Being a city of diverse cultures, Sydney has a lot to offer to its precious visitors. From Kayaking to spooky ghost tours, a tourist will have a lot on his plate.
As the largest city in Australia, Sydney is often the first choice when a vacation is planned regarding Australia. Just a few hours of airplane trip from Singapore, this city has so much to offer. From picturesque and impressive skylines to historic and supreme architecture and a golden stretch of beaches, this city is a must-first stop for most tourists. Whether it is the first time or the fourth trip to the city, Sydney never fails to amaze its visitors. So many options and opportunities can get a bit overwhelming for the visitors so here is a list of ways to enjoy the best the city has to offer.
Things to Do
Trip to the Scenic Blue Mountains: Just a short drive from Sydney CBD will showcase one of the best and iconic antidotes to the busy and fast-paced city life. The dreamy Blue Mountains are one of the most picturesque places to visit while touring Sydney. The local bakeries offering heartfelt goodies, the rich heritage of storybook villages, and the jaw-dropping iconic sandstone formations will leave the soul full of bliss and enchantment. The Three Sister sandstone formation is also a part of the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park, so keeping that in the list of ‘places to visit’ is just natural.
Kayaking in Lavender Bay: Vacation calls for laziness most of the time. But in Sydney, laziness might cost losing out on the mesmerizing kayaking experience on the Lavender Bay. The experience can be enjoyed solo or with a group, while paddling under the bridge past the Opera House and exploring the north shore of Sydney with a stop on a beach in a bushland setting, taking the whole scenic view in.
Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge: Although a bit expensive, this is by far the most obvious thing to do while visiting Sydney. Might not leave room for the tourist to look dashing in their holiday wear, as an unflattering grey jumpsuit will be their companion but, if the thrill of climbing the fourth longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world is smoothing included in the ‘things to do’ list, then this experience can be exhilarating for many.
Seaplane Ride to Oyster Farm: Apart from the Blue Mountains, one other place to take a break from the bustling city is Hawkesbury. A seaplane ride to Hawkesbury will indulge the tourist in a quiet and blissful Sydney Oyster Farm Tour where the tourist will get to meet second and third generation of oyster farmers and have a picnic on the scheduled beach while tasting the famous Broken Bay oysters.
Gazing at Art: If the inner artist is calling by name, then Sydney might be able to answer. It is the home to the NGA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection, the largest in the world which holds more than 7500 works. Housing Australian, Pacific, Indigenous, Asian, European, and American artistic masterpieces, including the ‘Blue Poles’ by Jackson Pollock and ‘Bird in Space’ by Constantin Brancusi, the national gallery of Australia was opened in the year 1982 and was renovated in 2010
Place to Go
Sydney Opera House: The iconic Sydney Opera House is not just a fabulous and beautiful example of an architectural masterpiece but it is a world-class working opera house, hosting over 1,600 performances every year. Performances including everything from classical ballets to contemporary dance, from innovative theater to symphonic music and stunning opera house productions are showcased in the opera house. The tourist can enjoy all of this along with a stunning view from the Sydney Opera House.
Sydney Harbour Bridge: One of the most important and iconic parts of the city’s skyline this magnificent steel structure is the world’s largest steel arch. To the locals, the bridge is affectionately known as the ‘Coathanger’ and there are many options to explore it like taking a hike, cycling or even climbing to the top to get the best view of the city.
The Famous Bondi Beach: With the crystal blue ocean, the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle along some interesting eateries, Bondi Beach is the best place to throw your feet up and relax. Taking a dip into the iconic swimming pool at Icebergs while enjoying delicious cocktails from the beachside bars should be kept in mind while planning a vacation to this throbbing city of Sydney. The 6km long Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is surely a memorable way to admire the scenic beauty of the place as it features carved sandstone cliffs and an uninterrupted view of the Bondi beach.
