Flying Scots Girl

Sydney is one of the best known cities in the world and it’s certainly the most famous in Australia. Many people often mistake it for the country’s capital (that’s Canberra) because it’s a super popular place to start an Australian adventure from. If you’ve got a jump packed Australian itinerary then you can get through some of the most popular places in Sydney within a couple of days but if you do have more time then stay for four or five so that you can enjoy a slower pace (you’ll want that if you visit in Summer when it’s hot!) and to take some day trips to some great locations nearby. Get ready to start planning your adventure! If you’re planning to road trip up to Brisbane then make sure to read through my post to start working out what stops you’re going to make: 12 stops to make on a road trip from Sydney to Brisbane 🚐

1. Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is to Sydney as the Colosseum is to Rome, the Eiffel Tower to Paris and Big Ben to London. It’s the most famous and most recognisable place in the Sydney so of course it must be at the top of your trip. Wake up at sunrise to see the colours of the sky transform above its rooftop and start your day with a coffee from Opera Bar where you can pinch yourself that you’re really here!

The Opera House was designed by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect, who won a global competition in 1957. The Opera House was finally completed in 1973 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Today it is an excellent venue for the arts with a number of theatres and rooms inside including the epic Concert Hall. You can see all sorts from classical concerts to contemporary theatre and ballet as well as, of course, opera! Check out What’s On through the Sydney Opera House website.

If you want to learn a bit more of the history and get up close and personal to the architecture then I’d recommend a tour of the Opera House which I did last year – it was so interesting! Book your tickets through Get Your Guide here.

2. Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour is incredible to behold and is the most fantastic setting for this city. If you can stay somewhere with a view of the harbour then make sure you do because there’s something so relaxing about sitting with a coffee and just watching all of the various water bound vehicles passing through.

There are so many different types of way to enjoy Sydney Harbour! If you’re short on time (and low on budget) then use the Sydney ferries to enjoy a short cruise on your way somewhere else but if you want a longer or different ride then check out these various options:

🍽 If you fancy a dinner cruise with the option of 3, 4 or 5 courses then check out this option

🛶 If you’re an early morning adventurer then try a sunrise kayak in the harbour

🚤 Thrill seekers should try a jet boat ride – I recently did this one and it was epic!

🍰 Set a more leisurely pace and enjoy a high tea cruise – I enjoyed this one and the high tea was very tasty!

3. Botanic Gardens

The Sydney Botanic Gardens are a breath of fresh green air near the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The Gardens occupy prime real estate along the banks of the Harbour with amazing views out across the water and to the Opera House. It’s free to stroll through the Botanic Gardens and there are more than 27,000 plants from around the world to see in 15 themed gardens. You can join a garden tour to learn more about the plants and flowers and how they’re cared for or explore at your leisure. Don’t miss Mrs Macquarie’s Chair (a rock carved into a bench) for spectacular harbour views.

4. Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is as iconic as the Opera House. Its vast distinctive steel structure has lent itself the nickname ‘the coat hanger’ and there are a variety of ways to experience it. You can take a walk across it and its length of 1.149 km will feel very long! Take a cruise or ferry to feel its vast size as you drift underneath. Come and watch the colours of sunset or sunrise for a magical backdrop. For the most extreme way to experience the harbour bridge – walk on top of it with BridgeClimb.

5. Take the ferry to Manly

Taking the ferry to Manly is a classic day trip in Sydney. The ferries dart around the harbour transporting commuters, holiday makers and locals alike from one jetty to another. The Manly ferry will take you right form Circular Quay over to the popular suburb of Manly which has a more relaxed feel to it. Manly is a great spot for water sports (the world’s first surf tournament was held here) and you can enjoy kayaking, surfing and snorkelling. Take a walk to the northern end of Manly Beach to spot the Manly wormhole (careful with tide times and slippy rocks) or walk to the southern tip of Sydney’s northern harbour edge and watch the boats chugging in and out of the harbour mouth.

Stop at Rollers Bakehouse for coffee and cake and for dinner try Pocket Pizza, Banco or The Herring Room.

6. Bondi to Coogee walk

One of my favourite things to do in Sydney is walking the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. I enjoy it so much I’ve completed it three times! Depending on the weather this can be a relatively quick walk or you can take a whole morning or afternoon to do it in. The route is 6km one way so if you’re undertaking the walk on a cooler day and you’re not making any stops you could do it in 1-2hrs. However, the best way is to give yourself half a day to truly enjoy it. There are lots of soaring cliffs, incredible views and white sandy coves to photograph so you’ll be stopping every five minutes with your camera anyway! Plus, there are plenty of cafes (check out 15) and restaurants to stop at en route (especially in Coogee & Bondi at the start / end of the route) so you will want to allow time for a meal or a drink.

