Best Time to Go
Australia’s peak tourist season is during its warmer months (December to February). Low season is May through August. Therefore, the best time to visit Sydney is during the shoulder season when the weather is pleasant – late September to early December.
Top Things to See and Do in Sydney
The Rocks
The Rocks is Sydney’s colonial neighborhood. It has an eclectic mix of art galleries, museums, historical buildings, boutiques, and open-air markets located along Sydney Harbour. The Rocks Markets take place every Saturday and Sunday 10 AM – 5PM. Here you’ll find handmade jewelry, clothing, art, beauty products, and more along Playfair Street, George Street, and Jack Mundey Place. The Rocks Friday Food Market takes place every Friday from 9AM – 3PM along Jack Mundey Place. It’s a fantastic place to come sample international dishes like Indian roti, Turkish gozleme (flatbread), gourmet chocolate, and more…
The Rocks is Sydney’s colonial neighborhood. It has an eclectic mix of art galleries, museums, historical buildings, boutiques, and open-air markets located along Sydney Harbour. The Rocks Markets take place every Saturday and Sunday 10 AM – 5PM. Here you’ll find handmade jewelry, clothing, art, beauty products, and more along Playfair Street, George Street, and Jack Mundey Place. The Rocks Friday Food Market takes place every Friday from 9AM – 3PM along Jack Mundey Place. It’s a fantastic place to come sample international dishes like Indian roti, Turkish gozleme (flatbread), gourmet chocolate, and more…
To best appreciate Sydney’s historic district, I highly recommend the free Rocks Walking Tour offered every day at 6PM. Tours start in front of Cadman’s Cottage in Circular Quay.
If you plan to sightsee on your own, download the free Walking the Rocks App from iTunes.
Sydney Opera House
Named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being one of the architectural wonders of the 20th
century, the Sydney Opera House remains one of the world’s most iconic
landmarks and unmistakable symbol of Australian culture. Situated at the
tip of the Bennelong Point peninsula in Sydney Harbour, it can be seen
for miles by land and sea.
The Sydney Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and took 16 years to build (1957 – 1973). The building is meant to resemble the sails of a ship – an ode to the nautical history of the Sydney Harbour. There are several tours given daily in a variety of languages. Even if you decide not to take a tour or watch a performance, seeing the Sydney Opera House from the outside is still a remarkable site.
Royal Botanic Gardens 
Like Central Park in New York City, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens
provide a lush and tranquil escape for the citizens of Sydney. There
are currently 17 gardens within the park – each with plants from
different climates and regions around the world. Two of my personal
favorites are the Oriental Garden and the Palace Rose Garden. There are
free guided walks available, as well as the Scenic Train tour by Choo
Choo Express. I recommend passing through the gardens on your way to/
from Potts Point and the Harbour, sort of like scenic shortcut. Walk
along the water for magnificent views of the east side of the Sydney
Opera House. Entry to the gardens is free.
Be warned: when the sun sets, the resident fruit bats leave the tree canopies in droves in search of nectar and fruits. At first you may think they’re birds but they are indeed bats – and are completely harmless.
Sydney Fish Market
The Sydney Fish Market is an exciting experience for people of all ages. Even if you don’t plan to purchase the inventory, it’s a great way to see the bounty of Australia’s Pacific Coast up close. Vendors sell fresh-caught tuna, oyster, octopus, crab, prawns, sea snails, scallops, and more. Over 14,500 tons of seafood comes through the market annually of which over half is harvested in NSW. The Sydney Fish Market is also the perfect opportunity for visitors to sample the seafood at one of the waterside restaurants. The market offers cooking classes at its famous Seafood School, which is a great alternative to dining out (approximately $450 AUD for a group of 6).
The Sydney Fish Market is open Monday – Thursday 7AM to 4PM and Friday – Sunday 7AM to 5 PM.
Taronga Zoo
Australia is home to a unique variety of flora and fauna, but it’s perhaps best known for its unique marsupial species. If you’re like me, you can’t possibly leave Sydney without seeing the amazing native creatures from down under like wallabies, kangaroos, Tazmanian devils, wombats, and the endangered bilby. Taronga Zoo boasts over 4,000 animals in more than 50 exhibits.
Taronga Zoo is just 12 minutes from Sydney by ferry from Circular Quay (along the way you’ll get fantastic views of the Sydney Opera House). Ferries leave every half hour. The zoo is open 7 days a week and price is $46 AUS for adults and $26 AUS for children 4-15 years old. When I visited, I took the Wild Australia Experience Tour, which was guided by a zookeeper. I was able to pose with the koalas, go behind-the-scenes to feed the animals, and touch some of the animals (cost: $129 AUS per person). I highly recommend this tour!
