About Sydney

Discover Sydney, Australia's Famous Harbour City And The Capital Of New South Wales.
Plan Your Sydney Holiday Using Our Three-Day Itinerary, Which Takes In The Attractions Around Sydney Harbour, Beaches And Inner-City Precincts. Read Up On The World Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains And The Six Foot Track Bushwalk.

Learn About Other Places To Visit In New South Wales And Scenic Journeys You Can Take From Sydney. Drive The Pacific Coast Touring Route North To Brisbane Past The Hunter Valley, Port Stephens And Bohemian Byron Bay. Or Head South To Melbourne Via The Pure White Beaches Of Jervis Bay.

Check Out Australia's Other Cities And Get Ideas For The Rest Of Your Australian Holiday. Melbourne, The Great Ocean Road And Australia's Red Centre Are All Possible In A Three-Week Holiday From Sydney.
For More Sydney Holiday Ideas, Read Our Articles On The Hunter Valley, Sydney's Sparkling Beaches, The Bondi To Bronte Walk And The Annual Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race.

Sydney's Laid-Back Outdoor Lifestyle And Physical Allure Make It One Of The World's Easiest And Most Pleasant Cities To Visit. The People Who Live Here Are A Friendly, Energetic Bunch With A Tell-It-Like-It-Is Approach To Life As Visitors To The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Found Out For Themselves.
When It Comes To Which City Is Australia's True Global City, There's No Argument. It's Sydney-With Its Sense Of Style, Its Love Of Sport And Exuberant Celebrations Including New Year's Eve And Australia Day. All Of Its Attributes Lie Within Easy Reach Of The City Centre. Sydney's Harbour Is Its Natural Playground, The Dominant Factor In So Much Of What The City Has To Offer. The City Has A Wide-Ranging Cultural Life, Dynamic Food Scene And Vibrant Cityscape Of Outstanding Contemporary And Colonial Architecture. Iconic Beaches And Five Major National Parks Deliver Unforgettable Experiences.

Gateway To Australia And Set On One Of The World's Most Stunning Harbours, Sydney Extends North And South Of The Harbour In A Golden Chain Of Easy-To-Reach, Inner-City Beaches.

The Temperate Climate Delivers Warm Summers And Mild Winters, With Rainfall Spreading Throughout The Year. January, The City's Warmest Month, Averages Temperatures Between 18.6 Degree Celsius And 25.8 Degree Celsius. This Warm Climate Attracts People To Sydney's Iconic Beaches, Most Notably Bondi And Manly, Almost All Year Round.

Sydney Is Easily Accessed By Car And Public Transport. Sydney's Orbital Road Network Is Made Up Of 10 Motorways Linked With Expressways, Freeways And Other Main Roads To Get You Around The City And Surrounding Areas. A Public Transport Network Of Buses, Cityrailtrains, Monorails And Sydney Ferries, Service Sydney's Major Tourist Attractions Including Beaches And Shopping Precincts.

Sydney And Surrounds

Soak Up Sydney's Gorgeous Harbour, Seductive Outdoor Lifestyle And Great Natural Beauty. Kayak Under The Sydney Harbour Bridge Or Wave At The Opera House As You Ride A Ferry Across The Harbour To Manly. Learn To Surf At Bondi Beach Or Swim In The Calm Waters Of Coogee. Lose Yourself In The Cobblestone Cul-De-0sacs Of The Rocks Or In The Markets, Boutiques, Cafes And Pubs Of Paddington. As Well As A World-Famous Harbour And More Than 70 Sparkling Beaches, Sydney Offers Fabulous Food, Festivals And 24-7 Fun.

1. Explore The Historic Rocks

Discover Sydney's Colorful Convict History In The Harbourside Quarter Where It All Began. Just Five Minutes From Circular Quay, You Can Hear Stories Of Hanging And Hauntings On A Ghost Tour, Wander The Weekend Markets Or Climb The Span Of The Harbour Bridge. In Amongst The Maze Of Sandstone Lanes And Courtyards, You'll Find Historic Workman's Cottages And Elegant Terraces, Art Galleries, Hotels With Harbour Views And Sydney's Oldest Pubs. See People Spill Out Of Them Onto A Party On The Cobblestone Streets When The Rocks Celebrates Australia Day On January 26th, Anzac Day On April 25th And New Years Eve.

