Step Inside the Sydney Opera HouseMust-See SightsPaidThe Opera House is Sydney's defining landmark. You can walk around the exterior for free, or book a tour or performance to go inside. Worth seeing up close rather than just from the ferry.0 Add to listStep Inside the Sydney Opera HouseMust-See SightsPaidThe Opera House is Sydney's defining landmark. You can walk around the exterior for free, or book a tour or performance to go inside. Worth seeing up close rather than just from the ferry.0 Add to list
Cross the Sydney Harbour BridgeMust-See SightsWalking the pedestrian path across the Harbour Bridge is free and gives strong views of the Opera House and harbour. The BridgeClimb is a separate paid activity and takes a few hours.0 Add to listCross the Sydney Harbour BridgeMust-See SightsWalking the pedestrian path across the Harbour Bridge is free and gives strong views of the Opera House and harbour. The BridgeClimb is a separate paid activity and takes a few hours.0 Add to list
Swim and Sun at Bondi BeachMust-See SightsSummerBondi is Sydney's most famous beach — wide, busy in summer, and surrounded by good food. Worth a visit even outside swimming season for the walk along the promenade and the Icebergs pool nearby.0 Add to listSwim and Sun at Bondi BeachMust-See SightsSummerBondi is Sydney's most famous beach — wide, busy in summer, and surrounded by good food. Worth a visit even outside swimming season for the walk along the promenade and the Icebergs pool nearby.0 Add to list
Walk Through The RocksMust-See SightsThe Rocks is Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, with sandstone laneways, colonial buildings and a weekend market. Easy to walk from Circular Quay — a good first stop on a Sydney morning.0 Add to listWalk Through The RocksMust-See SightsThe Rocks is Sydney's oldest neighbourhood, with sandstone laneways, colonial buildings and a weekend market. Easy to walk from Circular Quay — a good first stop on a Sydney morning.0 Add to list
Hike the Bondi to Coogee WalkMust-See SightsSpring · FallThe 6km clifftop walk from Bondi to Coogee follows the coast past a string of ocean pools and smaller beaches. Allow 2–3 hours; the path is well-marked and mostly easy underfoot.0 Add to listHike the Bondi to Coogee WalkMust-See SightsSpring · FallThe 6km clifftop walk from Bondi to Coogee follows the coast past a string of ocean pools and smaller beaches. Allow 2–3 hours; the path is well-marked and mostly easy underfoot.0 Add to list
Visit the Royal Botanic GardenMust-See SightsFree gardens right on the harbour with a direct path to the Opera House. Good for a relaxed walk, especially in the morning before it gets crowded.0 Add to listVisit the Royal Botanic GardenMust-See SightsFree gardens right on the harbour with a direct path to the Opera House. Good for a relaxed walk, especially in the morning before it gets crowded.0 Add to list
Visit Taronga ZooMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidTaronga Zoo sits on the north harbour and has good native wildlife — koalas, platypus, wombats. Ticketed, and worth the ferry ride across to get there. Allow a half day.0 Add to listVisit Taronga ZooMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidTaronga Zoo sits on the north harbour and has good native wildlife — koalas, platypus, wombats. Ticketed, and worth the ferry ride across to get there. Allow a half day.0 Add to list
Walk the Darling Harbour WaterfrontMust-See SightsWith KidsDarling Harbour has waterfront restaurants, the Maritime Museum and the Sea Life aquarium in one walkable precinct. Fine for an easy hour or with kids who need a break from sightseeing.0 Add to listWalk the Darling Harbour WaterfrontMust-See SightsWith KidsDarling Harbour has waterfront restaurants, the Maritime Museum and the Sea Life aquarium in one walkable precinct. Fine for an easy hour or with kids who need a break from sightseeing.0 Add to list
Rub the Lucky Pig's NoseFun Side QuestsOutside Sydney Hospital on Macquarie Street, Il Porcellino is a bronze boar whose snout is worn gold from years of rubbing. Rub it, drop a coin in the fountain for charity, and move on — takes two minutes.0 Add to listRub the Lucky Pig's NoseFun Side QuestsOutside Sydney Hospital on Macquarie Street, Il Porcellino is a bronze boar whose snout is worn gold from years of rubbing. Rub it, drop a coin in the fountain for charity, and move on — takes two minutes.0 Add to list
Stand Under 180 Singing Empty CagesFun Side QuestsAngel Place laneway in the CBD has 180 suspended empty birdcages playing the calls of 50 bird species that Sydney's growth displaced. It's genuinely eerie — easy to miss, worth the two-minute detour.0 Add to listStand Under 180 Singing Empty CagesFun Side QuestsAngel Place laneway in the CBD has 180 suspended empty birdcages playing the calls of 50 bird species that Sydney's growth displaced. It's genuinely eerie — easy to miss, worth the two-minute detour.0 Add to list
Find the Crumpled Paper BagFun Side QuestsFrank Gehry's only Australian building is the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at UTS on Ultimo Road. Locals call it the crumpled paper bag. Worth walking past to see whether 320,000 irregular bricks look like genius or a mistake.0 Add to listFind the Crumpled Paper BagFun Side QuestsFrank Gehry's only Australian building is the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at UTS on Ultimo Road. Locals call it the crumpled paper bag. Worth walking past to see whether 320,000 irregular bricks look like genius or a mistake.0 Add to list
Find Wendy Whiteley's Garden in Lavender BayFun Side QuestsBehind Luna Park in Lavender Bay, Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden is an unofficial park built on abandoned railway land by the widow of artist Brett Whiteley. No formal entrance, just find the zigzag paths and wander.0 Add to listFind Wendy Whiteley's Garden in Lavender BayFun Side QuestsBehind Luna Park in Lavender Bay, Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden is an unofficial park built on abandoned railway land by the widow of artist Brett Whiteley. No formal entrance, just find the zigzag paths and wander.0 Add to list
