Things to do in Sydney Australia

For day 2 of our 26-Day South Pacific Experience we explored Sydney Harbor. After a good nights sleep from the prior day’s travel, we were excited to explore this amazing people. We booked our Sydney stay at the Four Seasons Sydney Harbor using our American Express points. The location can’t be beat. Being a Four Seasons property, the rooms and service are great. We booked a corner suite with a view of the harbor and the Opera House.

The hotel is located just 1 block from the famed Sydney Harbor and a 10 minute walk to the Sydney Opera House. We walked around the the harbor and the famous Opera House to get our bearings in this amazing city. There’s so much to take in and we have a few days to explore before we board our ship for our 18-day cruise to Honolulu.

Today we walked the famous Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Walk. This is about a 6km walk along some of the most scenic beaches you will ever see.

We took an Uber to get to Bondi. It’s only about a 20-minute ride from the harbor. There are shuttles and a great public transportation system to get you there too.

If you’re in Sydney, this is a must do experience. The walk is relatively level, with a few short inclines along the route. Walking the entire route, allowed us to take in some amazing views. Don’t miss

• Tamarama Point

• Bronte Baths

• Waverly Cemetery

• Clovelly Beach

• Coogee Beach

We returned to our hotel via Uber. It took about 35 minutes to return due to traffic.

Sydney has two iconic structures – the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Did you know you can climb the bridge? It’s not a crazy as it sounds – OK, if you’re afraid of heights it might be a little crazy.

This is a trip you should book ahead of time. You can schedule a time throughout the day, but if you’re gonna do it, splurge on the sunset tour. You start the evening just before sunset at the visitors center. You’ll get suited up in the “hot” blue jumpsuits and a safety harness, then you’re off.

It’s a relatively short walk under the bridge to the catwalk that will lead you to the top. This transition catwalk to get on top of the roadway is noisy and just feet from the main roadway and rail tracks. Speaking of the rail tracks, a train passed less than 10 feet over our heads right as we passed under the tracks. To say I jumped would be an understatement.

After passing safely through the gauntlet of the roadway, the view of Sydney Harbor begins to reveal itself. The walkway is on top of the bridge beams. The space is relatively wide and has safety rails on both sides of you. You’re also tethered in, so it could not be safer. If you’re afraid of heights this might be a bit much, but the width of the walkway makes you feel really safe.

Arriving at the top of the bridge while the sun is setting is a bucket worthy event. There’s a large beam that crosses the top. The view as the sun slips behind the bustling city below is certainly memorable. We took photos at the top and then headed back down the other side. We had to run the gauntlet again and magically timed it with a train again. Same noise, same jump, but it still put a smile on my face.

Learn More About The Bridge Climb

The Taronga Zoo was an interesting experience. We took a ferry across the harbor. This is a short ride and gives you a great view of the city. It drops you off right in front of the zoo. You can walk up the hill to the main entrance or can take the funicular. The walk up is a solid hike. The funicular affords some amazing views and is highly recommended.

The zoo is good sized and steps down the hillside looking across the harbor at downtown Sydney. It’s an experience to check off your list, but a zoo is a zoo.

The Royal Botanic Garden is behind the Sydney Opera House. One side faces the main harbor and the other faces The Rocks, where all the fairy’s dock. This is a beautiful place to walk and get a break from a busy trip.

You cloud walk this area in an hour or so, or spend half a day exploring. If you’re coming from the ferry terminal, grab a take away lunch from one of the many great restaurants in The Rocks for a picnic. This is one of the most idyllic places for one. Pick anywhere to sit and eat. There’s not a bad view in the entire park.