Sydney is a large City of over 5 million people. In 1788, the city was founded when the first fleet, made up mainly of convicts sailed into Sydney Harbour. Captain Arthur Phillip founded the colony for the British Empire to use as a penal colony. Moreover, Sydney is a highly livable city and a place where you can be outdoors 365 days a year and consequently, there are plenty of outdoor activities to take part in. The city centre is not large and you can walk around it easily in a day, taking in the irregular streets, and the remaining Georgian and Victorian architecture, which is sadly beginning to disappear, is often replaced with multi-story apartment blocks. Old Sydney remains quaint, with old buildings in the area around the rocks where it all began more than 200 years ago.
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Harbor Bridge Climb
People come from all over the world to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and it takes 1,332 steps to reach the Summit, burning over 504 calories.
The Bridge is an old iron structure built in the 1930s, and once you climb it the view of the Harbor and the city are fantastic at 360 degrees. People even get married on the Bridge Climb and already there have been 31 weddings. As long as you are not afraid of heights, the Bridge Climb is perfect for you.
Yes, in most circumstances. Thousands of individuals have overcome their fear of heights by climbing to the top of the Bridge.
Depending on the day’s forecast and our health and safety necessities, we provide you with all the outdoor equipment you’ll need for your climb, but don’t forget to bring your shoes! If you need to layer under your suit for warmth, make sure you wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of your Climb. Talk to a member of our team if you have any inquiries or concerns.
Sydney Harbor Lunch Cruise
When visiting Sydney, another essential outing is the Sydney Harbor lunch cruise it takes in all points of the Harbor while you have lunch on board a cruiser. The cruise covers all main areas of the Harbor from the Opera House to Watson’s Bay, Manly, and Quarantine Station on North Head. Then under the bridge and up the Paramatta River towards Paramatta, with ongoing commentary explaining points of interest along the way.
At this end of the cruise, you will see Balmain and other working-class suburbs, that differ dramatically from Point Piper to Watsons Bay where house prices start at 10 million and continue to climb. The cruise goes past Fort Dennison, a tiny Island in the Harbor with a lot of history, originally used as a place to punish convicts. the cruise goes quite close to the Sydney Opera House which was completed in the early 1970s. If you prefer to you can do a dinner cruise where you will see the lights, and still have a commentary on points of interest.
Children younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult of legal age. On the Top Deck Lunch, Sunset Dinner, and Brilliant Dinner, a limited children’s menu is served. The Harbour Bar & Restaurant has a children’s menu. A stroller or pram is also suggested for babies, as there is a shortage of booster seats for kids older than three.
The Opera House
When you are looking for things to do in Sydney, no visit is complete without a trip to the Sydney Opera House. It sits on Bennelong Point, the point being named for an Eora (First Nations) man back in 1788. Construction of the Opera House took 14 years. The Sydney Opera House was finally opened by Queen Elizabeth 11 on 20th October 1973. It consists of four main theatres including the Concert Hall and the Opera Theater. More than 11 million people visit the Opera house every year.
Once you have done the tour of the Opera House, head to the forecourt restaurant right on the water. Have lunch and take in the view. But don’t eat any chips, as the seagulls swoop down and take them off your plate. They don’t seem to like other stuff as much but have become a pest to tourists. Then take a walk around Circular Quay and watch the distinctive Green and Gold Sydney Ferries come and go.
The Opera House tends to keep things casual. You can feel comfortable in smart casual attire, as there is no strict dress code for this event. But feel free to get dressed up if you’d like! When celebrating a particular event, it’s always more fun to get dolled up. Because of the 300+ steps on a guided tour, the Opera House recommends that you wear flat, comfortable shoes.
The Blue Mountains
If you have a day to spare and are looking for something a bit different to do, take a trip to the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains day tour is a bus tour, taking in the beautiful scenery. The mountains get their blue look from the Eucalypts exuding oil. When you stop off at the lookout, you will probably see Kangaroos hopping around and if you are lucky you may see a Koala. There are towering cliffs and valleys, with many lookout points taking in the mythical Three Sisters Mountains. You will be taken to the Govetts Leap lookout where the view is even more spectacular.
Some of the trips stop at the Historic Hydro Majestic Hotel for lunch. Here, you can eat while looking across the stunning Megalong Valley.
You will be shown the Charles Darwin Walking track, and the interesting vegetation found there. Then, onto Wentworth Falls and Rocket Point lookout. This is all covered in a day and then back to Sydney to your hotel.
Always dress comfortably, especially in footwear, so you can enjoy your time travelling to and exploring the area. It doesn’t matter what time of year you visit, you should always bring water and sunscreen.
