Top 10 Things to do when you are in Sydney - part 1

Welcome to our Top 10 Things to do when you are in Sydney, this blog will divulge the first 5!

There is so much we wanted to say about these places, we thought we’d give you a comprehensive run down with heaps of useful information and share over them two blog posts. Read Part 2 here!  There are some wonderful places to explore before hitting the open road in your campervan hire from Sydney.

The metropolis known as Sydney, surrounds the worlds largest natural harbour and is currently home to around 5.5 million Sydneysiders (as they are colloquially known). Famous for its iconic Opera House, Botanical Gardens and the infamous Bondi Beach….you’ll find some wonderful and exquisite places to wander around and soak up the vibes that Sydney has on offer.

These are our Top 10 must do’s when visiting Sydney, although you’ll find there to be an endless amount of exciting things to get up to when you visit this city!

1.   Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

No trip to Sydney would be complete without a visit to the iconic performing arts centre that was designed by Jorn Utzon of Denmark, in a competition back in 1956 to represent a fleet of sails on Sydney Harbour. Originally estimated at $7 million in cost and 4 years to build it, the final cost of construction was a whopping $102 million and took 14 years for completion!

Regardless of the cost and time it took to build, it ultimately does stand out as a magnificent piece of architectural design. When you get there you’ll actually find that the building comprises multiple performance venues which together hosts well over 1,500 performances annually and attract more than 8.2 million visitors a year!

Situated on Bennelong Point, it is set in the perfect surrounds of the harbour, the harbour bridge and even the Botanical Gardens. Uncover the stories, history and magic with a guided tour of the Opera House. Tours run daily between 09:00 and 17:00 and we suggest booking a tour in advance to guarantee a place as they often sell out.

For more information booking a tour, check out The Sydney Opera House Tour website here.

Tel: +61 (0)2 9250 7111

Email: [email protected]

2.   Sydney Harbour

Sydney coastline

With 150 miles of shoreline and more than 30 square miles of water, Sydney Harbour is the largest and probably the most beautiful natural harbour in the world! Take any of the scenic ferry rides and stop off at one of the many ferry terminals littered with shops and restaurants to explore nearby.

Arguably one of Sydney’s No.1 buzz place, Circular Quay is a great place to start your adventure in this vibrant city.  Circular Quay is the major transport hub for water taxis, harbour cruises, buses, trains and taxis and ferries depart from here throughout the day to different parts of the harbour, connecting the city with its waterside suburbs.

If you want to take the view in from above, then you could consider climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge for unforgettable panoramic views. We’ve heard mixed reviews on the value of the bridge climb, as prices start from around $163 pp, it’ll depend on what you value the most, but if eye popping views is your thing, then give this a go!

Sydney’s harbour beaches are some of the most beautiful in the city as they are generally calmer than the ocean waves, which makes them popular with the families. Take a dip in the cool turquoise waters of Camp Cove and take a picturesque walk around to Watsons Bay. Stroll the scenic 1.8km Hermitage Foreshore track where you’ll find yourself twisting along the coastline up past Milk Beach and finishing up in Nielsen Park. There is so much you can do here and to find out more detail where you can visit, check out the Australia Tourism website here.

Depending which way you travel, you may also see glimpses of the harbour from your campervan hire as you leave Sydney.

3.   Royal Botanical Gardens

Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney

Escape the hustle and bustle of the City in the 74-acre gardens, abound with bright and colourful flora and fauna – an oasis nestled on Sydney Harbour. Australia’s oldest botanic garden has an array of spectacular things to see and do here.

Visit the Calyx – which is a hub of activity offering food, shopping and an exciting range of events, exhibitions and workshops.

Shop in the Garden – an exquisite shop selling books, seeds, giftware’s and home baked goodies are on offer too!

Wildlife – discover the amazing variety of native and exotic birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, fish and spiders – all of whom call this place their home.

Take a tour and learn about Aboriginal culture, soak up the atmosphere in the themed gardens or learn about the unique history of the gardens. There are free tours and paid tours on offer.

The gardens are open every day of the year but have varying hours depending on the month. Still, they’re guaranteed to be open between 07:00 and 17:00 (excluding Christmas Day and Good Friday).

For more details visit the website for the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney.

4.   The Rocks

The Rocks, Sydney

One of our fav places to explore! This suburb earned its name from the sandstone rocks that line Sydney Harbour. This hip neighbourhood is lined with cobblestone streets, charming 19^th century buildings and is scattered with restaurants, shops, pubs and galleries which screams an eclectic vibe making for an interesting afternoon of exploring.

Located next to the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay, its prime location makes it very convenient to get to. Although the neighbourhood offers plenty of activity during the week, on weekends, the area runs an arts and craft market (Saturdays and Sunday 10:00 – 17:00) and a foodie market on Fridays 09:00 – 15:00.

This area is best to explore before you collect your campervan hire from Sydney.

Take an easy 15-minute walk, downhill, from the Town hall station, 10-minutes from Wynyard Station and a 2-minute walk from Circular Quay. For more details check out their site here.

5.   The National Maritime Museum

Nestling on the interior of Sydney Harbour, this museum provides the ideal destination to combine your visit with many other sightseeing highlights in this and the surrounding area. Even if you have no interest in the field of Maritime, this museum does display an impressive set of exhibitions that any manner of persuasion will find it worthwhile visiting.

The museum displays the nautical sorties of the whole of Australia as well as Sydney, specifically dating back to the arrival of the first settlers through to the various military actions that the Australian navy have been in engaged with.

Open every day except Christmas Day (hours do vary depending on the time of year, check directly with them) opening hours 09:30 – 17:00. Admission is free but there are several types of tickets on offer which allows you to access all the vessels.

Tel: +61 (0)2 9298 3777

Find out more about visiting the National Maritime Museum website.

Download your FREE copy of our – Top 10 things to do when you are in Sydney here!

Sydney is a great place to start your travels around this amazing country. If you are planning on flying into Sydney to start your journey, check out our Travel Routes to find out some really useful hints and tips on places to go and make sure you don’t miss out on some incredible sights.

When you have an idea on where you want to go, check out our campervan hire from Sydney to see which would best suit your needs. If you are unsure, get in touch and we’ll help you get the best bang for your buck.

Images courtesy of Tourism Australia.