Sydney, Australia
From iconic buildings to thriving night life to the beautiful coasts, Sydney is rampant with lively things to do!
Sydney Opera House at twilight
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
TRAVEL GUIDE
Sydney Neighborhoods
The following is taken from https://mel365.com/where-to-stay-in-sydney/
Sydney CBD (Central Business District): perfect location if you are on a business trip, but not only. Public transportation is available everywhere and you are close to the main attractions too, which can be quite handy, especially you spend only 2/3 days in the city
Darling Harbour: this is a little bay directly connected to the CBD (walking distance). The view is magnificent and you have plenty of restaurant and pub options next door. The best place in Sydney to cool down, just grab a drink and enjoy the nice breeze
Darlinghurst: the most famous area of Sydney for nightlife and bars. It can be overwhelming, sometimes too much, however, it’s ideal if you plan to have some late nights. Just make sure to book the hotel on a quiet street.
Surry Hills: this is the trendy and arty area of Sydney. It’s all about being local, visit the boutique restaurants, enjoy brekky at the fashionable cafe, visit a few stylish furniture shops
Paddington: it is the upper-class area of the city, with some amazing art centres and small exhibitions (the Australian Photography Centre is my favourite). It’s a short bus ride to the beach which is quite handy in summer
Newtown: the coolest area with plenty of live music options. It has some great grunge restaurants, especially with a Middle East cuisine. It’s also very close to the airport (really a short taxi ride, same cost as public transportation)
Bondi: the worldwide famous beach, the place to see and be seen. In winter Bondi can be quite nostalgic, however, in summer it becomes the most popular beach in Australia. Probably not the best place to stay, unless you are into surfing, but surely a place to visit.
Manly: the alternative beach, almost a sleepy village, less touristic than Bondi, more authenticly Australian. Transportation from the CBD is very quick (15mins by fast ferry or 30 minutes with the regular service) and this is a great advantage if you plan to spend most of the time at the beach with a few excursions to the major attractions.
The Sites
The Harbour
Have dinner on at the Quay or in one of the sails.
Bennelong — Fine dining, expensive
Bennelong Bar
If you want to simple enjoy the ambiance and view of being in one the Opera House sails, you can walk to the Bennelong Bar to enjoy a drink instead of paying for a full-course meal at the restaurant.
Open from 12 PM to “late dinner”
Walk-ins only for Saturday, no reservation
Other spots available at the Quay
Kid Kyoto $$ (Japanese, grunge)- https://www.timeout.com/sydney/restaurants/kid-kyoto
Mr Wong $$ (Cantonese, aesthetic) - https://www.timeout.com/sydney/restaurants/mr-wong
Opera Bar – outside with a view of the Sails
Gateway – mega food court with over 25 different cafes and takeaway joints
Bar Patron (Mexican, aesthetic)
Café Sydney – some of the best views of the city including Harbour Bridge, Opera House, and Sydney ferries.
If you want to sit outside to really enjoy the views, you need to make a reservation. Make sure to say you want outdoor in your reservation.
Museum of Contemporary Art on Circular Quay
Daily: 10AM to 5 PM; Wed 10 AM to 9 PM (art after dark)
Free for the Permanent Selection (one floor)
Check out the Café! - Has a fantastic view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge depending on where you sit. Great spots inside and outside on the terrace.
Australia National Maritime Museum
HOURS: every day from 9:20 AM to 5 PM.
TICKETS:
General entry is FREE for permanent galleries.
Big Ticket $32 : unlimited access to everything open
Botanic Gardens
Open area cinema experience - look up prior for movies and times
HOURS: 7AM to 7:30 PM
Hello Koalas Sculpture trail! – 20+ one-meter high koala sculptures, hand painted by Australian artists
If you walk towards the Opera House, it lends itself to another stunning view of the Sydney Opera House.
Rocks district – city’s convict heritage
The first site of European settlement in Australia, and is rich in history; it was particularly important first as a convict site and then as a working-class part of town. It’s also home to Cadman’s Cottage, the oldest residential house in Sydney. The Rocks is also well-known for its markets, cobblestoned laneways, and the stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll find several excellent art galleries in this area, and great dining options
Ghost tours
Beer tours
Weekend markets – Stalls full of food, locally made trinkets, and throngs of people wandering the streets. A fun way to go through the historic streets, cottages, and pubs of The Rocks.
Paddy’s Markets
Hundreds of stalls perfect for buying souvenirs for home. There is also as produce section and small food area to eat.
Luna Park – amusement park
HOURS:
CLOSED: Tue, Wed, Thurs
Sun (11/17): 3PM – 9PM
Mon (11/18): 11AM – 4PM
YELLOW PASS: $57 (unlimited rides, Mystery Manor, Coney Island)
FREE TO ENTER; only need tickets for rides
TRANSIT OVER: Take a cruise or ferry around Circular Quay and Darling Harbor
Ferry to Manly Beach and Taronga Zoo
This ride provides some of the most scenic views of Sydney and her iconic skyline.
Hyde Park Barracks Museum – CLOSED for renovation as as Nov. 2019
A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site
A historical location that gives insight on the barracks for convicts as well as becoming an asylum for women.
Sydney Historic Pub Crawl
Oldest pubs in Sydney
A look into the history behind these sites including gangs & brothels.
Taronga Zoo
Personally, this zoo holds the spot for my most favorite zoo so far. Not only is it scenic with absolutely stunning views of the Harbour and Sydney skyline, but the terrane of the site itself is on a hill lending for a fun and exciting experience. And, of course, Taronga Zoo is home to many animals I had only seen in my school textbooks! It was surreal being able to experience them in person- animals that I never thought I would see with my own two eyes now became a reality!
