Sydney is a beautiful city in Australia, and an excellent summer getaway thanks to its ever-lasting sunny weather. Home to numerous amazing sandy white beaches, nature spots, and touristic attractions, there is definitely something for everyone! Check out below my top 10 things to do in Sydney:
- Blue Mountains
- Jervis Bay
- Manly
- Bondi
- Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Rocks
- Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
- Taronga Zoo
- Sydney Tower Eye
- Newtown
- The Perfect Instagram Spots
1. Blue Mountains
The name ‘Blue Mountains’ came about from the natural blue haze created by the ancient forest. It makes great day trips to explore waterfalls, valleys, the region’s ancient Aboriginal heritage. Start your trip from Katoomba Station, which is a mere two hours by train from Sydney’s Central Station.
Scenic World
From Katoomba Station, have your lunch before taking the bus towards Scenic World. There are many different activities available, including a more family-friendly route with Scenic World. You can first take the world’s steepest incline passenger railway into the ancient rainforest. Then, explore the rainforest on foot for about 30 minutes before reaching the station to take the glass-floored cable car. Enjoy the magnificent views, with a side of funny jokes from the cabin’s MC.
After the cable car ride, walk along the bush tracks for about 30 minutes towards the Three Sisters, Blue Mountains’ most impressive landmark, at Echo Point Katoomba. Legend has it that three sisters were turned into these three impressive rocks. An interesting characteristic is that the rocks varies throughout different days and seasons. The rocks’ colours under sunlight were simply breathtaking! From Echo Point, take a bus back to Katoomba Station to return home.
2. Jervis Bay
Located about 3.5 hours away from Sydney, Jervis Bay is a natural wonderland for seaside escapes on the NSW South Coast.
We started our daytrip with a cruise from Huskisson to see the spectacular beauty of beaches, rocky headlands, towering sea cliffs, and Honeymoon Bay. The best part: we got to see a sleepy group of fur seals and some playful dolphins during our journey! There are many other cruises that offer different packages, remember to choose one that suits your needs. However, do note that the cruise can be extremely bumpy and uncomfortable with the strong waves.
After the cruise, have your lunch and walk towards Hyams Beach on the western shore. Here you will stroll on the whitest sands in the world, rimmed around the pristine waters.
3. Manly
Manly is a beach-side suburb in the north of Sydney, easily access by ferry from Circular Quay. Coastal sunlight never fails to brighten up the famous Manly Beach, making it one of the popular spots for surfing. Take a walk on the oceanfront path to see the spectacular coastal views on your way to Shelly Beach. There, I’d recommend you to spend the perfect coastal holiday on the sheltered sandy beach.
You simply must visit The Boathouse right next to Shelly Beach for lunch. This gem has the best toasted banana bread I’ve ever tasted!
4. Bondi
In the east of Sydney, Bondi Junction is a huge shopping hub easily reached by train. Follow the surrounding streets or simply take a bus to reach the nearby Bondi Markets and Bondi Beach.
Bondi Markets is small yet features a number of trendsetting new brands and portrait the artsy scene of Bondi. From there, walk along the street-lined shops to reach Bondi Beach.
As the most iconic and busiest beach in Australia, Bondi Beach boasts its white-sand crescent and attracts beach-goers and surfers with its reliable waves. The nearby Bondi Icebergs public pool has been a historical landmark of Bondi for over a century, featuring a large lap pool and a kid pool.
Professional lifeguards are on patrol all year round, and are perhaps an attraction themselves. To see them in action, catch the TV shows Bondi Rescue as they follow the daily lives of these lifeguards at Bondi Beach!
5. Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Rocks
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s longest steel arch bridge, an iconic landmark of Sydney. You can choose to walk or cycle across the bridge, or even climb to the top of bridge for the spectacular views of Sydney.
If you’d prefer a more laid-back tour, simply take a ferry cruise around the Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay. That way, you get to be up-close underneath the bridge and other attractions like Sydney Opera House, Luna Park, and Darling Harbour.
In the shadow of the bridge, you’ll discover The Rocks, a lively neighbourhood of historic laneways featuring an open-air Rocks Markets. Here you will find crowds of locals and tourists browsing through streets of food stalls and handmade goods.
6. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Visit and walk along the famed Darling Harbour towards the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium for a family-friendly underwater journey. The aquarium boasts a large variety of Australian aquatic life, displaying more than 700 species and 13,000 aquatic animals from most of Australia’s water habitats!
7. Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is a not-for-profit organisation supporting wildlife conservation. By ferry from Circular Quay, it is a mere 15 minutes from the city centre, and you get to see the beautiful Sydney Harbour along the journey.
There are more than 4000 animals from over 350 species to see, over 20 keeper talks and shows a day, tours, events, and concerts. These make yet another great family-friendly daytrip in Sydney!
8. Sydney Tower Eye
Sydney Tower Eye is the tallest structure in Sydney, sitting right above the Westfield Sydney shopping centre. As a major tourist attraction in Sydney, the tower is open for public access. Feel free to opt for the buffet serving international dishes to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of Sydney from up above.
Combine the day with a stroll to the nearby St. Mary’s Cathedral, and then around the city centre.
9. Newtown
Newtown is a vibrant neighbourhood with upbeat music, theatre, design, restaurants, artsy and quintessential scene of Sydney. Accessible by train, Newton is lined with restored 19th century terrace houses and is home to the ‘cool and hip’ shopping scene, especially along King Street. Brace yourself through an excellent selection of designer boutiques, vintage stores, specialty stores. Not to mention the major hip vibes from the cool cafés and craft breweries. Be sure to checkout Brewtown Newtown for your hipster brunch fix!
10. The Perfect Instagram Spots
The Grounds of Alexandria fully embraces the concept of brick-walled industrial café meets open gardens and weekend markets. This is possibly the most visited spot in Sydney, especially for the instagrammers. It’s easy to see why: From animal farm, flower stores, to having brunch within the beautiful café of organic garden and dinner at the lively Potting Shed, this place has it all!
The Henson, formerly known as Henson Park Hotel, is yet another all-in-one spot in the local neighbourhood boasting its rich history. It features an honest working class front bar with a hip dining area, and a leafy beer garden with a large children’s area. This is the perfect playground for everyone of all ages to enjoy a revelry!
So… What’s Next?
Sydney is definitely a popular and glorious city to visit. From beach-goers to the adventurous souls, you’ll definitely find something to keep you busy here! Just because the places are popular doesn’t make them tacky, go ahead and try’em out – they might just surprise you like they did to me!
What’s your favourite things to do in Sydney? Leave a comment and let me know!
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