Things To Do In Sydney, Australia With A Little Help From My Friends

‘Their cities are safe and clean and nearly always built on water. They have a society that is prosperous, well-ordered, and instinctively egalitarian. The food is excellent. The beer is cold. The sun nearly always shines. There is coffee on every corner. Life doesn’t get much better than this.” Bill Bryson

Hang out at the beach. My favorite is to take the ferry to Manly Beach, The beaches are wide and beautiful there – great options for food too. Sydney is famous for world-class surfing.  There is a beach for everyone. NM

Stroll along the busy wharfs of Circular Quay, listen to the Aboriginal street artists and enjoy the views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Walk further until you reach the Opera House.  I recommend booking a tour in advance of this amazing building. If not, just continue around the Opera House for some surprising and spectacular views of this marvelous piece of architecture. My favorite thing is to sit in the cafe outside and have some Australian coffee (flat white) and enjoy the view.JZ

I love having brekkie (breakfast) at the  Carriage Works Farmers Market on the weekend in Everleigh. This weekend market is known for its range of seasonal produce, including organic and biodynamic foods from farmers and producers from across New South Wales. Some standouts are Billy Kwongs, Bourke Street Bakery,Ritual Coffee and Bird Cow Fish. TO

The beautiful walk from Bondi to Coogee Coastal winds its way along 6 km of beguiling coastal views, offering plenty of things to do along the way. The leisurely walk spans for about 1-2 hours overlooking the spectacular beaches. SR

Watson’s Bay is definitely a favorite place for me to visit in Sydney. One of the city’s hidden gems is in the eastern suburbs. You can order some of the famous fish and chips from Sydney institution, Doyle’s on the Beach which first opened in 1885 or grab some take away from their wharf kiosk and set up a picnic in the park or along the waterfront. But what I love to do most is go for a walk around the bay to the stunningly private beach at Camp Cove. BT

As the quintessential ‘must do’ experience in Sydney, Harbor Bridge Climb should be top on your list of things to book well in advance of your stay. As Sydney’s most popular experience, be sure to secure your day climb prior to your arrival to avoid disappointment.WW

Chinatown in Sydney is where you will find just about every Asian cuisine you can imagine: Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. Not only that, the dishes are cheap and tasty. Friday nights on Dixon Street are crowded with locals and tourists. If you are there in October, the night noodle markets have every Asian food and entertainment. JG

There are cool art galleries in Surrey Hills – Bret Whitely Studio and First Draft  gallery are my favorite. Also I love to run into the Museum of Contemporary Art on Circular Quay and the Art Gallery of New South Wales TM

Whether it be AFL, rugby union or league, soccer or cricket, everyone  in  Australia has a team and everyone has a rival. Ahead of your trip, take the time to look up which games are being played while you’re in town and grab a ticket to see the action live. The heritage-listed Sydney Cricket Ground is one of liveliest arenas to watch sport in the summer. SK

Fly safe,

JAZ