Hunt Down Newtown's Famous WallFun Side QuestsAt 305 King Street in Newtown, a large 1991 mural has become Australia's most photographed wall. Heritage-listed now, which is unusual for something that started as illegal street art.0 Add to listHunt Down Newtown's Famous WallFun Side QuestsAt 305 King Street in Newtown, a large 1991 mural has become Australia's most photographed wall. Heritage-listed now, which is unusual for something that started as illegal street art.0 Add to list
Eat a Democracy SausageLocal FoodLocal RitualsThe Bunnings sausage sizzle is a cheap, greasy, beloved Australian institution — white bread, onion, sauce, a few dollars. Not everywhere does them every day, so check out front when you arrive.0 Add to listEat a Democracy SausageLocal FoodLocal RitualsThe Bunnings sausage sizzle is a cheap, greasy, beloved Australian institution — white bread, onion, sauce, a few dollars. Not everywhere does them every day, so check out front when you arrive.0 Add to list
Photograph a Forest Growing From a ShipFun Side QuestsAt Wentworth Point, the SS Ayrfield is a century-old ship hull that's been colonised by a full mangrove forest. Walk to the Shipwreck Lookout at the end of Burroway Road — sunset light makes it worth timing right.0 Add to listPhotograph a Forest Growing From a ShipFun Side QuestsAt Wentworth Point, the SS Ayrfield is a century-old ship hull that's been colonised by a full mangrove forest. Walk to the Shipwreck Lookout at the end of Burroway Road — sunset light makes it worth timing right.0 Add to list
Climb the McElhone Stairs (All 113 of Them)Active113 sandstone steps climb from Woolloomooloo up to Potts Point. Free, short, genuinely steep. A local fitness staple — take them slow and enjoy the harbour views at the top.0 Add to listClimb the McElhone Stairs (All 113 of Them)Active113 sandstone steps climb from Woolloomooloo up to Potts Point. Free, short, genuinely steep. A local fitness staple — take them slow and enjoy the harbour views at the top.0 Add to list
Find the Stream That Built SydneyFun Side QuestsInside the GPO building on Martin Place, a small display in the lower level marks the Tank Stream — the freshwater creek that determined where the first colony settled in 1788. Easy to miss; worth finding.0 Add to listFind the Stream That Built SydneyFun Side QuestsInside the GPO building on Martin Place, a small display in the lower level marks the Tank Stream — the freshwater creek that determined where the first colony settled in 1788. Easy to miss; worth finding.0 Add to list
Walk Through a Fridge Into a BarFun Side QuestsIn Manly, Cove Deli has an antique 1920s fridge at the back that opens to a spiral staircase leading to The Cumberland, a bar hidden below. Finding the door is half the fun.0 Add to listWalk Through a Fridge Into a BarFun Side QuestsIn Manly, Cove Deli has an antique 1920s fridge at the back that opens to a spiral staircase leading to The Cumberland, a bar hidden below. Finding the door is half the fun.0 Add to list
Run the Bondi to Coogee at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSpring · FallThe 6km clifftop path from Bondi to Coogee is a solid early morning run before day-trippers arrive. The path is well-paved but undulating. A swim at Coogee Beach at the end is the obvious finish.0 Add to listRun the Bondi to Coogee at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSpring · FallThe 6km clifftop path from Bondi to Coogee is a solid early morning run before day-trippers arrive. The path is well-paved but undulating. A swim at Coogee Beach at the end is the obvious finish.0 Add to list
Loop the Bay Run Around Iron CoveActiveLocal RitualsThe Bay Run is a flat 7km loop around Iron Cove in the inner west, popular with joggers, cyclists and pram-pushers. Start at King George Park; go early on weekends before it gets busy.0 Add to listLoop the Bay Run Around Iron CoveActiveLocal RitualsThe Bay Run is a flat 7km loop around Iron Cove in the inner west, popular with joggers, cyclists and pram-pushers. Start at King George Park; go early on weekends before it gets busy.0 Add to list
Swim at Wylie's Historic Ocean BathsActiveLocal RitualsPaid · SummerWylie's Baths at Coogee is a heritage ocean pool flushed by the tide, open since 1907. Small entry fee. Quieter and more atmospheric than Bondi — a good addition to the coastal walk.0 Add to listSwim at Wylie's Historic Ocean BathsActiveLocal RitualsPaid · SummerWylie's Baths at Coogee is a heritage ocean pool flushed by the tide, open since 1907. Small entry fee. Quieter and more atmospheric than Bondi — a good addition to the coastal walk.0 Add to list
Let the Kids Loose at the WILD PLAY GardenActiveWith KidsThe Ian Potter WILD PLAY Garden in Centennial Park is a free, well-designed outdoor play area with a bamboo forest, creek beds and a treehouse. Good for younger kids, and the park itself is worth a walk.0 Add to listLet the Kids Loose at the WILD PLAY GardenActiveWith KidsThe Ian Potter WILD PLAY Garden in Centennial Park is a free, well-designed outdoor play area with a bamboo forest, creek beds and a treehouse. Good for younger kids, and the park itself is worth a walk.0 Add to list
Play the Water Works Playground at Darling QuarterActiveWith KidsThe Water Works playground behind the IMAX at Darling Quarter is free and good for kids who like getting wet — sluice gates, pumps, water wheels, a flying fox and a tall slide. Bring a change of clothes.0 Add to listPlay the Water Works Playground at Darling QuarterActiveWith KidsThe Water Works playground behind the IMAX at Darling Quarter is free and good for kids who like getting wet — sluice gates, pumps, water wheels, a flying fox and a tall slide. Bring a change of clothes.0 Add to list