On a hot day, make sure to pack your swimmers and a towel because the walk will feel a lot longer (make sure you have plenty of water) and with ample swimming spots that you pass by, you’ll be ready to jump in that crystal clear water at the first opportunity. You can read more about ocean pools in 9 but on this walk you’ll pass Bronte Baths, Clovelly Pool and Bondi Icebergs.

7. Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is situated on the edge of the Botanic Gardens so it’s ideal to combine a visit to the two. Plus it’s a great place to cool off if you’re visiting on a hot summer day! It’s free to visit although there are often special exhibitions which will require a purchased ticket to view. In the free collection, there is plenty to admire. There is lots of incredible art on display from 15th century European Renaissance to Modern sculptures. You can find some epic pieces by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the Yiribana Gallery.

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8. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach may possibly be the most famous beach in the world and it’s become synonymous with surfers so really it’s the perfect place to book a lesson and get your Aussie adventure started! Book with Get Your Guide for a choice of surfing schools and make sure to get photos of your attempt! I say attempt because what I’ve learnt after two lessons (and two practices with friends…) is that this is a sport that takes a lot of practice and relies heavily on the weather and wind. Don’t be disappointed if you only stand up for a couple of seconds or not at all, it’s still super fun to try 🏄‍♀️

9. Swim in an ocean pool

Sydney is well known for its ocean pools and there are 44 of them to choose from! There are plenty of reasons to opt for a visit to an ocean pool rather than swimming right off the ocean on a beach so it’s a perfectly good way to enjoy swimming in Australia safely. Whilst shark sightings are rare, if you’re nervous about encountering one then try an ocean pool instead. They’re also a lot safer for those that aren’t strong swimmers because the water, tide and rips can be pretty strong in Australia and around Sydney is no exception. Although if you are visiting an ocean pool rather than an inner harbour pool, you will still get some waves crashing over and the occasional marine creature may come over with it. Lower tide will give you a lower chance of this happening.

Most pools are free to visit or only have a small fee. In the Eastern Suburbs you can visit Bronte Baths, Bondi Icebergs, Clovelly Pool and Wylie’s Bath. On the south side of the harbour try Shark Beach Baths, Parsley Bay Reserve, Marrinawi Cove and the Murray Rose Pool. On the north side of the harbour you can choose McCallum Pool Cremorne Point, Forty Baskets, Manly Cove Baths and Fairy Bower Baths. Check out this comprehensive list from Sydney Moving Guide.

10. Hyde Park Barracks

Hyde Park Barracks is a must visit to understand not only Sydney’s history but also to begin to understand Australia’s history. The Barracks are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site but when they were built housed a courthouse, mint, hospital, barracks and accommodation for convicts. Hyde Park Barracks has had a varied and colourful history and visiting the museum will give you a flavour of what life would have been like for the variety of occupants that would have called this place home. The Barracks were initially built on the instruction of Governor Macquarie (who was, at the time, the Governor of New South Wales) who was concerned about the behaviour of convicts after their working hours had been completed. At times it’s a difficult walk through but very enlightening to learn more about one aspect of Australia’s past.

11. Queen Victoria Building

The beautiful Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s CBD is one you can’t miss. The building has had a long and varied history with a number of different designs since its initial opening in 1898. Pop your head in to admire the incredible design and if you have a little more time then enjoy some window shopping and stop for some tea and cake.

12. Explore Watsons Bay

One of my favourite parts of Sydney (which is often overlooked) is Watsons Bay at the very tip of the south side of Sydney Harbour. It’s more popular with locals than with tourists and in general visitors tend to head to Bondi, Coogee and Manly rather than Watsons Bay. Although it is a little quieter, because of the bottle neck of land that it sits on and the narrow roads it can still feel busy. Come earlier in the morning for a quieter visit as it has some lovely waterfront eateries which become popular in the afternoon and to watch the sunset.

