Exploring Sydney and its resorts

If you have ever wondered what happens when a British colonial outpost grows up, moves to the sun, and develops an obsession with avocado toast, look no further than Sydney. It is a city that manages to be both effortlessly glamorous and remarkably laid-back, often at the same time. I arrived expecting a bigger, sunnier version of London, but what I found was a place where the "rush hour" involves people jogging in designer Lycra past the harbour rather than scowling at a delayed Tube carriage.

The first thing you have to do, naturally, is pay your respects to the big hitters. The Sydney Opera House is every bit as spectacular as the postcards suggest, looking less like a building and more like a collection of giant porcelain orange segments left out to dry. I spent a good twenty minutes just staring at the tiles, mostly wondering how on earth they keep them so white. Just across the water, the Sydney Harbour Bridge looms over the city like a protective iron giant. You can pay to climb it, which involves being strapped into a grey jumpsuit and facing your mortality at 134 metres above the water, or you can do what I did: walk across the pedestrian path for free and use the saved cash for a very expensive beer in The Rocks.

Speaking of The Rocks, this is the oldest part of the city and feels the most "human." It is a maze of cobblestone lanes and sandstone pubs that date back to the early 19th century. I highly recommend ducking into the Fortune of War, which claims to be Sydney's oldest pub. There is something deeply comforting about sitting in a dark, wooden corner with a cold pint, momentarily forgetting that it is 28°C outside and you should probably be applying more sunscreen.

Of course, you cannot talk about Sydney without mentioning the beaches. Bondi is the celebrity of the lot, a crescent of golden sand where the people are almost as beautiful as the scenery. I felt a distinct sense of self-reflection as I stood on the sand, pale and clutching a meat pie, watching surfers catch waves with the grace of dolphins. If Bondi feels a bit too "busy," do the coastal walk to Coogee. It is a few miles of stunning clifftop paths and hidden rock pools. I found myself stopping every five minutes to take a photo, eventually realising that no camera could quite capture the specific, brilliant blue of the Pacific Ocean hitting the rocks.

For a change of pace, hop on the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. The thirty-minute trip is essentially a harbour cruise for the price of a bus ticket. Watching the skyline recede while the salt spray hits your face is the moment you truly fall in love with the place. Once in Manly, grab some fish and chips and head to the beach, but watch out for the seagulls. They are remarkably bold and have a tactical understanding of chip-snatching that would put most military commanders to shame.

Sydney is a city that invites you to slow down and enjoy the view. Whether you are wandering through the Royal Botanic Garden or getting lost in the weekend markets at Glebe, there is a sense that life here is meant to be lived outdoors. It is a beautiful, slightly chaotic, and utterly addictive place that makes you seriously consider checking the requirements for an Australian work visa before your flight home.