Sydney City Guide
Sydney is a city that has a bit of everything for everyone. Nature lovers can enjoy the surrounding areas such as the Blue Mountains & Bondi Beach or if your after the hustle and bustle of a vibrant city then Sydney’s CBD is for you, packed to the brim with stunning architecture and amazing views of the famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Where to start?
Circular Quay is simply the best way to start your Sydney experience, home to the two most famous landmarks in the city the Harbour Bridge and of course the Sydney Opera House on the bank of the busy Quay. Have a stroll around to the opera house and get your iconic picture in front of these world famous monuments and give yourself a moment to take in the amazing views and feel the pulse of the city, if your feeling peckish there’s a number of cafes, restaurants and bars overlooking the harbour allowing you to enjoy a bite to eat and watch the world go by – it’s also the central transport hub making it super easy to get to on the very efficient transport system in place (make sure you purchase an Opal card which is your ticket get you to the furthest ends of Sydney).
After exploring the opera house carry on your exploring round to the Botanical Gardensa peaceful and extremely scenic part of the city giving you amazing vantage points Sydney has to offer being Mrs Macquarie’s Chair the perfect spot for a picnic with a bottle of wine and the amazing views. Adjacent to the gardens you will find theArt Gallery of NSW one of the leading art museums Australia has to offer with five levels it packed to the brim with art from all over the world keep a special eye out for the Aboriginal pieces.
If you’ve still got energy take your exploring further and head across the Harbour Bridge but stop off at the trendy district that is ‘The Rocks’ tucked behind the bridge full of bars, restaurants and the odd art gallery. The other side of the bridge you have Milsons Point home to Luna Park and a public olympic sized pool underneath the bridge itself. For the more extreme visitors take the Bridge Climb for more spectacular views of the city.
Circular Quay
Hit the Beaches
Next on your itinerary if the weather permits its time to hit the coast! Sydney is home to some of the best beaches Australia has to offer from the world famous Bondi beach to the hidden gem that is Watsons Bay all offering there own special features for all beach lovers. You can catch public transport to most of the main beaches from ferries to buses work out your route to the beach by downloading the Opal app which is a must if your using the public transport system on offer.
Bondi beach doesnt really need much explaining one of the most famous beaches on the planet people tend to stay around for a couple of nights to really experience the Bondi Bubble with a whole host of bars, cafes and restaurants to keep you entertained until the early hours of the morning!
Narrabeen Beach is one of Australias iconic surfing and swimming beaches. Over three kilometres of sand stretch from Long Reef in the south to the Narrabeen Lagoon entrance in the north. This beach is a real treat for the more purer beach lovers, it has the best of both worlds with a stunning calm lagoon which is a popular place for snorkeling and fishing alike compared to the huge waves along the beach making it one of the best places in the world to surf -there are plenty of options for surf lessons or surf hire if you fancy trying your luck on this famous surfing beach or just sit back and watch some of the best surfers in Australia glide along the waves.
Hop on the ferry at Circular Quay the ferry trip alone is quite special, running alongside Sydney Opera house and getting amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydneys skyline 30 minutes later you arrive in Manly Beach a buzzing seaside town with restaurants, bars and some great shopping all banked on a stunning beach.
Next up is the smaller but ever popular Bronte Beach around 7km from Sydneys CBD you can again access this beach by bus with your opal card or make your own way down to this family friendly fun filled beach!
Bondi Beach
Grab a Drink and a Bite to Eat
Sydney is a city with a population of many different cultures and background this contributes to the amazing food scene Sydney has become renown for. Each suburb of Sydney provides a selection of places to go; if you want beautiful waterfront spots then head to one of the aforementioned beaches or head to Circular Quay orDarling Harbourfor some amazing drinking spots watching the huge yachts come and go. Chinatown on Dixon Street offers cheap eats and delicious Chinese food, head to the markets to keep it cheap. Newtown offers hundreds of amazing different eateries and drinking holes to spend the evening mixing with the locals in which are known to be very extravagant with live music at every corner – also head to Surry Hills, The Rocks & Randwick for more bustling nightlife and food.
Shop until you Drop
First stop if you fancy some retail therapy should be DarlinghurstsOxford StreetSydneys most famous shopping street offering designer brands including Australian designers, funky boutiques, retro, vintage, dance wear, gift stores, and people watching. For a more authentic shopping experience Sydney has a number of markets full of unique stalls selling local produce from vintage clothing to retro furniture giving you the opportunity to find that perfect gift to bring back to family or friends – the most popular markets are situated in Paddington, Bondi and The Rocks and usually take place over the weekend.Newtowns King Streetoffers unique and quirky stores, retro and vintage fashion, music and books, furniture and homeware, collectables.
Darling Harbour
Get Active in Sydney
Whilst your in Sydney you have to take advantage of the most of the incredible walks on offer in Australia including the Blue Mountainswhich are situated a 2 hour train journey outside of central Sydney and are definitely worth the journey. With a number of different hikes on offer you can choose what level is right for you it’s possible to do yourself if you have the navigational skills to match – however we offer a number of tours with our partner ATP tours which are available in a group or privately just contact one of our in store Australia experts today.
Other less rigorous walks include the Bondi to Coogee walkthis 6km trail, which gives tourists and locals alike a true sense of Sydneys coastal beauty. The treks steep gradients are well spaced between the citys most loved beaches, making this trip part workout, part beach bum afternoon.While the walk could be completed in as little as a two hours, it is best enjoyed with long breaks by the ocean. Or try the Bondi to Bronte walk ticking off three ofSydneysmost beautiful beaches, Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte, are connected via a short yet spectacular cliff top trail. The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk stretches for four kilometres (2.5 miles) with plenty of opportunities to swim, eat or simply pause and take in the views.
Or try the Manly to Spit walk – this 10km walk, combined with the ferry ride to Manly Beach, is often recommended to tourists but rarely endeavored by locals.Still, it is one of the best and most easily accessible treks in Sydney, and comes so highly endorsed for a reason. This varying coastal walk of bush and ocean views makes the entire trip compelling and a true Sydney experience that shouldnt by missed by even the most seasoned veterans.
Bondi to Coogee Walk
Best time to visit Sydney?
Sydney is one of the very few places in the world you can enjoy pretty much all year round. With temperatures in the summer bearable in comparison to other parts of Australia and it doesn’t get too cold during the winter with no real rainy seasons. But of course to really experience the Sydney lifestyle then the best time to go is the summer with everyone flocking to the beaches to top up their tans and the beer gardens packed to the brim the atmosphere is at its best round these times.Or why not do something different this year and spend a Christmas and New Years in the sunshine!
Call us today on 0161 748 6865 to speak to one of our Australia experts who are on hand to organise your Sydney adventure today along with a number of tours beyond Sydney!
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