The Best Things To Do In Sydney In 2024

Can you think of many other cities in the world that can compete with its natural beauty, rich past and history spanning thousands of years, and creative, gastronomic, and cultural offerings by world-class professionals? In fact, there is so much to see, do, sip, and think about here that you could be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed.

This 2024 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city’s must-do events will allow you to see Sydney from all sides, whether you’re a newcomer or a long-time resident.

The best things to do in Sydney

1. Ride the iconic Manly Ferry

Locals use it every day on their commute to work, but the Manly Ferry voyage is an impossibly beautiful treat. While the motors chug soothingly, take in the scenery of Sydney Harbour as it glides by, passing the bridge, Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, and harbour side beaches such as Shark Beach and Camp Cove on your way to one of the city’s most popular beachside suburbs, complete with bars, restaurants, shopping, and snorkeling.

2. Paddle under the Coathanger with Sydney by Kayak

A morning kayak tour with spectacular photo opportunities that will make your hangover buddies very jealous. Laura Stone and her husband Ben lead weekly dawn excursions of Sydney Harbour before most people fall asleep. The harbour water is wonderfully smooth, and the kayaks are very stable, so you don’t have to work too hard to paddle around Luna Park and get into position as the sun reaches the Sydney Opera House.

3. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

An opportunity to climb the world-famous ‘Coathanger’. Yes, it’s expensive, and yes, it’s quite popular, but looking out at Sydney Harbour in all its glory is just stunning. If you don’t have much time, the express climb is a little shorter and takes you up the interior structure, surrounded by hand-riveted steel and feeling like you’re inside the ribs of a metal skeleton.

However, if you have the opportunity, experts encourage that you go all in on the latest addition to the BridgeClimb’s offering: scaling the whole arch of the Harbour Bridge from end to end.This is a fantastic experience at dawn or sunset, when the sun’s first rays and dying embers illuminate the horizon.

4. Discover the Wattamolla Beach

Deep within the Royal National Park lies a sandy oasis that must be seen to be believed. You can swim in the emerald waters of the creek-fed lagoon, which is also ideal for snorkeling, or simply relax against one of the cabbage tree palms with a nice book.

If you’re an aspiring photographer, the Wattamolla Waterfall may be one of the most photogenic natural wonders in the Greater Sydney region, which is saying a lot. While this beach is well-known among locals, its remote location, far from the city and harbour beaches, goes unnoticed by most visitors.

Take the short bushwalk to Providential Lookout for stunning views of the craggy coastal cliffs. What makes this tiny slice of heaven even more spectacular is that it also has superb amenities, due to the well-equipped picnic area, so bring some snags and grill them up on one of the public barbecues.

5. See Wendy’s Secret Garden

This secluded garden, with full views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is part public and part private ground at the foot of artist Brett Whiteley’s Lavender Bay residence.

For years, the area was tangled, overgrown, and littered with trash, but when Whiteley died in 1992, his widow, Wendy, used her grief to create a place of enchantment. Sydneysiders visit to escape the crowded parks and enjoy a picnic in the hidden oasis. A chance to photograph Sydney Harbour surrounded by tall fig trees and native plants.

6. Explore the Sydney Opera House

It’s an opportunity to go behind the scenes of Australia’s most recognizable structure, gaining access to portions of this architectural marvel that are typically off-limits to the public. Meet at the stage door to walk the boards of the Opera House’s famous stages and slip into the dressing rooms of the Concert Hall, Opera and Drama Theatres, Playhouse, and Studio.

You’ll be told about the mysteries and stories that go on behind the scenes, from pulleys to props, sequins to sound checks. There’s also a virtual reality experience where you can view what it’s like to be on stage with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The Opera House not only entertains musical fans, but also caters to Sydneytown’s foodies with their ‘Taste of the House’ tour.

7. Encounter the wildest locals at Taronga Zoo

A non-profit zoo with harbour views and 4,000 animals, including koalas, echidnas, giraffes, and elephants. You are guaranteed to see numerous Australian wildlife, as well as threatened species. The zoo offers daily talks and animal experiences, as well as glamping sleepovers. Taronga Zoo has some of the best harbour vistas in the city, and as you wander along its broad, snaking walkways, you’ll see the Bridge and Sydney Opera House as much as you do the wildlife.

