City guides
Australia
New South Wales
Things to do in Sydney
Sydney is one of the world's top holiday destinations, promising a wide range of attractions for all ages. Families can explore the lively sights of Darling Harbour, home to the popular SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and the giant-screen IMAX Theatre.
Those interested in history can wander the cobbled lanes of The Rocks, a historic precinct on the site of Australia's first European settlement in 1788. From here, visitors can climb to the Pylon Lookout on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for sweeping views of the harbour and the Sydney Opera House. Adventurous travellers may prefer the organised BridgeClimb experience, which offers a thrilling ascent to the top of the arch and unforgettable panoramas. For even greater heights, the Sydney Tower Eye provides a lofty perspective over the city, with its open-air Skywalk situated around 880 feet (268m) above the streets below.
For something more relaxing, Sydney has a generous choice of golden beaches, from the iconic surf of Bondi to the many smaller coves around the harbour. The Royal Botanic Garden is another highlight, a peaceful place to stroll, picnic or simply enjoy the views across the water.
Byron Bay
Set near Cape Byron on the far north coast of New South Wales, Byron Bay is one of Australia's most iconic beach destinations, whose long, golden beaches, world-class surf and sun-…
Byron Bay
Set near Cape Byron on the far north coast of New South Wales, Byron Bay is one of Australia's most iconic beach destinations, whose long, golden beaches, world-class surf and sun-drenched, easy-going lifestyle draw visitors year-round. The Cape Byron Track delivers sweeping ocean views and some of the country's best land-based whale watching from winter into spring. Byron also offers plenty of adventure, from sea kayaking with dolphins to skydiving over the coastline, while nearby rainforest reserves add a lush, natural backdrop. A lively cultural scene, anchored by Bluesfest and the Byron Writers Festival, completes its broad appeal.
Website www.byron-bay.com
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains lie roughly 185 to 310 miles (300 to 500km) south of Sydney depending on the resort, and form Australia's premier winter playground. Ski season runs from June t…
Snowy Mountains
The Snowy Mountains lie roughly 185 to 310 miles (300 to 500km) south of Sydney depending on the resort, and form Australia's premier winter playground. Ski season runs from June to early October, with Perisher and Thredbo offering the country's best alpine facilities. Perisher is the largest resort, bringing together several linked ski areas, while Thredbo is known for its village atmosphere and Australia's longest continuous run, stretching about 3.7 miles (5.9km). The region is celebrated for its alpine scenery, welcoming lodges and a modest but lively après-ski scene.
In summer the Snowy Mountains transform into a high-country adventure destination, promising hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and fishing, as well as the chance to climb Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko.
Website www.visitnsw.com/destinations/snowy-mountains
Harbour Bridge
One of Sydney's most recognisable landmarks and a major engineering achievement of its time, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, known locally as the 'Coathanger', was completed in 1932 aft…
Harbour Bridge
One of Sydney's most recognisable landmarks and a major engineering achievement of its time, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, known locally as the 'Coathanger', was completed in 1932 after years of complex construction. Its vast steel arch spans about 1,650 feet (503m) across the harbour, carrying eight lanes of road traffic, two railway tracks and pedestrian walkways between the northern and southern shores. Visitors can join an organised BridgeClimb for sweeping views and an unforgettable sense of achievement. For a less demanding alternative, around 200 steps lead to the Pylon Lookout, an elevated platform about 285 feet (87m) above the water, with exhibits along the way that explore the bridge's history and construction.
Website www.bridgeclimb.com
The Rocks
A good place to begin exploring Sydney's early colonial history is The Rocks, a heritage precinct beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge and part of the area where the first European set…
The Rocks
A good place to begin exploring Sydney's early colonial history is The Rocks, a heritage precinct beside the Sydney Harbour Bridge and part of the area where the first European settlement was established in 1788. The neighbourhood features sandstone buildings, narrow laneways, craft shops and small cafés, along with several of the city's oldest surviving structures, including Cadmans Cottage, built in 1816, and historic pubs such as the Lord Nelson and the Hero of Waterloo. Visitors can collect maps and information from the Rocks Visitor Centre on George Street, and can also climb to the Pylon Lookout on the bridge for sweeping harbour views.