The zoo also offers various things to do for select prices such as spending time with (a) koala(s) to take pictures or feeding various animals. Check out what’s available at one of the gift stores where you can purchase them.
Tickets: $42.30 each (save 10% if you buy online)
Transportation to zoo:
I recommend taking the ferry to get across the water instead of a bus. Doing so will allow you to get a scenic trip of the Sydney Harbour. If you’ve already been on a ferry and no longer want to go over the water, taking the bus or car is also doable.
Ferry Service: F2 Taronga Zoo, duration: 12 min
Both the ferry and bus will drop you off at the same location at a cul de sac.
From the cul de sac, there are two ways to get into the park:
The lower entrance of the zoo in which you will have to walk up-hill through the zoo.
The gondola which takes you over the park above some animals in which you can look down and see the animals. The gondola will drop you off at the top of the zoo in which you will walk down-hill through the zoo.
In order to take the gondola, you MUST have purchased the ticket before entering. You can purchase tickets beforehand either online or at the wharf. You show your ticket (paper or online) to the employee at the entrance of the gondola line to allow passage to the gondola.
I recommend taking the gondola to the top entrance of the zoo. Doing so allows for some beautiful views of the Sydney Harbor as well as looking down over the animals of the zoo. In addition, you will now only have to walk down-hill through the zoo instead of up-hill.
Cockatoo Island
Some parts are on the UNESCO World Heritage List
Historical sites of the transportation of convicts and forced labor that was done at the beginning of Australia to colonize it.
Popular for hikes and camping.
Queen Victoria Building
Built in the 1890s as a multi-use marketplace, this building hosts five levels of high end fashion with the top brands as well as numerous cafes and boutiques boasting the latest in Australian fashion.
Pitt Street Mall & Westfield Shopping Centre
The largest shopping centre in Sydney by area, this centre holds hundreds of brand stores, Australian boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. At the top is the Sydney Tower Eye.
Darling Harbour
Home to the Harbourside Shopping Centre, this location is a beautiful place to shop and enjoy the breathtaking sea right outside.
The Harbour is also home to the Australian National Maritime Museu, WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo, SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium, a bowling alley, and laser tag.
There are many restaurants and snacking options as well as a thriving nightlife.
Strand Arcade
Built in 1892, this Victorian-style arcade has been maintained throughout the years. This beautiful shopping arcade contains approximately 80 stores holding products of all types.
Hayden Orpheum Picture Place
This beautiful historic cinema has been running since 1935. The exterior and interior design of this cinema is like a blast to the past. From the ticket booth to the concession stand to the theatre rooms themselves- the entire place feels like stepping into the early 1900s.
Beaches
Bondi- one of the most famous beaches in the world
“Bondi Bubble” – entire village of cafes, restaurants, shops, and hotels
Popular spot for surfing
Popular brunch spots: Bills or Speedos Cafe
Bronte – family friendly
Can pick up plenty of swell- popular among surfers
Swimmers generally head to the famous rock pool at the south side of the beach
Large grassy area- BBQ and picnic facilities
Three Blue Ducks – innovative, local cuisine
Manly – a local favorite, can be reached by a ferry ride from the central business district
Hop on a ferry from Circular Quay
Beach volleyball, running, kayaking, scuba, surfing, museum, sea life sanctuary, shark diving experience
Shelly Beach- common spot for snorkeling
Great shops, cafes, weekend arts and craft market, dining scene
Transportation:
Manly ferries depart every half hour from Circular Quay, Mon-Fri 5.30-12.20am; Sat, Sun 6.20-12.20am. Timetables and info: 131 500, Transport for NSW. Adult $6.12–$7.60; concession $3.06–$3.82.
Ferry service: F1 Manly, duration 30 min (Warf No. 3)
Other “lesser known” beaches:
Tamarama
Clovelly & Gordon’s Bay
Many well-known diving locations
Coogee
A favorite for backpackers
Palm
Balmoral
Quieter waters provide for more preferable swimming areas with mild currents.
Also great for paddle boarding and kayaking.
GROUP TOGETHER
Remember, these items grouped together are only recommended together based on distance apart. Use this compilation to your advantage by picking and choosing which sets (if you want to go with only one or multiple) go best with your schedule.
The Rocks & Museum of contemporary Art ↠ Luna Park ↠ Circular Quay (dinner) ↠ Opera House
Paddy Market (weekend mornings) & Chinatown ↠ Darling Harbor (also good to come back at night for the evening ambience and dining) ↠ Botanic Gardens ↠ ferry to Manly ↠ Manly: beach, shopping, & dinner
Ferry service to Manly: F1 Manly (Wharf No. 3), duration: 30 min
Take the normal ferry (not the fast ferry which will take you there in 15-20 min instead of 30). Doing so will allow you to see the classic Sydney Harbour sites such as the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bradleys Head, South Head, Manly North Head, Dobroyd Head, and Manly Cove.
Taronga Zoo ↠ Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
Shopping! $$$
Darling Harbor ↠ Queen Victoria Building ↠ Pit Street Mall & Westfield Shopping Centre ↠ Strand Arcade
Darling Harbour and all the various shops, restaurants, and museums/zoos it has to offer
Bondi Beach ↠ take the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk ↠ enjoy the sites along this breathtaking coastal trail of 6 km ↠ will pass Bronte beach.
If you don’t have time (or energy) to take the 6 km coastal walk to Coogee, you can stop at Bronte beach which would be 3 km.
