Sydney Must do's

[2Xayear]

6 days in Sydney Australia in mid April before cruising back to Vancouver. BNB booked in the CBD and now looking at what to do. One day planned for Taranga Zoo, and one for Manly Beach. HOHO for 2 days with a stop planned for Bondi Beach. What Sydney attractions are on your must do list? We are a couple in our 60’s with no desire for anything really strenuous. Sydney Harbour Bridge yes but not the BridgeClimb to add perspective.

 

 

Bob

[Shellbelle28]

Someone just posted this link on another thread, looks useful

https://www.visitacity.com/en/sydney

[Swissmiss6253]

A day tour (or even an overnight) out to the Blue Mountains is nice, glorious scenery.  A tour of the Opera House.  If you like architecture the Architectural association runs walking tours around Sydney looking at the buildings.  http://www.sydneyarchitecture.org/pages/opening.htm.  A boat tour of the Harbour can be fun for the commentary but you get the views from the Manly Ferry.

[GUT2407]

What are your likes.

 

a stroll through the Botanic Gardens

a visit to the Opera House

a wander around The Rocks

The Queen Victoria Building is worth a drop in.

 

River Cat upto Parramatta is a nice outing.

[Tommy_dbt]

We love the zoo in a city concept. 

 

https://discoverbooktravel.com/taronga-zoo-sydney-australia-a-zoo-in-a-city/

 

[WAVTAM]

Doing the same cruise as original poster. Have done the same cruise Sydney to Vancouver for 6 years. I would look in to saving with a purchase of a Sydney City day pass card. You can pick the amount of things you wish to do over the course of time visiting. We did 3 day pass and save over 50% on attractions. Can purchase thru Viator.

[Globaliser]

Don't forget the current edition of this list, compiled by CCers over the years. It will need reformatting for the new software at some stage, but I think it's still legible.

 

If there are any Sydney experts who want to update/improve this list before I do that, it would be very welcome.

 

 

[sailco]

Do you like jazz? Are you staying in the city? If you're interested, The Rocks has a few great Jazz venues with music at lunch and dinner. Casual dining, a glass of wine or a cold beer is a nice way to end a day of sightseeing.

[Toryhere]

Have lunch at Regatta restaurant in Rose Bay or the Bondi Icebergs

if you are in town on a Saturday go to Paddington markets. 

If you like art go the Art Gallery of NSW and lunch there in the wonderful restaurant overlooking the Harbour.

The core of Sydney is the bit between the CBD and Bondi. 

[SteveH2508]

When we did a day tour to the Blue Mountains it included a boat trip back to Sydney so that killed two birds with one stone. We booked through our hotel (a flyer at reception). It was about 90 AUD each IIRC.

[SinbadThePorter]

11 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

When we did a day tour to the Blue Mountains it included a boat trip back to Sydney so that killed two birds with one stone. We booked through our hotel (a flyer at reception). It was about 90 AUD each IIRC.

 

A boat trip from the Blue Mountains to Sydney?

[SteveH2508]

2 hours ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

A boat trip from the Blue Mountains to Sydney?

 

The coach took us part way back and the last hour or two of the trip was by boat a nice was to finish the day.

[RLK33853]

Two of our favorite things a short ways outside of Sydney include the Hunter Valley for wineries, and the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains. 

 

If you go to the Hunter don't miss the Pepper Tree Winery - hands down our favorite.  Small, intimate, great location, fabulous wines.

 

The Jenolan Caves are also great and include caves that you can take a wheelchair into, to ones where you have to crawl and rappel to get in and out of.  Plus lots in between.  The road in for the last bit is very windy and steep though.

 

On Manly go to the Yacht Club (Harbour side) for a drink, or go for a hike on the old military base out on the point.  Take the ferry from the Rocks to get there.

[Globaliser]

This is the current and newly updated edition of a list, compiled from CCers posts, of suggested tips for Sydney, especially a newcomer.

