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Sydney, Australia: Insider’s Guide to the City’s Sights and Waterside Delights
This is the view of Sydney that you get from the Harbour BridgeClimb. Photo: Destination NSW
The insider advice on this page is from two of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for Australia: Stuart Rigg and Jacki Lang of Southern Crossings.
Stuart, a native Brit based in Sydney, and Jacki, his Australian colleague of more than 20 years, plan tailor-made travel to Australia, covering the length and breadth of the continent. They have the pull to arrange access to private homes, golf courses, and art collections, but their itineraries aren’t just for high flyers. They can work with a range of budgets, offering careful guidance on everything from self-drive itineraries through the Margaret River wine region to sailing trips around the Whitsundays. As for the Great Barrier Reef, Stuart and Jacki have failsafe strategies for steering clear of the masses, and they know exactly which island properties are best for hyperactive families, spa-loving hedonists, or Robinson Crusoe fantasists. If you’d like to combine Australia with New Zealand, their Auckland team will take excellent care of you.
Where to Stay and Eat
Best bang-for-your-buck hotels
If you want five-star luxury but don’t require Sydney Harbour views, it’s hard to beat the Capella Sydney. A beautiful blend of heritage elements and modern comforts, the Capella is also centrally located near Sydney’s most iconic attractions, restaurants, and shopping.
Another great-value option, particularly for families, is the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga. This hotel is actually inside the Taronga Zoo Sydney; guests get complimentary admission to the zoo, as well as access to the Retreat’s exclusive habitat and special opportunities to meet koalas, echidnas, and wallabies. Some rooms have views across the harbor to the city, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge; others look out on bushland or native-animal enclosures.
The zoo isn’t just for animals; this hotel lies within its grounds too. Photo: Wildlife Retreat at Taronga
Restaurants the locals love
Sean’s, tucked away on the northern end of Bondi Beach’s golden sands, is a long-standing favorite with locals and in-the-know visitors. Daily-changing blackboard menus showcase the freshest seasonal produce from land and sea. The tiny, simply-decorated 45-seat dining room, adjacent cocktail bar, and handful of outdoor tables enjoy ocean views and a relaxed Sydney beachside vibe.
Celebrated Australian chef Neil Perry’s Margaret has become an instant classic. Named after Perry’s mother and in honor of her caring spirit, this Double Bay neighborhood restaurant exudes comfort and generosity, from the deep leather banquettes to the beautifully plated dishes. This is the kind of place where you can enjoy a perfectly poured martini or mouthwatering burger at the bar, or settle into the dining room to enjoy a feast of freshly shucked Sydney Rock oysters, Paspaley pearl-meat sashimi, wood-roasted vegetables, and prime Wagyu beef.
Go for a long lunch in Sydney’s leafy Eastern Suburbs to sample chef Matt Moran’s delicious produce at Chiswick; the salad greens and fresh herbs are grown in the kitchen garden that the restaurant overlooks, and the lamb is sourced from the Moran family farm.
Meal worth the splurge
Saint Peter, Josh and Julie Niland’s award-winning sustainable seafood restaurant, moved to a new home in the restored Grand National Hotel in 2024. The multi-course degustation dinner menu is the best way to fully experience Saint Peter, but here’s a tip for those who would like to save time and/or budget while still enjoying a delicious taste of the Nilands’ innovative cuisine: Reserve a spot for lunch chosen from the à la carte menu, or grab a dinner seat in the more casual bar area.
Dishes to try
The signature Bennelong Pavlova (echoing the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House) by celebrated chef Peter Gilmore at Bennelong, which is housed under the sails of the Sydney Opera House. Even if you don’t go in for the complete fine-dining experience here, you can book a seat at the bar to enjoy dessert in one of the city’s most iconic locations.
Sydneysiders love to brunch, and smashed avocado on toast is a popular order. At The Grounds of Alexandria, the smashed avo is served on house-made bread with tomato salsa, red-pepper hummus, pomegranate, feta, chilli, and vincotto; wash it down with a “flat white” coffee, another local favorite.
Prawns are a lunchtime staple at many of the city’s seaside boathouses. Photo: Tourism Australia
Enjoy a fresh fish and chips or bucket of prawns by the beach at the Boathouse Shelly Beach, just a short—and scenic—stroll from Manly.
For a sweet-tooth indulgence on the go, sample Flour and Stone’s take on an Australian classic with their pannacotta lamingtons.
