Sydney is one of the largest city in Australia and is always crowded with tourists admiring not only the beautiful city but also its charming nature. Here are some Sydney attractions not to miss and the reasons why they need to be on your bucket list!
Amazing Beaches
This is what I really love about Sydney, the fact that the beaches are not far from the city centre. Savour the powdery sands and surf the turquoise waters. A day at the beach would never disappoint you, whether you go swimming, surfing or just lazing under the sun. You have a few amazing beaches: if you don’t mind the crowd, Bondi beach is perfect for you. If you need some quiet time then go to Avalon. It’s perfect!
#1 Bondi Beach
Bondi beach is one of the closest and most popular beaches in Sydney city centre. It’s not only known for its soft white sands and turquoise water, but there’s also a busy food stalls scene, weekend markets, and a recreational centre. If you’re looking for a relaxing walk on the beach, take your shoes off and walk along the Bondi to Bronte.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/YCiPzD1YDJu
How to get to here from the city centre: Take bus 380 or 333 with the destination showing North Bondi, Dover Heights, Watsons Bay or Bondi Beach. You can also take South Coast Line Train. Take public transport as parking is impossible here!
#2 Avalon Beach
Another gem of Sydney, Avalon is located about 37 kilometres north of the happening Sydney city centre. Known as a surfing beach, you can find almost anything here from bowling centre to cinema only separated by a road. Many come here to enjoy a barbeque with their families as there’s a shady park with barbeque facilities that are perfect for a picnic!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/e6HnYmgAs6x
How to get here from the city centre: Take bus l90, E88, or 190 to Barrenjoey Rd. Public transport takes 1 hour while driving only takes 30 minutes.
Incredible Architecture
Sydney houses amazing iconic buildings such as Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbour. It’s one of the most Instagrammable harbours ever!
#1 Sydney Opera House
The world-known building is a great architectural work of Jorn Utzon, a Danish architect. Sydney Opera House hosts more than 1,500 performances annually making it one of the top world-class performing arts centres.
It’s best to admire this building from afar as you can see how remarkable the design of this iconic building of Australia. Set in a waterscape facing Sydney Harbour, your trip to Sydney will be incomplete without a visit to this stunning architectural monument.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/9tNrgdgpn3r
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm but can be admired anytime
Best spot to take pictures: From the deck of Sydney Harbour Ferry, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, and to get a bird’s eye view, climb Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon.
#2 Harbour Bridge
Known as the ‘Coathanger’ by the locals because of its unique design, Harbour Bridge is the world’s largest steel arch bridge. It stands 134 metres above the harbour. The bridge was finally finished in 1924 by more than 1,400 men labour.
If you’re up for some challenge, you might want to climb through catwalks and stairs of the Harbour Bridge before you finally can witness breathtaking view of Sydney. BridgeClimb offers fantastic packages where you can choose when to climb; either during the day, twilight or night with a group of twelve. Rest assured you won’t regret it!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/cfyL9wEMw5s
Best spot to take pictures: from the Observatory Hill The Rocks, Wendy’s Secret Garden North Sydney and Quibaree Park Lavender Bay.
#3 Darling Harbour Sydney
Home to major public facilities such as Paddy’s market, Madame Tussauds and Sydney Wildlife World, you might take a few hours just to explore this place. Stroll around, watch the sunset and enjoy your meeting with koalas at the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo located at the Darling Harbour. No matter what you choose to do at this harbour, don’t forget to have fun!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/mhbx3icUE292
What’s special: The harbour is hub to all kind of attractions in Sydney, so go explore!
Shopping’s Heaven
Explore the market and be amazed by the variety of shopping treats. Walkthrough the biggest market in Sydney, the Paddy’s Market. The market is loaded with wide selections of food, fashion, crafts and electronics. Aside from the Paddy’s Market, you can also try checking out DFO Homebush, an outlet mall in which I can assure you’ll lose track of time once you’re in there.
#1 Paddy’s Market Sydney
Paddy’s Market has two branches, located in Haymarket and Flemington, With both offering fruits, vegetables, fish, clothes and souvenirs.
We suggest you check out Paddy’s Market Flemington on the weekend as there will be ‘Swap’s and sell’ market where people gather to sell second-hand items at super cheap prices. For a wide selection of souvenirs, check out Paddy’s Market at Haymarket.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/kT5Kce4Dxxv
What to buy: Souvenirs!
#2 DFO Outlet Homebush
Dear Shopaholics, you definitely need to visit DFO Homebush as there are about 126 stores across this two-storey shopping mall. The Sydney’s leading retail outlet houses brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Peter Alexander, Lululemon and Hugo Boss just to name a few.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/RE9MN1wKs9q
What to buy: It’s a factory outlet of branded items so go crazy!
