Sydney 5-day Itinerary
Australia
Where to go and what to see in Sydney to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Mark Chipperfield.
Bucket list experience:
Sign up for a surf lesson
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Australia has been obsessed with surfing since 1915 when Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku toured the country. Since then, Bondi Beach, Sydney’s most accessible beach, has been synonymous with board riding of every kind – from longboarding to boogie boarding.
Bondi Beach is considered one of the best beaches for novice surfers because it offers consistently good surf – although the southern end of the beach, with its powerful right-handers, is generally reserved for more experienced riders. Many Sydneysiders have learned to surf here and Let’s Go Surfing, the resident surf academy, has been operating at North Bondi since 1995.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Australia
Where to go and what to see in Sydney to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Mark Chipperfield.
Getting to Bondi Beach by public transport involves a combined (and arduous) journey from the city by train to Bondi Junction and then bus to the beach. It’s much better in this case to book a taxi/Uber. Many people also cycle there.
Lightweight boards can be hired from a kiosk at Bondi Beach, so anyone can ride the waves. But there are dangers. Bondi has a number of currents (known as rips), hidden sandbars and dangerous breaks.
Let’s Go Surfing at North Bondi offers a variety of surf lessons for adults, families and kids. Private lessons are also available.
The surf school operates all-year-round and while most people want to surf in the warmer months, winter is a great time to be in the ocean, with fewer people around, good waves and crystal-clear water. The school supplies good quality wetsuits.
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Sydney
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
This funky and relaxed mid-size hotel, with its playful surfing vibe, is just five minutes’ walk from Australia most famous beach.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Live like a Bondi local at this stylish, homely guesthouse, just 200m from the surf of Australia’s most famous beach.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Delightfully eccentric, this Victorian villa oozes old school charm and offers one of the handiest addresses in Sydney.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Berthed in the heart of Paddington, this 30-room property is a pleasant alternative to the city’s big brand hotels and offers easy access to most of the major attractions.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
New South Wales, Australia
One of the world’s most dynamic and glamorous cities, with golden beaches, world-class eating and dining and effervescent, friendly people.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
One of the world’s most famous beaches, with spectacular surfing and a vibrant restaurant and shopping scene.
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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