Watsons Bay
I recommend spending an afternoon here, and bringing comfortable walking shoes and a hat if you plan to walk to the lighthouse. Do try to eat at Doyles Restaurant, which is right next to the ferry wharf. Aside from the delicious seafood, Doyles has a stellar wine selection and is great for kids too.
Potts Point
Tree-lined streets lined with 1920s Art Deco mansions makes Potts Point one of Sydney’s most charming suburbs. This trendy district is home to some of the city’s most sought-after real estate, as well as stylish boutiques, gourmet dining, and popular coffee shops. Often called the “Manhattan of Sydney,” Potts Point is sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and features a thriving café culture. Stop into one of the many bakeries or coffee shops, or stick around after dark for delectable array of restaurants with cuisines from around the world. Just stroll the sidewalk and stop into whichever restaurant or pub catches your eye. Trust me, there are plenty. If you’re staying in Potts Point and don’t want to pay taxi fares every time you want to get to the harbor/ Central Business District, take the McElhone Stairs down into the center of the city. From the top are great views of the CBD skyline.
Sydney Tower Eye SKYWALK
Doing the SKYWALK at the Sydney Tower Eye is an unforgettable experience for everyone! The Sydney Tower Eye, also known simply as the “Sydney Tower,” has a height of 309 meters (1,013 feet). When it opened in 1981 it was the fourth tallest building in the world, and although its since been surpassed, it still holds the title for being the tallest building in Sydney.
Visiting the observation deck is a must for unparalleled 360-degree views of the city and its surroundings. But if standing behind glass isn’t enough excitement for you, I recommend going on the SKYWALK tour – where you can walk outdoors on a glass platform at 268 meters (879 feet) above sea level. The tour last about 45 minutes and is perfectly safe thanks to safety gear and tethering straps. Your guide will give you detailed commentary on what you can see in every direction – from the Blue Mountains to the west and Botany Bay to the south.
The cost to do the SKYWALK is $70 AUS or $50 AUS when you purchase your ticket online. The Sydney Tower Eye is in the Westfield Shopping Centre, at the corner of Pitt Street and Market Street in the heart of Sydney’s retail precinct. Head up to Level 5 and follow the signs from the food court.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge 
For something more extreme than SKYWALK there’s the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.
Guided tours take visitors up the Harbour Bridge to 134 meters (440
feet) above sea level for epic views of the city and the harbor. Tours
are offered at different times of the day: dawn, dusk, day, or night.
Prices vary depending on the time you choose but the range is $228 to
$363 AUS per person.
Bondi Beach 
Bondi Beach is a must when in Sydney – the laid-back beach
culture and gorgeous scenery just a part of its appeal. Whether you plan
to swim in the turquoise waters, do the coastal walk from Bondi Beach
to Coogee Beach, or go shopping at the local boutiques, Bondi is a
wonderful place to spend the day – somewhere you can shop, drink, eat,
and swim to your heart’s content all while taking in the warm sea
breeze.
A fantastic restaurant that has great tapas-style dishes and great cocktails is Bondi Hardware. When I visited Bondi Beach there was a seaside gallery set up along the costal walk called Sculpture by the Sea – a free annual public event that exhibits sculptures along the way from Bondi to Tamarama Beach. The sculptures are by artists from Australia and across the world. Sculpture by the Sea takes place every year at the end of October.
The suggestions above are in no way the only things to see and do in Sydney! The city has several districts and amazing things to experience. Other “musts” include dining out in the Darlinghurst area, checking out family-friendly activities in Darling Harbour, and taking a wine tasting day tour of the nearby Hunter Valley. The list is virtually endless!
Where to Stay
It’s not a secret – Sydney is not a cheap destination to visit. There are a wide range of hotels to choose from, so I’ll only suggest the ones I am familiar with. I am a sucker for boutique hotels, so I seek them out when traveling. The Harbour Rocks Hotel is a charming luxury hotel in The Rocks. It has just 59 rooms and is located walking distance from the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay ($250 – $330 per night).
Another great boutique property that I enjoyed very much is the Simpsons Hotel in Potts Point. Although a bit removed from the major attractions, this Victorian mansion from the 1800s features large guestrooms and over 40 restaurants within a five-minute walk. Prices start at $180 USD per night.
Have you ever been to Australia? Leave us a comment below with your recommendations for top things to see and do in Sydney?
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