8. Visit Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)

The harbourside MCA is the go-to location for cutting-edge art on both a local and international scale. The Museum of Contemporary Art frequently hosts exhibitions by major international artists, including Anish Kapoor, Yoko Ono, and Grayson Perry. The MCA features a rooftop cafe and sculpture patio with stunning views of Circular Quay, including the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House..

9. Drink in panoramic views at Bar 83, Sydney’s highest bar

Perched 83 storeys above the streets of the CBD, this odd, retro-futurist cocktail lounge is the highest place to drink in Sydney, positioned on the second-to-highest floor of Sydney Tower.

The views over Greater Sydney from the Golden Bucket are just breathtaking, spanning all the way to the Pacific horizon in the east, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park in the north, the Blue Mountains in the west, and Cronulla to the south.

These are the most breathtaking views in the city. Because you’ll be working up an appetite gazing at all those beautiful vistas, why not reserve a table at Infinity, the Sydney Tower’s renovated revolving restaurant one story above Bar 83?

10. Visit cultural institution the Art Gallery of NSW

One of Australia’s leading cultural institutions, with extensive collections of Australian, European, and Asian art. It currently has a massive new area called Sydney Modern.

The gallery hosts almost 40 exhibitions per year, as well as workshops, talks, and film screenings every week, the majority of which are free to attend. The aforementioned new Sydney Modern structure. It is among the world’s most spectacular modern art galleries.

11. Swim with sharks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

The only cage-free shark diving experience in Sydney. A 30-minute diving excursion in Darling Harbour allows you to swim among a colony of grey nurse sharks. Though the grey nurse sharks in the tank range from one to three metres long, they are calm creatures who do little more than give you an inquisitive side eye as they swim by.

The greatest advantage of diving with them at the aquarium rather than in the open ocean is the certainty of seeing so many sharks in one location. The aquarium is also home to a king and gentoo penguin colony.

12. Swim at the oh-so-grammable Bondi Icebergs Pool

It’s the most photographed ocean pool in Australia, located near Sydney’s most famous beach. The 50-metre saltwater pool is a popular sunning location and a bottleneck along the Bondi to Coogee walk. The baths have been a Bondi landmark for 100 years, and casual entry costs $9, which includes access to the pool and sauna. If you want to go all out, travel upstairs to Icebergs Dining Room for a cocktail and a bowl of crab risotto with the greatest view in town.

13. Go Surfing At Bondi Beach

Everyone’s bucket list should include surfing a wave at Bondi. If you are rusty on a surfboard, sign up for a class at Let’s Go Surfing.
The school takes pride in its popular two-hour beginners’ training, which covers the fundamentals of water safety (including Bondi’s notorious rips), paddling, and catching a wave. Each instruction begins in the sand, allowing you to ask awkward questions without fear. After your session, visit one of North Bondi’s outstanding cafés, such as Porch and Parlour or Harry’s Bondi.

14. Go on a bush foods tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens

A one-hour guided tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens teaches you about the land’s Indigenous history. You’ll discover how the Gadigal people lived and worked with the seasons before the area was invaded.

Stingless bee colonies, climbing Moreton Bay fig trees, and juicy Davidson plums are just a few of the natural delights you’ll witness (and taste) during your tour of Sydney’s harbourside horticultural oasis.

As you wander around Sydney’s outskirts, you’ll see some of the city’s most iconic sights, including the Opera House, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, and the Harbour Bridge. You’ll also discover about the deep connection to seasonality: when wattles bloom, whales migrate, and stingless bee colonies serve as natural barometers.

15. Sample the best Marg in town at Cantina OK

Sydney’s smallest alcohol bar, located into a converted carport along a CBD laneway, is Time Out’s 2020 pick for the best spot to drink in the city. Its Margarita is without a doubt the greatest in Sydney, and perhaps all of Australia.

What’s the secret? A shaken 50/50 combination of Mexican tequila and mezcal, served over shaved ice and topped with orange oil. If your only encounter with alcohol (and its cousin mezcal) has been a terrible, eye-watering shot in a bar, use the silky-smooth variants below to change your mind about this all-too-often underappreciated drink.

