1) Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous architectural landmarks in the world and it doesn’t matter how many photos you have seen it will still wow you when you see it for the first time. Spend the morning walking around the Opera House and taking great pictures with the glorious harbor as a background.
If you would like to learn all about the history of this famous landmark you can book to go on a guided tour. They offer two tours which can easily booked online. The first tour is a standard one hour tour and very popular with tourists. The second tour is a very in depth tour offering backstage access but it is very costly.
Once you have seen all you want to of the Opera House take a stroll around Circular Quay. Here you will find some great cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy your meal with spectacular views of the harbor. One of the best bars in the area is the Opera Bar. This is a great place to grab a drink but it can be very busy on weekends.
2) Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are a world listed heritage and here you will really feel at one with nature. These mountains are named so due to the evaporating eucalyptus oil leaving a blue haze.
There are a lot of tours operating from the city center so you can pick the best tour for you and your budget. Most tours stop off on the way at the Featherdale Wildlife Park for about forty minutes. This is not a huge wildlife park so forty minutes is enough time to see everything.
Once at the Heritage Park you can go on rainforest walks and ride the steepest railway in the world. There is also a great cable car so you can see great views of the mountains.
3) Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is the most famous beach in Australia and well worth a visit. Bondi Beach is a great place for surfers, swimmers or for those who just want a day soaking up the sun.
Bondi Beach is very accessible from all parts of Sydney by train and shouldn’t be much more than a twenty minute journey. Once at Bondi Junction you need to catch a bus to the sea front, the fare is very reasonable and you can purchase a train and bus ticket at the same time.
If you fancy doing a spot of shopping before you head off to the beach there is a great Westfield shopping center at Bondi Junction. All the major Australian chain stores are there and there are some great places to grab lunch.
4) Sydney Harbor Bridge
The world’s largest steel arched bridge is an amazing sight, if you choose not to climb the bridge then walking along the footpath is a definite must.
Booking to take part in the bridge climb is easy to do online but it is a little bit pricey. The climb takes three hours when you include all the safety preparations. The climb is not too hard so all fitness levels can take part. Once you reach the top you will be greeted with amazing views of Sydney and this makes the price well worth it. You are not aloud to take cameras with you on the climb but you are given a souvenir photo of the whole group at the top of the bridge.
If finding out about the history of the bridge interests you then head over to the Pylon Museum situated on the Harbor Bridge. The museum is full of facts and there is a short video on the making of the Harbor Bridge. There is a charge for entry but if you have taken part in the bridge climb you will receive a free pass.
5) Taronga Zoo
Taronga ZooTaronga Zoo is a huge zoo opposite to the Opera House and is a great day for all ages.
To get to Taronga zoo you need to catch a ferry from Circular Quay. You can purchase a joint ticket at the ferry terminal which includes return ferry trips and the entry to the zoo. This is well worth doing as you can avoid queuing to purchase tickets when you arrive at the zoo.
The zoo is full of all different types of animals and you can also partake in an animal encounter for an extra charge. All the information relating to the animal encounters will be on your guide map along with the costs. The zoo also has a great eatery offering a wide variety of hot and cold food.
