Sydney: Things to See, Things to Skip

Sydney is an amazing city; it’s full of life, vibrancy, incredibly kind citizens, and tons of history. Don’t be fooled by its cosmopolitanism, it is steeped with a fascinating past and people you won’t forget. If you’re headed to Australia, Sydney is likely not your only destination, so it’s important to be conservative about how you spend your time. Here’s key things you mustn’t miss and some things you can skip.

Don’t miss…

Sydney Opera House: Before you go, check out the Opera House’s website to see up and coming operas and plays. It is most definitely worth it to see a performance in the Sydney Opera House; there are few people who can say they have experienced this. Despite being the OPERA House, the Sydney Opera House shows operas, talks, festivals and series, outdoor concerts, and dances. The Opera House also has tours in 7 different languages which show off the Opera House itself as well as the backstage.

Before heading in, have a glass of wine at one of the many restaurants and bars that dot the Sydney Harbour; we recommend the Opera Kitchen if you can snag a seat near the water. Watch for the seagulls though, they have no shame.

Royal Botanical Gardens: You can spend hours here, exploring all the beautiful trees, flowers, bushes, and views of Sydney Harbour. Check out a map as you enter the garden. The garden is easy to explore on one’s own, but the gardens do offer free guided walks from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Check out the nifty nursery, open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In addition, every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. is an Aboriginal Heritage Tour.

While you’re exploring, keep your eye out for all the fun birds that roam around; they’re friendly, but give them their space.

Also, check out Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a hand carved “chair” made out of sandstone. Built by convicts in 1810 for Governor Macquarie’s wife, the chair boasts some of the most beautiful views of both the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Bondi Beach: This is a must-see afternoon or all day excursion. Bondi Beach can be accessed via bus, by hopping on the bus at the numerous bus stops around Sydney. Buses run to the beach every 10 minutes before 7:30 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, and every hour after that. All buses from Sydney start from Circular Quay on Alfred Street next to ferry wharf #2; the ride takes about 45 minutes and the bus number is 380.

Don’t necessarily be fooled by the “easiness” of the public transportation. If you manage to find a bus card and one of the many stores around Circular Quay (which we never were able to), you then have to fill it with money and wait for your bus. You cannot buy a bus ticket on the bus (because that makes sense). If you’re like us, where you give up early and become incensed at your inability to buy a bus ticket on a bus, a cab is a perfectly acceptable option. The cab fare is not that high and it cuts the ride time down significantly. We do not recommend renting a car – for starters you’d be driving on the other side of the road (unless you’re from England), and parking is terrible in Bondi Beach. TS&AS recommendation: Cab it.

Bondi Beach is a mecca for avid surfers, with a famous rip current known as the “Backpackers’ Rip.” The southend of the water is the most popular for surfing; there are many surf shops that rent surfing equipment and/or offer surfing lessons. Keep your eyes out for the yellow and red flags that designate the safe swimming areas. Many species of sharks do roam around; you’re mostly protected by the shark net, but do keep in mind it does not stretch the entire length of the beach.

Spend the afternoon leisurely checking out the Bondi-Coogee coastal walk. It runs roughly 3.7 miles and snakes its way along the coast where you can explore numerous amazing views, small inner beaches, and rock pools. Along the way are picnic shelters, cafes, and bathrooms. Check out all the beaches and stops here.

End the evening with dinner at Icebergs, Mick Jagger’s favorite Australian hang out, located on Notts Avenue. Every table has a view of Bondi Beach and Iceberg’s historic pool, which costs $6.50 for an adult pass or $18 for a family pass. Check it out here. We highly recommend you make a reservation for the restaurant. If you need to kill some time and it starts to get too cold for the beach, make a stop at Iceberg’s bar, located to the left of the maitre-d table.

Manly Beach: Another must see, however it’s easier to get to than Bondi Beach and does not require as much time to explore. While you can get to Manly Beach in essentially any fashion, we highly recommend taking a ferry there. The ferry is relaxing and affords you a stress-free journey through Sydney Harbour, which allows you to take tons of great pictures. There are two ferry options; one is the Manly Ferry, which takes about 30 minutes, or the Fast Ferry which takes about 17 minutes and offers an hourly service Monday through Friday. While the cost difference isn’t that much, an extra 15 minutes won’t kill you; then you can save your money for a knäckerbröd at the Fika Swedish Kitchen located on Market Lane.

Hang out at the beach in Manly; consider renting a bike and biking along the beachfront (we suggest Manly Bike Tours). Take a lunch break at the Manly Grill, where you can enjoy some tasty Kangaroo or a Crocodile burger.