2 Hit The World-Famous Harbor

Sail Past The Opera House On A Chartered Yacht Or Paddle From Rose Bay In A Kayak. Take A Scenic Cruise From Circular Quay Or Darling Harbour, Past Waterfront Mansions, National Parks And Shark, Clark, Rodd And Goat Islands. Tour Historic Fort Denison Or Learn About The Life Of Sydney's First Inhabitants, The Gadigal People, On An Aboriginal Cultural Cruise. Watch The Harbour Glitter From The Green Parklands Of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Which Curves Around Its Edge. Or Take In The View From A Waterfront Restaurant In Mosman, On The Northern Side Of The Bridge, Or Watsons Bay At South Head. Walk From Rose Bay To Vaucluse Or Cremorne Point To Mosman Bay, On Just Some Of The 16 Spectacular Routes Hugging The Harbour Foreshore.

3. Visit Manly On The Ferry

Travel Across Sydney Harbour On A Ferry To Manly, Which Sits Between Beaches Of Ocean Surf And Tranquil Inner Harbour. Wander Through Native Bushland On The Scenic Manly To Spit Bridge Walk, Learn To Scuba-Dive At Cabbage Tree Bay Or Ride A Bike To Fairy Bower. Picnic At Shelly Beach On The Ocean And Sail Or Kayak From Manly Wharf Round The Harbour. Hire A Scooter And Do A Round Trip Of Northern Beaches Such As Narrabeen And Palm Beach. Explore The Shops, Bars And Cafes Along The Bustling Pine Tree-Lined Corso And Dine At World-Class Restaurants With Water Views.

4. Enjoy Cafe Culture And Top Shopping In Paddington

Meander Through The Saturday Markets, Browse Fashion Boutiques On Bustling Oxford Street Or Discover The Antique Shops And Art Galleries In Upmarket Woollahra. Visit The 1840s Victoria Barracks Army Base, Open To The Public Once A Week, And See Restored Victorian Terraces On Wide, Leafy Streets. Ride Or Roller-Blade In Huge Centennial Park, Then Stop For Coffee And Lunch On Oxford St Or In The Mini-Village Of Five Ways. Catch A Movie At An Art-House Cinema Or Leaf Through A Novel At Midnight In One Of The Huge Bookstores. Crawl Between The Lively, Historic Pubs. They Hum Even More After A Game At The Nearby Stadium Or A Race Day, When Girls And Guys Arrive In Their Crumpled Trackside Finery.

5.Walk From Bondi To Coogee

Take In Breathtaking Views Of The Pacific Ocean As You Walk The Winding, Sea-Sculpted Sandstone Cliffs Between Bondi And Coogee. Swim In The Famous Bondi Icebergs Rock Pool Or Just Watch The Swimmers With A Sunset Cocktail From The Restaurant Above. See Wild Waves In Tamarama, Nicknamed Glamarama For The Beautiful People Who Lie On Its Golden Sand. From Mid-October To November, The Stretch From Here To Bondi Is Transformed Into An Outdoor Gallery For The Sculptures By The Sea Exhibition. You Can Surf, Picnic On The Grass Or Stop For A Coffee At Family-Friendly Bronte. Or Swim, Snorkel Or Scuba Dive In Clovelly And Tranquil Gordon's Bay. See The Graves Of Poets Henry Lawson, Dorothea Mackellar And Aviator Lawrence Hargrave In Waverley Cemetery, On The Edge Of The Cliffs. Finish Your Tour In The Scenic, Backpacker Haven Of Coogee.

Three Great Days In Sydney

Explore The Harbour, Beaches And Inner-City Precincts Of This Exuberant City. See Dawn Break From The Top Of The Harbour Bridge Or The Sun Set On The Opera House. Fine Dine Along The Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf Or Experience Theatre And Dance Along The Redeveloped Wharves Of Walsh Bay. Take The Ferry To Manly, Walk From Bondi To Bronte Along The Spectacular Sea Cliffs Or Relax In A Beer Garden With Harbour Views In Watsons Bay. Discover The Unique Character Of Surry Hills, Kings Cross, Glebe, Newtown Or Balmain. Spend Your Final Day Indulging At Wineries, Restaurants Or Day Spas Of The Hunter Valley.

