Sydney 5-day Itinerary

With its scalloped white roofs, instantly recognisable anywhere in the world, Jorn Utzon’s architectural masterpiece – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is rightly regarded as one of the greatest buildings of the 20th Century.

Rather than a single auditorium, the Opera House is a complex of performance spaces hosting music, theatre, ballet and, of course, opera. Book a seat for one of the performances or take the behind-the-scenes tour of this enchanting Sydney icon.

The historic Royal Botanic Garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia, stretching back to the First Fleet, and featuring 30 hectares packed with exotic and native plants.

But what makes this a stand-out amongst botanical gardens is its location, in the most scenic part of the city, right on the harbour. A footpath starting at Sydney Opera House will take you alongside the harbour and through the garden, for a fantastic one- or two-hour walk.

Look out for giant eels in the pond, loud, squawking cockatoos, and huge roosts of giant (and harmless) fruit bats, which hang from many of the trees; they’re a compelling sight.

Movie stars do it, footballers do it, mums and dads do it, even old ladies do it. Bridge Climb is the top attraction in Sydney – and must surely rank as one of the world’s greatest bucket list experiences.

Apart from a few short ladders at the start, it’s a surprisingly gentle ‘climb’ and not nearly as scary as it looks. Views of Sydney Harbour are (literally) breathtaking, and you’ll also learn the fascinating history of the bridge and the Sydney Opera House as you go. So be brave; this unique experience is a must.

When British settlers arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788, they found that a rocky headland nearby was an excellent source of building material. The Rocks became Australia’s first slum, complete with rat-infested tenements, brothels, rowdy pubs and bond stores.

Threatened with demolition in the 20th Century, The Rocks has not only survived but prospered and is now one of Sydney’s must-do experiences – complete with charming streetscapes, a sparkling harbour, up-scale restaurants and a brace of galleries and shops and you have a winning formula.

History buffs will find three of Australia’s oldest pubs (The Lord Nelson, Fortune of War and The Australian) in this historic precinct.

Manly Beach is perhaps second only to Bondi in terms of global fame, but since it lies on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour has its own unique charms – and unlike Bondi there is plenty of street parking. Flanked by Norfolk pine trees, this 1.5km-long strip of golden sand is family-friendly, suitable for surfers and swimmers.

Australia is blessed with a wealth of unusual and exotic species you won’t find anywhere else – koala, kangaroos, wombats, echidnas, platypus. And Sydney’s beloved Taronga Zoo – built into the side of a harbourside cliff and surrounded by bushland – is the ideal place to see them all.

Combine all that with a scenic ferry ride and terrific views across the harbour and a trip to the zoo

is worthwhile for everyone – even if zoos are not usually your thing.

Sydney is famed for its ocean and harbourside pools and this stunning harbourside pool is a stand-out. The Botanic Gardens are on one side, harbour views on the other. Great swim and sunbathing; there’s a fine cafe on site too.

Recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful waterways, Sydney Harbour offers plenty of hidden coves, islands and secret beaches to visit – perfect for kayaking. It’s also a great way to get out and appreciate Circular Quay and the major landmarks from a different perspective – the Opera House, for one, looks very different from the water side.

Guided tours leave from several locations, but Rose Bay and Balmoral Beach are particularly scenic, with sandy beaches, flash waterfront property and plenty of luxury boats. If you want to see some of the city’s famous landmarks, then book a small group tour from the Domain.

One of the world’s most famous beaches and home to Sydney’s beautiful people, this sweeping curve in Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs has evolved from a backpacker destination into a global pleasure palace, brimming with up-market eateries and specialist retail outlets.

Bondi has largely shed its working-class roots and is now home to outdoor gyms, swish cocktail bars and vegan greengrocers. Only the thundering Pacific waves, sunbathers and vigilant lifesavers are unchanged.

Make time in your itinerary for a day at the beach – apart from being rejuvenating and a nice break from sightseeing, it’s a great way to get a taste of the Sydneysider lifestyle.

This stunning 6km coastal walk along the picturesque clifftops between Bondi and Coogee beaches is one of Sydney’s signature experiences, popular with visitors and locals alike.

The clifftop path takes from Bondi Beach, alongside craggy cliffs filled with wild vegetation, past the lovely Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly beaches. There are rockpools, headlands, bays, parks and even a rather scenic cemetery.

You can stop half-way at the pleasant clutch of cafés at Bronte Beach for a burger or a fresh juice (and turn back again for a shorter walk). Take your swimming togs and have a dip along the way.

Launched in 1991 as a young upstart rival to the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) across town, the MCA now plays a major role in the cultural life of Sydney.

As its title suggests, the focus of this waterfront gallery is contemporary art from Australia and abroad. Its own collection of 4,000 works spans all art forms, including painting, photography, sculpture and the moving image.

Its permanent collection consists of works by contemporary Australian artists, including leading indigenous painters. But the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) also prides itself on making modern art accessible to those who generally don’t visit galleries by featuring the work of artists such as Christo, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein.

The MCA also hosts a large number of temporary exhibitions during the year.

Open up your creative mind and contemplate the rich collections here of Australian, Aboriginal, Asian and European art.

This venerable cultural institution has just emerged from a major refurbishment, including the addition of a new wing called Sydney Modern – due to open at the end of 2022. The gallery’s existing works, numbering around 30,000, are being divided between the two adjacent buildings, with Sydney Modern focussing on the work of contemporary artists from Australia and around the world.

Anyone interested in Australian history should head to this fascinating museum that showcases and explores Australia’s naval war history, Aboriginal history and its white settler history. Don’t miss the fully-restored, 19th-century tall ship the James Craig.

Sydney’s infatuation with the ocean means that the Blue Mountains do not get the attention they deserve. Just 50kms from the city, the Blue Mountains National Park comprises 260,000 hectares of native forest, cascading waterfalls and towering sandstone escarpments. The blue tinge you see is a result of eucalyptus oil in the air.

While day trippers are content to view the landscape from a car park, you should really try to experience its rugged beauty firsthand. Guided rock climbing, canyoning or mountain biking are all excellent. Or just pull on a pair of good boots and tackle one of the many accessible hiking trails into the national park – anything from 1 hour to multi-day hikes.