The famous Sydney Opera House, of course, dominates Australia's Sydney Harbour, but there's also interesting architecture to be seen from the vantage point of the opera house, looking outward.

A row of warehouses lines one side of Circular Quay. These are the original warehouses used for storing shipments of goods for the 19th-century settlers: prisoners, guards, and civilians. The water line used to run almost up to the doors but has been pushed back by infill over time. The warehouses were built of brick, and you can still see some of the original shells mixed into the mortar. The structures have been restored and are being reoccupied as shops and apartments.

Circular Quay is the transportation hub of Sydney Harbour. Ferries, tour boats, and private craft traverse its waters endlessly, taking locals and visitors to all parts of the beautiful waters and surrounding hills.

From the steps in front of the opera house, you can see modern downtown Sydney in the background. The Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932) rises above the water across from the opera house. For about $200 (Australian), you can climb the city side of the bridge (left in the photo) to the top for a spectacular view of the area.