Prime picnic spots
Take a ferry to Cremorne Point, a grassy, waterside park on the northern shores of the harbor that boasts views of the city skyline, Opera House, and Harbour Bridge. After picnicking with the locals, enjoy a cooling dip in the harborside MacCallum Pool, or stroll along the Foreshore Interpretive Walk to gain an insight into the Aboriginal and early European history of the area.
Enjoy a picnic with Sydney Harbour views from Cremorne Reserve. Photo: Destination NSW
Sydney’s newest harborside parkland, Barangaroo Reserve, is the perfect place to enjoy a late-afternoon picnic while the sun sets over the harbor. (It’s also become a popular vantage point from which to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks.) If you’re keen to learn more about the Indigenous history of this land, you can join one of the Aboriginal-led cultural tours, which explore the site’s rich Aboriginal history and cultural significance.
Hidden away among magnificent waterfront homes on the Sydney Harbour foreshore, the grassy terraced gardens of McKell Park in Darling Point offer a leafy vantage point from which to enjoy a harborside picnic served with views that reach from the Harbour Bridge to the west, through to the Heads where Sydney Harbour opens to the Pacific Ocean to the east. This is a great spot from which to watch harbor festivities and activities such as the New Year’s Eve fireworks or the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race.
Across the harbor, Sydney’s Balmoral Beach is another prime picnic spot from which to watch the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart race. Year-round, the grassy beachside lawns, picturesque rotunda, and the tiny island accessed by a small stone bridge provide plenty of places for a beautiful waterside picnic. The calm waters offer a family-friendly spot to cool off in the warmer summer months, and a collection of local eateries offer take-away picnic favorites from fish and chips to delicious fresh salads.
What to See and Do
View dramatic cliffs and outdoor sculpture on the Bronte-to-Bondi walk. Photo: Destination NSW
Don’t miss
Exploring the city on foot. Sydney offers a collection of fabulous coastal walks and foreshore trails that provide an authentic window into the local lifestyle. The Bronte-to-Bondi coastal walk takes in some of Sydney’s most popular beaches and spectacular scenic headland views. Start in Bronte and follow the path alongside golden beaches and quiet coves, past surf life-saving clubs, and over stunning rocky headlands—with an endless parade of locals in lycra and countless photo-worthy moments along the way. Stop for coffee at the Tamarama Kiosk to watch the locals strut their stuff along the aptly nicknamed “glamourama” beach, or reward yourself with brunch in Bondi (Bills’ hotcakes are a long-time favorite, Speedos Café delivers Instagram content in spades, or grab a Lox in a Box bagel to eat by the beach). Visit in late October or early November to marvel at the popular annual outdoor art exhibition, Sculpture by the Sea. For those seeking a less well-trodden coastal walk, the Rose Bay-to-Nielsen Park walk takes in picturesque bays and harborside parklands perfect for picnicking, beautiful beaches, stunning waterfront homes, and iconic Sydney landmarks.
Seeing this sparkling harbor city from the water is a must—whether you choose to take the Manly Ferry (see “Cheap thrills,” below) or charter a luxury cruiser to soak up a slice of the enviable local lifestyle and explore the harbor’s hidden bays and beaches; but taking to the skies with a scenic helicopter or seaplane flight is also one of the best ways to really appreciate the beauty of the city built around a maze of waterways, fringed by golden surf beaches, and surrounded by pristine national parks.
Your Sydney visit isn’t complete without a jaunt on the water. Photo: Destination NSW
Cheap thrills
The Sydney/Manly Ferry operates between Circular Quay and the suburb of Manly, with its beachfront cafés, pier-side pubs, and quaint boutiques. Visitors and local commuters alike get out on deck with a camera during the 30-minute ride to capture the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Garden Island Naval Base, Fort Denison, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Head to the suburb of Eveleigh on a Saturday morning to visit the colorful Carriageworks Farmers Market. Chat with the farmers and passionate producers (who often include some of Australia’s most celebrated chefs) and sample their delicious wares, from artisan breads to boutique wines to traditional Indigenous bush foods to freshly shucked oysters.
Most of the galleries, exhibits, and events at the Art Gallery of NSW are free—including the Yiribana Gallery’s collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks that showcase the diversity of techniques from across the country and over many time periods.
Pylon Lookout. Though the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb is very popular, for a fraction of the cost you can view exhibits about the history and construction of the iconic “coat hanger” while climbing 200 stairs inside one of its massive stone pylons. Afterward, take the 15-minute walk across the bridge itself for great Sydney vistas.
