Top Ten Tuesdays – Things to do in Sydney

When people think Australia, the first city that normally comes to mind is the city of Sydney. With its famous opera house and stunning oceanfront location, Sydney will wind up on most travelers “to visit” list without much of a thought. This week’s “Top Ten Tuesdays” post breaks down the best things to see and do on your next visit to Sydney.

Sydney Opera House
The ultimate icon of Australia and cultural centre of the nation, the Sydney Opera house is a must see attraction – but better yet you can also go inside and experience some of the most varied and world-class musical performances. You will find blues, jazz, dance – and of course, opera!

Bondi Beach
Step out of the congested streets to join the Sydney’s residents, workers and visitors to the city on one of the finest beaches on the planet. Beautiful Boni is just a stone’s throw away from the bustling city – seven kilometres of white sand and azure sand await.

Royal Botanical Gardens
Originally the private gardens of the county’s governor during colonial times these Victorian gardens have been open to the public since 1831. They now house historic plant specimens going back to 1770 on its 34 hectare grounds. There are 45,124 plants in total from 10,960 different species so it may take some time to take in even the highlights of these splendid gardens.

Sydney Harbour Cruise
Enjoy a romantic fine dining experience while taking in one of the finest harbours in the world – framed by the skyline of a modern metropolis. Or simply book yourself into one of the sightseeing ferries that cruise Darling Bay, possibly with a glass of fine Australian wine to help you really relax.

St George Open Air Cinema
During January and February watch the greatest films of the silver screen by moonlight in the unforgettable location in the very heart of the city. There are premieres from Hollywood or art-house classics to be seen.

Nightclubbing
From trip-hop to grudge, drum and base to the underground party scene – Sydney has a well-developed clubland and a myriad of bands and DJ’s to choose from on any given night of the week. Sexy burlesque nights draw massive crowds and are becoming the signature acts of this vibrant town.

Sydney City Architecture Walk
Take in the bright lights and explore the back streets of this iconic city. You can take in the historic Customs House, the symbol of a nation – Australia Square Tower, which dominated the skyline when it was built in 1970.

Sydney Festival
Summer in Oz is from December to February so at the very height of the season, from January 8-30 the city’s very own festival opens. With music, theatre, dance, visual arts and talks from Australian and International performers this is an event not to be forgotten. Over one million people flock onto the streets to take part in this celebration of one of the Southern Hemisphere’s greatest cities of culture.

Koala Bear Sanctuary
Want to visit these hugely charismatic creatures in their natural environment? Watch them climb trees and laze about as only koalas can do. But even better than that, if you choose the right time you’re free to hand feed the cuddly critters as well as the kangaroos, dingoes, wombats, wallabies and emus that make their home here.

Martin Place
Australia’s very own Wall Street – this is the financial heartland of the country and an architectural gem. Building started in the 1860’s and the business district retains the same Victorian charm and swagger. With the benefit of pedestrianisation it is also clean and easy to navigate – just make sure to look up or you’ll miss out!

This post is by Leon Levy. Leon is a British writer specialising in travel, the environment and current affairs. He has a particular interest in the Middle East and South Asia. The content and photos of this post are not the property of BackpackingWorldwide.com but are used with permission.

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