16. Marvel at contemporary Chinese art at White Rabbit

 

The cutting-edge four-floor gallery showcases contemporary Chinese art, with four important shows rotating throughout the year. Judith Neilson founded the self-funded non-profit gallery to showcase her extensive collection of post-millennial Chinese art. Entry is always free.
White Rabbit is known for staging provocative and even confrontational exhibitions. At the in-house tea room, you may refuel with dumplings and delicious tisanes.

17. Catch an STC show at the Walsh Bay arts precinct

The Wharf Theatres, home to the Sydney Theatre Company, are located at Pier 4/5 on Hickson Road in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Many of STC’s productions are presented here, but it also serves as the company’s office and rehearsal space. The entire facility was recently upgraded over the course of two years, resulting in one of Australia’s most cutting-edge theater settings.

The city’s main theater company, which is currently under the artistic direction of visionary theatremaker Kip Williams, is without a doubt one of the most important in the world. You can’t consider yourself a cultured Sydneysider unless you’ve seen one of this company’s amazing productions.

18. Pull an all-nighter at the Abercrombie

A multi-level heritage-listed tavern, nightclub, cocktail bar, wine bar, and shop located on Broadway. After closing in 2014, the Abercrombie reopened in December 2022 with multiple venues under one roof (an genuine party palace) and a 24-hour license.

Take that, lockout laws! Casa Rosa, their cocktail bar and terrazza rooftop, is all about dancing on the tables until early in the morning. Consider DJs blasting Italo-disco music, Italian-inspired beverages, and Mediterranean-style cuisine. It’s on level two.

19. Tour Dharawal National Park

Dharawal National Park, located 60 minutes from Sydney’s CBD, boasts breathtaking landscape and was previously closed to the public. You can now take guided tours of the park every second Saturday of the month.

An Aboriginal Discovery Ranger will lead the journey, sharing local knowledge about plants and animals, as well as Dreamtime stories that link Indigenous Australians to the area. Enjoy a short bushwalk before picnicking at Minerva Pool, a holy women’s spot for the Dharawal people.

20. Have cocktail at Maybe Sammy

This little but mighty cocktail lounge isn’t only one of Sydney’s top drinking spots. It has been the highest-ranked Australian bar on the coveted 50 Best Bars in the World list for four years running.

Yes, the mixology abilities at Maybe Sammy are exceptional, but it is the great hospitality that truly sets it apart. The bartenders are kind but not overbearing, attentive but not overpowering, and playfully witty but not crass. And every well made drink includes some humorous sleight of hand that adds a touch of magic to your order. The distinctive cocktail menu is brimming with fruit-forward crowd pleasers that are smart and complicated but never difficult.

21. Watch the sunset from the Hornby Lighthouse

One of Sydney’s loveliest lighthouses can be found on the leading edge of the South Head, overlooking the peaceful waters of Camp Cove.With the enormous expanse of the magnificent Pacific Ocean to the east and breathtaking city vistas to the west, a visit to this lovely part of the city is sure to leave you speechless.

You may also make a day of it by starting at Watsons Bay and hiking the South Head trail. It’s a short walk, and you can reward yourself with a drink at the Watsons Bay Hotel afterwards. If you’re coming from the city, you must take the boat from Circular Quay to the Watsons Bay terminal. Not only will it get you to your destination quickly, but it will also take you on a whistlestop tour of the posh harbourview homes that line the foreshore.

22. Crawl Sydney’s best craft brewery bars

Sydney has established a robust craft brewing scene since Young Henrys debuted in 2012. The Australian beer landscape is now really world-class, and while there are plenty of locations to drink craft beer in this city, there’s something special about going straight to the source. So leave the car keys behind and set aside a day to visit these fantastic restaurants serving the best beers in town.

Marrickville brewery circuit. Although craft breweries can be found all across Sydney, from the south to the Northern Beaches, the inner western area of Marrickville has a high number of outstanding options, including Grifter, Batch, Hawke’s, Philter, Wildflower, Sauce Brewery, Stockade, and the relatively new Mixtape. You could easily spend an entire day in this one suburb.

23. Experience game-changing seafood at Saint Peter

A neighborhood seafood shrine that has become a popular international dining destination for fish enthusiasts. Josh Niland, a young chef, is doing groundbreaking things with the ocean’s finest: dry-aging, producing chips out of eyeballs, and creating perfect magic from offal. Head in for lunch if you want to try the legendary sea urchin crumpets or sea urchin brioche doughnuts, which are offered depending on availability.

