Travel Dates: December 2023
Things to do in Sydney:
Bondi Beach – Visit Sydney’s most famous beach, where there is also an outdoor public pool (Bondi Baths at Bondi Icebergs Swimming Club) and a coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach. The coastal walk is a must-do but the entirety can take 1.5 – 2 hours one-way. For a shorter but still rewarding stroll, start your walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach (30 minutes one way) for stunning views.
Make sure to bring enough water with you–I had 1 liter of water and it wasn’t enough, especially since there’s no shade on the path and you’re under the scorching sun. But no fret, there are water fountains throughout the walk at each beach stop.
One thing to keep in mind is Bondi Beach is a nude beach, although most people are not nude. There is a parking lot there but spaces are hard to find–we lucked out with a Tesla since the last spot remaining was reserved for EV charging only.
Sydney Opera House – No visit to Sydney is truly fulfilled without experiencing the iconic Sydney Opera House, situated by the harbor. And if you have the time and interest, explore the beautiful Royal Botanic Garden right next to it.
Harbour Bridge – As you behold the iconic Sydney Opera House, you’re treated to an accompanying sight on its left – the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Two activities that I recommend doing related to the bridge are the Bridge Climb and Pylon Lookout (if you do the former, you can get 50% off the ticket price for the latter).
While the Bridge Climb can be a bit pricey at $344 AUD for the cheapest daytime option, the experience itself is truly remarkable. Ascend to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for breathtaking panoramic views of the city and harbor. Be prepared for strong winds, and note that hats are not allowed, but you can wear glasses or sunglasses. Cameras and phones are prohibited, and closed rubber-soled shoes are a must. There are free lockers to store your belongings if needed.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the Pylon Lookout at $25 AUD. Despite climbing several flights of stairs, the lookout offers fantastic panoramic views of the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House, especially worthwhile if you’ve received a discount from the Bridge Climb.
If you prefer a cost-free experience, access the pedestrian walkway on the bridge via stairs or elevator on Cumberland Street (Google Map “Bridge Stairs”). You can still enjoy the views of Sydney Harbor from here.
Wild Life Sydney & Sea Life – There are many zoos in Sydney where you can see their native species (kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, Tasmanian devil, wombats, etc.). Wild Life Sydney is in downtown Sydney near Darling Harbor, making it easily accessible to visit. There is also the Sea Life aquarium right next door where you can see dugong, sharks, penguins, and more. Buying tickets online for both places is cheaper, but you can confirm the cost in person at the ticketing counter. Wild Life is $48 AUD online and Sea Life is $51 AUD online. If you purchase the combo option to see both, it will be $65 AUD, which is what we did.
In my opinion, you can find better zoos in Sydney, so I wouldn’t recommend Wild Life unless you don’t have time nor the ability to venture out of the city. Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park was a zoo I visited last time I was in Australia, and the encounters with the kangaroos, wallabies, and upgraded ticket package to take pictures with the koalas was a much better experience.
For the Sea Life aquarium, it’s not a must-do but if you want to see penguins up close, the penguin exhibit with the free indoor boat ride was very cool–or should I say cold!
For parking, use one of the designated partner parking lots and validate the parking pass at Sea Life gift shop. This will allow you to only pay $21 AUD for parking for the whole day. For us, the closest parking lot was 383 Kent Street Car Park.
Blue Mountain – There’s a lot to do in the Blue Mountain area; with only a day trip, here are the stops that we did in order of the best views first:
- Three Sisters at Echo Point Lookout: Iconic stop in the Blue Mountain where you can walk around the viewing platforms to see the Three Sisters (a trio rock formation). The parking lots here are paid parking, but you’ll probably spend no more than 30 minutes here unless you do one of the hikes.
- Evans Lookout: Easy walk for beautiful vast views of Grose Valley, which looks like a forested version of the Grand Canyon.
- Valley of the Waters Lookout (Empress Falls Track): A moderately easy 40 minute round trip hike on stepped paths, with a metal staircase at one point. 5 minutes into the hike gets you to Queen Victoria viewpoint, and 13 minutes more gets you to Empress Falls where people do canyoning tours down the waterfall. As you get closer to Empress Falls, the path can get wet and slippery so make sure you wear sturdy shoes.
- Govetts Leap Lookout & Bridal Veil Falls: The views are similar to Evans Lookout so if you don’t have the time, this can be skipped. Otherwise, it’s still worth the stop for views of Bridal Veil Falls. If you do a 30 minute one-way hike to the falls, you get a closer view. On a windy day, you’ll even feel the water from the falls. The hike is on a stepped path so is not too difficult.
- Katoomba Cascades: We parked at Maple Grove Park and walked towards the Prince Henry Cliff Walk, following the signs for Katoomba Cascades. Although just ~7 minute walk one way, the views were mediocre and this stop can be skipped.
Manly Beach – Manly Beach is accessible via a ferry from Circular Quay, the main port in downtown Sydney. If you’re spending an extended amount of time in Sydney, I do recommend this beach as it’s not as crowded and also more family friendly than Bondi Beach. If you walk a little further, there is also Fairy Bower Beach, which has a public tidal rock pool right on the beach. The views here are also very nice. If you stay until sunset, you’ll see Manly Beach’s evening dwellers–bats!
Where to eat in Sydney:
Sydney Fish Market – Open 7am to 4pm every day, come here for delicious and reasonably priced seafood options. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, though be mindful of the many birds outside looking for scraps. Additionally, there’s a market where we found delicious mangoes, and a beer and wine store that allows on-premise consumption. At the fish market, you will have to pay for parking–1 hour for $8 AUD, 1-1.5 hours for $15 AUD, and so on.
Mountain Culture Beer – A nice brewery stop when visiting Blue Mountain. I enjoyed their Brewers Burger and Status Quo Pale Ale (their best seller).
Where to stay in Sydney:
Shangri-La Sydney – We stayed here only because of the American Express Fine Hotel credit, otherwise it is pricey. If you have the Amex credit or are willing to splurge, then I do recommend this hotel. The rooftop restaurant has great views of the Sydney Opera House, and the breakfast we had was top notch. There is valet parking here with unlimited entry and exit for $105 AUD per day.
Amora Hotel Jamison – More budget friendly hotel compared to Shangri-La, yet still a nice option in downtown Sydney. There is self-parking at a garage next door for $67 AUD (if you go through hotel rate), but no in and out privileges.
Other Tips When Traveling to Sydney:
The currency used is the Australian Dollar, but almost all places take credit cards and it’s common for merchants to add on a 1-2% surcharge.
If you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Sydney, I highly recommend buying tickets to the Harbour Party at Luna Park. The tickets will allow you to access the amusement park in the evening, which is a great way to kill time before midnight. At Luna Park, you also get great views of the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House, where the main fireworks are set off.
Globe Trotter 