For many holiday makers, a visit to Sydney revolves around the harbour and Opera House. And while these are must-see sights, a trip to nearby Darling Harbour unlocks a wealth of attractions and gives a whole new perspective on Sydney's harbour. Though you can get to Darling Harbour from downtown Sydney easily by monorail of even a 30-minute walk, to capture the unique experience, it's best to arrive by ferry.

First there's the shopping. Darling Harbour features a broad array of shopping outlets, but the king of them all is the Harbourside Shopping Centre, a complex offering 150 outlets on two levels. Here you can browse a wide assortment of fashions, shoes, home wares and other delights all under one roof. The Centre's very strong on local Aussie threads with offerings from Purely Australian, Colorado and Weiss Art to Ozi Varmints and Rif Raf.

It's a great place to do your souvenir shopping with all manner of boomerangs and other Oz memorabilia including prints of Sydney Harbour and traditional local handicrafts.

You can also stock up on the usual holiday maker knick knacks of hats, sunglasses, and swimwear.

After shopping, it's time to dine and fortunately Darling Harbour features some alluring waterfront eateries as well as the International Food Court which comprises 40 dining outlets. In total there are over 100 restaurants, cafés and take away outlets serving everything from pasta to authentic Thai to contemporary Australian cuisine.

One of the highlights of the Darling Harbour dining scene is Jordon’s seafood restaurant. It has a commanding waterside location with stunning vistas of the Sydney skyline. Relax in its chic cocktail bar while waiting for the chefs to work on your fresh seafood.

Or head to Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney's latest happening dining spot. It's a refreshing blend of alfresco budget eateries and swank restaurants.

Next, step out of bustling concrete streets into the green and peaceful sanctuary of the Chinese Garden of Friendship. It's like entering a china willow pattern plate with weeping willows, pavilions, waterfalls and lakes, winding paths and bridges. Stop for a cup of tea in one of the many teahouses or just drink in the serenity.

The gardens were a gift from Sydney's sister city of Guangdong on the occasion of the Australian Bicentennial celebrations in 1988.

With harmony restored, you can begin to explore some of Darling Harbour's entertainment options. You can just stroll along enjoying the many street performances or you can take in a movie shown on Australia's largest cinema screen at the Imax Theatre. You can enjoy wildlife at the Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World while the massive Sydney Entertainment Centre stands at the south-eastern edge of Darling Harbour.

Lastly, Darling Harbour has emerged as one of Sydney's premier hotel locations. The Convention and Exhibition Centre draws business travellers but many holiday makers are attracted by its facilities and proximity to downtown Sydney's beating heart.

You'll find a wide range of quality hotels and serviced apartments offering spectacular harbour and city skyline views. All the big names are there such as the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour, Holiday Inn Darling Harbour and the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour.

So take a trip to Darling Harbour and you won't want to leave. Just check into one of the Darling Harbour hotels and make it your Sydney base.

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Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Darling Harbour hotels as Four Points By Sheraton Darling Harbour Sydney and Oaks Goldsbrough Apartments Sydney.