Our top 10 things to do in Sydney
Sydney is an absolute must see on any Australia trip itinerary! We have put together a guide of the top 10 things to do for your trip in one of Australia’s most iconic cities!
1. Visit Sydney Opera House
No trip to Sydney is complete without a visit to one of Australia’s most iconic buildings, The Sydney Opera house. Start your journey from Mrs Macquarie’s chair where you will see beautiful views of the opera house and harbour bridge then take a short stroll to the Opera House steps to see it up close.
There are many nice lunch and dinner stops around the opera house including Portside where you can enjoy food and drinks with an amazing view.
Top Tip: Book in advance for one of the events that are held in this beautiful venue.
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge
The views from the Sydney Harbour Bridge are incredible and should not be missed. The bridge has pedestrian access with walking and bicycle lanes which can be a great way to enjoy the bridge. If you are feeling more adventurous then you can take part in the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb for even more spectacular views of the city.
3. Bondi to Bronte Coastal walk
This walk starts in Sydneys famous Bondi Beach and is one of the most treaded trails in Sydney. Walk this 2.5km stretch of beautiful coastline and pass some of Sydneys best beaches including Tamarama and Mackenzies Bay.
Top tip: Pack stuff for a BBQ, there are free public BBQs at Tamarama beach which is a good half way stop point
4. The Rocks
Spend an afternoon walking around the cultural area of the Rocks located next to Sydneys harbour bridge. The Rocks is home to Sydneys convict history, oldest pubs and markets.
Top Tip: We found that completing a scavenger hunt was a great way to learn about the interesting history of this area of Sydney.
5. Darling Harbour
Located just outside the city centre Darling Harbour is a great place to go for some lunch and enjoy a happy hour while taking in the views of the harbour. Sydneys sea life centre is also located in this area which can be fun on a rainy day!
6. The Blue Mountains
The blue mountains are a 90 minute drive or 2 hour train ride from Sydney. It is one of the most popular attractions outside of the city and so worth the visit. One of the main attractions are ‘The Three Sisters’ and there are also many hikes to do in the area such as, Wentworth Falls.
7. Catch a ferry to Manly
From Circular Quay you can catch one of two ferries to Manly the Fast Ferry which takes 20 mins or the public ferry taking around 30 mins and is included with the opal card.
The ferry ride to Manly is beautiful sailing across the harbour taking in the views of the city. When arriving in Manly it has a laid back holiday feel.
Enjoy a day at Manly or beach or take a stroll to Shelly beach which is also a great snorkelling spot. Manly has some great restaurants and bars to offer after a tiring day relaxing in the sun!
8. Botanical Gardens
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and walk around the Botanical Gardens in a picturesque location close the Sydney Opera house. See if you can spot one of the many animals that live in the gardens.
Top Tip: Take a picnic with you and relax in the beautiful surroundings of the gardens
9. Royal National Park
You can reach Royal National Park within 1 hour from the city by either driving or catching the train to Cronulla and then catching the ferry to Bundeena.
The national park is beautiful with some of the must see places being; Wedding Cake Rock, Figure 8 pools, Wattamolla and Garie Beach. Bring some BBQ food with you to enjoy one of the free BBQS in the area and then spend the afternoon enjoying a bush walk.
10. Lunch in Newtown
Newtown is Sydneys bohemian and diverse suburb, with many eateries and bars to enjoy in the area.
You can easily spend the day wondering around the interesting shops, enjoying the street art, grabbing a drink and a bite to eat then check out if there are any events on at the Enmore Theatre.