You can either get to Watsons Bay by bus or by ferry and there are a number of things you can choose to do. Take a walk up past The Gap and around to the tip top of Watsons Bay to blow the cobwebs away and see Hornby Lighthouse. Camp Cove has a lovely

13. The Rocks

The Rocks is Sydney’s most historic area as it’s where the birthplace of modern Sydney began. It sits underneath the shadow of The Coathanger with many interesting buildings that are a reminder of its colonial past. Explore The Rocks by walking along the laneways and cobbled streets to uncover markets, galleries and museums. As the night draws in, the lights turn on and The Rocks becomes a buzzy district for drinks and dinner.

14. Sydney Tower Eye

The Sydney Tower Eye is the tallest structure in Sydney so on a clear day it offers incredible views across the city. It’s worth going up here after you’ve explored the city already so that you can spot all of the places that you’ve been to. If you can time it with sunset then you can watch the colours of the sun going down across Sydney. If you’re brave enough you can try the SKYWALK…!

Buy your ticket in advance with Get Your Guide here.

15. Brunch & Coffee

It wouldn’t be a complete list to visit anywhere in Australia without mentioning brunch and coffee! Aussies are to brunch as the Germans to beer or the English to fish and chips. In thousands of cities around the world you’ll now likely find flat whites and smashed avocado on the menu and that’s all thanks to Australia so it has to feature on your trip to Sydney. Whilst the coffee culture is not quite as sophisticated as it is in Melbourne you can still get some great lattes, cappuccinos and long blacks.

My brunch & coffee recommendations include:

• Cat & Cow in Randwick
• Bogey Hole Cafe in Bronte
• The Depot in Bondi
• Rollers Bakehouse in Manly
• Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills
• The Grounds of Alexandria in Alexandria
• Opera Bar in Circular Key

16. Hit the beach

Since Sydney is situated on Australia’s east coast it has plenty of beaches to visit. I love that in Sydney you don’t need to choose between a city break and a beach break – you can get both in one! Of course the iconic Sydney beach is Bondi but there are so many others to choose from depending on what you’re after. Bondi is great for surfing but it’s not particularly great for swimming. If you want to try a spot of snorkelling then choose to enjoy your beach time over in Manly. Bronte Beach feels like a little snug spot with some cute coffee shops whilst Coogee Beach has more restaurants and bars to choose from once the sun is starting to dip a little lower. In South Sydney you’ll find Cronulla which is accessible by train whilst in the Northern Beaches area you might like to try Mona Vale or Palm Beach which may be also be a little quieter!

17. Blue Mountains

For those that have longer than a couple of days in Sydney then a trip to the Blue Mountains must be the next thing you do after you’ve seen the sights of the city. There are two ways you can explore the Blue Mountains from Sydney for a day: joining a tour or via train (and then buses in the mountains). I’d recommend hiring a car only if you’re going for longer or you have other places you want to take a car because of the effort and cost involved in hiring for one day.

If you take the train then head to Central Station where you can take the Blue Mountains Line out to Katoomba which is about a two hour train ride away. Make sure you get up as early as you can so that you can be out in the Blue Mountains for around 8 / 9am. The cost of the train is dependent on when you travel. At Katoomba you have access to the Hop On Hop Off bus which is a great way to explore and you can book with Get Your Guide here. Make sure to see the iconic Three Sisters, take a trip to Scenic World and visit charming Leura.

If you’d rather someone else plans your visit and don’t want the hassle of train timetables to stick to then check out these tours that Get Your Guide offers:

For anyone that is time rich, hire a car and spend the night out in the mountains so that you can get around more easily and enjoy some locations that will be quieter because they’re not easily accessible by public transport. If you’re celebrating something special then treat yourself to a night at Spicers Sangoma Retreat which I was lucky enough to collaborate with last year. I had one of the most epic hotel stays I’ve ever enjoyed with a delicious five course tasting menu, insanely awesome tent room with a view to the forest and a massage where the ‘spa music’ was the sounds of the babbling brook and the birds in the trees outside.

18. Royal National Park

A visit to Royal National Park is one to include on your Sydney itinerary if you’ve got a bit more time and ideally a car to really be able to explore this epic place. From the southern suburbs of the city it isn’t too far to drive before you hit the top of the park and you can enjoy some epic walks and coastal views. You won’t believe you’re so close to Sydney. A classic walk is to see Wedding Cake Rock which is a bright white layered sandstone rock that resembles an iced wedding cake! Wattamolla Beach is the most well known spot for a sunbathe in the area and from there you can hike a 7.4km round walk to see Eagle Rock.

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Cat x