City side of U

On the city side of the 'U' from Market Street, the major attractions are the spectacular Sydney Aquarium, The Imax Theatre and the Chinese Gardens.

The Sydney Aquarium is regarded as one of the world's best. More than 150 metres of clear 'tunnels' pass through the underwater exhibits so you see fish and sharks swimming around and above you. It has more than 5000 residents of 350 species, including the uniquely Australian platypus which lives in river banks and is very difficult to find in the wild.

The Imax Theatre claims to have the world's biggest movie screen eight storeys high and shows spectacular nature films specially made for the format, one every hour from 10am to 10pm. There are usually three movies about 45 minutes long, screened in rotation.

The Chinese Garden is a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city at the edge of Chinatown. It is a large, walled enclave with Chinese pavilions, large ponds full of ornamental carp, trees and stone statues.

Just outside the complex, near the exhibition centre, is the Powerhouse Museum. Australia's largest museum, it is devoted to science, aviation and the decorative arts. It has a lot of 'hands on' exhibits which make it a favourite with children, and is open daily