Website www.therocks.com
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, perched on Bennelong Point, is one of Australia's most iconic architectural statements. Completed in 1973 and designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it r…
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, perched on Bennelong Point, is one of Australia's most iconic architectural statements. Completed in 1973 and designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it remains a fully operational performing-arts centre rather than a museum piece. The building houses six major venues, including a Concert Hall seating around 2,679 people, and the 1,507-seat Joan Sutherland Theatre. Originally budgeted far lower and plagued with delays and controversy, the final cost climbed to about AUD102 million. Guided tours and frequent free forecourt events invite visitors to appreciate both its dramatic shell-like roof and its richly layered cultural life.
Website www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Royal Botanic Gardens
Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden is one of the city's great pleasures, a broad sweep of greenery beside the harbour with towering figs, colourful plant collections and superb views. E…
Royal Botanic Gardens
Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden is one of the city's great pleasures, a broad sweep of greenery beside the harbour with towering figs, colourful plant collections and superb views. Established in 1816 on the site of the colony's first European farm, it offers a peaceful contrast to the busy city. Visitors can stroll through fern gullies, the Palm Grove and the Pioneer Garden, home to a young Wollemi Pine, one of the world's rarest trees. The waterfront path to Mrs Macquarie's Chair is especially beautiful in the late afternoon. The Calyx hosts changing exhibitions, and Government House opens for tours on selected days.
Website www.botanicgardens.org.au/royal-botanic-garden-sydney
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's most popular waterfront precincts, a lively area of attractions, dining and public spaces just west of the central business district. Highlights …
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is one of Sydney's most popular waterfront precincts, a lively area of attractions, dining and public spaces just west of the central business district. Highlights include SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the beautifully landscaped Chinese Garden of Friendship, a serene refuge of ponds, pavilions and winding paths created in partnership with the city of Guangzhou. The precinct also offers family-friendly playgrounds, harbourside restaurants and regular events.
The new IMAX Theatre has reopened with modern facilities, and nearby Pyrmont is home to The Star, Sydney's major casino and entertainment complex. Ferries from Darling Harbour connect easily to Circular Quay, Barangaroo and other parts of the city, making it a convenient area to explore on foot or by water.
Website www.darlingharbour.com
Sydney Beaches
Sydney is famous for its long string of Pacific Ocean beaches, most within easy reach of the city. From Palm Beach in the north through Avalon, Newport, Mona Vale and Freshwater to…
Sydney Beaches
Sydney is famous for its long string of Pacific Ocean beaches, most within easy reach of the city. From Palm Beach in the north through Avalon, Newport, Mona Vale and Freshwater to the lively shores of Manly, the coastline offers excellent swimming, surfing and coastal views. Manly is the best known of the northern beaches and can be reached by a scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay or by the Spit to Manly Walk, a rewarding route of bays, bushland and harbour outlooks. South of the harbour, Bondi and the clifftop walk to Bronte remain favourites for joggers, families and beach lovers year-round.
Hunter Region
The Hunter Valley sits about 75 to 95 miles (120 to 150km) north of Sydney and is one of Australia's best-known wine regions, famous for its Semillon, shiraz and long, leisurely lu…
Hunter Region
The Hunter Valley sits about 75 to 95 miles (120 to 150km) north of Sydney and is one of Australia's best-known wine regions, famous for its Semillon, shiraz and long, leisurely lunches. Beyond the vineyards, the broader Hunter Region offers striking natural attractions, including the beaches around Newcastle, the serene waters of Lake Macquarie and the wetlands and coastal forests of the Myall Lakes. To the northwest, the Barrington Tops World Heritage Area rises to 5,203 feet (1,586m) and protects some of the country's most impressive high-altitude bushland. Port Stephens, with its clear water, sand dunes and resident dolphins, is another popular base for coastal walks, whale watching and cruises.
