10 things to do in Sydney, Australia

Just a short walk from the harbour is the Rocks, the historic, riverside neighborhood lined with some of Sydney’s oldest pubs. Wander the cobbled streets and browse the many shops for individual gifts from handmade clothing to fragrant soaps. On weekends between 10am and 5pm the cobblestone lanes transform into an open air market with delicious street food, artisan goods and local artists displaying works. If you’re interested in art then pop over to the Museum of Contemporary Art which sits next to Circular Quay. The museum has over 4000 works on display and brings in over a million visitors every year planting it firmly on the map in the art world.

Sitting across over 30 hectares near Sydney’s business district is the Royal Botanic garden. The gardens are free to enter and offer fantastic views of the harbour and opera house. In addition, there are numerous events held around the year, thousands of plants and interesting wildlife. It is the perfect chance to escape the city without actually leaving it.

Whilst visiting the Royal Botanic garden be sure to head over to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, the hand carved sandstone chair carved by convicts in 1810 for Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of NSW. With panoramic views of the harbour it’s the perfect photo spot.

Jump on a bus to Coogee beach for the start of the coastal walk to Bondi beach. The trail which goes along the coast past beaches, coves and rock pools is one of the best things to do in the city and won’t cost you a penny. The first part of the walk takes you to Bronte beach, then further on to Bondi, the famous surfers beach. In total the walk is approximately 6km and can take around 2 hours at a fairly easy pace. There are plenty of places along the path to stop, take a break and enjoy the incredible view out over the ocean.

Whether you’re doing the Coogee to Bondi walk or just heading straight to Bondi, make sure to head over to the Iceberg Pools, the famous ocean pool that gets thrashed by waves every minute. It’s only a $7 AUD for an adult swim and is a truly unique experience. Alternatively, embrace the surf vibes entirely and either hire a surf board if you know what you’re doing, or if not, why not try a lesson? Check out Let’s Go Surfing, the only officially licensed surf school at Bondi for a one off lesson, course or group lessons.

Sydney really has it down where brunch is concerned. The food scene in the city is varied and excellent and that is kicked off early with brunch and great coffee. All across the city you can find seriously delicious brunches from the fan favourite avocado on toast to classics such as eggs benedict and pancakes. Two really great places we tried were Two Good Eggs Cafe in Surry Hills and the Rusty Rabbit in Darlinghurst which may have offered some of the prettiest brunches we’ve ever seen.

A fantastic way to see the harbour itself is to get out on to the water and what better way to do it than jump on the ferry over to one of Sydney’s many gorgeous beaches. From Circular Quay the ferry will take just over half an hour and provides some incredible views of the city’s iconic landmarks. Upon arrival, head down the pedestrianised street past surf style shops (Ripcurl, anyone?) and buskers to the seafront. The beach is one of the best in Sydney and is famous for surfing so may be the perfect opportunity for surf lessons. Check out Manly Surf School, voted number 1 surf school in NSW by Surfing Australia if you fancy it. If you’d rather stay dry (or are there in winter like us) then check out the shops, restaurants and bars along the seafront. Stop for fish and chips and enjoy the view across one of the best Northern beaches in the city.

Possibly our favourite spot in the city, Watson’s Bay feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Jump on a bus or the ferry from Circular Quay to explore this eastern suburb for the day. Either way will give you fantastic views – the ferry for obvious reasons but the bus route gives you essentially a tour of some of the most beautiful beach houses we’ve ever seen (major house goals). From waterfront parks to trails and even a nudist beach (Lady Jane beach) it is the perfect way to spend a day. The area is drenched in history, with historical remnants such as canons and rifle walls dotted along the scenic South Heritage Trail. Also be sure to head towards the South Head Lookout for incredible views of the ocean and Hornby Lighthouse, perched right on the edge of the cliff.

Whilst this last one is a bit off base in terms of location (it’s actually over 100km from Sydney), it is absolutely unmissable if you have the time. The blue mountains are easily accessible from Central Sydney by train and are truly spectacular. Spend a day in the mountains hiking trails, finding incredible viewpoints and hunting down waterfalls. It is easily done DIY and there really is no need for an expensive tour. For our guide of how to spend an epic day in the Blue Mountains check out our DIY guide here – you won’t regret it!