Bondi Beach
One of the best things to do in Sydney is to take a trip to Bondi Beach. Either hire a car and drive or take a train to Bondi Junction and catch the 380 bus to Bondi Beach. Once you get there, you will see the curve of the world-famous beach that is known and loved by so many people.
If you are a swimmer you will want to try the water, and people swim there all year round. You might rather walk and take the track South towards Tamarama a tiny inlet Surf Beach famous for semi-nude sunbakers on the sand. Walk further on to Bronte the next Beach South and have lunch at one of the amazing cafes overlooking the surf beach. Then back to Bondi for a drink in ‘The Bucket List’ set in the Pavillion overlooking the Beach. You can sit in the bar at the Bucket List and meet interesting people from all over the world, and have an amazing Pizza.
Unless you plan on going swimming, it’s best to avoid Bondi Beach at night. Even though the streets are well-lit, you should avoid the beach after dark because it is not heavily patrolled and there is no beach rescue.
Pub Tour of The Rocks
No visit to Sydney is complete without visiting a few pubs, and one of the fun things to do in Sydney is a pub tour of the Rocks. Take a Historical Tour that offers drinks and dinner. Dave’s Pub Tour is a walking tour that takes in all the main historic pubs including the Hero of Waterloo and The Fortunes of War. Daves Tours knows where all the best beer is, including craft beers, and you will have fun while learning the history of the area. There are also several other walking tours available in the area.
In a perfect world, you would visit all 12 pubs in The Rocks Sydney, however, you may need to spread out your trips over several days or choose your best 5 for a wonderful day/night in Sydney’s oldest district.
Doyles Seafood Watsons Bay
Watsons Bay is a historic village just inside Sydney Heads. Take a ferry to Watson’s Bay and walk up along the cliff tops to see the spectacular view. Stay within the railings, as lately several tourists have fallen to their deaths near the gap while trying to take ‘selfies’ outside the railings, a terrifying activity. You will see the anchor of the ship the Dunbar, now in a local park. The Dunbar was wrecked on the rocks near the entrance to Sydney Harbor during a storm in 1857, 121 passengers and crew died. The Dunbar was a fast sailing ship known as a clipper and was bringing men to the goldfields when it sunk. One crewman James Johnson survived to tell the story.
When you have taken in the history, go and have lunch at Doyles on the Beach, which serves some of the world’s greatest seafood. Walk around to Camp Cove Beach and up around the Headland until you get to Lady Jane Beach, a nude beach, and past it to the Historic Lighthouse and Lighthouse Keepers cottage. Then back to Watsons Bay Ferry, or the Watsons Bay Beer Garden to see the sunset over the city.
You can park in our lot behind the building (enter via 3 Cliff St, Watsons Bay) or find parking on the streets nearby.
Chinese Gardens
The Chinese have been a part of Sydney since the first fleet, and one of the things to do in Sydney is to visit the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbor. It is a symbolic garden of friendship in South Darling Harbor a short walk from China Town given by the Chinese people to the people of Sydney and reflects all the elements present in Chinese architecture. stone, water sculpture rocks, and wildlife. When you have finished contemplating the garden, walk to Chinatown for a meal in one of the many restaurants.
Taronga Park Zoo
If you have children with you, Toronga Park is Australia’s best Zoo, and the animals have the greatest view. Take the ferry from Circular Quay across the Harbor to Taronga, as one of the great things to do in Sydney is to spend a day at the Zoo. Ride the cable car to the top of the Zoo and then spend the day visiting the different exhibits. Most of the animals have had their enclosures renovated to be as natural as possible. Lions, Giraffes, and Meerkats, you probably won’t get to see everything. In addition, one of the rare animals is the Borneo Elephant and lots of different monkeys. A great day out for the family.
If you like, you can also bring your food inside the zoo and eat at one of the park’s numerous picnic tables. Free water replenishment stations are also provided.
The Taronga Zoo is enormous, and seeing it all will most likely take close to 4 to 5 hours. It would be a lot easier, however, if you had the Taronga Zoo Map with you. It is the most efficient mode of transportation.
Sydney Tower Eye
No visit completes things to do in Sydney without a visit to the tallest building Sydney Tower Eye 250 metres above street level. Go up to the viewing tower in total safety, an hour will be long enough to get your bearings and see the whole of Sydney set out before you. Lovely at sunset when you see the sky changing colour. Follow it up with a booking in the revolving restaurant and have dinner while revolving slowly around Sydney.
Guests may experience Sydney’s breathtaking skyline in all its glory from the Sydney Tower Eye’s vantage point. The Rocks, Luna Park, the Sydney Opera House, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and many more of Sydney’s most famous attractions will be open for a guest’s sightseeing pleasure.
