Sydney, Australia’s first city, is one of those places that live inside your mind even before you get a feel for it. Attending a performance at the Opera House, zipping under the Harbour Bridge, or getting a tan on one of the most spectacular beaches on the continent are experiences that every modern traveller seeks.
If you’ve been long dreaming of exploring the most diverse and cosmopolitan city of Australia, ensure you add the following nine activities to your bucket list.
Hang out at the beach
Sydney is warm and sunny most of the year and is home to over 100 picturesque beaches. Regardless of your expectations from the coast, you can find a place for every preference. World-class surfing is synonymous with Sydney, and Bronte Beach, Palm Beach, and Manly are the perfect spots to indulge in your hobby.
And if you want to venture into calm waters and take in millionaire views, add Camp Cove to your bucket list. The place provides good opportunities for snorkelling straight off the beach.
Last but not least, Balmoral Beach is a popular spot for families owing to its enclosed swimming areas and gentle currents. Hire a kayak canoe to delve into the crystal-clear waters or learn to stand-up paddle boarding.
Keep in mind that the more famous beaches can be very crowded at weekends. If you’re looking for hidden gems, the continent, with its opening to the sea, abounds in wild, quiet, non-touristy beaches. If you stay longer in Australia and want to visit one of the country’s secret beaches, pack your bag, book a parking space at airport parking Sydney, and fly across the continent. You can be as spontaneous as possible and look beyond the beach experience.
For instance, you can fly to Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and other cities, to get a feel for the Australian lifestyle. With www.parkos.com.au, your car is inspected regularly and securely, and your trip gets cheaper since you’re not paying large sums for expensive car parking.
Explore Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood
The Rocks may be the oldest neighbourhood in Sydney, but it has the most inspiring cultural attractions here, vibrant live music, and sleek restaurants and bars. With its sandstone churches, colonial buildings, and narrow lanes, this suburb is popular with tourists and home to some of Australia’s oldest pubs. The British first landed in this country in 1788 and settled in this neighbourhood, which used to be a lot bigger then. But luckily, some of its buildings have been preserved and turned into tourist attractions, homes, or modern businesses.
The Rocks is one of the most remarkable areas in the city owing to its street entertainment, delicious restaurants, art museums, amazing views of the harbour, and the Rock’s weekend markets. The latter offers street food, different arts and crafts, clothing, and more, so if you’re looking for the perfect souvenir or artisanal experience, you will find something for every taste.
If you like to stay up late and party, this neighbourhood is for you! Here, the streets are frequently busier at midnight than during the day.
Dine on delicious meals
The dining scene in Sydney has never been more innovative and dynamic. Restaurants serving delicacies worldwide, typically with an Australian touch, are found in every neighbourhood.
You might think that the city’s a little faddish or too enamoured with big-name chefs, but Sydney wouldn’t be the lavish gourmet capital it is if names weren’t being dropped. Fortunately, Sydney’s food culture manages to balance elegance and substance.
From the impeccable service, breathtaking views, and delectable menus, Oncore by Clare Smyth and Quay stands out as world-class in every way. Other equally incredible regarding their top-notch hospitability and excellent cuisine are NOMAD, Saint Peter, and Café Paci.
Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was constructed in 1932 to serve as an employment opportunity during the Great Depression, and its project took almost ten years to complete. You can experience this majestic structure on foot or by bike if you’re not willing to pay for a tour. Either way, you should see the panoramic views of the Opera House and the Harbour before you leave Sydney. Citizens are very proud of their giant “coathanger”.
Marvel at the Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is Australia’s most famous landmark. It’s widely known for its white-shelled roof, a remarkable engineering undertaking, as it took a very complex support system to get the roof to stay up. The building opened to the public in 1973 and took almost 15 years to complete.
Now, 8 million people visit this attraction annually, with some taking a guided tour. The most obvious way to explore the interior is by attending a performance, but you can also take a guided tour.
Visit the historic Cockatoo Island
Impressive UNESCO-listed Cockatoo Island reveals another side to Sydney, owing to its complex history, photogenic industrial relics, art installations and disused cranes. It opened to the public in 2007 and provides waterfront caffe-bars, picnic spots, campground accommodation, and regular ferry services.
Visitors are attracted by the panoramic views, preserved history, and heritage buildings.
Learn Aboriginal history
The Royal Botanic Garden is located southeast of the Opera house and features plant life from all around the world. It was established in 1816 and is the oldest scientific institution in Australia. Within the 30ha oasis, you’ll find hothouses with ferns and palms and an exhibition space with a curving glasshouse gallery.
Make a day trip to Palm Beach and Pittwater
Palm Beach is a long, magnificent crescent of pleasure made famous by the cheesy TV drama Home and Away, which was filmed there. The suburb has two sides: a pleasant strip on Pittwater with calm strands perfect for kids and a marvellous ocean beach.
Attend a cultural event
Since Melbourne is called Australia’s cultural capital and is home to one of the highest densities of commercial art galleries worldwide, Sydney tries to outdo its rival by organising a plethora of events and festivals every year. Therefore, you’re offered festivals, concerts, art gallery nights, and much more. Regardless of when you visit the capital, something’s going on most of the time!
As you can see, Sydney is anything but a dull place. It’s difficult to be bored in this dynamic city with active streets both at night and during the day.
Hero Sydney image: by Dan Freeman on Unsplash