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm
Natural Wonders
Make sure you visit these awesome natural wonders whenever you’re in Sydney: The Three Sisters, Blue Mountains and Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay. Australia is indeed home to dramatic landscapes and stunning sceneries.
#1 Bushwalking at the Blue Mountains
Would you be interested in doing some bushwalking at these scenic mountains? If you do, expect jaw-dropping views and amazing waterfalls along the way. Be it a one hour hike or a few days hike, Blue Mountains has everything. We recommend you to take the Prince Henry Cliff Walk: it will take about 3 to 4 hours and it is suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Expect swamps, majestic Jamison Valley and the incredible view of The Three Sisters.
#2 Scenic World to admire Blue Mountains vistas
Adventure seekers, take a two-hour road trip to the Blue Mountains to Scenic World. Enjoy the fresh air, wildlife and breathtaking views. From the blue mountains, you can view the majestic Three Sisters, Katoomba Falls and Jamison Valley.
Scenic World offers amazing services such as Scenic Walkaway, Cableway, Skyway, and Railway. We would suggest you try them all but never go home before you go on the Scenic Walkaway. Suspended 270 metres above ravines, witness breathtaking views of Katoomba Falls, The Three Sisters and Jamison Valley as the electro-glass cabin floor brings you to the other end.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/6zrpQSxpfvj
What to expect: Perfect scenery!
#3 The Three Sisters
The name of this rock formation comes from an aboriginal legend that there are three sisters, ‘Meehni’, ‘Wimlah’ and ‘Gunnedoo’ who were the members of the Katoomba tribe and lived in the Jamison Valley. These ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from Nepean tribe which they can’t marry with because of tribal law. The brothers decided to capture the three sisters causing major tribal battle and to protect the lives of the three sisters, a witch turns the three sisters into stone.
Geologically, the unusual yet pleasantly beautiful rock formation was formed by land erosion and attracts thousands of visitors each month.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/H6RLZ4a9KLv
What to expect: Majestic rock formation. The character of this rock formation changes throughout the day and seasons. So make sure your camera is ready to capture the stunning view of the three sisters.
#4 Grand Pacific Highway
The Grand Pacific Highway is a scenic coastal drive that stretches for about 140 km along the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Shoalhaven.
The first 60 km, you’ll see coastal rainforests, the majestic Sea Cliff Bridge and seaside villages. Then you’ll go through the bustling city of Wollongong where you might want to stop for some great time at the beaches, shopping, cafe hopping and more. Continue the journey to the coastal towns of Kiama which is famous for it’s Kiama Blowhole- a spectacular plume of water that can be seen when the seas are running from the south-east. Sounds exciting right?
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Xgy2YYtQBqz (the centre where you can get information)
What to expect: You’re going to make a lot of picture stops along the way! Charge your camera, bring spare batteries and have fun!
#5 Koala Park Sanctuary
Are you excited to see the mascot animal of Australia? Visit Koala Park Sanctuary to see the friendly Koalas yourself. Expect to see roaming koalas while you’re here and take note of the feeding time which is at 10.20 am, 11.45 am, 2 pm and 3 pm daily. Not a fan of Koalas? No problem as there are also Sheep shearing shows daily at 10 am and 2.30 pm. Kangaroos, wallabies, emus, dingos, wombats and echidnas will also be waiting for your visit.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/MdPhESwVU4U2
Entrance Fee: Adults $15, Child $8 (4 to 14 years)
#6 Dolphin Watch Cruises Jervis Bay
Jervis Bay is home to dolphins and also a host to the migrating whales every year. It’s a must to take the cruise and catch a glimpse of dolphins when you’re in Sydney. If you’re lucky, you might also come across seals and fairy penguins upon your visit. Get your camera ready!
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/EAerKrDdJo92
What to expect: Take on the cruise (Adults USD35, Children below 14y/o USD22) and witness dolphins swimming around.
There you go, list of Sydney attractions for you to check out! Sydney is a beautiful city to explore. If you’re an adventure seeker or city person, you can still enjoy Sydney!
Are you excited to visit these Sydney attractions?
Join Tripfez tour to Sydney and leave us with the ‘planning’ headache. All the attractions mentioned in this article are included in our tour package. You only need to pack your bag and we’ll handle everything. You also can check out our 5D4N in Sydney for Muslim budget travellers and 12 destinations in Australia that you should not miss. Another exciting place to visit aside Sydney is Melbourne so check out our tour to Melbourne and book your spot now!