24 April 2013

Suitcase. Sydney top 5 things to see and do




Now this may sound a little cliché, but I truly think that the best Sydney attractions are the ones you read about in tourist brochures. Corny I know, but it seems the NSW capital is just one of those places where ‘what you see is what you get’. Having said that I’m not a local, so this is just my tourist point of view; I’m sure there are plenty of Sydney-siders rolling their eyes at me right now for not mentioning their favourite hotspots.

Here are my top 5 for your next trip to Sydney:

  1. Visit the world famous beach – Bondi. Coming from the Gold Coast, Australian beaches have some pretty tough competition if they want to impress me, but I have to say, I love Bondi. It’s got a great vibe and is just as crazy-busy as it looks on TV but it’s definitely well worth the visit. The buzz is infectious and on the right day the water is beautiful. Just make sure you remember where you put your towel when you look back into the sea of people from the water!

  1. Take a walk around Circular Quay and see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge (if you’re game enough you can actually climb it). They really are spectacular sights in person. Be sure to stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens while you’re around the area too.

  1. Visit Taronga Zoo, it really is the best one in Australia and the animals can certainly boast they have some of the best views in Sydney. The ferry ride over is great too, giving you a chance to be out on the harbour and viewing some spectacular water-front real estate.

  1. Explore Darling Harbour. This docking area just west of the city is a treasure trove of restaurants, cafés, bars and nightclubs. It’s also a beautiful part of the city. Around this area there is also the Sydney Aquarium, an IMAX theatre, Star Casino and Chinatown (be sure to check out Paddy’s Markets).

  1. Spend some time shopping. Whilst Sydney’s shopping scene certainly doesn’t live up to Melbourne’s, it’s still worth checking out the malls around the city. There is Pitt Street Mall and The Strand for general city shopping, and The Queen Victoria Building for your international designer brands.

Photo by Jingwei.

If you liked this, you can also check out my top tips for Melbourne and Noosa.