Australia Day celebrations are in full swing with locals, tourists and the nation's newest citizens pondering what they love about the land Down Under.
Debbie Smith arrived in Australia 22 years ago on a holiday and never left.
To celebrate the day, the former Londoner embarked on a five-hour Sydney Harbour cruise with her mum Shirley Hicks.
'Probably after about five years, you begin to feel assimilated to the country,' Ms Smith told AAP.
'If we're playing England, I still feel Australian.'
Meanwhile, the Field family, who live in Sydney, joined one of the ferries for the Ferrython - a race between four 'First Fleet' catamaran ferries.
'It's a different vibe,' mum Zeina said, in comparing it to their traditional barbecue at home.
Her daughter Ashley said she was enjoying the day on the harbour, but was non-committal about the meaning of Australia Day.
'I have no idea,' she said.
Gold Coast residents Andrew Lamond and Marshall Dudley drove overnight to Sydney with two friends from the US.
'We had to show them what Australia Day is all about so we got in the car and left,' Mr Lamond said mid-morning at a cafe in George St in the CBD.
Mr Dudley instructed their California friends Amanda Smith and Maria Kosuzmenko on how to celebrate.
'You shouldn't be drinking water, for a start,' he said, as he moved their water glasses off the table.
'I've already had a beer,' he said.
After a tour of the harbour, they were heading to Bondi Beach for the Havaianas Australia Day world record attempt.
'I hear you get a big flip-flop, a big (inflatable) thong, and everybody ties it together,' Ms Kosuzmenko said.
About 3800 people are taking part in citizenship ceremonies in NSW.
At Hyde Park, seven families from different countries became citizens at a ceremony led by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
South African originals Michael and Kim Parker, and their children Liam and Aiden, always knew they wanted to make Australia home.
'Four years ago today we were walking along through the park and my cousin tapped me on the shoulder and said, Mate you could be up there one day on that stage getting your citizenship',' Mr Parker told AAP.
'So the dream has come true and we're here today.'
New York native Richard Lorenzo transferred with General Electric to Australia around 2007, thinking he and his family would spend just two years here.
But the beaches, universal health care and tough gun laws were some of the reasons they remained.
'We were in the US when the Sandy Hook shooting happened,' Mr Lorenzo said, referring to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that claimed the lives of 20 young children and six school staff.
'We thought thank God we're here in Australia'.'
Thousands of people are expected to flood into the CBD to witness free shows, including The Wiggles unveiling their new line-up at Hyde Park.
Indigenous artist Jessica Mauboy is scheduled to perform on a floating stage in Sydney Harbour, off Blues Point Reserve and Athol Bay.
There's also free entertainment around The Rocks area, Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park and Darling Harbour.
Sydney's celebrations will culminate with a fireworks display over Cockle Bay at 9pm.
Emergency service personnel have reiterated pleas for revellers to behave and stay safe.
The latest weather forecasts indicate coastal parts of the state, including Sydney, may experience late rain.
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