Standing at “The Point “ in front of the iconic “The Coathanger” I wonder which view is more stunning — the futuristic Sydney Opera House posing alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the magnificent vistas of the Darling Harbour from the bridge, from a height of 440 feet.
While I am lost in the picture postcard moments, I realise that there is more to the New South Wales capital than its famed bridge with the fascinating nickname.
While the indigenous Gadigal people were the earliest custodians of the land, Sydney became the oldest city in Australia, when the convicts established their first settlement at The Rocks, a historic and bustling precinct by the harbour. Sydney pulsates with a dynamic energy and has an inexplicable vibe that can only be experienced.
Be it nature, culture, wildlife, beaches, sports or nightlife, Sydney simply has it all. Day trips take you to the Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Royal National Park and more breathtaking places. Here is your passport to Australia’s first city with a list of some of the best things to see in Sydney.
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Best time to visit Sydney
Sydney welcomes you throughout the year but is resplendent in summer with beaches, cricket and festivals especially the Sydney Festival, While the high tourist season is from November to February, temperatures soar and the energy peaks as you ring in the new year. The best time to visit Sydney would be in spring (September-October) and autumn (March-May) when the temperatures are cooler with blooming blossoms, fall foliage, and plenty of events be it sports, arts, or culture. Winter in the months of June to August is the low season, it’s also a great season for whale watching.
Best free thing to do in Sydney
Discover Sydney with a free walking tour
Begin your Sydney experience with a free walking tour listening to trivia on the colonial history of Sydney from a local guide. The three-hour tour takes you into the historic district of Sydney including the bustling Rocks, the first convict settlement in the city. Listen to stories of how the Sydney Hospital came to be called “The Rum Hospital.”
Visit some of Sydney’s popular sights, oldest pubs, museums and markets, churches and gardens as you wander around historic streets, and get lost in laneways. The guided tour also takes you to the legendary Darling Harbour where the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge vie for your attention. While the tours are free, a generous contribution is recommended. Book with Local Tours Sydney or ImFree.tours
Best fun thing to do in Sydney
Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge
Do the touristy thing and walk across the mammoth Sydney Harbour Bridge nicknamed The Coathanger for its arched design. Measuring 1149 metres long and 48 metres wide, the arch spans 504 metres and there are eight lanes for vehicles and a couple of railway tracks. Take the stairs or use the elevators to climb up the bridge and there is a walking and biking trail on either side.
Feast on the breathtaking views of the harbour and the Opera House, take as many selfies as you want and if you are feeling a bit adventurous, you can even climb the bridge right up to the top with Bridge Climb. It takes over three hours to ascend 1332 steps but you get to enjoy the 360* views of the city. There are different climbs including a Burrawa-Aboriginal Climb where you are accompanied by a First Nation storyteller.
Best cultural thing to do in Sydney
Explore the Backstage Tour at the Sydney Opera House
Visit Sydney’s cultural icon, designed by Danish architect Joan Utzon as a modernist expression of creative ambition with the sails soaring towards the skies. Dominating the landscape, with its multiple venues for different performances, the Opera House is a symbol of Sydney’s innovative spirit. Watch a play, attend a concert, catch a ballet show or even an opera, but the best way to feel the creative buzz is to book any of the walking tours.
The Backstage Tour is recommended which takes you into the fascinating venues, the lost nooks and spaces where you can listen to stories and secrets, get to know the inner workings, go down into the orchestra pit, visit the Green Room and even watch a rehearsal. There are also architectural and food tours and tours for kids as well.
Best thing to do in Sydney with family and kids
Cuddle a koala and feed a kangaroo at the Featherdale Wildlife Park
Take a selfie with a quokka, cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos and little penguins, walk through a lorikeet aviary and spend as much time as you want in this massive Featherdale Wildlife Park which is home to 2000 Australian native animals and birds across 260 species. Besides koalas, kangaroos and wallabies, there are several endemic and endangered species like the wombat, the echidnas, the dingos and the Tasmanian devils as well living here. What was once a private poultry farm is now a tourist destination with a conservation focus. Don’t miss the personal animal encounters which make for memorable experiences.
Best thing to do in Sydney for couples
Wine tasting at Hunter Valley
Visit Australia’s birthplace of wine at Hunter Valley, located barely a couple of hours by road from Sydney. Taste the historic Semillon, planted way back in the 1800s, raise a toast to the Shiraz, listen to live music at a winery, watch an alpaca wander around the vineyards, try the local cheese and delicious seasonal produce and meet the passionate winemakers. With 150 cellars around the verdant valley, you will find a lot of family-owned and boutique wineries.
Taste your way through the Valley by heading to Polkolbin where some of the earliest wineries like Tyrrell’s are still around. Visit Brokenwood Wines known for its Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz, picturesque Audrey Wilkinson Cellar, McGuigan Wines, Scarborough Wine Co and Keith Tulloch Wine, the first carbon-neutral winery. Spend a night or two here in this gourmet destination, relax in a day spa, play golf, go to the storybook garden and watch the dawn break from a hot air balloon.
Book your stay at The Langham Sydney via Booking.com
Book your stay at The Langham Sydney Hotel via Agoda.com
Best thing to do in Sydney for nature
Picnic at the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Explore the verdant landscapes of the Kur-ing-gai Chase National Park, the second oldest in Australia named after the original inhabitants, Guringai people. Located along the northern shores of Sydney it is a mesmerising mosaic of rainforests, rocky cliffs, wetlands and bays, mangroves and eucalyptus groves.
