Sometimes it might be a bit overwhelming trying to find things to do in Sydney that don’t just revolve around the beach. If you’re visiting Sydney or if you live here and you’re looking for some inspiration, this post is for you!
Well well well, we’ve found 365 things to do in Sydney in 2020 for every single day of the year. This means you’ll never be lost in knowing what to do in Sydney 🙂
We’re listing our favourite places to visit in Sydney such as; the best hikes in Sydney, the best beaches in Sydney, the best free things to do in Sydney and obviously the best restaurants in Sydney too!
Make sure you bookmark this post as you’ll be coming back to visit it time and time again when you’re looking for the best Sydney attractions to visit!
We’ve broken this post up into sections so it’s easier to read. Here’s what you’ll find in this post about our favourite 365 things to do in Sydney!
The Best Sydney Attractions
There are so many Sydney Attractions to visit that all of the below easily make it into our best fun things to do in Sydney list! There’s a mixture of places to visit for tourists as well as for locals in the below!
1. Hire a private boat and impress a date with an awesome picnic at a secluded beach.
2. Go watch a performance at Sydney Opera House – finally tick this item off your bucket list!
3. Hold your own boat party on Sydney Harbour and hire this catarmaran (bring your own booze!)
4. Explore Sydney’s newest walking tour with Adventure Clues – Read more about it here!
5. Go on a ghost tour – you’ll never see Sydney the same way again!
6. Sail away on a pirate ship along Sydney Harbour at sunset (and get sloshed on the free flowing vino)
7. Ever wanted to go on a motorbike? See Sydney by motorbike in this unique tour.
8. Go shopping with a personal stylist who will show you all of the best shops in Sydney!
9. Learn how to make your own chocolate at the Chocolate Making School!
10. Go on whale watching cruise and get up close to the 30,000 whales migrating up the coast between June – November (read about our experience here).
11. Learn to dive in Bare Island and tick off another bucket list item!
12. Go treasure hunting in Sydney with an actual metal detector.
13. Go on a cultural tour in Sydney and learn about the Turkish community.
14. Sign up to a yoga course at North Sydney Yoga – so good that we actually did their beginners course three times because we loved the teacher so much!
15. Go to Taronga Zoo and see the famous giraffes with a backdrop to Sydney Harbour.
16. Then go and watch a gig at Twilight at Taronga Zoo in the Summer.
17. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge at Twilight and tick off that bucket list item! It really IS worth it – I’ve done it twice now!
18. Go to Harbour Life Festival – a dance festival on boats in Sydney Harbour.
19. Bring out your inner artist and join a paint & sip class (a great date idea too!).
20. Take a tour to the Insta famous Figure 8 Pools in Royal National Park or go by yourself – read our review here).
Watch our video at Figure 8 Pools above!
21. Find the best fancy dress costume and head to Sydney’s best New Year’s Eve festival at Lost Paradise.
22. Not forgetting go to the legendary Field Day Festival on New Years Day – my first NYD in Sydney was spent here!
23. Stay at Sydney Harbour YHA and you’ll never see hostels in the same way again (read our review here).
24. Take part in Sydney’s biggest fun run – City 2 Surf – and feel like you’ve ran a marathon (but not quite!).
25. Get on a boat cruise on Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve and get the best spot in the city! (read more about NYE in Sydney here)
26. Stay in an airbnb in Sydney and get $76 off here
27. Go on a helicopter flight over Sydney Harbour Bridge – honestly it’s awesome!
28. Go on a seaplane ride to Jonah’s or Cottage Point – both are stunning places you need to see for yourself!
29. Then stay at Jonah’s – a beautiful luxury retreat near Palm Beach!
30. Go on a secret bar crawl with Aussie You Tours.
31. Learn to surf at Bondi Beach – perfect for the beginners to advanced!
32. Go to Luna Park and take advantage of the unlimited rides pass!
33. Go to one of the many outdoor cinemas – but West Pac open air cinema in Sydney is ultimately the best!
34. Visit the Chinese Gardens of Friendship – it’s a well spent $6, trust me!
35. Go on a cultural foodies tour and try out incredible food by some of the refugees living in Australia from countries like Syria, Persia and Afghanistan.
36. Join a cooking class at the world renowned Sydney Fish Markets.
37. Go on a different kind of walking tour – a running tour around Sydney instead!
38. Go see the cult classic The Room at the Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne and you’ll finally know what it’s like to go to an immersive cinema (and the most beautiful in Sydney!)
39. Play lawn bowls at The Greens in North Sydney with a cracking view of Sydney skyline!
40. Spend the weekend at Scotland Island – a Sydney staycation which feels like a million miles away!
41. If it’s raining, head over to one of the many escape rooms in Sydney.
42. Go to the funnest bar in Sydney and play mini golf at Holy Moly in Newtown or Darlinghurst.
43. Grab your mates and find out who’s the best axe thrower at Maniax in Sydney.
44. Celebrate Australia Day by playing 2Up at a proper Aussie pub like The Australian Hotel in The Rocks.
45. Spend the night gazing up at the stars at Sydney Observatory – we’ve been and loved it!
46. Treat yourself and stay at one of the best hotels in Sydney.
47. Go to a designer sale in Alexandria – Zimmermann is the best!
48. Go to a drag show at the famous The Imperial Hotel in Sydney!
49. Go horse riding around Centennial Park – a perfect way to see one of Sydney’s best parks!
50. Go kayaking on Sydney Harbour at Sunrise – an ultimate bucket list item you 100% won’t regret!
51. Watch a movie at one of Sydney’s coolest cinemas, the Golden Age Cinema
52. Have breakfast with a koala – an experience you won’t forget in a long time!
53. Go on a VIP tour of Sydney Opera House and get dinner at one of the best restaurants in Sydney – Bennelong here.
54. A visit to Sydney wouldn’t be complete without learning how to sail a yacht on Sydney Harbour.
55. Whether you live in Sydney or you’re visiting, everyone needs to go on the hop on hop off bus around Sydney. You’ll learn random facts about the city you never knew before!