Royal Botanic Garden: Residing at the heart of the city, this luscious green oasis of 30 hectares is a spectacle of its own kind. Housing a stunning collection of plants from Australia and overseas, this pasture of greenery occupies an outstanding position with the Sydney Opera House on its side. The place with a long dating history back to 1816 holds the Aboriginal Heritage Tour which is a highlight of this place. A stroll through the green patch or a picnic planned with the magnificent Sydney Opera House in the backdrop, anything can be planned while having this garden in mind.
The Rock: It is said to be the birthplace of the Sydney the world sees today. In 1788, after the arrival of European settlers, the convicts set up houses and other establishments in this area. The rich and historic culture of this place can be experienced best with The Rock Walking Tours which goes through various markets and little lanes, starting its journey from the Cadman’s Cottage. The cobbled streets will surely remind the tourists of the old times.
Sydney Tower Eye: Where else will the tourists get the best view of this marvelous city other than the 309 meters tall Sydney Tower Eye which provides the tourist with a full 360-degree view of the amazing skyline? For those who are seeking for an adrenaline rush can join the guided Skywalk which circumnavigates the tower along the outside. The experience starts with a fourth-dimensional short film featuring a bird’s eye view of the city and then leads to the observational desk 250 meters above the ground.
Museum and Art Galleries: The Art Gallery of New South Wales is the house of over 40 exhibitions held annually. The vast collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Australian, Asian, and European art always has some new to offer to the visitors. With free daily guided tours and on-site restaurants, a trip to the world of art can be something to look forward to. The Museum of Contemporary Art is also another place that is dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting, and collecting contemporary art. It features more than 4000 works by homegrown artists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Taronga Zoo: For the animal lovers out there, the award-winning Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes from the city by ferry. The zoo is home to more than 4000 animals, including Australian native wildlife along with endangered and rare exotic species. To get the best of this soul-capturing experience, one can book the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga which is an eco-retreat right in the heart of the Taronga Zoo.
Where to Eat
Hotel Ravesi: To get an uninterrupted panoramic view of Bondi Beach along with world-class services and some of the most immaculate rooms, Hotel Ravesi is the one-stop place to stay. The Mediterranean-influenced menu with the seasonal signature cocktails curated by the talented Executive Chef, Peter Streckfuss will keep the guests from leaving the hotel soon.
Speedos: The talk of the town is this café has some of the best dishes in the city along with some mesmerizing views. No wonder it is the most instragrammed café in the world as it packs not just flavors in its food but the looks are divine too.
Wharf Bar: Under the sunny sky with the magnificent Harbour Bridge as the view, with good food and great drinks, this place is a great place to halt while going for a walk on the beach or grabbing a late lunch. The ambience and the service are immaculate which will keep the visitors coming again and again.
Adventure and Fun
Walks: The Spit Bridge to Manly walk is for the adults as it is long and steep, covering the Sydney Harbour National Park which is a mix of subtropical bushland and some short tracks passing between outstanding beaches, bays, and inlets of North Sydney. The site of the historical Grotto Point Lighthouse as well as the Aboriginal rock engravings of kangaroos, fishes, and boomerangs are surely the once that will captivate the tourists’ souls. The beautiful Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk of 6km or the Federation Cliff Walk of 5km is comparatively easy and child-friendly.
Spooky Haunter Tours
The emotions of awe, fear, and curiosity are a few of the strongest emotions experienced by man, so, to put their emotions at play the haunted tours are here to take the tourist on a ride of a lifetime. The Q Station near Manly is one the spookiest places to visit if the heart is daring enough. The historic buildings and the eerily empty pathways are all part of the site’s 150-year-old heritage. A trip to Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour will definitely give the tourists the creeps. This former dockyard and convict prison is known for the paranormal occurrences that have been taking place for more than a century.
Scuba Diving
Sydney offers some of the most soul-capturing diving spots in Australia that cannot be experienced anywhere else. From Shelly Beach in Manly which has two dive sites, the left side is known as Shelly, and the right side is called Fairy Bower is a great spot for learning scuba diving to the Apartments, which got its name from the large rectangular block-like rock formation in Long Reef where the grey nurse sharks congregates, Sydney has a lot to offer to its precious visitors.
