When you're looking for romance and you don't want to settle for the everyday Hawaii or other tropical resort, turn your attention to Australia and see that the land down under has to offer your romantic getaway. Whether it's for a honeymoon or just a well-deserved break, you'll want to head to Sydney's harbor.

With a name like Shangri-La Hotel (http://www.hotelssydney.com/Hotel/4846), you know that it's built with pleasure and romance in mind. A luxury hotel, the Shangri-La offers guests views of both the famous Opera House as well as the Harbor Bridge. Situated in the colonial district of Sydney, this hotel offers guests a quiet, relaxing space to indulge their romantic whims. Feeling stressed? A nice relaxing treatment in the hotel's spa can be just the fix. In room dining is available at all hours of the day and the hotel features both bistro and Japanese eateries.

Culture lovers will enjoy the quick trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art (http://www.mca.com.au/) or take a tour to the top of the Sydney Tower (http://www.sydney-tower-restaurant.com/). This breathtaking view gives tourists all of the sights of the harbor as well as the feeling of romantic beauty. A day or night cruise from Circular Quay can be a great way to start or end another day on your romantic getaway. Or you could travel to the Hunter Valley or Blue Mountains wineries just outside the city.

The Novotel Rockford Darling Harbor Hotel (http://www.hotelssydney.com/Hotel/2556/2882) is another favored stop by tourist of all schedules and romantic excuses. Including top of the line amenities and services, this hotel also puts you within the vicinity of all of the major tourist attractions as well as some other fun activities.

Take a tour at the Gavala Aboriginal Art and Education Centre to learn more about the history of Sydney and the areas surrounding it. The Darling Harbor's night time laser light show is something that will both thrill and excited the happy couple. If you head over to Start City, you can enjoy a number of clubs and casinos for the couple that likes to play well into the nights.

For those who stir up an appetite, Coco Roco, Nick's Bar and Grill, The Malaya, and the Cockle Bay Wharf are just some of the places that you can choose to sate your palate. Almost every food ethnicity is represented in the Sydney area for those that want to enjoy delicious cuisine with their special someone.

The Star City Hotel (http://www.starcity.com.au/) is in a great location for the romantic, yet touristy vacation. Just minutes from Darling Harbor and Chinatown, guests can experience the wonders of Sydney without having to travel hours to get there. The room comes with your choice of views of the harbor and a hotel spa is ready to attend to your every relaxation need. With a twenty-four hour casino and two venues to watch live entertainment, the fun-loving couple has their nights full of action and enjoyment. While Sydney isn't often thought of as the romantic capital of the world, these are some of the hotels that are trying hard to change that overall reputation.