THINGS TO DO | Sydney, Australia

nature activites

Fun at the Beach:

• Head to some of our favorite beaches. Do the Bondi to Coogee walk and stop at a couple of the beaches along the way http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/recreation/beaches_and_coast/bondi_to_bronte_coastal_walk
  • Bondi – probably the most famous (and busiest) beach in Sydney. Long blue ocean, soft gold sand, bars, cafes and lots of sunbathers
  • Tamarama – smaller beach with choppier waters and beautiful café / picnic areas
  • Bronte – Small beach popular with families
  • Clovelly – Small calm beach popular with swimmers and snorkelers
  • Coogee – Not to big, not too small. Perfect sized beach while smaller than Bondi, but could get just as busy. Super popular with Americans. Awesome bars and restaurants close by
  • Manly
    • Beach for everyone. Officially has 18 small coves and harbors
    • Long stretches of sand
    • Take a ferry to Manly from Circular Quay. Great place to learn to surf or dive or hang out
    • Or if you don’t want to get wet, you can go to the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary
  • Other beaches
    • Freshwater
    • Shelly Beach
    • Palm Beach – really beautiful but requires a drive or long bus ride (from Sydney CBD pprox.. 1.5 hour bus direct)

Head to the Mountains: Take the train and head to Blue Mountains. Do the 3 sisters walk!

Zoos:

• Taronga – Super scenic zoo where you can check out kangaroos, koalas, giraffes, elephants, and other animals with the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Easy to get to via Ferry from Circular Quay
• Featherdale Wildlife Park - This is a little harder to get to, but well worth it if you want to get up and personal with Koalas, Kangaroos and other uniquely Australian animals. You can get there by driving, or a longer train / bus ride.

Other Nature

• Sydney is well known for its northern and eastern suburbs that boast beautiful beaches. However, one personal favourite is a drive (or train/ferry combo) down south to the Royal National Park (http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/royal-national-park) known for its beautiful coastal scenery, numerous bushwalks and abundance of wildlife.

city activities

If you get sick of the beach, below are some other suggestions of things to do around the city:

 Sydney Harbour Bridge:

• Climb – many tourists recommend Bridge Climb with great views of Sydney Harbour
• Walk – if you don’t climb, then make sure you walk over the bridge starting from the Rocks and ending in Kirribilli where you can visit Luna Park, swim at the salt-water pool, eat lunch at the pub / restaurant, or picnic on the grass. If you stay for NYE, Kirribilli is a great site to watch the fireworks!

Seafood galore:

•  Head to Sydney Fish Markets in Pyrmont to sample our array of Australian seafood produce.  Plan for a picnic since they have astro turf and tables outside – buy your favourite seafood items (sashimi by the kilo) or just good old fish & chips. An alternative is to take a picnic rug/blanket and sit in the sun across the road at Wentworth Park.
• Note: The fish markets can be incredibly busy during the summer period especially on public holidays and weekends. Avoid these times if you can, and never feed the seagulls.

Centennial Park:  Ride your bike around Centennial Park or ride a horse

Opera on the Harbour (check dates) / Open Air Cinema/Moonlight Cinema (check dates)

Swim at Andrew Boy Charlton Pool

Drink some wine:

• Head over to Hunter Valley which is an hour and a half north of Sydney. Most wine tastings are free.   Personal favourites include:
  •  Audrey Wilkinson
  • Scarborough
  • De Iuliis
  • Tempus Two
  • Krinklewood
  • Tulloch
  • McGuigan
  • Brokenwood
  • Pepper Tree
•  Check – http://www.winecountry.com.au/wine/cellar-door-tasting
• Remember – Don’t Drink & Drive! Australia has very strict drink driving laws with many RBT (Random Breath Testing) Units set up on its roads.  This is particularly common over Christmas and New Years – the Blood Alcohol Limit for any full-licensed driver in Australia is 0.02.

Shopping

• Higher End: Pitt Street Mall Westfield, Castlereagh street,  Bondi Junction Westfield
• Department Stores: David Jones and Myer
• Australian Designers & Boutiques: Paddington shops (oxford street), specifically “The Intersection”  http://www.theintersectionpaddington.com.au/
• Also check out the various unique/eclectic boutiques and shops in areas such as Surry Hills, Newtown, Glebe, Double Bay and Bondi Beach