How we spent three days in Sydney
I can’t explain how much I love Sydney. I love any city with a beach or water but Sydney seriously exceeded any expectations that I had.
It’s busy and buzzy and fun but still feels so safe and friendly. We explored a bunch of different neighbourhoods and I loved them all – even the CBD. We were also lucky to have great weather and a few friends in the city.
The only downside to Sydney (compared to London, at least) is that it’s not super easy to get around quickly. We either took Ubers or fairly long buses and most journeys we did would have required a change if we’d gone by train. It is fun to catch the ferry around where possible, though.
Anyway… here’s how we spent three days in Sydney.
Day 1: the city
We stayed in the YHA at The Rocks, close to Sydney Harbour. Having paid for a private room with a view of the Opera House it was a bit annoying to find that cruise ships dock in front of it and obscure the view every day! But we weren’t planning on spending much time inside so we let it slide.
Having arrived at 10am feeling jet lagged, we spent our first day wandering the centre and staving off sleep. Our first stop was lunch on the roof of the Glenmore Hotel which was delicious if expensive, and the view was fab.
Next we walked along to Darling Harbour and then back into the CBD for drinks at Cantina OK. This tiny spot is said to have the best margaritas in town and we weren’t disappointed. The menu is small – and we preferred the classic and spicy over the specials – but it’s worth going if you can get a spot. We arrived at opening time on a Sunday and it was full within 10 minutes.
Later on we explored Circular Quay, and had drinks at the famous Opera Bar. Nearby you’ll also find the Botanic Gardens which are free to enter and open during daylight hours. They’re a great place to wander for a while, or walk through en route to another part of town.
Drinking in Sydney
Despite the Aussie reputation for loving a drink, it’s not that easy to do compared to home. Bars close early, you can’t buy booze in supermarkets, and there are restrictions on where you can drink.
At the tiny Cantina OK there’s a huge yard out the front that would be packed with drinkers in London. But in Sydney, licensing means you can't stand and drink beyond the threshold of their building. It’s not a problem and it’s still easy to get a drink when you want one. But it’s something to be aware of if you want to go out to bars and pubs while you’re travelling.
Day 2: the Blue Mountains
On our second day in Sydney it was cloudy and we drove to the Blue mountains for the day. We hired a car from Sixt Sydney City for $96/£45 which was much cheaper and faster than public transport. It was also super easy to collect and to drop off after hours.
Not all hire car companies in Sydney offer free after-hours drop off and they also tend to close early, so look out for this if you’re renting a car for a day trip to the Blue Mountains.
First we drove to the town of Katoomba and stopped at the Echo Point Three Sisters lookout. It’s an iconic view of the misty mountains and can be viewed from different levels.
Next we hiked the ~7km Grand Canyon trail. We did this starting at Evans Lookout, but in hindsight ending there would have been better. The walk took us a bit over two hours (much quicker than the signposts say). It’s fairly easy but with a lot of steps, some steep uphill areas, and some rocky crossings over creeks. But if you’re of average health and fitness this is a beautiful walk through the tree-filled valley.
Finally on our way home we stopped at the amazing Govetts Leap lookout where you get a view of Bridal Veil Falls.
Driving in Sydney
The drive to and from Sydney to Katoomba was about 1.5 hours with light traffic. If you can drive in the UK then driving in Sydney will be easy for you as they drive on the same side of the road as us and follow pretty much the same traffic laws.
Day 3: the beaches
You could easily spend a day each in Bondi Beach and Manly Beach. But we were short on time and jet lag meant we were still waking up super early. So we decided to make the most of it and get both done on the same day.
In the morning, we caught the 333 bus from Circular Quay to Bondi. Our first stop was the iconic Bondi Icebergs, where you can swim in the sea pools for just $10 (£5.20). After an hour swimming and sunbathing there we walked along the beach, swam in the sea, and then had a (v expensive) beer at the Promenade and a Poke bowl from Fishbowl.
We got the bus back to Circular Quay – which was free both ways as the machine wasn’t working – then caught the famous Manly Ferry to Manly Beach. You tap in to pay like on the tube, and the ferry takes about 20 minutes. This is also a better way of seeing the harbour area than taking more expensive cruise excursions, as it’s about $8 (£4.50) each way. You can catch similar ferries to Balmain and other neighbourhoods around Sydney.
We went straight to the tree-lined Manly Beach, but didn’t swim much as there were warnings of blue bottle jellyfish in the area. If you don’t want to sunbathe, the walk around to Cabbage Tree Bay, or further to Spit, are great ways to see Manly. We stopped for drinks on the rooftop at The Glasshouse overlooking the beach, then at 4 Pines Brewing near the wharf before heading back on the ferry.
Want to explore more Australian cities? Here’s how we spent three days in Melbourne.