Top things to do in Sydney, events & more
Darling Harbour is full of waterfront fine-dining, culture, beauty, and entertainment. Here you’ll find the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Sydney Aquarium & Zoo, and several large venues dedicated for concerts. In 1819, the Hyde Park Barracks were constructed to house the male convicts who had been brought to Sydney.
While a bit off the typical tourist route, you won’t regret making the trip over to Kirribilli to see the stuff to do in sydney Opera House from a different angle. Soho galleries is a privately owned gallery providing a more intimate take on contemporary art and sculpture. Specializing in original canvas, large-scale paintings, and limited edition interior sculptures, this is a great place to visit for art lovers looking for a unique art experience.
Like the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA offers children’s art trails, art chatterbox as well as family labels. These labels are made for kids by kids and you can find them in the permanent MCA Collection on Level 2, as well as selected temporary exhibitions. If your kids love spotting stars, bring them to a night sky viewing sessions of Observatory Late, a monthly program presented under the stars on the grounds of the Sydney Observatory. This free program will be held each month featuring a night of stargazing, talks from leading astronomers, music and performance with food and beverages on offer. If you want more of a thrill, do the SKYWALK and step out into the open air of Sydney Tower. This is a fully-guided tour around the outside of the top of Sydney Tower.
Adjoining Chinatown in Haymarket you’ll find over 1000 stalls inside the complex. You can pick up an array of imported goods at bargain prices, from fashion and accessories to souvenirs and gadgets. Driving through Sydney’s southern CBD, you won’t be able to miss the stunning sandstone Gothic Revival architecture of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Standing on the site of Australia’s first Catholic chapel, St. Mary’s stands 107m long with a ceiling height of 22.5m and a nave 24.3m wide. But the outstanding architectural piece-de-resistance is the front towers and spires which soar over 74m in height. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is located just a few minutes’ walk from both the CBD and Opera House.
The kind young adults I met during a group tour invited me to eat out. I appreciated the vibrant and culturally rich area when we ate and walked around here. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds Sydney, and Australian National Maritime Museum) are all located in Darling Harbour.
One of the smartest considerations when planning a date is how many talking points there will be. The more opportunity for meaningful, intelligent conversation means much more mental stimulation than your typical movie-and-a-meal operation. If your preferences lean towards a darker, sexier and more bohemian style, take a look at QT Sydney.
As a bonus, you can take in the best views of Sydney’s most iconic tourist attraction as the boat glides under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tours operate from Circular Quay between May and September each year. Kids aged eight and up, who are at least 140cm tall, can also tackle the high ropes course, navigating suspension bridges, climbing walls and flying foxes. Families can even stay overnight at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga for a unique animal experience you’ll never forget. You can visit to explore the site and grab a bite to eat, or you can book a tour to learn more about the fascinating history of this historic complex. Shelly Beach is part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected aquatic reserve spanning about 20 hectares.
Head into the trees for some fun and adventure, featuring flying foxes, zip lines & more at TreeTop Adventure Park Sydney! It is also one of the best places to stay in Sydney, so you after your meal you can retreat to your room with a stunning view of Sydney Harbour. The winner of the best view of the South Coast has to go to Stanwell Tops. This patch of grass at the southern end of Royal National Park has an incredibly view of the Sea Cliff Bridge and Wollongong in the distance. It then carries along the cliff side to Eagle Rock and a waterfall that goes straight into the sea.
From hatted fine dining restaurants to bustling food markets and waterfront cafes, the city offers an exceptional gastronomic experience. With over 100 beaches scattered along Sydney's coastline, beach culture is at the heart of the Sydney lifestyle. Whether you're looking for world-famous surf breaks, family-friendly swimming spots, or secluded coastal havens, Sydney's beaches offer something for everyone. Hop on a ferry to Manly or book a harbour cruise to soak in the city’s iconic skyline from the water.
Fans of the TV show Home and Away will love this official Home and Away Tour. Those with a love of horticulture and a fondness for things that grow will be enthralled with the free tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Speeding out at 75km an hour to the Sydney Heads, experience the boat darting over the waves, spinning in 360 swirls and generally pushing your nerves to the max.
Located in the heart of Sydney Harbour and just a short ferry ride from the CBD, Cockatoo Island is well-known for its significant historic landmarks. What many people don’t realise, however, is that you can actually spend the night on the World Heritage-listed island, with accommodation ranging from camping to heritage buildings. If you only have one day in Sydney with kids, this is the thing you must do. Head to Circular Quay on the train, the bus or the ferry and walk around to the Opera House. This easy flat walk will give you an incredible view of the Harbour Bridge. You can walk up the stairs of the Opera House to see the fascinating tiles up close.
Located in Millers Point, it’s open from Wednesday to Saturday. Since opening in 1858, Sydney Observatory has transformed from guiding ships and charting stars to a public education hub for sky exploration. Join guided tours, view terrestrial objects through telescopes, attend night photography workshops and explore sky-focused exhibitions. There's a mix of free and ticketed program events that you can book online. You don’t need a car to get there – the train runs straight from Central to nearby Hawkesbury River Station seven days a week.Why go? The car-free island is a genuine idyll – with shrouded bush walks and deserted swimming spots (best accessed at high tide).
It is also the central port for the ferry network, enabling you to get around the harbour by ferry. Wondering where you can enjoy culture late at night in Sydney? The Culture Up Late initiative sees some museums and galleries around Sydney open late with live music, workshops, screenings and more. These include Art After Hours at the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA Late. If a long-haul flight to Europe isn’t on the cards for you anytime soon, you can experience something close to the real deal less than an hour’s drive from Sydney. There’s an Italian-style bed and breakfast in the semi-rural suburb of Arcadia that boasts Tuscan-style gardens, cobblestone laneways and gelato and wine nights.
