11 must do's in Sydney
- Jocelyn
- Apr 9, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 19, 2022
Sydney is Australia's largest city with a population of over 5 million. It's also home to the Sydney Funnel-web spider, one of the most dangerous on the planet with the ability to kill a human in 15 minutes. Aside from this monstrous arachnid, Sydney is a beautiful cosmopolitan city with beaches, history and art to explore.
I think everyone across the world has seen images of the Opera House. It is so impressive seeing it in real life. In 1956 there was an international competition to design the Opera House. There were over 200 applications and the winner was Jørn Utzon. Unfortunately, he never got to see his work completed as the Minister of Works questioned the amount of money that was going into the project and withdrew payment. So, Utzon left Australia and another architect completed the interior. The House took 14 years and 10 thousand construction workers!
Another globally recognised monument is the Harbour Bridge, also named the 'coathanger' for its distinct shape. You can walk across it, under it and even climb it.
Just to the right of the Opera House are the gardens. Entry is free to the heritage-listed gardens. It's a nice place to explore and have a picnic.
4. Manly
This is a suburb a short ferry ride away from the city. From circular Quay station, you take the ferry from Wharf three and ride across the harbour to Manly Wharf. The ride across on the ferry is almost as good as the area itself. It's a beautiful trip with a different perspective of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water. It was maned Manly after the indigenous group that lived there and their manly and courageous behaviour. My friend and I essentially sent the whole day at the beach. The small town is also nice to wander around and do some shopping. If you like 'Poke' there are lots of great options and of course great fish and chips.
5. The Aboriginal Blue Mountains
If you are a fan of the outdoors and nature you have to see the world heritage Blue mountains. There is something profound about the area and you can't help but look in awe at the sunlight hues over the mountains. They are so-called from the blue hue created by the eucalyptus trees. The oil is released into the air and mixes with the sunlight to create the colour. To get there you must get a two-hour train from Sydney to Katoomba, it is the steepest passenger railway in the world. There are many trails but the best views are from the Echo point lookout where you can see the Three Sister rock formation. The cost is $16.10AUD round trip on the train if you use an Opal card.
6. Bondi Beach
This beautiful beach is well known from the show Bondi Rescue and regarded as one of the best beaches in Australia. It was pretty busy when I went, but still enough space for yourself. The suburb is young, with loads of parties going on and lots of food stops along the beach. There's also the famous Bondi to Coogee urban coastal walk. It takes 6 hours and you see views of the sea, beach, rock pools and cliffs.
Of course, you have to do the free walking tour around the city. It takes around two and a half hours to three hours. Your guide will take you around Darling Harbour, explaining the history behind Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. You'll also be shown the Town Hall, the Laneways, Hidden bars, Hide Park, Martin Place and much more. They run every day at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm from Town Hall Square.
I loved the walking tour so much that I also did the Rocks tour in the evening. This one is much shorter, being only one hour and a half and it starts at 6:00 pm. The rocks are Australia's first European settlement. You get to learn about the history of the convicts, the plague with some murder mysteries thrown in. You also visit some historic pubs and breweries, one pub sells a crocodile, kangaroo and emu pizza. Fun fact Australia is the only country that eats the animals on its coat of arms. My favourite part of this tour was visiting Observatory Hill at sunset and seeing panoramic views of the city.
Entry to the museum is free and they have a collection of Australian art from settlement up to contemporary. There's also European, and Asian art. I really liked the aboriginal art in this gallery too.
11. Watsons Bay
The ferry from Sydney Harbour takes around twenty minutes to Watsons Bay. Learn about the Aboriginal culture. Have a look at the cliff tops, beaches and enjoy some fish and chips on the waterfront.
My favourite thing about Sydney was how much it had to offer. The nature of the Blue Mountains, the beaches at Manly, the beauty of the city skyline against harbourfront and the history of the place made it an incredible place to visit. I lived in a suburb a ferry ride away from the city, the ferry was the commute for a lot of city workers. I remember thinking about how riding under Harbour Bridge and the Opera House must be one of the best commutes in the world. Just being on the water was a great memory for me.
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