24. Experience Sydney Jewish Museum

The Sydney Jewish Museum is a beautifully and thoughtfully curated venue that humanizes history and invites visitors to view the present with a fresh perspective. There is a misconception that the Sydney Jewish Museum is only for Jewish visitors or of interest to WWII historians. In reality, the museum makes history accessible via the lens of the Jewish experience, giving us a fresh viewpoint.

It not only preserves vital Jewish history, but it also serves as a reminder of the potentially catastrophic consequences of prejudice, hatred, and marginalization of any group of people. It’s one for the entire family. Reverberations: A Future for Memory exhibition. This amazing experience allows you to have a one-on-one, interactive chat with the now-deceased ‘Happiest Man on Earth’ Eddie Jaku and other Holocaust survivors thanks to artificial intelligence.

25. Cool down with scoop of gelato at Cow and the Moon

A small Enmore gelateria overcame opponents from 22 other countries (yes, including Italy) to claim the title of world’s greatest gelato in 2014. In case you didn’t catch on, the words above are: world’s best. Gelato. Every day, you can pick from 26 different tastes, including sorbets. The judges were most impressed by the mandorla affogato, although the strawberry balsamic panna cotta is also impressive.

26. Watch a cult indie flick at Golden Age Cinema

 

A boutique 60-seat cinema in Surry Hills where you can see the latest indie releases as well as cult film screenings, participate in weekly movie quiz sessions, and hang out in the golden age-inspired basement bar.

The structure was built in 1940 to serve as Paramount Pictures’ offices. Two old projectors remain on the property, although the new cinema utilizes a digital projector. The adjoining bar serves high-quality film snacks, including the finest chocolates in Sydney.

27. Splurge on a decadent degustation at Quay

Peter Gilmore’s creative Australian dining company, and a long-time inclusion on Time Out’s list of Sydney’s finest restaurants. Whether you choose six or ten courses, you’ll be looked after by an exceptional service crew that never misses a beat, taste local ingredients at their peak along the way, and take in unparalleled dress-circle harbor views that truly put the’ special’ in special occasion. Gilmore is also the executive chef of Bennelong, a pub and restaurant situated beneath the sails of the Opera House across the sea. It’s the ideal pre- or post-show feed.

28. Discover the Japanese flora at the Auburn Botanic Gardens

Tranquility may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about Auburn, a Western Sydney suburb, but it is the best way to describe this 9.2-hectare paradise, brimming with lush vegetation and exotic flora.

The gardens are divided into themed sections, including a Japanese garden with a pond, waterfall, and beautiful bridges. The Reflection Pool is located past the Japanese garden, followed by the perfumed garden, the buried rose garden, a billabong, native rainforest, and a playground with fully wheelchair accessible equipment, including a liberty swing.

Discover the zoological reserve and aviary, where you may interact with peacocks, Cape Barron geese, and red-necked wallabies. Every year in August, the Gardens host a huge flora celebration known as the Cherry Blossom celebration.

29. Sample a next-level cocktail at PS40

Part bar, part laboratory, this sleek watering establishment in the CBD has one of the city’s most remarkable cocktail menus. Each composition defies conventional description, combining flavor and theatre in perfect harmony.

PS40 co-owners Michael Chiem and Thor Bergquist have shown incredible foresight and innovation in their trade. No bar commits to reinvention more vehemently than PS40, and any idea or theme is simply an excuse to let these great imaginations run wild. If you’re not in the mood for alcohol, PS40 also makes its own bespoke range of sodas.

30. Take a sunrise swim at Bronte Baths

This ocean pool, built into the rocky cliffside, is popular with early risers who want to take salty laps and Instagram dawn photos. The waves at Bronte Beach can be a little scary for inexperienced swimmers, but here you can have the best of all worlds: a safe saltwater pool with waves pounding against the walls. Try to arrive before 7 a.m.; witnessing the sun rise over the ocean’s horizon from this vantage point is quite wonderful.

31. Go to true-blue Aussie pub the Unicorn Hotel

It’s the most distinctly Australian establishment in town. There is no room for cultural embarrassment at the Unicorn, because they have a deep and lasting passion for Australiana.