Day 1: Hug The Harbor

Start Your Sydney Holiday Around Its Harbour. Wander The Cobblestone Cul-De-Sacs And Peruse The Weekend Markets In The Rocks, The Historic Precinct Where Sydney Began. Climb The Harbour Bridge Or Catch A Ferry To The Zoo. Visit The Museum Of Contemporary Art On Your Way Round Circular Quay. Stroll Through The Sculpted Botanic Gardens To The Art Gallery Of NSW Or The Museums And Historic Sites Along Macquarie Street. Keep Walking To The Fine Dining Strip Of Woolloomooloo Wharf And Cosmopolitan Potts Point. Hop On A Bus To Rose Bay, Where You Can Hire A Kayak And Spend The Afternoon Paddling Round The Inner Harbour. Or Continue Onto Watsons Bay And Watch The Sun Set Over Sydney's Skyline From The Beachfront Pub. In The Evening, Dine Out In A Restaurant Along Cockle Bay Wharf After Visiting The Many Attractions Of Darling Harbour Or Enjoy The Nightlife Hot Spots Of Surry Hills Or Kings Cross. Complete Your First Sydney Day With A Performance At The Iconic Opera House.

Day 2: Explore Sydney's Beaches

Take A Bus To Bondi Beach, Where You Can Swim, Sign Up For A Surf Lesson Or Just Take In The View From The Grassy Hills. Browse The Back-Street Boutiques And Brunch Next To Backpackers And Fashionistas At One Of The Funky Cafes. On Sundays, You Can Pick Up Vintage Clothing And Pieces By Local Designers At The Bondi Beach Markets. Walk The Winding, Sea-Sculpted Cliffs From Tamarama To Coogee, Stopping For A Coffee In A Busy Beachside Cafe. Alternatively, Ride The Ferry Across The Harbour To Manly, Which Sits Between Ocean Surf And Gentle Harbour. Do All Or Part Of The Scenic Walk Stretching From Manly To The Spit Bridge. Picnic At Shelly Beach, Scuba-Dive In Cabbage Tree Bay Or Bike Ride To Fairy Bower. In The Evening, Head To Walsh Bay, Home To The Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Dance Company And Bangarra Dance Company. Or Discover The Eateries, Intimate Bars And Packed Pubs In Glebe, Newtown Or Balmain.


Day 3: Head To The Hunter Valley

Hire A Car, Take A Bus Or Join A Tour Of The Hunter Valley, A Vine-Lined Region Just Two Hour's Drive North From Sydney. Bike Ride To Some Of The 120 Wineries Or Tour Them In A Horse-Drawn Cart. Sample The Region's Fine Semillon In Lovedale's Boutique Wineries And Team Shiraz With Handmade Rind And White Mould Cheeses In Pokolbin. Taste Local Olive Oils And Take A Gourmet Cooking Lesson Or Food And Wine-Matching Course. Alternatively, Pamper Yourself In A Day Spa Or Tee Off In One Of The Region's Three Championship Golf Courses. Horse Ride Across The Rolling Countryside Or Float Over The Vineyards In A Hot Air Balloon. Bushwalk Through Yengo National Park And See Aboriginal Rock Painting At Milbrodale. Browse The Galleries, Antiques, Cafes And Craft Stores In The Historic Villages Of Morpeth, Wollombi And Broke. Spend The Night In A Guesthouse, Bed And Breakfast Or In Elegant Boutique Accommodation.

The Rocks, Sydney

Sydney's Early Convict Days Live On In The Rocks, A Jumble Of Cobblestone Streets And Cul-De-Sacs Just Five Minutes From Circular Quay. You Only Have To Step Off The Harbour Foreshore To Find The Sandstone Terraces And Cottages And Some Of Sydney's Oldest Pubs. This Historic Precinct Also Draws Both Visitors And Locals With Its Museums And Galleries, Lively Weekend Markets And Hotels With Harbour Views. The Past And Present Collide In The Best Way In The Rocks, Home To Both Ghostly Tours And Some Of Sydney's Liveliest Celebrations.

