ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - City Guide

Sydney city guide

There are fewer greater cities to hold a sporting event than Sydney. From Cathy Freeman's gold medal triumph to Steve Waugh's famous century at the SCG, there are many moments that live in the sporting memory.

But away from the cricket, there will be plenty to keep visitors to Sydney entertained during the course of the ICC Women's World Cup and provide them with memories that will last a lifetime.

The oldest and largest city in Australia, Sydney combines a dynamic mix of history, style and entertainment which makes it one of the most attractive cities in the world to both live and visit on holiday.

There are five national parks around the city, secluded coastal and harbour beaches and of course the famous harbour, with the iconic landmarks of the famous Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge a must see for any tourist.

The restaurant and bar scene is diverse, offering foods from across the world, while areas such as Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Kings Cross and Oxford Street are always a good choice for a lively evening out.

The beaches of Coogee and Bondi are legendary amongst the thousands of backpackers who visit the city each year from overseas; the vibrant art scene, including the Contemporary Art Museum, wows visitors from across the world and the exhibitions at the Australian Museum keep people of all ages entertained. For animal lovers, the Taronga Zoo provides an excellent introduction to Australian wildlife and spectacular landscape views of the city.

Although cricket is one of Australia's main sporting loves, for a country which is so passionate about its sport there will be plenty of other games to follow away from the ICC Women's World Cup. Australia's best swimmers will be in town in March for the National Swimming Championships, while the rugby-league season also gets into full swing during the course of the month.

And March also provides a wide variety of events that will bring people from across the world to Australia, with the legendary Mardi Gras festival on Saturday 7 March bringing the city to a standstill. Some of the biggest names in world music will also be in Sydney the week after the tournament concludes, with The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs and Snow Patrol headlining a leading concert.

Beyond the heart of the city, the regions of New South Wales are within easy reach of Sydney and offer a range of holiday experiences for visitors who want to get out and explore Australia. Amongst the attractions on offer are surfing, hot-air ballooning, horse trails and skiing, not to mention sampling fine wine and food.

Mungo National Park is part of the Willandra Lakes area in Outback NSW. Lord Howe Island is less than two hours' flight from Sydney or Brisbane, Gondwana Rainforests of Australia include more than 50 parks and reserves stretching from Barrington Topsto Mount Warning, and the Greater Blue Mountains Area is just 90 minutes' drive from Sydney.