Hi Splat, I'm from San Francisco and have been living in Australia for almost 2 years. Sydney is full of history and iconic landmarks, but there's so much more to see! Melbourne in the SE is a cool place, had a vibe like Seattle- cafes and art. And you've got to experience the beach / surfing culture: Queensland's "gold coast" is like Miami, with beachfront high rises; the "sunshine coast" just north of there is mellow. If you enjoy swimming at all, it's worth looking into a dive/snorkel trip out to the Great Barrier Reef; the Whitsunday islands are a great place to do this. Try to get inland a little, too: the Blue Mountains near Sydney are a nice place to see scenic interior (e.g. pre-Outback) Oz. Good luck with your planning!