The Steep, Higgledy-Piggledy Streets Of The Rocks Sprawl Out To The Western Side Of Circular Quay And The Imposing Steel Arch Of The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Start Your Explorations Wandering Around The Harbour Foreshore, From The Iconic Opera House On One Side To Just Beneath The Bridge. Visit The Pylon Lookout, Or For Even Better Views, Climb The Span Of The Bridge With An Organised Group.

The Pubs Here Are Some Of The Oldest In Sydney, And You Can Join A Walking Tour To Learn About Their Colourful History. Listen To Live Music Or Taste A Locally-Brewed Pint In Bars Where Sailors, Soldiers And Stevedores Celebrated And Drank Away Their Sorrows In The 1800s. A Guide Can Help You Imagine The Lives Of These Larrikins, Who Struggled With Poverty And Grim, Disease-Ridden Conditions. Immerse Yourself In Their Stories As You Wander Between The Pubs, Historic Playfair Street Terraces, Storehouses And Workman's Cottages.
Today These House Elegant Boutiques And Galleries, Where You Can Shop For An Up-Market Souvenir Or See The Work Of Australian Artists. In The Popular Saturday Markets You'll Find Everything From Stylish, Hand-Crafted Jewelry To Gourmet Bush Tucker Condiments. Afterwards, Have A Tarot Card Reading In An Esoteric Bookshop Or Grab Lunch In A Patisserie Or Cafe With A Colonial Courtyard.

The Rocks Is Also At The Hub Of Some Of Sydney's Best-Known Artistic Attractions. At Nearby Walsh Bay, You Can See A Performance By The Sydney Theatre Company Or Join A Dance Class With The Sydney Dance Company. Fronting Circular Quay Is The Museum Of Contemporary Art, Showcasing Cutting-Edge Exhibitions From Across Australia And The World.
For A Historical Experience, Head To The Justice And Police Museum, Once A Court House That Processed Criminals From Sydney's Rowdy Waterfront.Peer Into The Old Remand Cells And Imagine The Restored 1890s Police Charge Room. To Delve Deeper Into The Dark Side Of Early Sydney, Join A Ghost Tour Round The Rocks. Listen To Grisly Stories As You Walk Through Tiny Alleys By Lantern Light.

The Spirits May Love These Cobblestone Streets, But You're More Likely To Meet International Tourists Or City Office Workers Having A Drink In One Of The Heritage Hotels. You May Also Find Yourself Caught Up In Riotous Crowds During Some Of Sydney's Biggest Celebrations. Listen To Live Bands And Soak Up The Atmosphere On Australia Day On 26 January Or See Fireworks Explode Over Sydney Harbour On New Year's Eve. Don’t Miss The Rocks, Where Sydney's Past And The Present Collide In The Best Way.

Beyond Its Landmark Buildings, Sydney Harbour National Park Shelters Secluded Beaches, Picturesque Islands And Rare Pockets Of Native Bushland. Swim, Picnic And Bushwalk Along The Spectacular Foreshore Or Visit Harbour Islands On A Ferry. Go Sailing Or Kayaking, Get Up Close To Wildlife And Discover Ancient Rock Art And Convict-Built Buildings. The Harbour's Bays, Parks And Headlands Are Also Natural Grandstands For Some Of Australia's Biggest Events, From New Year's Eve Fireworks To The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race.

You Can Hike All Around Sydney's Famous Harbour, On Short Trails, Day Walks Or Sections Of The 100km Great Coastal Walk. On The Harbour's Northern Edge, Discover Popular Beach Precincts Such As Balmoral Beach, Manly And Chowder Bay. Visit Taronga Zoo, Swim From Pretty Chinamans Beach And Do The Walk Between Manly And The Spit Bridge. Explore Old Forts And Barracks And Enjoy Spectacular Views Across The Water From Bradleys Head And Middle Head.On The Harbour's Southern Edge Is Nielsen Park And Parsley Bay, Where Families Gather In Droves Over Summer. Feast On Fish And Chips At Watsons Bay At South Head, Then Follow A Heritage Trail Past The Gap And Lighthouse.
Monuments To Sydney’s History Are Scattered All Across Its Harbour. Learn About The Lives Of The City's Original Inhabitants, The Cadigal People, On A Cruise With An Aboriginal Guide. Listen To Dreaming Stories And Learn The Aboriginal Names And Meanings Of Sydney's Landmarks. Get Up Close To Rock-Carvings And Stop For A Traditional Aboriginal Welcome And Bush Tucker Lunch On Clark Island.