You can go paddleboarding from Shelly Beach, near Manly. Photo: Destination NSW
Downtime
When you need a break from the buzz of the city and are looking for some indulgent downtime, take a short scenic seaplane flight over Sydney’s Northern Beaches to enjoy a long lunch at Cottage Point Inn or Berowra Waters Inn, on the water’s edge surrounded by the tranquility of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park; at Jonah’s, enjoying breathtaking views over Whale Beach below and the Pacific Ocean beyond; or—for something extra-special—with a meal catered by a private chef at a floating private villa off Palm Beach.
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Best Time to Go
Sydney’s summer months (December to February) bring beach weather, as well as festivals and harborside celebrations: Boxing Day sees the start of the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, followed by world-renowned New Year’s Eve celebrations, and then the Sydney Festival—a monthlong celebration of the arts culminating with Australia Day. (Remember that prices are also at their peak in summer, with stringent hotel booking conditions over the New Year period.)
Worst Time to Go
While the weather isn’t cold during the winter (June to August), it is not the ideal time to experience this alfresco city.
Biggest Rookie Mistake
Assuming that Sydney can be explored in two to three days. In addition to its numerous cultural attractions, outdoor activities, beaches, and excellent shopping and dining, Sydney is surrounded by stunning national parks (including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains) and Australia’s oldest wine-producing region, the Hunter Valley. Ideally, allow four to five days to explore the city and surroundings.
Bragging Rights
Enjoy a private masterclass with celebrated Australian chef Lennox Hastie (of Netflix’s Chef’s Table series fame), followed by dinner at the kitchen counter of his award-winning Firedoor restaurant.
Only Stuart and Jacki’s travelers can spend a day with one of Australia’s preeminent wildlife researchers, venturing well beyond the tourist trail in the Blue Mountains to assist in important koala research.
Instagram Moments
For a classic Sydney Harbour view that incorporates both the bridge and the Opera House, it’s hard to beat Mrs Macquarie’s Point in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Go around sunrise for both the best light and fewest crowds.
Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for some of Sydney’s best Insta-opportunities. The views from the “other” side of the bridge at Bradfield park, or from the Milsons Point Wharf in front of Luna Park, offer panoramic harbor vistas and opportunities for creative angles of the Sydney Opera House, bridge, and city skyline. This is a perfect vantage point at any time of day, but especially at sunset and after dark for the city lights. The ferry ride back to the city (from Milsons Point Wharf to Circular Quay, Barangaroo, or Darling Harbour) also offers some stunning photo opportunities.
Capture spectacular shots of the sun rising out of the Pacific, bronzed Aussie surfers, the all-season Iceberg swimmers, and stunning coastal scenery along the Bondi-to-Bronte walk. Stuart and Jacki can arrange for a local photographer to accompany you and provide professional tips and insider knowledge.
The Souvenirs
Paddington Markets has long been an incubator for up-and-coming Australian designers of fashion, homewares, jewelry, arts, and crafts—much of which you won’t find anywhere else; it’s open every Saturday starting at 10 a.m. If you can’t find the perfect memento here or your visit doesn’t fall on a Saturday, the surrounding streets (Oxford Street and the Glenmore Road intersection particularly) also offer a great range of Australian brands, including Bondi Wash, Sarah & Sebastian, and Dinosaur Designs, and a collection of Australian fashion designers from Aje and Bassike to Scanlan Theodore and Zimmermann.
Alternatively, head for the beautiful, grand old Victorian Strand Arcade. An oasis in the heart of Sydney’s modern center, the Strand houses a collection of speciality shops including several iconic Australian brands: delicious Koko Black and Haigh’s chocolates, Aesop skin care, contemporary jewelry and homewares by Dinosaur Designs, plus a number of Australian fashion designers.
Tipping Tip
Waitstaff in Sydney do not depend on gratuities for their income, nor are service charges routinely added; however, a tip of up to 10 percent in recognition of excellent service has become common in the better restaurants. Taxi drivers and hotel porters appreciate a small tip, but no more than AU$1 or AU$2 is expected.
Airport Intel
A train service links Sydney Airport with the city. It is quick and efficient, with journeys taking 10 to 20 minutes, depending on your destination. Luggage storage is a downside: Normal commuter trains are used, without convenient spots for international visitors to stow bags.
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