56. Become like a local and learn to paddle board in Sydney on a SUP
57. Go up to the top of Sydney Tower and see the views over the harbour!
58. Hire a bike and cycle around Centennial Park – the most fun you’ll have in ages!
59. Go ice skating at Macquarie Centre!
60. Find all of the awesome street art in Sydney by going with someone who knows where all of the best spots are here.
61. Let the kids burn off some energy at Sky Zone.
62. Learn trapeze at the Sydney Trapeze School.
63. Learn how to rock climb at Climb Fit in St Leonards!
64. Go on a VIP tour around the Sydney Botanic Gardens.
65. Go swimming with sharks at Sydney Aquarium.
66. Dress up in your best attire and head to a Melbourne Cup party!
67. Checkout the Sydney Fringe Festival during Spring – one of the arts highlights in the year.
68. Go ice skating on Bondi Beach during the Christmas in July festivities.
69. See a show at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
70. Get your haircut at Stevie English – my favourite hair salon in Sydney at get 15% off by mentioning LONDONERINSYDNEY (read my review of the salon here)
Get 15% off my favourite hair salon in Sydney at Stevie English just by mentioning LONDONERINSYDNEY when you book.
71. Sleep beneath the stars in a bubble tent.
72. Go see a live gig at The Enmore Theatre. Here’s a tip – there’s usually loads of side shows for all of the artists coming over for the New Years Festivals.
73. Go on a bike tour around Sydney to learn more about the city and to see it from a different perspective!
74. Compete against others in an Amazing Race style game around Sydney.
75. Visiting Sydney on your holidays and want some awesome photos of your trip? Hire out a photographer here.
76. Shop at all of the outlet stores around Sydney!
77. Go yacht racing on Sydney Harbour and tick off a bucket list item!
78. Celebrate Melbourne Cup on a cruise party boat.
79. Spot the cast from Home & Away at Palm Beach on this tour.
80. Go on a Boxing Day cruise around Sydney Harbour Harbour during the Sydney to Hobart race.
Free Things To Do
Watch our favourite secret gardens in Sydney which are free to get into above!
There is so many free things to do in Sydney that we’ve had to cut it at 70 ideas to allow ideas for the other sections in this post.
Although Sydney might be expensive in many ways, it’s actually pretty easy to save money here by using the great outdoors as a way to explore the city.
81. Feel good and volunteer on Christmas Day in Sydney at a shelter.
82. Or spend your first Christmas Day on Bondi Beach with a Santa hat on (obvs).
83. Find Wendy’s Secret Garden and enjoy the stunning views over Sydney Harbour.
84. Also find the lesser known Lex & Ruby’s Secret Garden in nearby Cremorne.
85. Have a picnic in Cremorne Point, one of my favourite spots on Sydney Harbour!
86. Then go for swim in McCallum Pool because it’s just beautiful!
87. Walk around Barangaroo and take in the designs of Sydney’s newest buildings.
88. Actually walk over the Sydney Harbour Bridge because many locals don’t even do this!
89. Even better, cycle over Sydney Harbour Bridge!
90. Go to Kirribilli Markets – our personal favourite Sydney markets for used fashion and vintage finds.
91. Or sell some stuff at Kirribilli Markets and make an easy $1000 like I did!
92. If you’re visiting in Winter, make sure you go to Vivid Festival, a highlight for the entire city and 100% worth it!
93. And of course, make sure you go to Sydney Mardi Gras, an iconic festival which involves pretty much everyone in Sydney!
94. Go to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a tourist spot everyone needs to visit to get THAT iconic photo of Sydney Opera House & Sydney Harbour Bridge.
95. Tackle the Manly to Spit walk which is a sweaty 10KM but worth it!
96. Or take on Sydney’s most iconic walk, the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. It really is absolutely amazing (but busy).
97. Better yet, if you can do it all, take on the all new Manly to Bondi walk. It’s only 80KM so you might want to split it up!
98. Go on one of the amazing hikes in Sydney – something everyone needs to do when living or visiting the city.
99. Go to Bondi for sunrise, it’s so busy, you’ll feel like it’s the middle of the day. But it’s oh so worth it.
100. Go find Diamond Bay, it honestly looks like you COULD be in Greece!
Diamond Bay is a beautiful sight to be seen in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
101. Explore the second oldest national park in the world – The Royal National Park
102. Visit the incredible MCA – Sydney’s best art museum.
103. Visit Palm Beach – a tropical paradise and the set location of Home & Away.
104. Take advantage of Sydney’s only late night shopping night on Thursdays – shops are open until 9pm.
105. Explore China Town Night Markets
106. Head over to Glebe Markets for used clothes and vintage finds!
107. Visit Bondi Markets on a Sunday for beautiful jewellery and cheap bunches of flowers.
118. Walk around Botanic Gardens, one of Sydney’s most loved gardens on Sydney Harbour.
109. Don’t forget to watch the free Darling Harbour Fireworks every Saturday night!
110. Find all of the Hollywood movie set locations around Sydney from classic movies like The Matrix and The Great Gatsby.