 

First, things that you can do even if you only have one day in Sydney:-

• The Rocks – historical area, plus some tourist shopping.

• Circular Quay – for views.

• Sydney Opera House – do a tour; the backstage tour is the most interesting, but is less frequent and more expensive than the standard tourist run. Go to a concert or a show if you can.

• Botanic Gardens and the Domain (parks).

• The Art Gallery of New South Wales (in the Domain).

• Hyde Park, including the ANZAC memorial and fountains.

• St Mary’s Cathedral (near Hyde Park).

• Hyde Park Barracks Museum (near Hyde Park).

• The Australian Museum (in the City).

• The Museum of Sydney (in the City).

• The Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay).

• Darling Harbour – touristy things, including the casino at The Star if you’re into that sort of thing.

• Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbour).

• Sydney Wildlife World (at Darling Harbour).

• The Australian National Maritime Museum (at Darling Harbour).

• The Powerhouse Museum (at Darling Harbour).

• Bridgeclimb – The standard climb is 3½ hours, but worth it if the weather’s good. It’s not energetic, nor difficult for anyone who does not have a serious fear of heights. It’s best to book when you’re there and you can gauge what the weather is likely to be. The most popular and expensive climbs are at dawn and twilight. Otherwise, a first timer should do a day climb to see where everything is, although night climbs are romantically spectacular. They now have two shorter routes (1½ hours and 2¼ hours), but the standard route is still better for a newcomer.

• Or just walk across the Harbour Bridge if you don’t want to climb it. You can go up the south-east pylon (the one nearest the Opera House and Circular Quay) for some views that are better than those from the roadway.

• Sydney Tower – the tall building thing, which also has two revolving restaurants, one that promises fine dining, and one that is a buffet      .

• Paddy’s Markets.

• Chinatown.

• The Sydney Fish Market (an early start is needed to get the most out of this).

• Take a ferry to Manly.

• Manly – long beach on the ocean side, cafes etc. If you can get there, a big park at North Head with good harbour and sea views, but is a long walk from Manly itself.

• Taronga Zoo – take the ferry from Circular Quay for this, too.

• Cruise on the harbour - lots of ways of doing this (including jetboats), many starting from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.

• Watsons Bay – famous for Doyles, seafood restaurant, also good views. Also, go up to South Head (easy walking distance) from there, for views. Watsons Bay can be reached by ferry.

• Queen Victoria Building – possibly the most elegant shopping mall in the world.

• Bondi Beach – if you feel that you really have to do this. Quite close to Watsons Bay, can be done in a long walk (about 3½ miles), which passes by the Macquarie Lighthouse, or by the Bondi Explorer Bus.

• Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach along the cliff tops.

• Also, between Watsons Bay and the City, there are Double Bay (elegant, expensive shops) and Rose Bay (pretty waterfront, walkable from Watsons Bay).

• Balmoral Beach, to which you can get by bus (including, if you like, lunch or dinner at the Bathers Pavilion, or just fish and chips, or something else - there is a number of eateries here).

• A number of sites give suggestions for walks along the harbour foreshore, for example this one and this one.

• There are architectural walking tours (and one cycling tour).

• Blu Bar at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel for cocktails with a view.

• King’s Cross at night (for the broad-minded).

• Featherdale Wildlife Park.

Also, Sydney is one of the great eating cities of the world, so there’s no shortage of good and/or exotic food.

 

If you are staying longer in Sydney, the following day trips out of Sydney are also possible:-

• Blue Mountains / Katoomba / Jenolan Caves

• Northern beaches (up to Palm Beach)

• Hunter Valley wineries

• Canberra

You might also want to have a look at the following threads:-

• First Time in Australia & New Zealand

• Partial Day Tour in Sydney

• Australia cruise in 4/14/08, tour suggestions

• Only 2 days in Sydney. Do the Blue Mtns?

• Sightseeing in Sydney

 

[debeni]

Thanks Globaliser for this great post.  We will save the link and use it during our upcoming visit to Sydney this coming Jan-Feb.