Get some Jatz crackers and French onion dip, or a good free-range, hormone-free schnitzel. They cook it properly, using a very hot pan to achieve that crispy, caramelized crust and generous seasoning. There’s also darts and pool, and live DJs will offer a classic disco soundtrack for Saturday night dancing.

32. Go on a spooky ghost tour at the very haunted Q Station

Sydney’s historic quarantine facility, located on North Head just south of Manly, has been converted into a hotel and business retreat. But try explaining that to the many ghosts who are said to inhabit the premises. Q Station’s ghost tours are extremely popular, as they combine terrifying experiences with intriguing local history. If you weren’t interested in knowing about past quarantines before 2020, you may be today.

Q Station was on the front lines of the previous global health emergency in 1918, and the rich history of this heritage-listed location provides an intriguing perspective on the last year’s events. The gravedigger’s cottage is the most terrifying destination on the Q Station ghost tour. Some truly terrifying encounters have been claimed within its walls, and this eerie home is said to have Sydney’s most haunted bathroom.

33. Discover Sydney’s coolest speakeasy, the Baxter Inn

 

The drinking establishment that sparked our ongoing obsession with hidden cocktail bars and forever raised the (figurative) bar in Sydney’s bar scene. Even after all these years, making your way through the dark tunnel and down the stairs at the rear of the laneway still provides a thrill.

And the service remains nothing short of exceptional. The jaw-dropping whisky collection currently numbers over 1,000 labels, and the bar is open every night from 4 p.m. until 3 a.m., so let the good times roll.

34. Browse Australian boutiques at Strand Arcade

When it debuted in 1892, the Strand Arcade was considered cutting-edge shopping mall architecture. It remains one of the most attractive thoroughfares to visit today.

The compact, multi-level shopping arcade features luxury Australian fashion designers such as Jac+ Jack, Lover, Sass & Bide, and Dion Lee. Aesop also sells natural beauty products and Dinosaur Designs, a local firm that makes vivid and unusual jewelry. Strand Hatters offers a pretty handsome hat line. If you traveled to Australia without adequate head protection, staff will provide you with a trendy Akubra, Brixton, or Panama.

35. Try Sydney’s best fish burger at Charcoal Fish

Josh Niland, a seafood expert, has made his first step into the fast-casual sector, but his low-to-no-waste philosophy remains unchanged. This venue is not a fish and chip shop.  It has more DNA in common with the charcoal chicken establishment (thus the name), so expect rotisserie barbecues and open flames. Niland is one of Australia’s most creative and innovative culinary trailblazers, but you won’t have to spend a fortune to sample the cuisine at this affordable branch of his food empire.

The Murray cod fish burger is the standout item on his streamlined menu. This burger, which was dry-aged for 7 days before being grilled, contains ingredients from almost every portion of the fish. Don’t be scared off by this; Niland’s ingenuity lies in transforming animal parts that would otherwise go to waste into morsels of next-level delicacy.

36. Stroll past hidden beaches on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk

This short, breezy 1.8-kilometer walk provides visitors with breathtaking views of the harbor for little effort. Along the trip, you’ll see the Harbor Bridge and Shark Island, as well as the historic Strickland House, a heritage-listed Victorian Italianate palace built in the 1850s. You should also bring swimmers and sunscreen, as you will be passing by several gorgeous harbor beaches.

37. Take a ferry to Cockatoo Island

It is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, located at the intersection of the Parramatta and Lane Cove rivers. It has served as a film location, a jail, a shipping yard, and the site of several outstanding arts and culture festivals. Because it has a lot of history. Prior to 1839, when a prison was established to house Norfolk Island convicts, the area was covered in red gums and almost certainly an Aboriginal fishing location.

The island briefly housed an industrial school for females and a navy training ship for boys. However, the island was primarily used for shipbuilding and maintenance. Today, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust manages the island and offers various tours. If you want to extend your journey to the famous island, you can select between campsites, glamping packages, apartments, or heritage holiday residences.

38. Get the best caffeine fix in town at Single O

These coffee pioneers were the first in Sydney to highlight the benefits of bean provenance and production. In the 18 years since their inception, they’ve solidified their position as Sydney’s greatest coffee enthusiast haven.

