A FIRST TIMERS GUIDE TO SYDNEY
First time in Sydney? Not sure what you should plan to do and see? Here are our top 10 things we think you should get up to during your time in Sydney, Australia.
1. Tour the Opera House
Have a guide take you on a tour of the famous Opera House. You will get to go backstage inside the theatres, learn about the buildings history and even be able to touch the tiles that make up the amazing shape which it is famous for.
Touching the Opera House
Opera House
2. Explore The Rocks
Ahhh, The Rocks - our favourite part about Sydney. Just south of the Harbour Bridge, we could spend days wandering around this stunning part of the city. It has a feel of old England, with bricked buildings from the late 1800's. They have markets and stalls down the main strip every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and some of the best restaurants, bars and nightlife in all of Sydney.
The Rocks Sydney
We highly recommend you grab a meal at Pancakes on the Rocks after your day of exploring. It has the best pancakes we have ever had!
Pancakes on the Rocks
3. Spend the day at Darling Harbour
A lively harbourside precinct, Darling Harbour is only a 10 minute walk from the city center. It is one of Sydney's largest dining, shopping and entertainment spots and always has outdoor events going on by the water. During our stay over Christmas and New Year, we saw 2 firework shows!
There are also popular attractions such as Madame Tussauds , SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo all at the harbour.
Darling Harbour
4. Learn to Surf at Bondi Beach & Swim at the Iceberg Pool
Bondi surf is the place to learn how to surf. There are people learning to surf at Bondi every single day, from complete beginners to absolute pros. They also have an amazing lifeguard system, as you may have seen from the TV show Bondi Rescue, so you are in good hands.
Another reason to head down to Bondi is to see the views from the amazing Iceberg Pool. This pool even made it to our list of top amazing pools from around the world.
Iceburg, Bondi Beach
5. Sip on Cocktails at the Opera Bar
If you want to have some drinks at one of the coolest bars we have been to, you must check out the Opera Bar. It is located directly under the Opera House and has amazing views of the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay, not to mention an amazing atmosphere.
Opera Bar
6. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The price is certainly not cheap, but after experiencing it for ourselves climbing the arches of one of the most iconic bridges in the world is well worth it.
A picture of 2 people Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge
7. Take on Sydney's Tower SKYWALK
If you can't afford the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but don't want to miss out on the thrill and views, then we suggest doing the Sydney Tower SKYWALK for a quarter of the cost. You will be taken 268 metres above the city (that's twice the heigh of the Sydney Harbour Bridge) and go on a 45 minute guided tour along a glass floor offering a bird-eye-view perspective of the city below.
Skywalk, Sydney
(source)
8. Catch the Ferry to Taronga Zoo
You can kill two birds with one stone by catching a ferry from Circular Quay to the famous Taronga Zoo. You can go and see all the animals you could think of with a backdrop of Sydney's famous Opera House and Bridge - it really is something else!
Taronga Zoo
9. Explore the Art and Architecture throughout the City
One thing we love about Sydney is that you can turn down any street and seem to find some amazing art piece or form of architecture. During our stay we stumbled across an art piece called Forgotten Songs down an alley way called Angel Place. Above us were bird cages hanging, scattered down the alley.
Forgotten Song, Sydney
Another place we recommend to see the architecture in Sydney is the St. Mary's Cathedral. We suggest to have an explore inside, you aren't allowed to take any photos but the building is magnificent.
St Marys Cathedral Sydney
10. See a Movie at the IMAX Theatre
If you are a regular on the blog you would know that movies are our guilty pleasure. We highly recommend during your time in Sydney is to spend one of your nights catching a movie at the humungous IMAX Theatre at the Darling Harbour. Who wouldn't want to see a movie on the world's largest screen?
IMAX_screen2
Have you been to Sydney? What would you recommend doing as a first-timer?
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