See The Legacy Of Australia Convict Settlers At Convict-Built Cadmans Cottage In The Rocks And The Old Quarantine Station At Manly, Where Incoming Migrants Were Once Processed. Join A Walking Tour Or Camp Overnight On Cockatoo Island, Once A Convict Prison And Ship Dockyard. Today The Workshops, Prison Barracks, Underground Tunnels And Huge Grain Silos Are The Backdrop For Events And Cutting-Edge Exhibitions. Hop On A Ferry To Fort Denison, Where Hardened Prisoners Were Placed In Solitary Confinement During The Early Days Of The Colony. Shark Island Is A Picturesque Spot For Excursions.
Sydney Harbour National Park Protects Native Vegetation Where Birds And Animals Thrive. Join A Night Tour To Meet Nocturnal Animals, Spot Sea Birds On The Cliff Ledges And Hear A Cacophony Of Birds In The Trees Around Middle Head And North Head.

There Are Regular Ferry Services To Many Destinations Around The Harbour. Join A Cruise For Commentary With Your Scenery, Or Get A Water-Taxi To Drop You At A Private Beach. Alternatively, Navigate Your Own Way Between The Harbour's Bush-Fringed Bays And Sandstone Headlands On A Sailboat Or Kayak.
Sydney Harbour National Park Is Also The Hub For Sydney's Most Popular Events. See Tall Ships, Small Ferries, Yachts And Boats Race Across The Harbour On Australia Day Or The Start Of The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race On Boxing Day. Everyone In Sydney Jostles For A Waterfront Position On New Year's Eve, When One Of The World's Most Spectacular Fireworks Explodes Off Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Harbour National Park

Beyond Its Landmark Buildings, Sydney Harbour National Park Shelters Secluded Beaches, Picturesque Islands And Rare Pockets Of Native Bushland. Swim, Picnic And Bushwalk Along The Spectacular Foreshore Or Visit Harbour Islands On A Ferry. Go Sailing Or Kayaking, Get Up Close To Wildlife And Discover Ancient Rock Art And Convict-Built Buildings. The Harbour's Bays, Parks And Headlands Are Also Natural Grandstands For Some Of Australia's Biggest Events, From New Year's Eve Fireworks To The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race.

You Can Hike All Around Sydney's Famous Harbour, On Short Trails, Day Walks Or Sections Of The 100km Great Coastal Walk. On The Harbour's Northern Edge, Discover Popular Beach Precincts Such As Balmoral Beach, Manly And Chowder Bay. Visit Taronga Zoo, Swim From Pretty Chinamans Beach And Do The Walk Between Manly And The Spit Bridge. Explore Old Forts And Barracks And Enjoy Spectacular Views Across The Water From Bradleys Head And Middle Head. On The Harbour's Southern Edge Is Nielsen Park And Parsley Bay, Where Families Gather In Droves Over Summer. Feast On Fish And Chips At Watsons Bay At South Head, Then Follow A Heritage Trail Past The Gap And Lighthouse.

Monuments To Sydney's History Are Scattered All Across Its Harbour. Learn About The Lives Of The City's Original Inhabitants, The Cadigal People, On A Cruise With An Aboriginal Guide. Listen To Dreaming Stories And Learn The Aboriginal Names And Meanings Of Sydney's Landmarks. Get Up Close To Rock-Carvings And Stop For A Traditional Aboriginal Welcome And Bush Tucker Lunch On Clark Island.

See The Legacy Of Australia Convict Settlers At Convict-Built Cadmans Cottage In The Rocks And The Old Quarantine Station At Manly, Where Incoming Migrants Were Once Processed. Join A Walking Tour Or Camp Overnight On Cockatoo Island, Once A Convict Prison And Ship Dockyard. Today The Workshops, Prison Barracks, Underground Tunnels And Huge Grain Silos Are The Backdrop For Events And Cutting-Edge Exhibitions. Hop On A Ferry To Fort Denison, Where Hardened Prisoners Were Placed In Solitary Confinement During The Early Days Of The Colony. Shark Island Is A Picturesque Spot For Excursions.
Sydney Harbour National Park Protects Native Vegetation Where Birds And Animals Thrive. Join A Night Tour To Meet Nocturnal Animals, Spot Sea Birds On The Cliff Ledges And Hear A Cacophony Of Birds In The Trees Around Middle Head And North Head.