Come for the coffee, but stay for the remarkable selection of gourmet brunch selections, many of which include a long list of local ingredients such as saltbush, strawberry gum, macadamia, kangaroo, and Davidson’s plum. When in Rome, drink coffee as the Romans do. Don’t mess around with a flat white; it’s Single O’s espresso game that truly sets it apart, so order the strong stuff.

39. Go whale watching or hiking in the Royal National Park

It’s a 26-kilometer national park with breathtaking coastline treks, isolated beaches, natural rock pools, and Instagram-worthy rock formations. Whether you want to swim, trek, picnic, swim, bike ride, swim, or simply get away from Sydney for the day, the Royal National

Park offers an outdoor, adventure-filled day. Keep a safe distance from hot places like the Figure Eight rock pools (cough, Wedding Cake Rock). Whale watching season runs from May to November, and the Royal National Park is one of the greatest spots to see these amazing creatures as they migrate.

40. Try the eponymous signature dish at XOPP

This lively cafe, the Darling Square younger sister of the famed and unfortunately departed late-night Chinese restaurant Golden Century, is a must-visit for everyone who considers themselves a Cantonese cuisine enthusiast.

While the restaurant that inspired it was closed during the lockdowns, XOPP has maintained its tradition with a cuisine centered on live fish and quick (if occasionally stern) service. The pipis in XO sauce, the signature dish at Golden Century that inspired the name of its spin-off (say each letter carefully, one at a time), are likely to be among the best you’ve ever had.

41. Come for dinner and jazz at Hubert

This sleek, subterranean French-inspired restaurant has become a Sydney institution. This is the closest you can come to a 1950s Parisian dining palace without leaving the country. Descending the deep crimson staircase feels like walking back in time, and with live music and

Martinis this good, it’s difficult to step away. Happy hour is available daily from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with $8 duck liver parfait and $6 gin and tonics as a failsafe order. If you want to go all out, try a $12 Negroni and a $18 burger that’s so well-crafted that you’ll want to order two.

42. Seek out the secret seaside tunnel at Queenscliff Beach

This 40-meter passage in the granite of Queenscliff Head, affectionately known as the ‘Manly wormhole’, was chiseled more than a century ago by industrious fishermen rather than natural erosion. The tunnel, which connects Queenscliff and Freshwater beaches, remains the best direct

route between the two seafronts without passing through suburban streets. While scrambling over the rocks of the headland north of Manly Beach can be difficult, your efforts are soon rewarded with a close encounter with Sydney’s rich history and an unrivaled view of Freshwater Beach, especially if you time your visit to coincide with sunset. Why not make the most of your time in the area? After all, Time Out named Queenscliff Beach as one of Sydney’s top beaches.

43. Queue for a banh mi at Marrickville Pork Roll

The term ‘hole-in-the-wall’ is tossed about a lot, but this little Inner West sandwich business specializing in Vietnam’s most famous gastronomic export genuinely is. Sydney’s best banh mi is highly contested, however Marrickville Pork Roll is often mentioned.

Waiting in the never-ending line is like a rite of passage, but happily, they fill the fluffy rolls with cold-cut pork, pâté, and pickled vegetables so quickly that you won’t have to wait long. If you’re in the city, you can also snag one of these bad boys at their second shop in the bustling Darling Square neighborhood.

44. Ride the Ferris wheel at Luna Park

Aside from the toothy grin of its unique front gates, Sydney’s oldest entertainment park is most known for its multicolored Ferris wheel. For over eight decades, Luna Park has shocked and delighted Sydney’s fun-seekers. But it is not resting on its laurels.

Sure, you’ll find some old-timey rides and vaudevillian aesthetics, but the park is currently undertaking a significant overhaul to bring it into the twenty-first century, including the installation of numerous new rides. While the train from the Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point is convenient, we recommend using the ferry. It’s almost as quick, and you’ll be rewarded with some excellent photo opportunities as you approach Luna Park’s wharf.

45. Stop and smell the flowers in Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden

In a city that proudly displays its natural beauty, one of its finest areas may be its best-kept secret. Sydney’s north features 123 hectares of wildflower gardens bordered by Sydney sandstone wilderness near Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Every plant here is native, but not local; these colorful blossoms come from around Australia, including 18 vulnerable species.