111. Go visit the late Brett Whitely Studio, husband of Wendy’s Secret Garden and one of the most famous artists in Australia.
112. Then find our favourite spot to have a picnic at the Tarpeian Precinct Lawn (the best view of Sydney Harbour Bridge without the crowds).
113. Check out the White Rabbit Studio which is home to the world’s largest contemporary Asian art collection, and an awesome tearooms.
114. Check out the Archibald Art prize at NSW Art Gallery – an annual competition for the best portrait by an Australian Artist
115. Walk around the Sydney Fish Markets – the second biggest fish markets in the world!
116. Check out Paddy’s Market for the novelty factor but buy your Aussie gifts from our shop instead because they’re better quality and will last;)
117. Check out Sydney Library, even if it’s just for an Insta photo.
118. Discover Sydney’s oldest lighthouse – Macquarie Lighthouse
119. Take the Hermitage Foreshore Walk and discover loads of hidden beaches locals don’t even know about! It runs from Rose Bay to Shark Beach in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
120. Or head over to Dudley Reserve, an iconic Sydney Instagram spot overlooking Sydney Harbour in the Eastern Suburbs!
Dudley Reserve is a popular picnic spot and New Years Eve location to watch the Sydney fireworkds.
121. Check out North Head, a fabulous lookout into Sydney Harbour (and a great spot for Sydney New Years Eve fireworks!
122. Make an effort to go to Marrickville Organic Food Markets to buy your weekly shop from Aussie farmers rather than Coles or Woolies.
123. Go on a free walking tour in Sydney to get your bearings quickly.
124. Go to Darling Harbour kids park – one of the best kids parks I’ve ever seen!
125. Find the Forgotton Songs Art piece which is located in the heart of Sydney CBD.
126. Check out the awesome Biennale on Cockatoo Island which takes place between March – June 2020.
127. Don’t forget to check out Carriageworks Farmers Markets which takes place every Saturday morning.
128. Or the China Town Night Markets every Friday night!
129. Pop along to the legendary Night Noodle Markets in Sydney which unofficially starts the start of Summer (although it is October!).
130. Take some time out and visit Sunnatarum – a donation based meditation retreat. We’ve been there three times and it’s AMAZING!
131. Jump on the Manly Ferry for next to nothing and enjoy a boat ride across the Harbour. Just make sure you time it just before sunset so you can take in the views and photo opportunities.
132. Go find our favourite secret spot in Botanic Gardens in Sydney for the best Sydney Harbour Bridge Views (without any crowds) at Tarpeian Precinct Lawn. Bring a picnic and settle in for sunset.
133. Make sure you check out Sculpture By The Sea – an excellent art exhibition which runs for a couple of weeks in November from Bondi to Bronte.
134. Head over to the infamous Milk Beach NYD party – it’s an unofficial party but leave your car at home.
135. Check out the amazing Mitchell Road Antique Centre in Alexandria – you could spend the whole day snooping around.
136. Stop by Avalon Beach and check out the shops. It’s got an awesome Byron-esque vibe!
137. Watch the Sydney to Hobart race from Kirribilli side to avoid ridiculous crowds from Circular Quay.
138. Hit up the Manly Jazz Festival on the October Long Weekend.
139. Go on an easy hike to America Bay in Ku-ring-gai National Park.
140. Check out the jacaranda trees on McDougall Street in Kirribilli in Spring.
The jacaranda trees in Kirribilli are an Instagrammers favourite during Spring!
141. Walk along the Harbour on the Kirribilli side – it’s much quieter and you’ll get some cracking photos of Sydney Harbour!
142. Make sure you pop down to Bondi to the festival of the winds to see hundreds of kites being flown across the iconic beach.
143. Check out the Christmas markets in JULY at Bastille Festival in The Rocks.
144. It’s ALMOST free, but go to The Star Casino and play $1 roulette!
145. Get yourself in the audience on The Project!
146. Check out Bare Fort Island in La Perouse where Mission Impossible 2 was filmed.
147. Wonder around Newtown’s awesome vintage shops on King St.
148. And the vintage shops in Surry Hills.
149. Window shop all of the Australian designer shops along Oxford St in Paddington.
150. Hike up to the top of the lighthouse at Palm Beach and get THAT Instagram photo!
Best Restaurants
Image via thegrounds.com.au
There’s so many places to eat and drink in Sydney that we could literally go on for ages. Here’s some of our tips below, including our favourite 85 restaurants and bars in Sydney.
If you’re looking for Sydney Harbour view restaurants without the price tag, head over the bridge to Kirribilli and you’ll find cheaper restaurants than in Circular Quay. One thing to note is you’ll going to have to book ahead when going out for dinner. Some Sydney restaurants book up months in advance.
Even when going out for breakfast, Sydney cafes can have massive lines and you could be waiting up to an hour.
If you’re in Sydney CBD at lunch time and need to grab something quick, head up to the top of Westfield to Level 5 in Pitt St Mall and you’ll find loads of places to eat.
