Sydney - A 6 Day Guide
Over my second mid-semester break, I took a 6 day trip to Sydney. I found that to be plenty of time to really explore the city, beaches and surrounding areas, with the point of this blog to give you an idea of how you could structure a trip to the capital of NSW. The map embedded below also shows the locations of all attractions we visited and places to grab a bite, with some extra ideas in there too.
Logistics
Getting There & Around ✈️🚌🚊⛴️
Depending of the time of year you're planning to visit, and day of travel, you can get pretty reasonable plane tickets fly into Sydney. If you know you're definitely going to go on certain dates, then I would advise booking the flights as early as possible. I didn't have the luxury of knowing well in advance, so my tickets were on the more pricey side. Most airlines common in Australia (JetStar, Virgin, Qantas etc) have regular flights to Sydney.
Once you're in the city, getting around is easy, no Ubers or taxis required! The airport is connected to the public transport system, meaning you can catch the train straight into the city centre. Sydney also has a tram and bus network. Between these three options, you can get around easily and at an affordable price too. In that sense, Sydney's public transport system reminds me more of London than Melbourne's, with the added convenience of paying for all transport using your credit/debit card (no need for a separate card while you're there). Depending on where you stay, you can also walk to most places in the CBD.
Where to stay 🏠
Following on from the above, if your budget allows I would recommend staying close to the city centre in Sydney, as that's where the majority of sites are (see map above). Airbnb or hostels are good options depending on your preferences. We stayed in Haymarket, which was well places in terms of; closeness to the airport (30 mins by train), affordability (staying by the harbour was too expensive for us), and distance to attractions. Generally though, Sydney accommodation is expensive, just like the rest of the city.
Day 1
Manly Beach 🏖️
From the main Sydney Harbour you can catch the ferry across to Manly. Ferries are a common way of commuting in Sydney, to get across the harbour, hence the regular trips are well priced. We took the 'fast ferry' which was more expensive but reduced the travel time. Manly Beach is one of Australia's most famous beaches, best known for being the one where the world's first surfing contest was held in 1964. As always, by the coast it can feel colder than in the city, so despite being a sunny day we didn't stay on the beach for too long due to the wind. Whilst on Manly Beach we grabbed some food from Fishbowl - a healthy fast food chain based in Sydney and Melbourne.
Queen Victoria Building 🏛️
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is a 5 level shopping centre located in the middle of Sydney's CBD. It was built in 1898 to replace the original Sydney markets on site. It is a monument to the long reigning monarch Queen Victoria. It is worth having a wander around the different levels inside the shopping centre to admire the stained glass windows, huge central domes and architecture. Most the shops in QVB are high end/independent stores, with also some dining options. There is even an encased letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085!
Rocks Walking Tour 🚶
When I go and visit a new city, one of the first things I do when making an itinerary is to see if there are any free walking tours available - and Sydney did not disappoint! In the evening we went on the Rocks Free Tour - taking us through an area of old Sydney which used to house the convict population. It's a great way to explore Sydney's streets, whilst learning about the history. The tour operates on a 'pay what you think it's worth basis', allowing you to make a contribution at the end if you wish to do so.
Day 2
Sydney Sights Walking Tour 🚶
To help us get our bearings of the city and to visit all the main spots, we did another free walking tour, which pretty much covered the entire city! It was around 3 hours long, and well paced and explained. I would suggest to do this tour early on in your stay in Sydney, giving you time to revisit any sites that you want to spend more time at. Operated by the same company as the Rocks Walking Tour ("I'm Free Walking Tours"), they do a great job at showing y
Sydney Opera House Tour 🎭
After lunch overlooking the Harbour Bridge, we had a guided tour of the Sydney Opera House. It was better than expected, and I enjoyed learning about the origin, architecture, engineering, art and politics that makes the opera house what it is today! On the tour you get given headphones to listen through, meaning you can always hear what the tour guide is saying. If you are interested in learning a bit about the Opera House and want to go inside, a tour is the best way to do so.
Day 3 🥾⛰️
Outside of Sydney in a westerly direction lies the Blue Mountains - a vast region stretching out 11,400km, full of mountains, cliffs, and forest filled valleys. It's possible to do a day trip from the city to the Blue Mountains, with a train running from Sydney Central to Katoomba Station. We caught the 06:53 train from the station, arriving at 08:51 in Katoomba.
To get around the Blue Mountains without a car, we used the hop on hop off bus that runs from Katoomba Station and takes you to various stops which have different hikes. We made our way around throughout the day, stopping off at a few points to complete a walk, and then getting back on the bus to get to our next destination. The walks we had a go at were:
- Echo Point to Three Sisters
- Echo Point to Katoomba Falls
- Devils Hole to Cahill's Lookout
The weather up in the mountains can be very different from Sydney, so check the forecast beforehand and also bring clothes for all types of weather! When we got there it was very foggy, with very limited views over the valleys, but as the day went by it cleared up. I would also advise taking some food, snacks and plenty of water with you as there are limited options to eat and drink at. The day trip to the Blue Mountains was a long day, but very much doable if you start early and spend the day there.
Day 4
Luna Park 🎡
Luna Park is an old-school style theme park across the Sydney Harbour, easily accessible by the ferry which stops right outside it. If you want to feel like a child again for at least half a day, I recommend! It was a good laugh and fun to explore, and being right on the side of the harbour it's a great scenic spot. You can easily spend half a day here, perhaps longer. If you don't want to go on any of the rides and just walk around, you can do so free of charge.
Sydney Harbour Bridge 🌉
Another iconic landmark of this city, we decided to walk back from Luna Park via the Harbour Bridge. You get awesome views of the harbour and get to see this icon up close and personal.
Malatang in Chinatown 🍜
Thought this was worth mentioning as I hadn't heard of it before, but Chinatown in Sydney does have some nice spots to check out for food. We went to a malatang place with a family friend. Essentially, you put in a bowl a selection of ingredients, then you pay for them by weight. The kitchen will then take these and make it into your own customised soup bowl (you can choose the soup base). I got a vegetable soup base with 2 types of tofu, noodles, green beans, beansprouts, Bok choi, potatoes and radish. Very filling so don't overdo the ingredients!
Day 5
Surfing on Bondi Beach 🏄
This was a must-do activity for me, in another iconic surf location. It was my first time surfing, and so booked a lesson with Lets Go Surfing Australia. They were a great company to use, with wetsuits provided. For total beginners, they first take you onto the beach to practice some techniques before trying out the shallow waters. I had a great time, but only then appreciated how tiring it is.
Bondi to Coogee Walk 🚶
After surfing and grabbing some lunch at Bondi, we did the 6km Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, which gave awesome views of the east coast. You'll pass through various beaches, where you can refill your water bottle or use the bathroom, and the route is well signposted (you can't get lost). I preferred Bondi to Coogee Beach, and would recommend that you start this walk early so you have time to chill at one of the beaches.
Day 6
Timezone Games Arcade 🕹️
Something that my mate Vicente suggested that we could do on our final day in Sydney. With an hour to kill before we had to leave for the airport, we made our way to Timezone Games Arcade. Essentially, you can get a card loaded with 60 minutes of game time, and then use any of the machines in the arcade for that duration. Useful to know if you ever have an hour to two to spare.
And that's a wrap for Sydney! I had a great time out there, with the city, nature, history and food scene all making the trip worthwhile.
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