Of all the cities in Australia, Sydney is by far the most international, diverse, and tourist centric. Whenever anyone in the world thinks of Australia, more likely than not, some of the first images that come to mind are the Sydney Opera House Sails and the massive steel work of the Harbour Bridge. Despite the highly commercialized tourist culture, many of Sydney’s most popular destinations are still worth checking out. Additionally, Sydney is also home to many hidden treasures that many tourists don’t know of, nor ever think to see.
After spending the past four months here, I have been lucky enough to travel to a number of different neighborhoods and suburbs of Sydney, getting a greater sense of Australian culture and way of life. From Rozelle to Bondi, Parramatta to Cremorne Point, I have yet to run out of new areas to explore. Below are some of best Sydney attractions I have enjoyed visiting during my time here.
Coogee Beach
With the weather finally heating up here with summer quickly approaching, Sydney’s numerous beaches have been a frequent destination of mine. One of my favorites have been Coogee beach. Located at the end of the popular 3.5 mile walk from Bondi to Coogee, Coogee beach is easily accessible by transportation and within walking distance to plenty of cafes, restaurants, and shops. One unique and interesting aspect of many of the Australian beaches I have visited is that along the outskirts of the beach, by the cliffs and rocky shore, are manmade “pools” built into the rocks. These pools fill up with water at high tide, providing an enclosed swimming area, perfect for lounging in or teaching little kids to swim. This less popular sister beach to the world re-known Bondi Beach is definitely worth checking out.
Hyde Park
Although not as large-scale as the London counterpart, this Hyde Park is home to a couple of impressive fountains, gardens, and palm trees. I first came across this part when running downtown my first week here. I was amazed by the northern entrance, surrounded by massive, overarching palm trees and centered in front of an ornate, marble fountain. Upon entrance into the park, I came across multiple different walking, running, and biking paths and a number of beautiful vibrant gardens, despite it still being the middle of winter here. A short walk away from the more popular Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park’s greenery and flowers rival many of the surrounding areas. Saint Mary’s Cathedral is located adjacent to the park and is free to visit. This large, European style building has some beautiful stain glass and is great to pop into and see after wandering around the park.
Sydney Opera House
Of course the Opera House had to make It on a must see Sydney list. However, when you do make it down to the harbour, I recommend going early in the morning or at night after its dark, as the sheer amount of tourists by the opera house can be overwhelming, especially on a hot summers day. Early morning just after rush hour has been my favorite time to go down there and take some pictures of the stunning scenery. Similarly, after dark, many tourists retreat back to the hostels and hotels. The sails become lit by white and yellow lights. If you’re lucky enough to catch it on the right day (and on the right side of the sails!) you may be able to see the sails illuminated by a variety of aboriginal artwork. Unfortunately, every time I have gone to the Opera House I have either been too early, too late, or on the wrong side, so plan accordingly.
Spice Ally
Located a short walk away from my accommodation in Urbanest Sydney Central, Spice Ally is home to six Asian eateries under arches of glowing lanterns. Ranging from Singaporean, Malaysian, Cantonese, Japanese, to Vietnamese, there’s a little something for everyone. This quaint ally way is a perfect way to spend an evening wandering around and sampling different foods. The prices aren’t too steep either, so its easy to sample a lot of different places. Definitely worth a visit if you’re into Asian food.
Cafes in Newtown
Newtown is a great area for students to hang out in. This diverse, bohemian neighborhood is home to many different thrift stores, cafes, indie bookshops, and restaurants. One of my favorite aspects of the Newtown scene is their cafes. As most cafes in Australia I have come across, cafes generally don’t serve drip coffee, but rather serve espresso based coffees, like flat whites, long blacks, lattes, etc. Additionally, ice coffees are nothing like they are back home. They typically come with a scoop of ice cream in them to make them “iced”, which don’t get me wrong, is incredible, but not something my body can sustain on a daily basis sadly. Luckily, lots of the cafes in Newtown offer cold brew, which has allowed me some peace of mind finding something a little more similar to home. My favorite so far has been Brewtown, which has floor to ceiling windows, beautiful woodwork tables and chairs, and a delicious bakery upstairs known as Drury Lane.
Walk Across the Harbor Bridge
One of my favorite attractions here has been to walk/run across the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Walking across this iconic bridge is equally as beautiful as the first time I saw it. Viewing the harbor and Opera House from above provides an interesting perspective on the city and allows for some great views of the ferries, cruise ships, and sail boats approaching the harbor. If you’re willing to shell out $350, you can even do a guided tour above the top of the bridge, which will provide you with unparalleled, 360 degree views of the city. A couple of my friends have done this and highly recommend it.
I could go on and on about my favorite places in the city, but these six are worth the visit if you are short on time. I am looking forward to exploring more places and neighborhoods in these coming weeks!
