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10 Things to do in Sydney Australia

Morgan Lewis

G'day mates from the land down under! Australia has been topping my bucket list since I can remember. And when I got an email from Scott's Cheap Flights for a round trip fare for $500, I couldn't pass it up. I planned a two week itinerary in mid March (all laid out in this post), including three total days in Sydney and the rest road tripping in Queensland! Here are 10 Things to do in Sydney Australia to help you plan your trip!

Sydney Opera House

The iconic Sydney Opera House was exactly what I thought of when I thought of Australia. And seeing it in person was such a treat. Even with the intermittent rains and storms, we still took in the site from the Opera Bar and even took a peak inside. It is a staple when visiting Sydney, even with all the tourists.

Bondi Icebergs Pool

I mean come on look at this place! Another iconic spot is Bondi Beach Icebergs Swimming Club. Go for a swim as the waves roll over into the pools, grab a glass of rosé, hell... go for your Instagram photo. Just go.

Bondi Beach

If you would rather swim in the real ocean, Bondi Beach is a surfer girls dream. We decided to stay in Bondi and keep it coastal during most of our stay in Sydney. We had an amazing Airbnb right on the coastal walk that was central to everything and had amazing ocean views. It was raining for the majority of the time that I was there. But take a surf lesson, hit the beach, walk along the shops in town, and go for some seafood!

Bondi to Coogee Costal Walk

The coastal walk to Coogee is a total of 7 km from Bondi Beach. Hike past beautiful Tamarama beach, Bronte beach, Clovelly, and other little cliff side towns right along the rocky shoreline. Stop off for a swim, grab a bite to eat a cafe, or stop off in the Waverly Cemetary. PS bury me here. The walk takes around an hour and a half, or a little longer to stop off for photos. This was my favorite thing in Sydney to do.

Sydney Bridge

Pylon lookout vs Bridge Climb

I have seen so many photos of people climbing the Sydney bridge and have always said I would do it when I got to Sydney. And then I looked up the price... $308 AUD. That was a little bit more than I was expecting so for those of you who have no budget. Go for it!

For those of you who are monitoring their credit card a little closer, take on the Pylon lookout. It is a lookout on the south bridge bearing 200 steps up (no elevator so its also a workout). With the same views as the bridge climb but a fraction of the cost... $15 AUD! I preferred to take in all the views on the ferry to Manly!

Mrs. Macquaries Chair and Botanical Gardens

This epic view is from the most northern point of the Botanical Gardens called Mrs. Macquaries Chair. There is a literal stone stone chair carved into the rock from the early 1800’s. It is a great walk along the bay with views of the Opera House and downtown. The plants are large and its a great green space to stretch your legs or catch a show overlooking Sydney.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach is a small neighborhood of Sydney that is accessible by car or ferry. I recommend getting the fast ferry from Sydney Harbour. You can book online before or just show up to the dock and buy your $19 AUD round trip ticket for the day. Boats depart every 30 minutes. It is about an 18 minute ride with some pretty incredible views of the Sydney bridge, Opera House, and harbor.

After disembarking, head towards town for a little shopping or a bite to eat. There are beaches on either side of the small area of town that are just amazing. Manly Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Australia since it was the first playa to host the world surf competitions in the 1960’s. And if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of the small penguin colony that lives in the area.

We headed to Shelly beach that was recommended to us by a Sydney local. The walk to the beach is beautiful, lined with large beach homes and quaint shops. The beach itself is beautiful, kinda shelly, and perfect for diving/snorkeling. Theres even a restaurant/bar right on the beach that we grabbed cocktails at called The Boat House (I recommend the passion fruit cocktail). 

North Sydney Beaches

When we were in an uber at the beginning of the trip, we had a driver recommend Avalon and Whale Beach. It was described to me as a Hamptons of Sydney, where the locals go to vacation. And located around an hour and a half north of the city, it was just that. Amazing mansions, perfect silicone beaches, muscle clad surfers, and all the views... let just say it was worth it. Grab a car and head out if you're looking for a more local spot along the coast away from downtown.

Eats and Drinks

Places to Stay

Both of the Airbnbs I booked were super close to the beach and had immaculate views. It has more of the neighborhood feel around Bondi. Sydney is way bigger than I expected and the airport was around 30 minutes away from both.

Still on my bucket list:

Checked off some of these 10 Things to do in Sydney Australia?! Heres another list to keep you going… If you are planning to visit more than just Sydney on your trip, make sure to check out this 10 day itinerary we took road tripping Queensland! Have the best holiday and avoid getting yourself in too much trouble ;) G'day mate!