We tend to go to Bondi for breakfast and then head over to Newtown, Surry Hills and Barangaroo for dinner.
Here’s a map with all of the restaurants mentioned in this post so you can find them easily!
151. Take in the awesome views at Cafe Sydney – our favourite Sydney Harbour view restaurant (without the ridiculous price tag).
152. Instagram the hell out of The Grounds of Alexandria, one of Sydney’s most Instagrammable spots!
153. Or head over to it’s sister venue at The Grounds In The City for a backup if you can’t be bothered to leave the CBD.
154. Find out what the fuss is all about with Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese cheesecake – it honestly is the best in the world!
155. We reckon Mama’s Buoi is one of the best Vietnamese in Sydney, and it’s pretty cheap too! They’ve got various locations so you should be able to find one near you!
156. Go to Barenaked Bowls in Manly or Bronte for an awesome acai bowl. We love the Hippie Bowl the most!
157. Make sure you check out the beautiful The Boathouse in Shelly Beach Manly, Balmoral, Palm Beach or Patonga – a Sydney classic restaurant!
158. Obviously go to Quay to try the famous Snow Egg – it really is amazing and it’s no surprise it’s one of THE best desserts in the world!
159. Dine in one of the sails in Sydney Opera House at Bennelong – honestly the best service I’ve ever had from any restaurant in the world.
160. Celsius Coffee Co is one of the best cafes in Sydney for breakfast! Make sure you order the waffles but get there early as it fills up quickly!
Celsius Coffee Co, Kirrribilli is one of the best breakfast spots, literally on Sydney Harbour.
161. Order a classic Chicken Parmie at a classic Aussie pub – The Australian Hotel in The Rocks.
162. Try out Mr Wong, one of Sydney’s best Asian restaurants.
163. Bourke Street Bakery is a legendary small cafe loved by locals as a go to brekkie spot in Sydney.
164. Check out Chin Chin, a Surry Hills Asian restaurant serving up on the more pricier side.
165. Speedos Cafe in Bondi is always our go to cafe when it’s after 3pm. It stays open til 5pm, serves up amazing food and has an awesome view overlooking Bondi Beach. Oh and it’s been voted the world’s most Instagrammable cafe!
166. Bread & Circus is a legendary healthy food cafe in Alexandria. We have been going to this place for years
167. Bondi Wholefoods is an amazing healthy cafe. Everything on the menu is excellent – especially their acai bowls! Read our review here.
168. Lox Stock & Barrel serve up an excellent breakfast in Bondi but be prepared to wait.
169. The Nine is an Insta worthy Bondi breakfast cafe which is worth heading to. We couldn’t get in as it’s pretty small so we opted for the cafe above instead!
170. Restaurant Hubert is a beautiful underground restaurant playing jazz and serving up a divine French menu.
Restaurant Hubert is a gorgeous French restaurant with live jazz.
171. The Sydney Tower Restaurant is a must visit if you’re looking for an awesome view over the whole of Sydney without a huge price tag.
172. Experience the Radio Cairo’s awesome North African cuisine before heading over to Sydney’s most beautiful Cinema – The Hayden Orpheum.
173. f you’re looking for Sydney cheap eats, head over to Spice Alley to find some of Sydney’s best asian food. We loved Kyoto’s ramen in particular.
174. Dinner at The Potting Shed is an absolute must as it’s a beautiful Sydney restaurant within the famous Grounds of Alexandria. This is a gorgeous place for the Instagrammer within and of course a beautiful Sydney date restaurant.
175. If you’re looking for the top ice cream place to visit in Sydney, then Gelato Messina is the goods. You can read our full list of the best ice cream in Sydney here.
176. Not forgetting the amazing Gelato Blue in Newtown. This vegan ice cream place in Sydney is one of the best!
177. On the topic of vegan places in Newtown, we absolutely LOVE Gigi’s Pizzeria. This is one of the best pizzeria’s in Sydney and it’s 100% vegan! Read our favourite vegan restaurants in Sydney here.
178. For vegan fine dining in Sydney, we love Yellow. The degustation menu is exceptional, I doubt you’ll find anywhere else like it in the world!
179. Also don’t forget to check out Yulli’s vegetarian restaurant in Surry Hills – it’s amazing!
180. Grab yourself a good book and coffee at Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore in Paddington, one of the best bookshop cafes in Sydney.
181. Head on over to Doughnut Time and make sure you order a Nutella doughnut. You’ll want to share it with someone, trust me!
182. The Chiswick is a classic Eastern Suburbs fine dining restaurant you’ll want to wear you’re best outfit for. It’s also a great girls lunch venue.
183. Head over to Barangaroo to Cirrus Restaurant – the best seafood restaurant in the area.
184. We also love Lotus Restaurant which is next door to Cirrus in Barangaroo – an awesome and popular Chinese restaurant.
185. Love.Fish is a more affordable seafood restaurant in Barangaroo – make sure you go for their degustation menu!
186. Book a three course lunch in QVB in Sydney!
187. Head over to the famous Harry’s Cafe De Wheels for a ‘dirty street pie’ (you’ll get this if you saw The Bachie a while back!).
188. If you’re looking for a more fancier High Tea in Sydney, head over to Vaucluse House.
189. The Tea Cosy is a brilliant kitsch and as close to an English Afternoon Tea you’ll get in Sydney. It’s affordable and you’ll even get a knitting set on your table to pass your day with!