There Are Regular Ferry Services To Many Destinations Around The Harbour. Join A Cruise For Commentary With Your Scenery, Or Get A Water-Taxi To Drop You At A Private Beach. Alternatively, Navigate Your Own Way Between The Harbour's Bush-Fringed Bays And Sandstone Headlands On A Sailboat Or Kayak.
Sydney Harbour National Park Is Also The Hub For Sydney's Most Popular Events. See Tall Ships, Small Ferries, Yachts And Boats Race Across The Harbour On Australia Day Or The Start Of The Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race On Boxing Day. Everyone In Sydney Jostles For A Waterfront Position On New Year's Eve, When One Of The World's Most Spectacular Fireworks Explodes Off Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Bondi To Bronte, Sydney

Sydney In Summertime Is All About Its Coastline, And Few Stretches Are As Iconic As The Sea-Sculpted Section From Bondi To Bronte. Learn To Surf At Bondi, Join The Beautiful People In Tamarama And Swim In Bronte's Family-Friendly Rock Pool. See All Three Beaches On The Bondi To Bronte Walk -A Short, Spectacular Coastal Trail Along Epic Sandstone Cliffs.

Start Your Tour On The Sweeping, Sandy Arc Of Bondi Beach, A Kilometer Of Golden Grains Where People From All Walks Of Life Come To Play. It's A Hive Of Activity All Year Around, But Especially In Summer, When Crowds Sprawl Over The Sand. Swim Between The Flags And Learn To Surf In The Gentler Waves At The Beach's Northern End. Grab Lunch With A View On Campbell Parade Or Check Out The Vibrant Off-Beach Dining Scene On Hall Street. Shop In The Funky Back Street Boutiques And Browse The Sunday Markets For Hand-Made Jewelry, Local Designs And Stylish Seconds. Watch The Waterside Action From The Promenade Or Marvel At The Acrobatic Kids At Bondi Skate Park. Take A Dip In The Bondi Icebergs Ocean Pool, Or Contemplate The Swimmers With A Drink In The Restaurant Above. With Its Brazen Beauty And Eclectic Crowds, Bondi Beach Is The Hub Of Many Summer Events. This Is Where Backpackers Wearing Santa Hats And Swimming Costumes Celebrate Christmas Day. A Week Later, Revelers Welcome In The New Year With Fireworks And A Beach Dance Party With International Djs. In January, The Short Film Festival Flickerfest Kicks Off Sydney's Summer Cinema Season With Screenings In Bondi Pavilion And Beneath The Stars On Bondi Beach.

It's All-Natural Glamour Along The Cliff-Top Walk, Which Begins At Icebergs On Bondi's Southern Crest. Take In Exhilarating Views Over The Pacific Ocean As You Wind Along The Craggy, Timeworn Cliffs Past Sporty Locals. In Early November, You'll Also Pass More Than A Hundred Beautiful And Thought-Provoking Sculptures As Part Of The Sculptures By The Sea Exhibition. Previous Exhibits Have Included Metal Insects Crawling Over A Car, Curvy Stone Women Sunbaking On The Rocks And Wire Igloos On Tamarama Beach.
Nicknamed Glamarama For Its Beautiful Crowds, Tamarama Offers Great Surfing, A Deep Semi-Circle Of Sand For Volleyball Players And A Grassy Area For Barbeques And Picnics. From Here, The Coastal Walk Climbs Again, Offering More Stellar Sea Views Before Descending To Bronte. Swim From The Beach Or In Bronte Baths, Where The Swimming Lanes Bob Around In The Ocean Waves. Surfers Can Try The Right-Hand Waves At The South End Or The Beach Breaks In The North. The Tree-Lined Park Is Popular For Family Picnics And Riotous Soccer Games And You'll Find Great Coffee In The Strip Of Trendy Cafes.
Walk Back To Bondi, Hop On A Bus To The City Or Continue Along The Coastal Walk. From Bronte, It Stretches South To The Snorkelling Havens Of Clovelly And Gordons Bay; Coogee Filled With Families And Backpackers And Maroubra With Its Huge Waves.
This Summer, Immerse Yourself In Sydney's Sun-Drenched Lifestyle On A Walk From Bondi To Bronte.

