5 Things to Do in Sydney

This is a guest post by Olivia Bourke 

Sydney is a beautiful city filled with many natural attractions, tourist hot spots and amazing views. Whether you’re a Sydneysider with a free weekend, or a traveller looking to explore the best sights in Sydney, there’s a variety of fun things to do in Sydney. From monkeying around at Taronga Zoo to climbing dizzy new heights on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, check out five things to do in Sydney and get inspired for your next trip!

Take a trip to Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo is one of Sydney’s biggest tourist attractions. Open daily, the zoo looks after a wide range of animals, from native wildlife to more exotic animals. Make the most of your visit and stay overnight at Roar and Snore. Having been to the zoo before, I decided to take my trip to the next level and was not disappointed. Roar and Snore’s safari style tents are clean, comfortable and offer stunning views of Sydney Harbour. It’s a truly unique experience for any animal lover. Visitors to the zoo can also climb high into the trees on the new Wild Ropes circuit, a high-octane ropes adventure course.

Stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens

Situated next to the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens is the perfect spot for a walk on a sunny Sydney day. Filled with beautiful plantlife, wildflowers and native flora, the gardens are a cacophony of bright colour and interesting flowers and vegetation. Spend the afternoon picnicking at The Domain or pouring over the range of Australian and International art at the Art Gallery of NSW, which can also be found inside the gardens.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a world-famous triumph in architecture. The bridge first opened to the public in 1932 and is the world’s largest steel arch bridge. Standing at 134 metres above sea level, the top of the bridge offers one-of-a-kind 360 panoramic views of the city. Climbers can choose between dawn, day, twilight and night sessions. Choose the twilight session for gorgeous, ‘golden hour’ vistas.

Take the ferry to Manly

The Manly ferry is one of the cheapest ways to get up close to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge and enjoy the waves of Sydney Harbour. Once you’ve taken in all the fabulous sights of the harbour, spend some time on one of Manly’s amazing beaches. Take a walk from the Manly Wharf through the Corso filled with restaurants and shops, to Manly Beach and follow the shoreline to Shelly Beach, a popular snorkelling spot. Manly Beach is great for surfing, and the local surf club offers surf lessons for all abilities. Generally Manly beach is quieter than tourist and backpacker favourite Bondi Beach, and is where the locals go to relax in the sun.

Head out on a Sunday to enjoy $2.50 Opal card travel. However, it is important to remember that Sunday afternoon is a very popular time to travel, so give yourself plenty of time to get to the wharf so that you don’t miss your ride.

Stargaze at Sydney Observatory

Head to Observatory Hill to stargaze above the twinkling Sydney skyline. The observatory overlooking Sydney Harbour was born out of a 19th century fort on what was originally WIndmill Hill. Today, the observatory offers two tours each evening, with a family-friendly tour at 6:15pm and another at 8:15pm. Tours include a planetarium exploration, a dome tour and a chance to look through the observatory’s solar telescope. Tickets are pretty cheap at $20 on weekdays and $22 on weekends for adults, with family tickets and a number of concessions available.

About Olivia Bourke: 

Recently having moved from the States to Sydney, Olivia spends her time exploring the great hidden gems of New South Wales. Enjoying the golden sandy beaches and lush forests of the Land down under, she occasionally writes for Great Lost.