190. Dine at one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney (with the price tag) at Momofuko Seiobo.
Momofuko Seiobo is known as being one of the best Asian restaurants in Sydney!
191. Go to the Whirly Bird for chicken followed by a burlesque show!
192. Fratelli Fresh is a classic much loved Italian restaurant you can find all over Sydney in various locations!
193. Grill’d Healthy Burgers is a go to fast food option in Sydney. We love the super low carb buns, perfect for any gut issues!
194. Mary’s Burgers has become a bit of an institution around Sydney. Make sure you try these guys out!
195. Our favourite acai bowl in the Sydney is at Fresh Blend Smoothies. You can find them in Manly and Mosman – you can find our full list of our favourite acai bowls in Sydney here.
196. Culture Bean in Kogarah also make a legendary acai bowl which is worth the travel just to try it.
197. Love a cat cafe? Head over for a cup of tea and a cuddle with a cat at Catmosphere Cat Cafe in Sydney.
198. Go to Yayoi, one of our favourite Japanese restaurants in Sydney!
199. If you’re strapped for cash and looking for somewhere cheap to eat in Sydney, head of to Lentil As Anything in Newtown. It’s a pay what you feel vegan restaurant and welcomes absolutely anyone in. They just had a donation box you can pay whatever you like for your two course meal (plus copious amounts of chai) by the door. We go there regularly.
200. Marigold is equally as popular for yum cha in Sydney.
Yum Cha is insanely popular in Sydney – Marigold Restaurant Sydney
201. The Eight is one of Sydney’s poshest yum cha restaurants in China Town.
202. Din Tai Fung is hugely popular, there are various locations around Sydney!
203. Palace Restaurant located in Piccadilly Tower in Sydney CBD is an award winning yum cha you need to check out!
204. If you’re not sure where to eat in Chinatown go on a foodies tour with a local.
205. And for vegan options go to the beautiful Bodhi Restaurant just behind St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney CBD.
206. Looking for food delivery? The best healthy fast food out there is Fast Fuel. We found them in Newcastle but they deliver to the Sydney area. You can choose between their muscle fuel meals, vegan, gluten free and more. Just wait til they open some cafes in Sydney and you won’t buy lunch from anywhere else.
Best Bars
The Baxter Inn is a popular choice for city workers.
If you’re looking for decent bars in Sydney, there’s a few hidden gems right in the middle of Sydney CBD (they seem to mostly be underground bars), Surry Hills, Newtown and Redfern.
207. Not sure where to drink in Sydney? Go on a secret bar tour with Aussie You Tours. This small tour will show you all of the awesome hip bars in the city. Oh and you can get 10% off just by mentioning LONDONERINSYDNEY.
208. Hotel Sweeney is one of the awesome Sydney rooftop bars right in the middle of Sydney CBD you need to know about.
209. Get your haircut, then walk through the back door to the hidden bar at The Barber Shop.
210. Go for a drink at The Lord Dudley in Woollahra and actually feel like you’re back in England at a proper pub. You can even stand OUTSIDE with a pint. I know!
211. Coogee Pavilion is a huge Sydney beach bar ran by the Merivale Group. It’s the sort of dress up to be seen type of place serving up quite pricey drinks but it caters for everyone – even complete with a kids play area. It’s got a great rooftop over looking Coogee Beach and definitely worth a visit.
212. Shady Pines is another secret Sydney bar which is one of the most popular small bars in Sydney.
213. Drink local craft beers at Young Henry’s craft brewery.
214. Drink at Sydney’s oldest pub The Lord Nelson – a classic pub that feels like you could be back in England.
215. Check out the pirate bar at Peg Leg in Pyrmont!
216. If you’re looking for one of the best rooftop bars in Sydney, head over to The Sky Terrace.
217. Get a decent cocktail at The Wild Rover, another one of Sydney’s best small bars.
218. Get a drink at Old Mate’s Place – the rooftop is awesome.
219. Go straight up to the top of The Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks for Sydney Harbour views.
220. Go for a drink at Henry Deane Bar in Hotel Palisade – a different perspective of Sydney Harbour but an awesome but pricey bar.
Henry Deane Bar at Hotel Palisade is a gorgeous rooftop bar over looking Sydney Harbour.
221. Located underneath Subway in Sydney CBD lies The Swinging Cat – an awesome hidden bar in Sydney CBD.
222. Go for a drink at The Duke Of Clarence – the English pub which was literally shipped over to Sydney and rebuilt.
223. Baxter Inn is a classic Sydney secret bar which is not so secret these days! It’s also next door to Duke of Clarence!
224. The Norfolk is a classic Sydney pub which has been there for years! We love the tacos and the trendy vibes at this one.
225. The Bearded Tit is one of our favourite pubs in Redfern.
226. Misfits is another excellent pub in Redfern which plays awesome tunes and had a great vibe.
227. If you’re looking for a good beer garden then The Oaks in Neutral Bay is the go to pub. The beautiful big Oak tree is filled up with fairy lights and will make you feel like you’ve entered a Christmas scene in a good way.
228. Frankie’s Pizza is a classic late night venue open until 3am. They have live music plus $5 pizza slices so you don’t get too sloshed.
229. Feel like you’re in a proper cool American bar at Midnight Special in Newtown.
230. Lazy Bones to hang out with the hipsters and watch live music in Marickville.
Check out the awesome live music venue at Lazy Bones in Marrickville.
