Once known as ‘Sin City’ for beginning life as a penal colony in 1788, Sydney is perhaps Australia’s most talked about city and for good reason too. Superficially it is stunning. It has been said that if there was a global competition for best beaches, Sydney would be disqualified for unfair advantage! However, there is much more to Sydney than stretches of golden coastline and the iconic Opera House. Sydney is a cultural hot pot bubbling over with colour, excitement and verve. Over 60% of New South Wales’ population resides in Sydney making it undoubtedly the social hub of this sunshine State. If party fever is on the menu then you’ve come to the right place! Scratch the surface however and you will see that Sydney is not all brawn and no brain, it offers so much more than a bronzed body on Bondi beach.

Spilling over from the party central of the CBD, Sydney’s suburbs become less mini Manhattan and more gentrified, offering bohemian houses nestled in leafy locations, hosting a plethora of boutique shopping opportunities that rival London. 

Whatever you choose to do, there is truly something for everyone in Sydney, from the sublime to the ridiculous and everything in between. Captivating Sydney, it’s the vibrant world city where it’s all going on.

What to do in Sydney

Sydney Opera House: Any trip to Sydney is not complete without donning your finery and settling in for a night's entertainment at the country's famed Opera House.

Botanic Gardens: On the fringe of the harbour you will stumble across the beauty of Sydney’s Botanic Gardens, home to a large colony of native fruit bats. If you dare to look upwards towards the sky, you might just see a dozen pairs of eyes looking back at you from the tree tops! 

Coast: Move a little further from Sydney suburbia and you will discover mile upon mile of unspoilt coastline, World Heritage listed national parks, ancient cave art, tumbling waterfalls and rocky inlets and bays just the ticket for exploring by kayak.

Fishing: Or why not take a boat out to one of the countless fishing spots and kick back with a beer, waiting for the bite. Later on, wow your friends by cooking up the day’s catch on a beach barbie with sundowners. This is Sydney life as the locals know it. You weren’t lucky enough to catch a bite? Don’t worry, just head to Sydney’s daily Fish Market, ranked 2nd largest in the world, home to over 100 different types of fish. Your friends will never know!

Driving: Hire a car the following day to cruise the Grand Pacific Drive from the Royal National Park to North Wollongong through scenic coastal rainforest, via roads flanked with sheer cliffs and across the impressive Sea Cliff Bridge, an awe inspiring journey that show cases some of the local scenic delights, on the way through to quaint little seaside villages.

Relaxation and culture: Follow by a leisurely round of golf on one of Sydney’s many luxury courses, or visit Sydney’s number one tourist attraction, the world renowned Sydney Aquarium and come nose to nose with sharks (through the glass of course!). Anyone for an aria? Inject some culture into your day by taking a backstage tour of the amazing Sydney Opera House, stepping, literally, onto the same stage shared by the world’s most famous singers, dancers and entertainers. 

Sydney Harbour Bridge: For the more active, there is always the Harbour Bridge climb. As you steady your nerves on the climb, spare a thought for the Bridge painters who spend day upon day suspended at terrifying heights in order to maintain Sydney’s famed bridge in all its splendour. The surface area is equal to roughly 60 sports pitches – that’s a lot of paint! Did you know that in the 1970s actor Paul Hogan worked on the Harbour Bridge before finding fame in ‘Crocodile Dundee’?

Adrenalin Activities: If heights aren’t your thing but adrenalin is, then why not cook up a storm amongst the sand dunes in a quad bike or buggy. You won’t see your mates for dust! And if that’s not enough adrenalin for one day, take a white knuckle jet boat ride and experience terrifyingly fast sideways slides and powerful stops from breakneck speed. 

Festivals: Remember too that Sydney is host to a whole array of different festivals and events, from the colourful costumes of the Mardi Gras Parade to mellow moods and tunes of Manly Jazz Festival. Organise your trip to coincide and you could be in for a treat.