Sydney's Beaches Beckon

Discover Some Of Sydney's 70 Sparkling Beaches, From Secluded Bays To World-Famous Strips Of Sand.
Sydney's Beaches Will Be Beckoning Before You Even Land In Botany. You Might See Them Flying In-A Long, Golden Chain Split Across Both Sides Of The Harbour And Fringed By Green Bush And Sea. Or The Welcome Video On The Plane Might Start Famous Images Of Bondi Beach Repeating In Your Head. If You're An Avid Surfer, Sun-Worshipper Or Just Love The Sea, You'll Be Itching To Get Onto The Waves, Smelling The Salt Air Or Nestled Nicely On The Sand.It's No Wonder They're Calling To You. Sydney Has More Than 70 Sparkling Beaches, From Secluded Bays Backed By Bush And National Park To World-Famous Strips Of Sand. What's More, They Are All Within Easy Reach Of Sydney's Harbourside Heart.

If You Want To Start With The Most Iconic, Jump On The Bus To Bondi Beach, Where Surfers, Hippies, Families And Local And International Tourists Converge. Swim Or Run Along The Kilometre Of Golden Grains And Brave The Breaks With A Surf School. Watch The Passing Talent On The Promenade Or Sip A Sunset Cocktail Above The Icebergs Rock Pool. You Can Add Crashing Waves And Fine Salt Spray To Your Water Views On The Winding Bondi To Bronte Walk. These Chiselled Sandstone Cliffs Become The Backdrop For The Sculptures By The Sea Exhibition In Late October. Walk Them To Tamarama (Nicknamed Glamarama By The Locals For The Beautiful Bodies It Attracts) And Family-Friendly Bronte. Further Along The Coast You'll Find The Snorkelling Havens Of Clovelly And Mediterranean-Looking Gordon's Bay, Calm Coogee Bustling With Backpackers And Maroubra With Its Huge Waves.

Complete Your Tour Of Sydney's Eastern Beaches With A Trip To Watsons Bay, Australia's Oldest Fishing Village At The Southern Entrance To Sydney Harbour. The Views On The Dramatic, Cliff-Hugging Drive There Are Worth It Alone. Eat Fish And Chips From Sydney's Most Famous Seafood Restaurant, Take In The Tasman Sea On A Walk Past Lighthouses And The Gap And Swim At Small, Secluded Coves.

When You're Ready To Head North Of The Harbour, Hop On A Ferry Or Jetcat To Manly And See Why It's A Sydneysider's Favourite. Meander Through Native Bushland On The Manly To Spit Bridge Walk And Ride A Bike To Fairy Bower. Swim At The Ocean Surf Beaches Or In The Tranquil Inner Harbour. Snorkel At Tiny Shelly Beach And Watch Colourful Lorikeets Fill The Norfolk Pines At Dusk. Manly Also Has Great Shops And A Dining Scene That Takes The Taste Buds On A World Tour.From Manly, Local Buses Take You To The Northern Beaches Of Curl Curl, Dee Why, Narrabeen, Mona Vale, Newport And Avalon-All Famous For Their Laidback Lifestyle And Surf. Eventually You'll Reach Palm Beach, A Long And Beautiful Strip Of Sand Edging Onto A Golf Course, Lush Bushland And Dunes.

Many Beaches Edge Onto Harbour Waters, But The Most Popular Of Them All Is Gorgeous Balmoral. Strung With Cafes And A Couple Of Fine Restaurants, Balmoral Is A Trendy And Scenic North-Shore Suburb With A Resident Flock Of Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos.If You’re Tired Of Rolling Waves, Sydney's Saltwater Pools And Netted Enclosures Are The Quiet Alternatives. They're Perfect For Family Fun With Small Children, Lap Swimming Or Just Floating On Your Back And Looking At The Sky. You'll Find Some Washed By Ocean Waves, Some Hugging The Harbour And Some With Million-Dollar City Views.You Can See Why Sydney's Beaches Are Too Seductive To Resist.