231. Courthouse Hotel is an excellent Aussie pub, complete with a beer garden and pin ball machines!
232. The Cricketers Arms is a favourite pub of ours. It’s got a English pub vibe which we wouldn’t think twice about!
233. The Soda Factory is a fun hidden bar in Sydney. Just walk through the hotdog stand at the front to get in. The line outside might giveaway the hidden factor though!
234. Friend in Hand in Glebe is one of the best pubs in Sydney. The character is like no other considering they have a talking parrot at the bar! Go check it out!
235. Mojo Record Bar is another hidden bar in Sydney CBD which is also a record store as well.
Best Beaches
There are so many beaches in Sydney, so we’re going to share with you the best of the best – actually 65 to be precise!
The beaches in this post range from Sydney CBD to as north as Seal Rocks and as South as Jervis Bay. Both of these locations are about a three hour drive of Sydney.
236. Starting off with the world’s most beautiful swimming pool is North Sydney Olympic Pool. It overlooks Sydney Harbour and is worth just paying the spectator fee just to go in a take your camera. They technically don’t allow DSLRs inside so snap away on your iPhone.
237. Bondi Icebergs is one of the world’s most photographed ocean pools and there’s reason why. For anyone coming to Sydney, it’s a must visit whilst you’re on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Anyone can use this pool but there is a small entrance fee. Also, go visit Bondi Icebergs during sunrise, it’s spectacular.
238. Wylie’s Pool has to be one of my favourite ocean pools in Sydney. Located in South Coogee, it’s a fantastic pool, especially for families as there’s toilet facilities, a cafe and even a massage parlour on site. Read more about it here.
239. Ivor Rowe Rockpool is also one of my favourite rockpools just down the road from Wylie’s Baths. Although there’s no facilities here at all, it’s one of the quietest spots for a swim in Sydney!
240. Bronte Pool is another one of the most popular rockpools in Sydney because it’s so beautiful. Make the effort to stop there on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.
241. Gordon’s Bay is so beautiful, it offers up a different kind of beach in Sydney. What looks like it could have been taken from a beach scene in Italy with the boats washed up, it’s a great snorkelling spot with less crowds.
242. Visit the local’s favourite swimming pool at McCallum Pool – one of our personal favourites. It also makes a good Instagram photo!
243. Snorkel at Shelly Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Sydney. But get there early as it gets packed.
244. Obviously stop off at Tamarama Beach in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. They usually have some excellent sculptures here during Sculpture By The Sea.
245. And find the hidden Mackenzies Bay next door when it appears once in a blue moon!
246. Clovelly is a brilliant family friendly beach in Sydney to check out.
247. Learn to surf at Maroubra Beach, one of the more quieter but equally as impressive surfing beaches in Sydney.
248. Swim at Mahon Rockpool in Maroubra, one of the best kept local secrets!
249. Find the awesome Kutti Beach in the Eastern Suburbs. I shared a picture on Instagram and my followers thought I had taken it in Sri Lanka. Says it all!
250. Try something different and go on an underwater scooter in Manly! We can’t wait to try this out!
251. Float along Parsley Bay, the best beach in Sydney to bring your floatie.
252. Visit family favourite Shark Beach if you can find a parking spot – it gets VERY busy.
253. Find the locals favourite beach in the Eastern Suburbs – Milk Beach (and the infamous NYD party)
254. Cronulla Beach is an awesome proper Aussie beach town in South Sydney without the tourists.
255. Hike over to Big Marley and Little Marley Beach in The Royal National Park – two of THE best beaches in Sydney!
256. Surf at Manly Beach – a bucket list item to tick off!
257. And of course, learn to surf at Bondi too!
258. Find Little Manly Beach, a local’s beach away from it’s big brother.
259. Find the penguins at Collins Flat Beach – yes there really are PENGUINS there!
260. Find the perfect Resolute Beach, a hidden paradise next to Palm Beach
Resolute Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sydney!
261. Swim at Freshwater Beach (Freshie as it’s known to the locals!).
262. Check out Curl Curl rock pool.
263. And the every drone lovers Mona Vale rock pool!
264. Get nude on Washaway Beach – one of the hidden beaches we found right in the middle of Sydney!
265. Or swim in the nude at Obelisk Beach – a gorgeous secluded beach in Sydney.
266. Cobblers Beach next door to Balmoral is a popular nudist beach and was a bit of an eyeful for the reserved Brit within me!
267. Lady Bay is also another option for the nudists, located next door to Camp Cove.
268. Discover the flat and uncrowded Chinaman’s Beach in the Lower North Shore.
269. Take the kids to the shallow and flat Clontarf Beach.
270. Swim at the very family friendly Balmoral Beach, a postcard perfect beach with a gorgeous bridge leading to a grassy area.
271. Find the family favourite Clifton Gardens
272. Family friendly Greenwich Baths and look out for the open air cinema nights.
273. Visit the dog friendly Sirius Cove next door to Taronga Zoo.
274. Looking for somewhere to swim in Sydney CBD? Check out Andrew Boy Charlton Pool, near to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair!
275. Frazer Beach is another awesome beach up in the Central Coast that’s worth a drive. Here you’ll find loads of rockpools surrounded by the Aussie bush.
276. Bongon Beach sits next door to Frazer Beach and although it’s smaller, there’s something really lovely about this one.