Website www.winecountry.com.au
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains begin just beyond Glenbrook and Lapstone, around an hour to 90 minutes west of Sydney, and are easily reached by train or on an organised day tour. This vast wil…
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains begin just beyond Glenbrook and Lapstone, around an hour to 90 minutes west of Sydney, and are easily reached by train or on an organised day tour. This vast wilderness of sandstone cliffs, deep valleys and eucalyptus forests is one of Australia's most spectacular natural areas, offering superb walking trails and popular adventure activities such as canyoning, abseiling and caving.
Historic towns are scattered throughout the region, with Katoomba the main hub and home to the celebrated Three Sisters at Echo Point. In mid-winter many hotels and guesthouses host Yulefest, a long-running 'Christmas in July' celebration that pairs mountain hospitality with crisp, cold evenings and the rare chance of snowfall.
Website www.bluemts.com.au
New England
The New England region of New South Wales is known for its wide horizons, cool summers and crisp, cosy winters, making it an inviting destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Its main …
New England
The New England region of New South Wales is known for its wide horizons, cool summers and crisp, cosy winters, making it an inviting destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Its main centre is Tamworth, Australia's country-music capital and host of the Tamworth Country Music Festival each January, an event that draws tens of thousands of visitors for concerts, street performances and the Golden Guitar Awards. Tamworth also holds the distinction of being the first town in the southern hemisphere to introduce electric street lighting, a story explored at the local Powerstation Museum. Beyond the towns, New England offers high-country landscapes, national parks and a variety of outdoor activities, from horse riding and bushwalking to fishing and canoeing.
Broken Hill
Broken Hill, in far western New South Wales, is a classic outback town shaped by one of the world's most significant silver-lead-zinc deposits. Mining heritage runs deep here, and …
Broken Hill
Broken Hill, in far western New South Wales, is a classic outback town shaped by one of the world's most significant silver-lead-zinc deposits. Mining heritage runs deep here, and visitors can explore it at museums, heritage sites and mine experiences around the Line of Lode. The town is also known for its thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries inspired by the stark desert landscapes. The Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Centre offers an insight into the organisation's vital work across remote Australia, with displays in the hangar and communications room. Beyond the township, red-earth roads lead to national parks, historic stations and wide open outback horizons.
Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in the city and a major landmark above the Westfield shopping complex in the central business district. Its enclosed observation deck, the Syd…
Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in the city and a major landmark above the Westfield shopping complex in the central business district. Its enclosed observation deck, the Sydney Tower Eye, sits about 820 feet (250m) above the streets and offers clear, 360-degree views across the harbour, coastline and distant ranges. Above this level, the open-air Skywalk platform rises to roughly 880 feet (268m), where visitors, securely harnessed, step onto glass-floored sections for a thrilling look at the city far below. Both levels provide interpretive information and remain among Sydney's most popular viewing experiences.
Website www.sydneytowereye.com.au
Kings Cross
Kings Cross has long been one of Sydney's most storied neighbourhoods, evolving from an early 20th-century hub of theatres and bohemian life into the city's best-known nightlife di…
Kings Cross
Kings Cross has long been one of Sydney's most storied neighbourhoods, evolving from an early 20th-century hub of theatres and bohemian life into the city's best-known nightlife district. For decades it was synonymous with neon lights, late-night venues and a thriving red-light scene, but the area has changed markedly in recent years. Redevelopment, rising residential demand and the reshaping of Sydney's nightlife have brought a calmer atmosphere, with many former adult venues now replaced by cafés, small bars and contemporary apartments. By day the Cross reveals a lively mix of residents, creative spaces and pocket-sized cafés, offering a more relaxed and eclectic side to its once-notorious reputation.
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney's western suburbs offers families the chance to see many of Australia's native animals up close, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and emus…
Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney's western suburbs offers families the chance to see many of Australia's native animals up close, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and emus. Supervised koala encounters allow visitors to stand beside and gently touch these iconic animals for photographs, a rare opportunity in New South Wales. The park is home to a large collection of native wildlife and birdlife, with numerous keeper talks and feeding experiences throughout the day. Facilities include a café, gift shop and picnic areas, making it an easy and enjoyable outing for animal lovers of all ages.
Website www.featherdale.com.au