Three Weeks From Sydney

Start Your Australian Adventure In Sydney, Where You Can Climb The Harbour Bridge And Visit The Opera House. Close To Sydney's Fringes, Explore The World Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains Or The Vine-Lined Hunter Valley. Swim With Dolphins In Port Stephens Or In Sparkling Jervis Bay. Fly Or Drive To Melbourne, The Place To Soak Up Culture In The Galleries And Drink, Dine And Shop In Secret Laneways. Drive To Phillip Island, The Mornington Peninsula Or Along The Spectacular Great Ocean Road To Bells Beach And The Twelve Apostles. You Could Also Fly To Australia's Red Centre To Discover Uluru, Kata Tjuta, The Macdonnell Ranges, Kings Canyon And The Outback Town Of Alice Springs.

Week 1: Sydney And Surrounds

Start In The Cobblestone Streets Of The Rocks, The Harbourside Precinct Where Sydney Began. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge And Ride A Ferry Past The Opera House To Manly. Visit The Museums And Historic Sites Along Macquarie Street, Then Wander The Lush Botanic Gardens. Take The Ferry To Watsons Bay Or Enjoy The Panorama On A Harbour Cruise. Learn To Surf At Bondi Beach, Swim In Coogee's Calm Waters Or Head North To Palm Beach. Wine, Dine And Shop In Inner-City Precincts Such As Darling Harbour, Paddington, Surry Hills, Potts Point, Glebe And Newtown. Past Sydney's Fringes, You Can Bush Walk In The World Heritage-Listed Blue Mountains And Spend The Night In A Quaint Mountain Village. North Of Sydney, Discover The Hawkesbury River And Surf Beaches Of The Central Coast. Visit The Hunter Valley Wineries And Swim With Dolphins In Port Stephens. South Of Sydney, Camp In The Royal National Park Or Snorkel Off The Powder-White Sand Of Jervis Bay.

Week 2: Sydney Melbourne

Condense The Sydney To Melbourne Coastal Drive Into Three Days Including A Side Trip To Canberra, Our Capital, Or Fly To Maximise Your Time. Visit Federation Square, Melbourne's Landmark Cultural Space, And Wander Nearby Southbank. Explore The City's Laneways For Alfresco Dining, Jazz And Wine Bars, Cafes And Boutiques. Take The Tram To St Kilda For Cake On Ackland St Or A Stroll On The Promenade. Go Shopping On Bohemian Brunswick Street Or Chic Chapel Street. Walk Through The Royal Botanic Gardens Or Catch An AFL Game At The Melbourne Cricket Ground. Day Trip To Phillip Island To Watch Fairy Penguins Waddle Home En Masse. On The Nearby Mornington Peninsula, You Can Swim With Dolphins And Visit A Spa Or Winery. Drive The Spectacular Great Ocean Road To The Iconic Bells Beach, Otway National Park And The Magnificent Twelve Apostles. Stay In Scenic Seaside Towns Such As Apollo Bay, Lorne And Port Fairy Along The Way.


Week 3: Sydney Red Centre

Fly To Alice Springs, The Outback Hub Of Australia's Red Centre. Browse Aboriginal Art Along Todd Mall And Learn About The Town's Pioneers In Heritage Sites. Bike Ride To Simpsons Gap Or Ride A Camel Across The Simpson Desert. From Alice Springs, Drive The Red Centre Way Or Join A Tour Across The Outback. In The West Macdonnell Ranges, Swim In Glen Helen Gorge And See Standley Chasm Blaze In The Midday Sun. Wander The Desert Oasis Of Palm Valley In Finke Gorge National Park. Trek To The Rim Of Kings Canyon And See The Lost City's Weathered Domes In Watarrka National Park. See Uluru From Camel Back, Helicopter Or Motorbike. Learn About Its Dreamtime Origins Walking Around The Base With An Anangu Guide. Take In The Steep Russet Domes Of Nearby Kata Tjuta On The Valley Of The Winds Walk. Then Head Back To Alice Springs For Your Return Flight To Sydney.