While a bit off the typical tourist route, you won’t regret making the trip over to Kirribilli to see the stuff to do in sydney Opera House from a different angle. Soho galleries is a privately owned gallery providing a more intimate take on contemporary art and sculpture. Specializing in original canvas, large-scale paintings, and limited edition interior sculptures, this is a great place to visit for art lovers looking for a unique art experience.
Like the Art Gallery of NSW, the MCA offers children’s art trails, art chatterbox as well as family labels. These labels are made for kids by kids and you can find them in the permanent MCA Collection on Level 2, as well as selected temporary exhibitions. If your kids love spotting stars, bring them to a night sky viewing sessions of Observatory Late, a monthly program presented under the stars on the grounds of the Sydney Observatory. This free program will be held each month featuring a night of stargazing, talks from leading astronomers, music and performance with food and beverages on offer. If you want more of a thrill, do the SKYWALK and step out into the open air of Sydney Tower. This is a fully-guided tour around the outside of the top of Sydney Tower.
Adjoining Chinatown in Haymarket you’ll find over 1000 stalls inside the complex. You can pick up an array of imported goods at bargain prices, from fashion and accessories to souvenirs and gadgets. Driving through Sydney’s southern CBD, you won’t be able to miss the stunning sandstone Gothic Revival architecture of St. Mary’s Cathedral. Standing on the site of Australia’s first Catholic chapel, St. Mary’s stands 107m long with a ceiling height of 22.5m and a nave 24.3m wide. But the outstanding architectural piece-de-resistance is the front towers and spires which soar over 74m in height. Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens is located just a few minutes’ walk from both the CBD and Opera House.
The kind young adults I met during a group tour invited me to eat out. I appreciated the vibrant and culturally rich area when we ate and walked around here. SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussauds Sydney, and Australian National Maritime Museum) are all located in Darling Harbour.
One of the smartest considerations when planning a date is how many talking points there will be. The more opportunity for meaningful, intelligent conversation means much more mental stimulation than your typical movie-and-a-meal operation. If your preferences lean towards a darker, sexier and more bohemian style, take a look at QT Sydney.
As a bonus, you can take in the best views of Sydney’s most iconic tourist attraction as the boat glides under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tours operate from Circular Quay between May and September each year. Kids aged eight and up, who are at least 140cm tall, can also tackle the high ropes course, navigating suspension bridges, climbing walls and flying foxes. Families can even stay overnight at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga for a unique animal experience you’ll never forget. You can visit to explore the site and grab a bite to eat, or you can book a tour to learn more about the fascinating history of this historic complex. Shelly Beach is part of Cabbage Tree Bay, a protected aquatic reserve spanning about 20 hectares.
Head into the trees for some fun and adventure, featuring flying foxes, zip lines & more at TreeTop Adventure Park Sydney! It is also one of the best places to stay in Sydney, so you after your meal you can retreat to your room with a stunning view of Sydney Harbour. The winner of the best view of the South Coast has to go to Stanwell Tops. This patch of grass at the southern end of Royal National Park has an incredibly view of the Sea Cliff Bridge and Wollongong in the distance. It then carries along the cliff side to Eagle Rock and a waterfall that goes straight into the sea.
From hatted fine dining restaurants to bustling food markets and waterfront cafes, the city offers an exceptional gastronomic experience. With over 100 beaches scattered along Sydney's coastline, beach culture is at the heart of the Sydney lifestyle. Whether you're looking for world-famous surf breaks, family-friendly swimming spots, or secluded coastal havens, Sydney's beaches offer something for everyone. Hop on a ferry to Manly or book a harbour cruise to soak in the city’s iconic skyline from the water.
Fans of the TV show Home and Away will love this official Home and Away Tour. Those with a love of horticulture and a fondness for things that grow will be enthralled with the free tour of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Speeding out at 75km an hour to the Sydney Heads, experience the boat darting over the waves, spinning in 360 swirls and generally pushing your nerves to the max.
Located in the heart of Sydney Harbour and just a short ferry ride from the CBD, Cockatoo Island is well-known for its significant historic landmarks. What many people don’t realise, however, is that you can actually spend the night on the World Heritage-listed island, with accommodation ranging from camping to heritage buildings. If you only have one day in Sydney with kids, this is the thing you must do. Head to Circular Quay on the train, the bus or the ferry and walk around to the Opera House. This easy flat walk will give you an incredible view of the Harbour Bridge. You can walk up the stairs of the Opera House to see the fascinating tiles up close.
Located in Millers Point, it’s open from Wednesday to Saturday. Since opening in 1858, Sydney Observatory has transformed from guiding ships and charting stars to a public education hub for sky exploration. Join guided tours, view terrestrial objects through telescopes, attend night photography workshops and explore sky-focused exhibitions. There's a mix of free and ticketed program events that you can book online. You don’t need a car to get there – the train runs straight from Central to nearby Hawkesbury River Station seven days a week.Why go? The car-free island is a genuine idyll – with shrouded bush walks and deserted swimming spots (best accessed at high tide).
It is also the central port for the ferry network, enabling you to get around the harbour by ferry. Wondering where you can enjoy culture late at night in Sydney? The Culture Up Late initiative sees some museums and galleries around Sydney open late with live music, workshops, screenings and more. These include Art After Hours at the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA Late. If a long-haul flight to Europe isn’t on the cards for you anytime soon, you can experience something close to the real deal less than an hour’s drive from Sydney. There’s an Italian-style bed and breakfast in the semi-rural suburb of Arcadia that boasts Tuscan-style gardens, cobblestone laneways and gelato and wine nights.
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