<strong>Sydney Opera House:</strong> There's much more to Australia's top tourist attraction than just a show-stopping facade.
Sydney Opera House: There's much more to Australia's top tourist attraction than just a show-stopping facade.
Hamilton Lund
<strong>Urban icon: </strong>From its complicated construction to popular bars and restaurants, the 45-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site is full of surprises.
Urban icon: From its complicated construction to popular bars and restaurants, the 45-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site is full of surprises.
Hamilton Lund
<strong>Sail away: </strong>Sitting on Bennelong Point in Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House was designed by relatively unknown Danish architect Jørn Utzon. He created a series of vaulted structures that resemble billowing white sails or stacked shells.
Sail away: Sitting on Bennelong Point in Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House was designed by relatively unknown Danish architect Jørn Utzon. He created a series of vaulted structures that resemble billowing white sails or stacked shells.
Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images
<strong>Status symbol:</strong> The design proved to be extremely difficult to execute -- nothing like this had ever been done before. Instead of the expected four-year timeline and $7 million price estimate, the project took 14 years and cost a whopping $102 million to complete.
Status symbol: The design proved to be extremely difficult to execute -- nothing like this had ever been done before. Instead of the expected four-year timeline and $7 million price estimate, the project took 14 years and cost a whopping $102 million to complete.
Sydney Opera House
<strong>Show stoppers:</strong> Despite its name, the building hosts more than 2,000 shows a year and only about 15% of them are opera. There's standup comedy, indie rock gigs, orchestra, ballet, art and culture lectures, theater, dance and international concerts.
Show stoppers: Despite its name, the building hosts more than 2,000 shows a year and only about 15% of them are opera. There's standup comedy, indie rock gigs, orchestra, ballet, art and culture lectures, theater, dance and international concerts.
PETER PARKS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Step on stage:</strong> In order to enjoy the freedome to explore the opera house before rehearsals begin, a 2.5-hour backstage tour takes place every morning at 7 a.m. The tour explores the stages, dressing rooms, orchestra pits and rehearsal rooms.
Step on stage: In order to enjoy the freedome to explore the opera house before rehearsals begin, a 2.5-hour backstage tour takes place every morning at 7 a.m. The tour explores the stages, dressing rooms, orchestra pits and rehearsal rooms.
Sydney Opera House
<strong>Heritage restaurant: </strong>Built inside one of the sails<strong>,</strong> <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bennelong.com.au%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Bennelong</a> restaurant takes its name from Woollarawarre Bennelong -- an Aboriginal elder who served as a statesman and translator when the British settled in Australia in the 18th century. The opera house sits on the peninsula where he lived.
Heritage restaurant: Built inside one of the sails, Bennelong restaurant takes its name from Woollarawarre Bennelong -- an Aboriginal elder who served as a statesman and translator when the British settled in Australia in the 18th century. The opera house sits on the peninsula where he lived.
Bennelong
<strong>Dinner and a show:</strong> The restaurant, helmed by award-winning chef Peter Gilmore, delivers a dramatic atmosphere with rib-like ceilings, excellent harbor views and serves up a feast of Australian flavors, from Tasmanian truffles to suckling pig from Macleay Valley, north of Sydney.
Dinner and a show: The restaurant, helmed by award-winning chef Peter Gilmore, delivers a dramatic atmosphere with rib-like ceilings, excellent harbor views and serves up a feast of Australian flavors, from Tasmanian truffles to suckling pig from Macleay Valley, north of Sydney.
Nikki To
<strong>Raise the bar:</strong> For the best sunset views, visitors may want to make a beeline for <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Foperabar.com.au%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Opera Bar</a>. It's a favorite among locals and tourists alike thanks to the waterfront setting, casual atmosphere, low-key charcuterie and wine list and live music nearly every night of the week.
Raise the bar: For the best sunset views, visitors may want to make a beeline for Opera Bar. It's a favorite among locals and tourists alike thanks to the waterfront setting, casual atmosphere, low-key charcuterie and wine list and live music nearly every night of the week.
Geoff Magee
<strong>Seal of approval:</strong> It's not just tourists who love to visit the Sydney Opera House. Throughout the year, a New Zealand fur seal named Benny can be seen playing in the water or basking in the sun along the Northern Broadwalk of the Opera House.
Seal of approval: It's not just tourists who love to visit the Sydney Opera House. Throughout the year, a New Zealand fur seal named Benny can be seen playing in the water or basking in the sun along the Northern Broadwalk of the Opera House.
Lee Yearsley/Sydney Opera House