Blu Bar and Altitude Restaurant: Located at the top of the Shangri-La Hotel on the 36th floor, the Blu Bar offers the best views of Sydney, the Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The views are so spectacular that all of the tables in the Blu Bar with views are reserved. When you request a table, be sure to ask for your name to be put on the list for the tables with views. Rated “Best Hotel Bar” by Gourmet Traveller in 2014 and “Bar of the Year” by the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Excellence in 2010, this bar is breathtaking, with an extensive wine list and an array of top shelf liquors. It’s open 5:00 p.m. to Midnight Monday through Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays. Be sure to observe the smart casual dress code.

Top out your night with dinner at the Altitude Restaurant, located on the 36th floor as well, right next to the Blu Bar. Be sure to make a reservation! Boasting numerous awards including the “Three Chefs Hats” award from the 2013 Sydney Restaurant Guide and the “Best Restaurant” accolade from the Tourism Accommodation Australia National Awards for Excellence, the Altitude Restaurant has an extensive menu utilizing local ingredients and stunning presentation. We recommend the tasting menu, which included tuna sashimi and pork belly. Since that wasn’t enough for Andrew, he topped it off with a giant bloody steak. Their wine list is phenomenal and they make a mean martini.

Skip…

Chinatown: While Sydney does have a Chinatown, we would suggest skipping it if your Australia travels include Melbourne. Melbourne, hands down, has the best Chinatown in Australia. Chinatown in Sydney is in Haymarket around Dixon and Sussex Streets. It’s neat to walk through, but Melbourne’s is much more worth your time. Established during the Victorian gold rush in 1851, Melbourne’s Chinatown is the oldest in Australia and the longest running Chinatown outside of Asia. Moreover, some of the world’s  most famous Cantonese restaurants are in Melbourne’s Chinatown including Flower Drum and numerous Dim Sim restaurants. So, if you have limited time in Sydney, skip Chinatown and check out Melbourne’s. Look for the Chinatown post in our Melbourne blog.

Sydney Fish Market: Unless you are really, really, really into random seafood entrées, this is something you can skip. Your guidebooks might tell you otherwise, but, again, unless you’re a seafoodie, spend your time elsewhere. I LOVE oysters…like if I was on death row my last meal would be oysters….so I checked out the Sydney Fish Market. But, if you’re not a big seafood person it’s not worth the walk or the time. Probably one of the most inaccurate comparisons I have heard was the comparison between the Sydney Fish Market and the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo; they are not even comparable. The Sydney Fish Market is impressive, but it won’t catch your eye unless you have a predilection for seafood. Skip it…unless you like oysters. If you do decide to go, we highly recommend taking a tour as opposed to wandering around aimlessly like we did. Check out the tour schedule here.

 

Museum of Sydney: This museum made me cry. Not because of what was in it but because it was overpriced, small, and filled with screaming children on a field trip whose teacher asked me to move away from a museum mural because the children needed to see it. I died. Little tip: Australian kids go on a TON OF FIELD TRIPS…like so many, you wonder if they actually learn anything in a classroom…(check out their hats…Australia has a thin ozone layer and sun burns are common; as a result, Australian kids are required to wear hats with their school uniforms). The museum consists of three levels that encapsulate the history of Sydney and the area upon which that particular museum stands which was one of the original Government Houses. You don’t learn much, unless you have unfettered access to it free of school children on field trips, which is unlikely. You can more efficiently spend this time elsewhere. The price, noise, and lack of space is simply not worth it.

Sydney Bridge Climb: The Sydney Bridge Climb is like if you hiked to the top of Mt. McKinley and then someone said “Hey, pay me x dollars and I’ll take you higher!” You can see what needs to be seen from the Sydney Bridge walk, which is free. You can find the main entrance  in the Rocks District, the oldest neighborhood in Sydney. Find George Street, one of the main thoroughfares in the Rocks District. Keep your eye out for a sign directing you up a flight of stairs to the “Sydney Harbour Bridge BridgeClimb.” The walk across is flat and offers wonderful views of the harbor and the Opera House.

We simply recommend walking across the bridge and back. Companies will try to test you with the “Bridge Climb,” but in our opinion, it’s not worth your money. There are three main “climbs”: the Bridgeclimb Express which costs anywhere from $248 – $383 for an adult; the Discovery Climb for the same price, or the simple Bridge Climb, which costs around $200. If you truly want a better view than just walking across it, check out the Pylon Lookout located about half way across the bridge. It opens in late morning and allows you to walk to the top and learn about the history of the bridge for just $11.

As a last recommendation, highly consider staying at the Shangri-La Hotel; it’s beautiful, clean, and inviting. It has a relaxing pool and spa with indoor and outdoor seating, the wonderful Altitude Restaurant and Bar, and amazing staff. Hats off to Johnny and Shane who rescued Andy’s backpack from the back of the cab! Regardless of whether you stay there, however, sign up for High Tea in the lobby; you’re given unlimited tea and a variety of tasty treats.

Happy Sydney travels!