You can either bike across the craggy wilderness or go on long bushwalks exploring Aboriginal sites, old lighthouses, secret waterfalls, breathtaking viewpoints or simply picnic along the bushland and bays. Visit the Barrenjoey lighthouse at Palm Beach, picnic at Bobbins Head or Akuna Bay, and Camp at The Basin. The marinas are great for restaurants and cafes or you can go for a cruise as well.
Best thing to do in Sydney for adventure
Get adventurous at the Blue Mountains
Lose yourself in the blue haze of the Blue Mountains formed by the blending of eucalyptus oil droplets that blend with the water vapour and sunlight. Surrounded by native bushlands, the sandstone cliffs in this World Heritage Site are your playground as you can bike and hike, admire mind-blowing rock formations and visit caves with Aboriginal rock art.
Don’t miss the Scenic World which is an adventure by itself where you even climb the rooftop of the cable car and admire the rainforest below your feet besides chugging on one of the steepest railways. Head to the Echo Point Look Out, visit the Three Sisters, explore Jenolan Caves and challenge yourself at the Aboriginal Blue Mountain Walkabout. There are also charming mountain towns like Katoomba where you can relax at the cafes and restaurants.
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Best thing to do in Sydney at night
Pub crawl at The Rocks
Join the revellers and party the night away by pub hopping at The Rocks and learn all about the watering holes of the convicts while having a drink against the background of the Sydney Harbour. Potter around the atmospheric neighbourhoods where you discover unique hidden pubs, hip cocktail and rooftop bars, legendary clubs and Alfredo dining lounges. Chill at Sydney’s oldest pub Fortune of War on George Street, started by a former convict. The Irish Pub at Mercantile Hotel is a must-stop.
Say cheers to over 130 craft beers at The Australian Heritage Hotel. Hop over to The Orient and Harbour View Hotel. Don’t miss the gorgeous harbour views from the iconic rooftop bar of The Glenmore and check out the oldest brewery in Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel.
Housed in one of the ancient buildings The Argyle is a favourite for food and drinks. For more vibrant watering holes, try the cocktails at Maybe Sammy, guzzle beers at the Squire’s Landing, or chill in the atmospheric unique pub, Mrs Jones or in the underground bar at The Doss House.
Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney via Booking.com
Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney via Agoda.com
Best thing to do in summer
Learn to surf at Bondi Beach
Swim, surf, sunbathe or just stroll around Bondi Beach, which is virtually synonymous with summer and Sydney. The closest beach to Downtown Sydney, it is easily touristy with boutiques and souvenir shops, cafes, barbeques and restaurants.
Learn to surf from any of the schools here or relax in one of the saltwater sea baths while lockers, showers and changing rooms can be found at Bondi Pavilion. You can look out for whales during the season. Don’t miss the lively Farmers Market and the Bondi Markets on the weekends. There are several coastal walks and the most breathtaking is the 6 km Bondi to Coogee trail that brings you stunning views along cliffs, beaches and parks.
Best thing to do in winter
Go whale watching
Come winter and the whale watching season begins in Sydney as you can hear splashes in the ocean when a humpback breaches as it jumps up to breathe and say a quick hello. While the whale watching season starts in May and ends in November, it is in the winter (June and July) when you can see mobs migrate from Antarctica towards the warmer shores of Queensland.
Head out to any of the lookouts like Cape Solander in Kamay Botany Bay National Park or to Barrenjoey Headland, Watson’s Bay, and the Royal National Park with binoculars and you may be lucky to get a glimpse. However, the best way to experience whale watching is on a luxury or a private cruise where you can also enjoy a meal with drinks on board.
Book with Whale Watching Sydney, Princess Cruises or Oz Whale Watching, Captain Cook among other cruises. The reverse migration from September to November is also a good time to spot them.
(Hero and feature image credit: Dan Freeman/Unsplash)
Related: Enriching Guided Tours To Serene Walks: 15 Things To Do In Sydney For Free
Book your stay at Park Hyatt Sydney via Booking.com
Book your stay at Park Hyatt - Sydney via Agoda.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What are the best cultural places to visit in Sydney?
Besides the iconic Sydney Opera House, visit the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Australian National Maritime Museum. While there are several Aboriginal Trails and Tours, you can also do a walking trail of The Rocks.
– Are there any beaches in Sydney?
You will find over 100 beaches and bays along the fascinating Pacific Coastline of Sydney but the top ten beaches are Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Palm Beach, Shelly Beach, Balmoral, Bronte Beach, Whale Beach, Maroubra Beach and Watsons Bay.
– What are the best adventures in Sydney?
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, hike the Blue Mountains and explore ancient caves, learn to surf at Bondi Beach, and go kayaking under the Harbour Bridge – these are some of the fun adventure activities. Besides you can hike and bike across several coastal trails, do scuba diving and snorkel and battle rapids among other adventurous sports.
– What are the best festivals to celebrate in Sydney?
Besides the vibrant Sydney Festival that is held for three weeks in January, there is also the Sydney Fringe Festival, Vivid Sydney, Sydney Mardi Gras, and Sydney Writers Festival among others.
– What are the nearby places that can be explored by road?
The Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves, Hunter Valley. Royal National Park, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Australian Capital Canberra can be visited on a day trip by road from Sydney.
Written By
Lakshmi Sharath
Lakshmi is passionate about everything that is local — from cultural traditions to art and architecture and believes that people make places. A slow and mindful traveller from India, you will often find her listening to stories of people or just sitting in a cafe and watching life pass by. Travelling is a way of life for this former media professional ..Read More