 Dean

[buchhalm]

Good one from Globaliser!

Spot on about bridge climb.  Expensive,   but SO worth it. Everybody I ever sent on this tour came back thrilled. Remember that you will be breath tested before the climb, so go easy on our great Aussie wines before the climb.

 

For simply walking across the bridge, I would suggest to start on the northern end. That way you will have the city on front of you and don't have to turn to enjoy the views.

Take a train to Milsons Point (First stop after crossing the bridge). From there the stairs to the bridge are easy to find (or staff at the station will tell you the right exit from the station).

From there it is also a easy 10 min walk go the water front for spectacular city and opera house views and views of the bridge from underneath! Around the bend to the right you reach the historic Luna Park amusement park that has good photo ops. 

Edited December 1, 2018 by buchhalm

[sayaguru]

Get a local ferry over to the zoo and/or Manly. Nice views of the harbour without the hefty cruise price. The tall ships is nice and a bit different to the standard harbour cruise.  Walk by the Opera House and around the gardens. The rocks area is lovely. The walk along the foreshore just south of Bondi is beautiful. You can walk from Bondi to Clovelly and get a bus back from there to Bondi or the city. 

[Host Bonjour]

I’d add to the list, especially if one has an interest in the history and culture of Australia, the Quarantine Station museum at the North Head - also a spectacular location - that I admittedly went to see with an “oh, alright...” frame of mind but my attitude soon changed once I was immersed in the atmosphere, stories and incredible views. Maybe some old spirits got me too. 

 

It’s false equivalency to say this is Australia’s Ellis Island because the people arriving on these boats weren’t coming by choice or filled with hope but they ,became immigrants too. Images of Ellis Island don’t always look like it was party time either but people didn’t arrive in shackles. 

 

This definitely qualifies as one of the most hidden or lesser known highlights of Sydney sightseeing but it’s worth looking into and adding to your itinerary of some of the other things on the list aren’t grabbing you. Admittedly, there’s no shortage of wonderful in Sydney and probably not enough time for it all but as the saying goes, there is something for everyone and I think a lot of people would be fascinated by this and find it unforgettable. I was SO glad I went. 

 

There are ghost tours too it seems but I don’t bother with those things...got my own ghosts :eek: 

Edited December 8, 2018 by Host Bonjour
Link didn’t work

[LRDR01]

On 11/28/2018 at 4:09 AM, Globaliser said:

This is the current and newly updated edition of a list, compiled from CCers posts, of suggested tips for Sydney, especially a newcomer.

 

First, things that you can do even if you only have one day in Sydney:-

 

• The Rocks – historical area, plus some tourist shopping.

   

• Circular Quay – for views.

   

• Sydney Opera House – do a tour; the backstage tour is the most interesting, but is less frequent and more expensive than the standard tourist run. Go to a concert or a show if you can.

   

• Botanic Gardens and the Domain (parks).

   

• The Art Gallery of New South Wales (in the Domain).

   

• Hyde Park, including the ANZAC memorial and fountains.

   

• St Mary’s Cathedral (near Hyde Park).

   

• Hyde Park Barracks Museum (near Hyde Park).

   

• The Australian Museum (in the City).

   

• The Museum of Sydney (in the City).

   

• The Museum of Contemporary Art (Circular Quay).

   

• Darling Harbour – touristy things, including the casino at The Star if you’re into that sort of thing.

   

• Sydney Aquarium (at Darling Harbour).

   

• Sydney Wildlife World (at Darling Harbour).

   

• The Australian National Maritime Museum (at Darling Harbour).

   

• The Powerhouse Museum (at Darling Harbour).

   

• Bridgeclimb – The standard climb is 3½ hours, but worth it if the weather’s good. It’s not energetic, nor difficult for anyone who does not have a serious fear of heights. It’s best to book when you’re there and you can gauge what the weather is likely to be. The most popular and expensive climbs are at dawn and twilight. Otherwise, a first timer should do a day climb to see where everything is, although night climbs are romantically spectacular. They now have two shorter routes (1½ hours and 2¼ hours), but the standard route is still better for a newcomer.