Bondi Icebergs Pool
As the most photographed pool in the world, the Bondi Icebergs Pool is a picture-perfect Olympic-sized tidal pool by the sea. The pool was installed in 1922 and derived its name from the lifeguards that dedicated their lives to their craft. Moreover, it was also inspired by the iceberg waves that hit the pool from the nearby Bondi beach.
The pool is located at the Southern end of the Bondi beach strip and is open daily except for Thursdays since it is the pool’s cleaning schedule. Moreover, guests can enjoy doing laps in the 50-metre-long pool. You can also bring your kids over as they can enjoy swimming in the kiddie pool. Adults can enter for just $9 while kids under 12 years old can enter for just $6.
Moreover, for those who want to have delicious food and drinks while enjoying the view of the pool from above, go to the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. The restaurant serves Italian food with a hint of native Australia. On the other hand, for those who want to enjoy their drinks while looking over the fabulous Bondi, the bar also offers a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for everyone.
The 50-metre pool is shallow at one end and deeper at the other. The smaller pool is shallow all the way around.
Raging Waters Sydney
Formerly known as Wet n’ Wild Sydney, Raging Waters Sydney is a waterpark operated by the Village Roadshow Theme Parks. The park is the biggest theme park in Australia, with 42 unique water rides and 3 pools, that are spread out on a whopping 62 acres.
One of the park’s highlights is The Beach. It is a large wave pool capable of producing waves of up to 7 feet. A new 206-metre slide called the Whirlwind was recently opened where riders will reach a speed of up to 25 kph. The park also features a wireless payment and ticketing system called Myband wherein all park transactions can be paid cashless and paperless thereby creating an environmentally-friendly system.
In addition, kids can also enjoy the Dinosaur lagoon and the Raging Waters which are mini versions of the park’s main attraction. Undeniably, this waterpark has something for everyone.
All guests are welcome to bring their pre-made sandwiches, fruit, and water bottles.
Guests with the following documented dietary restrictions may be excused from this policy: Customers with severe allergies Infants and young children and babies.
Floatation devices, such as seats that inflate and float, are not permitted inside Raging Waters Sydney. We recommend arm floaties for children who need them, however, please note that these must be removed before using the slides. At Dinosaur Lagoon, they have life jackets and floatation devices like inner tubes for the kids to use.
Royal National Park
For guests who want to explore the beauty of nature but don’t want to stray far from the city, the Royal National Park is one of the go-to places for things to do in Sydney. This park is a protected sanctuary with waterfalls and a wide range of local Australian wildlife inhabiting the area. This 151-kilometre national park is located just 28 kilometres south of the Sydney Central Business District.
Moreover, the park was added to the National Australian Heritage List in 2006 and is recognized as a wildlife conservation area. Guests can take a hike through the Wattamolla trails. There, you can find varied species of eucalyptus plants which the area is most famous for. As you walk towards the end of the trail, you can find the Curracurrong Falls which is a picturesque cascading waterfall that drops into the ocean.
On the other side of the trail, you can also find Wedding Cake Rock. This is a rock formation shaped like a cake that stands out among the rock formations on the coastal cliff. Unfortunately, as the rock is starting to erode and has become unstable, guests can no longer step on top of the rock. However, the Wedding Cake Rock is something visitors should certainly see.
There is a daily parking fee of $12 per vehicle. Wattamolla and Garie Beach have seasonal ticket kiosks where you may get your passes and pay with cash or a credit card.
Sydney Fish Market
The Sydney Fish Market is a perfect location to find the exceptional quality of the exquisite seafood that Australia is known for.
It has a wonderful atmosphere and offers behind-the-scenes tours in addition to being a culinary delight. There are several cafes and restaurants onsite, including a sushi bar and a Chinese seafood restaurant.
If you bring your dog with you to the fish markets, he or she will not be allowed in the market or on any outside seating areas.
Circular Quay
Circular Quay is known for its top-notch fine dining restaurants and simply breathtaking sights of Sydney Harbour.
ARIA, the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar, Yayoi Garden, and Tapavino are a few particularly exquisite options. There are also reasonable options, including Banh You Vietnamese Street Food, burgers at City Extra, and the Ship Inn’s weekly meal specials.
Along with the wide variety of cafes and eateries in the area of Circular Quay, you can also take in the daytime performances of Aboriginal music by buskers.
Sailing at Dusk, Get out and about on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and climb it for a change with the Bridge Climb with a Twist! Take a ferry ride and admire the city lights, then stroll the Rocks and visit the local watering holes.