A walkable city with an extensive network of trains, subways and buses, the main attractions in Sydney can be seen in a mere few days. Australia’s oldest and biggest city (4.5 million people) offers sun, sand, surf, sailing and skyscrapers. Like many large cities, Sydney is extremely diverse and offers great food, art, nightlife, parks, beaches and any activity you crave, so you can easily spend weeks here. Some highlights from our trip include:
Darling Harbor / Circular Quay: Street performers occupy every corner of this touristy area, but most are professional and worth watching! You can also catch an IMAX flick here, snack on some fish and chips and just hang out and watch the sailboats flapping in the breeze.
Sydney Opera House: The iconic symbol of Sydney is worth seeing from the outside and even better if you can catch a performance there.
Royal Botanic Gardens / Macquaries Point: Picturesque view of the harbour bridge and opera house from this wonderful, lush park. Perfect for a picnic or stroll to feed the “wild” cockatoos!
Sydney Fish Market: Although not as large as the Tsujiki Market in Tokyo, this is the second largest fish market and auctions take place everyday at 5am. The freshly fished seafood (clams, lobster, shrimp, fish filets) are worth the long lines for a quick fresh lunch!
Taronga Zoo: Although we didn’t go to the zoo (we were waiting for the wildlife in Tasmania), we heard that the Taronga Zoo is amazing and worth visiting, especially if you have children and aren’t traveling to other parts of the country. Where else would you be able to see koalas, kangaroos, dingos and wombats all together?!
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: A spectacular walk with breathtaking cliff views of the eastern coast of Australia. Some parts are newly paved which makes the walk painless for all. You can also take a dip in the cool ocean or the plethora of public pools along the way! Bronte Beach was our favorite.
Hyde Park: Similar to central park in New York, this park is well located and used by all to lounge in the sun, enjoy some lunch during their work break. Also, check out the impressive ANZAC war memorial and catch some of the free concerts during the summers.
Paddy’s Market: A great place to buy cheap souvenirs and fresh produce! It felt like we were back in the markets of Thailand with all the hustle and bustle!
-
Sydney | Australia :: New Year’s Eve
02 February 2010 4:45 PM | 4 CommentsHappy New Year from Manali + Terry! We rang in 2010 and watched the fireworks from Mrs Macquarie’s Point the Botanical Gardens, a perfect viewing point of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House, but we had to get there at 5AM (yes, a 19 hour wait until midnight…) to secure a spot! We packed [...]
Read More -
Sydney | Australia :: Wake Up! Sydney Hostel Review
04 February 2010 5:26 PM | 3 CommentsThis mammoth hostel, converted from a 1900 department store, located near Central Station and Railway Square is extremely popular among backpackers and travelers of all ages. Although a little more expensive than the competition, the extra pennies are worth the cleanliness and free activities that the hostel offers. The café downstairs offers the “Meal [...]
Read More -
Sydney | Australia :: Blue Mountains
06 February 2010 5:53 PM | 2 CommentsThe slate colored haze that is exuded from the oil of eucalyptus trees gives these mountains their name, a great excursion from Sydney if you have a few extra days. We headed there shortly after the New Year to explore the sandstone plateaus and traverse the plains with some invigorating bush walks and we were [...]
Read More