The gardens were established in 1968 as an Indigenous plant and animal preserve. In addition to flowers, the gardens now have running trails, fitness spaces, picnic places, and the heritage-listed Caley’s Pavillion and terrace. You may also buy magnificent Australian plants at the wildflower nursery. Visit Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in this Sydney area. Some of the most beautiful routes near the city are here, but America Bay’s rocky falls are its most gorgeous.

46. Take a day trip to TV famous Palm Beach

Palm Beach is the perfect Aussie package. This Northern Beaches hotspot is an hour from Sydney’s CBD, perfect for a day of relaxation.

Palm Beach is more than Alf Stewart’s favorite fishing spot—it has calm water for stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking and large waves for surfing. You can also hike to the hilltop lighthouse for whale watching. Cheapest is the L90 bus from Wynyard Station for $6–$10 with an Opal card.

47. Eat dinner by the beach at Sean’s Panaroma

A coastal restaurant known for its delicious, locally sourced food and casual, sun-bathed atmosphere. Sean’s has hosted amazing meals since 1993 with its charmingly colorful design, ocean vistas, and helpful staff. Eating fresh seafood after a swim is one of Sydney’s most iconic traditions. You might come for the bread alone, but come hungry for Sean’s legendary dessert. You won’t be disappointed by the seasonal menu.

48. Beat the clock at the Cipher Room

One of the top escape rooms in Sydney; there are three rooms to choose from, and in each, you must solve a series of riddles within the time limit to escape. Marise Watson and David Vella, both Newtown residents, co-created The Cipher Room as a labour of love. Marise, a game creator, spent a year investigating escape rooms in Australia and New York before producing Espionage.

Husband David is the builder, putting together the room’s creative parts and pieces by hand. The Cipher Room’s deadliest task takes place in a ghostly toy shop packed with scary dolls. It’s like walking into a horror film in the greatest manner conceivable.

49. Dare to bare all at Obelisk Beach

One of Sydney’s few legal nude beaches, so if you’re feeling the natural vibe, shed some layers here. You’ll have to park up the hill and walk a long way to get here; it’s at the bottom of a lengthy flight of steps, and she’s a small beach in comparison. But it’s worth it for the stunning vistas of Camp Cove, Parsley, Watsons, and Vaucluse Bays in the background.

While going Full Monty in public isn’t for everyone, there’s something undeniably liberating about taking to the harbour waters in nothing but a birthday suit. The breathtaking Sydney views are simply the cherry on top. If stripping off at Obelisk piques your interest, consider visiting one of Sydney’s other nudist beaches. There are five near the city where you can take your kit off.

50. Taste Sydney’s best scrambled eggs at Bills

Perfecting a complex cuisine requires a chef of uncommon skill, but elevating a dish to legendary status with only one key ingredient requires a true culinary genius. Every weekend, people queue down the street to try these light-as-a-feather, pillowy eggs, and with good cause.

Surry Hills, and Sydney in general, have many of brunch options, but Bills is widely regarded as the city’s original breakfast spot. Not only do they nail the scrambled eggs here, but the corn fritters are also a big favorite. If you can manage your timing just so, attempt to get a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Not only will you get some great people watching along Crown Street.

51. Find the freshest of eats at the Carriageworks Farmers Market

Sydney’s weekly market offers the freshest seasonal fruit from NSW’s top growers and producers. You must not eat before visiting Carriage works Farmers Markets. Save room in your stomach for your own version of The Bachelorette, where you select who gets your money and what wonderful produce goes home.

You can spend a lot of money here, or you can grab a kombucha on tap and pick a chair for the best city dog-watching. Would you rather start with soup and savoury? For a genuine Vietnamese breakfast, try the pho stand. The bibimbap stall will use shredded cauliflower instead of rice if you don’t believe in cheat days. If you’re a regular, try Farmer Rod’s Free Range bacon and egg roll.

52. Enjoy a drink with a world-class view at the Opera Bar

Few bars in the city have a more iconic view than the Opera Bar. But that isn’t the only reason to come here. There are numerous venues to explore, with live music and DJs most evenings and unrivaled people-watching opportunities.

Beauty and convenience may not typically go together, but Opera Bar is an opulent exception to the rule. It is both one of the most enviably positioned bars in the city and the best place to get a drink before a show. House Canteen, the neighboring establishment, is an all-day restaurant that serves baked pastries in the morning and a pan-Asian menu from noon to late.