277. Wattamolla Beach is a popular family beach in Sydney with a lagoon on one side and beach on the other.
278. The Garie Beach is a awesome Aussie beach in The Royal National Park. There’s some great walking tracks from here but the beach itself is gorgeous and popular with surfers.
279. Maitland Bay is another one of our absolute favourite beaches in Sydney. The perfect horseshoe shape beach with the flat calm waters is a sight to be seen. Welcome to paradise.
280. Ghosties Beach is about 1h30m drive north of Sydney but oh so worth it. They have some awesome walk through caves on the beach as well.
281. Further south of Sydney and you’ll come to Jervis Bay. Although it’s a bit of a drive being around three hours, it’s totally worth it. This absolute gem of an area is home to multiple stunning beaches that I can only describe as being comparable to the Maldives. The turquoise waters combined with the whitest sand beaches in the world are just incredible. Our top pick is Chinaman’s Beach – you could spend all day, everyday here.
282. Great Mackerel Beach is one of our favourite beaches near to Palm Beach. Just jump on the ferry for 10 minutes at Palm Beach to escape the crowds 🙂
283. Avalon Beach is a gorgeous beach on the way up to Palm Beach and a must stop off.
284. Whale Beach is also a stunning beach next door to Palm Beach but not as busy as it’s neighbour. Make sure you stop by Whale Beach Deli before you head down to the beach.
285. Check out Avoca Beach, a little version of Byron Bay right near Sydney!
286. Toowoon Bay is a gorgeous stretch of sand that breaks off into two beaches.
287. Catherine Hill Bay is another stunning beach near to Newcastle. It’s got usually flat water and an old pier which is loved by Instagrammers.
288. Bar Beach is our favourite Newcastle beach. It’s a great spot for early morning yoga followed by a swim in it’s rockpool. A must visit when in Newcastle!
289. Redhead Beach is a Newcastle favourite. The long beach is so big, you can drive on it with your 4×4.
290. Anna Bay is a popular beach in Port Stephens, known for having the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. You can do loads of really fun activities here like go quad biking and sandboarding.
The Anna Bay sand dunes are wildly popular for loads of family activities.
291. Merewether Beach is Newcastle’s version to Bondi Beach. They have an iconic ocean pool and and awesome beach you want to make the effort to visit.
292. The Bogey Hole is another iconic rockpool. The heritage listed pool is one of the oldest in NSW, having been built in 1819. It’s also hidden in Newcastle, but you can find it here.
293. Dudley Beach is another cracking Aussie beach which is pretty quiet and untouched. It still blows my mind to find awesome beaches like this!
294. Caves Beach is a beach full of some beautiful caves to visit near Newcastle. Make sure you pop into the newly refurbished Caves Coastal Bar for lunch!
295. Zenith Beach is one of our favourite untouched beaches in Port Stephens. I’d be surprised to meet anyone who didn’t agree.
296. Further up the coast you’ll come to Seal Rocks, one of our favourite hidden gems. The beaches around here are absolutely magical. It’s a three hour drive up here but we’re including our following favourites because they really are incredible.
297. Further along from Seal Rocks is Bluey’s Beach, an awesome Sydney getaway which is popular for surfers and holiday makers. The beach is gorgeous!
298. Shelly Beach in Pacific Palms might be half nudist beach (it honestly feels like there’s a line down the middle of the beach) but it’s absolutely beautiful. And we’ve named it our favourite beach near Sydney. The crystal clear waters, combined with the views out over to Elizabeth Beach and Seven Mile Beach makes you feel like you’re in New Zealand. It’s a sight to be seen!
299. Elizabeth Beach is located next door to Shelley Beach and is more of a family favourite beach in Pacific Palms. This beach is absolutely amazing, and it’s one of those places where I pinch myself that I’m actually living in paradise.
300. Boomerang Beach is somewhere we’ve spent a lot of time on. The long stretch of sand literally feels like you’ve reached paradise.
Boomerang Beach in Pacific Palms is absolutely incredible!
Places to visit (within 3 hours)
Port Stephens is a hugely popular weekend getaway from Sydney for families.
There are some fantastic things to do near Sydney which make for an awesome day trip out of the city. Here’s some of our favourites you need to know about.
And you’ll be please to know i’ts our final 65 things to do in Sydney. 🙂
301. River Boat Postman is a brilliant day trip from Sydney. It’s easy to get to by public transport – just jump on the train from Central and it’s a cheap boat cruise around the Hawkesbury.
302. Go sand boarding on the largest sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere in Port Stephens.
303. Try Horse riding in Port Stephens, a beautiful activity for the whole family.
304. Go quad biking on the sand dunes in Port Stephens – the set location for many iconic movies like Mad Max!
305. Climb the awesome Mount Tomaree in Port Stephens – it only takes 15 minutes and looks much worse than it is!
306. Skydive over Wollongong and tick off a bucket list item!
307. Visit Nan Tien Temple – the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere.
308. Not forgetting to also check out the beautiful Sri Venkateswara Indian Temple – go at lunch time for authentic Indian lunch (literally tastes the same as Indian food in India).
309. Then pop over to Kelly Falls for a swim.
310. Make sure you put Mares-Forest Creek Canyon on your list to explore – It’s one of THE best things I’ve ever done in Australia!
