance and most have a balconyproviding you with a private view of Sydney's icon.NEW SOUTH WALESREGION |15The Rocks, SydneyBed and BreakfastSydney Harbour, SydneyDiscreetly nestled at the foot of toweringinternational hotels is this enchanting bed andbreakfast, a recent Audley 'find'. The fully restoredbuilding offers visitors the rare experience of genuinewarm hospitality whilst occupying a great position inthe heart of the Rocks. There is a selection ofdelightful rooms, each furnished with hand craftedfurniture and ensuite or private bathroom. Despitethe central location it is very quiet; the only noisecomes from the resident kookaburras occupying thelovely courtyard garden where breakfast is served.InterContinental Hotel SydneyThe Grace, SydneyAn excellent example of 1920s art decoarchitecture, The Grace has a somewhat chequeredhistory; originally the flagship store for the GraceBrothers store impresarios, commandeered by theAustralian Government in 1942 for the use ofGeneral Macarthur during the Second World War,and its latest incarnation as an elegant heritagehotel. Meticulously restored, the hotel fronts three ofSydney's most prestigious streets - York, King andClarence - and is just a short walk from theattractions of the city. Original light fittings, highpressed-metal ceilings, marble floors, wide hallwaysand elegant decorative ironwork complement thestylish guestrooms.InterContinental Hotel SydneyA fusion of colonial and contemporary architecture;a heritage-listed, vaulted courtyard encased by ahigh-rise modern tower. Modern décor, elegantguestrooms and individual dining options completethe five star picture. For a limited number of guestsaccess is granted to a stunning rooftop guest loungecomplete with an exterior observation deck offeringa bird's-eye view of the Opera House, HarbourBridge and the harbour, way, way out to the Heads.We suggest you take a seat on the deck, pouryourself a glass of complimentary wine and marvelat the view.Doyles at Watson Bay

THE BLUE MOUNTAINSA bluish mist fills the air of this magnificentWorld Heritage National Park, whilst lightreflects from the fine droplets of oil thatsmother the Eucalyptus forests hugging theoutlandish valleys that have been fashioned bywind and water. Wentworth Falls is one of thebest areas for bushwalking and the trails thatmeander along the cliff tops provide rousinglookouts across unbroken miles of forest thatdescend deep into the valley and the blue gumgroves. At the main town of Katoomba, aptlynamed by the Aboriginal people meaning"shiny, tumbling water", mountain streamstopple over escarpments in spectacularwaterfalls. Here, the craggy outcrop of the'Three Sisters' stare out towards grand MountSolitary, a sight that certainly doesn't disappoint.From Govett's Leap the Grose Valley stretchesinto the distance, and make sure you take thewalk to Pearson's Lookout for the unforgettableview of Capertee Valley, the widest canyon inthe world. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos are aspectacular sight throughout the whole region,while crimson rosella and gang-gang cockatoosprovide a flash of colour and quite a racket asthey dart through the trees. Although it ispossible to visit in a day trip, as the region canbe reached in less than two hours from Sydney,there is so much to see that it is worth spendinga few days exploring, if only to see the mobs ofgrey kangaroos grazing at dusk and dawn. It isan easy detour whether you are travelling northor south, and is the perfect combination with avisit to the Hunter Valley.16Lilianfels,KatoombaHugging the edge of the Jamison Valley this historiccountry house hotel offers endless panoramas of thisfamous valley and allows the smell of gum trees toflood the air. The spacious ensuite guestrooms aretraditionally decorated and the large guest loungewith open fireplaces and cosy reading room is alovely retreat. An original part of the house, built in1889 now houses Darley's restaurant which has anational reputation that rivals the view, creating amemorable experience that we feel, is quite simply,hard to beat.Whispering Pines,Wentworth Falls At the end of Falls Road is the Wentworth FallsReserve, the starting point for rambles to thespectacular Wentworth Falls. Teetering on anescarpment, imposing pines and bursts of flowerscreate a feeling of an English park in the four acresof gardens that surround this grand guesthouse.Wonderfully remote, yet only an hour and a halffrom Sydney, Whispering Pines occupies a first classlocation. Each of the four suites has private facilities,and your hosts blend comfort, privacy and quiethospitality in a significant heritage property. Three Sisters and Jamison ValleyBLUE MOUNTAINS ANDTHE HUNTER AIR SAFARIShould you wish to use Sydney as your base,but want to experience the grandeur of the BlueMountains, tickle your taste buds with a glass ofHunter wine and see life on an Outback sheepand cattle station, then this is the perfect way.From the city you fly low over the BlueMountains and head north, landing in apaddock at Middlebrook sheep and cattlestation where your education of Outback lifebegins. A stroll through the bush is taken incompany of wild kangaroos and Hendo, thestation owner, who will happily recount storiesof life on the station whilst a traditional Aussiebarbecue is prepared at the homestead. Back inthe air, the Hunter is the next stop where youwill drop in on a couple of boutique wineriesand enjoy a private 'behind the scenes' tour.Culminating at twilight with a coastal flightback to Sydney, you will soar over Palm Beach,Manly, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera Housegaining a totally different perspective of thisremarkable water-dominated city.Blue MountainsWhispering PinesHendo, Middlebrook Station