   

• Or just walk across the Harbour Bridge if you don’t want to climb it. You can go up the south-east pylon (the one nearest the Opera House and Circular Quay) for some views that are better than those from the roadway.

   

• Sydney Tower – the tall building thing, which also has two revolving restaurants, one that promises fine dining, and one that is a buffet      .

   

• Paddy’s Markets.

   

• Chinatown.

   

• The Sydney Fish Market (an early start is needed to get the most out of this).

   

• Take a ferry to Manly.

   

• Manly – long beach on the ocean side, cafes etc. If you can get there, a big park at North Head with good harbour and sea views, but is a long walk from Manly itself.

   

• Taronga Zoo – take the ferry from Circular Quay for this, too.

   

• Cruise on the harbour - lots of ways of doing this (including jetboats), many starting from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour.

   

• Watsons Bay – famous for Doyles, seafood restaurant, also good views. Also, go up to South Head (easy walking distance) from there, for views. Watsons Bay can be reached by ferry.

   

• Queen Victoria Building – possibly the most elegant shopping mall in the world.

   

• Bondi Beach – if you feel that you really have to do this. Quite close to Watsons Bay, can be done in a long walk (about 3½ miles), which passes by the Macquarie Lighthouse, or by the Bondi Explorer Bus.

   

• Walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach along the cliff tops.

   

• Also, between Watsons Bay and the City, there are Double Bay (elegant, expensive shops) and Rose Bay (pretty waterfront, walkable from Watsons Bay).

   

• Balmoral Beach, to which you can get by bus (including, if you like, lunch or dinner at the Bathers Pavilion, or just fish and chips, or something else - there is a number of eateries here).

   

• A number of sites give suggestions for walks along the harbour foreshore, for example this one and this one.

   

• There are architectural walking tours (and one cycling tour).

   

• Blu Bar at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel for cocktails with a view.

   

• King’s Cross at night (for the broad-minded).

   

• Featherdale Wildlife Park.

   

 

 

Also, Sydney is one of the great eating cities of the world, so there’s no shortage of good and/or exotic food.

 

If you are staying longer in Sydney, the following day trips out of Sydney are also possible:-

 

• Blue Mountains / Katoomba / Jenolan Caves

   

• Northern beaches (up to Palm Beach)

   

• Hunter Valley wineries

   

• Canberra

   

 

 

You might also want to have a look at the following threads:-

 

• First Time in Australia & New Zealand

   

• Partial Day Tour in Sydney

   

• Australia cruise in 4/14/08, tour suggestions

   

• Only 2 days in Sydney. Do the Blue Mtns?

   

• Sightseeing in Sydney

   

   

 

This is a very helpful post.  Thank you so much for taking the time to share...

[Cruise___master]

Sydney harbour bridge climb.....say no more 😉

[possum52]

3 hours ago, Cruise___master said:

Sydney harbour bridge climb.....say no more 😉

 

The OP stated in his original post they weren't interested in doing the bridge climb. 

 

Leigh

[AliceS]

On 11/18/2018 at 9:19 AM, RLK33853 said:

Two of our favorite things a short ways outside of Sydney include the Hunter Valley for wineries, and the Jenolan Caves in the Blue Mountains. 

 

If you go to the Hunter don't miss the Pepper Tree Winery - hands down our favorite.  Small, intimate, great location, fabulous wines.

 

The Jenolan Caves are also great and include caves that you can take a wheelchair into, to ones where you have to crawl and rappel to get in and out of.  Plus lots in between.  The road in for the last bit is very windy and steep though.

 

On Manly go to the Yacht Club (Harbour side) for a drink, or go for a hike on the old military base out on the point.  Take the ferry from the Rocks to get there.

 

[AliceS]

Your script is so pretty, but extremely difficult to read.  Old eyes?