311. Check out the largest blow hole in the world in Kiama.
312. Go to Jamberoo – an amazing waterpark!
313. Spend the weekend in the beautiful Kanagaroo Valley and base yourself in the gorgeous town of Bowral.
314. Go and find Belmore Falls in an awesome day tour
315. And Carrington Falls but don’t try to get to the bottom!
316. Hike to the top of Gerringong Falls but don’t bother with trying to find the bottom.
317. Spend the weekend at the incredible Wombeyan Caves.
318. Find the secret lookout at Sea Cliff Bridge!
319. Spend the weekend camping at the incredible FREE Newnes Campsite.
320. And obviously make sure you go and check out the glow worm tunnels in Newnes!
The glow worm tunnel at Newnes is incredible and must visit!
321. Then find the River Caves Canyon – a mind blowing canyon we struggled to find.
322. Head over to Kanangra-Boyd National Park, an absolutely mind blowing park without the crowds. You’ll honestly feel like you’ve been taken to Borneo.
323. Go an explore Jenolan Caves with this tour!
324. Pluck up the courage and try to walk down the staircase at Pulpit Rock in Blue Mountains!
325. Make the effort to complete the Grand Canyon Walk in Blue Mountains. The circuit takes around 3 hours but it’s definitely worth it! You’ll walk right into the Gondwana Rainforest which is over 1 million years old!
326. Watch the sunset at Blackheath Lookout – our favourite spot in the Blue Mountains.
327. A must hike in Blue Mountains is to Hanging Rock – one of the most jaw dropping views near Sydney.
328. Hike down to the bottom of Wentworth Falls, it’s absolutely magical!
329. Stay in A Love Cabin in the Blue Mountains – it doesn’t get more romantic than this!
330. Check out the beautiful Breenhold Gardens near Blue Mountains either during Autumn or Spring – it’s worth the drive!
Breenhold Gardens is one of my favourite gardens in Australia! Visit during Autumn or Spring.
331. Get an Insta photo at Lincoln’s Rock.
332. Spend some quality time at the awesome and affordable Japanese Bath House in Blue Mountains.
333. Take on the world’s steepest train ride at Scenic World.
334. Experience a Christmas in July in Blue Mountains- yes it is an actual thing!
335. Be brave enough to go canyoning in Blue Mountains – there are some mind blowing places to explore.
336. Go cider tasting in the Blue Mountains and taste some proper Aussie grown cider.
337. Go check out Long Jetty in the Central Coast. This hip little town has great places to eat, awesome shops and vintage stores you’ll want to spend the day at.
338. If you’re visiting Newcastle, make sure you go to The Regal Cinema. It’s the best community led cinema we’ve ever been to. Expect free food, wine, tea and port for just $8 which also includes the ticket to the movie! Doesn’t get much better right?
339. Cycle the Fernleigh Track in Newcastle. The old railway line has been transformed into a brilliant cycleway from Adamstown to Belmont. It’s a must do when visiting Newcastle!
340. Go on a vineyard tour to Hunter Valley from Sydney.
341. Visit the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights – it’s awesome!
342. Go on a sunrise balloon ride in the Hunter Valley
343. Go watch a brilliant gig at A Day On The Green in The Hunter Valley (we saw The Rolling Stones a few years ago there!)
344. Complete the White Sands Walk in Jervis Bay – one of THE best coastal walks in Australia that no one really knows about.
345. Need to do a tour to Jervis Bay from Sydney? No problem. Book it here.
346. Go whale watching in Jervis Bay!
347. Spend the weekend hiking from Bundeena down to Otford but make sure you organise camping along the way!
348. Spend the weekend or if not as long as you can at the beautiful Seal Rocks! You can camp there too!
349. Explore some of the best waterfalls to swim in Sydney. Here are some of our favourites!
350. Macquarie Jump Pass honestly feels like you’re in a magical fairytale!
351. Jump in to Winifred Falls, an awesome swimming spot in The Royal National Park I didn’t know about for years!
352. Discover the incredible Mermaid Pools, a sacred Aboriginal spot which opened up to the public a few years back. It’s worth the hike to see it.
353. Minerva Pool is a beautiful swimming spot you’ll most likely get all to yourself!
354. Go and visit Canberra for the day – there’s plenty to do for free!
355. Go stay at the incredible Ovolo Nishi in Canberra, one of the best art design hotels in Australia!
356. Don’t forget to visit Floriade Festival in Canberra.
357. But make sure you leave some time to visit the Tulip Tops Gardens for the Spring flowers – it’s beautiful!
358. Swim at Gibraltar Falls – it’s an amazing sight in the middle of the Australian bush!
359. Make sure you go to the Sugar Pines Walk, an incredible tree lined path that’s hugely popular on Instagram.
360. Make sure you visit the Australian Art Museum in Canberra – it’s amazing!
361. Ski at Thredbo because it always blows people’s minds that you can ski in AUSTRALIA!
362. Visit the Yarrangobilly Thermal Pools, even when it’s snowing because it’s always 27C!
363. Check out Auburn Cherry Blossom festival which includes Sumo wrestling – you’ll almost feel like you’re in Japan!
364. Go skydiving over the beautiful beaches in Wollongong!
365. Conquer Australia’s Everest and climb to the top of Mount Kosciuszko.
Pheww, what a list!! That’s our 365 things to do in Sydney! Hopefully this post will keep you busy over the next year.
Don’t forget to bookmark this post so you can come back to it as and whenyou need to now 🙂
365 Things to do in Sydney
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