All you have to do is stand on the shores of Sydney Harbour and glance over at the waterfront’s two iconic structures — the Harbour Bridge and the billowing white “sails” of the Sydney Opera House, both no doubt basking in the seemingly endless sunshine — to understand the allure of this city Down Under. Like those first British convicts who stepped ashore this continent, you’ll never want to leave. This is especially true if you take the extra time to stroll through a sampling of the neighboring multiethnic communities that have transformed Sydney into the Southern Hemisphere’s most cosmopolitan destination.

Set your focus on Sydney’s glorious city center. Drop your bags in The Rocks district, the storied waterfront locale where the city was first settled. After a seven-month closure, Park Hyatt Sydney (http://sydney.park.hyatt.com) reopens this month with fully upgraded guestrooms and an additional floor housing three new rooftop suites. Another highlight is The Dining Room, the hotel’s restaurant, whose floor-to-ceiling windows offer jaw-dropping vistas of the Opera House.

Wake up early in the morning to sink your teeth into a freshly baked croissant, washed down with a café au lait at La Renaissance Café Pâtisserie (http://larenaissance.com.au), also located in The Rocks. Then taxi to The Royal Botanic Gardens (www .rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au), which opens at 7 a.m. Early morning — before the sun gets too hot and the crowds start to descend on city center — is the perfect time to wander through the thickets of palm trees, the rose garden and the sections devoted to rain forest and Australian cacti.

You’ll eventually reach the harbor and the Sydney Opera House (www.sydneyoperahouse.com), whose roof of sails creates a majestic centerpiece, piercing the blue skies. You can take a tour of the interior, but I would suggest returning at night for an opera, symphony, dance or play. The acoustics inside the 2,690-seat Concert Hall are exceptional.

An easy walk along the shore brings you to Circular Quay, where you can catch the 30-minute ferry to Manly Beach. There’s no better way to see the city skyline than from the water. Along with From clubs to museums, Berlin, Manly is one of Sydney’s two most popular beaches. Pack a “cozzie,” Aussie slang for a swimsuit, and get ready to hit the surf. This month, Manly is home to the inaugural Australian Open of Surfing, a nine-day festival that celebrates the birthplace of Australian surfing along with live music, fashion and art shows.

Back in Sydney, Circular Quay is also a stone’s throw from The Rocks. After a shower and some downtime at your hotel, dine at one of the city’s most beloved restaurants, Rockpool (www.rockpool.com/sydney). Acclaimed chef Neil Perry gives local seafood an innovative twist, like John Dory scampi with macadamia nuts or goat cheese tortellini with king prawns. Save room for a nightcap at one of the oldest pubs on the continent, the circa-1845 Hero of Waterloo, where the stone cellar was once a hiding spot for smuggled rum. Now it’s the perfect place to rest your weary legs after a long day of sightseeing.