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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

48 hours in Sydney

5 replies

Artesia · 13/07/2024 22:26

Am travelling to Australia for work later in the year, and am flying out early so I have a weekend to recover before a full on 10 days of meetings and internal travel. So I will have 48 hours free in Sydney. Any tips on must-sees? Am beyond excited about being away on my own (while poor DH mans the fort with 3 children) so want to make the most of it!

Thanks

OP posts:
Bankholidayboredom23 · 13/07/2024 22:28

The main sites are close to each other so 48 hours is plenty. The CBD itself is actually quite small. You can tick off the opera house, sydney harbour bridge and botanical gardens all at the same time virtually.

TeamGeriatric · 14/07/2024 07:51

If you are fit, I would get out and walk. Darling Harbour is nice, but no one big attraction, the Chinese gardens are attractive, but probably no need to visit the aquarium or the wildlife park. You could actually visit the Chinese gardens and then stroll from their along Darling Harbour to Barangaroo, and onwards to Walsh Bay under the harbour bridge, and all round circular quay, through the botanic gardens and finishing at Mrs Macquaries chair. That's a good 8kms. I also like a stroll around Bradley's Head by Taronga on the North side, or on the South side, at Vaucluse, around either Nielson Park or South Head. The views of the harbour are beautiful from these places. The first is probably easiest by public transport, take the ferry to Taronga and then just stroll. If you want activities you can walk/climb up to the mid-point on the bridge, courtesy of Bridge climb, that's very expensive but of course the views are stunning. Also you should check out some aboriginal art in the Art Gallery of NSW. More walking, but the Coogee to Bondi walk along the ocean front is popular, but not completely unmissable. It gives a different perspective of the city.

Make sure you get ice cream from Gelato Messina, there are several branches, at least once. Seek it out over alternative brands, you won't regret it. We also like to get a 'hug in a mug' at Max Brenner, it's hot chocolate, and Emporers puffs from the window in China town. There are lots of restaurants with views in circular quay, but you need to check the cruise ship schedule as the boats can entirely block the view! Food with a view is not always great/good value unless you are eat in either Aria or Quay, which will cost you a fortune. Both Sushi and Thai food is almost always much better in Australia than the UK. There is a little area they call Thai town near central station, with a wealth of Thai restaurants. We have a habit of eating at Sushi bar Makoto, but other places are probably just as good for sushi. Sydney prices for everything are high unfortunately.

chatw0o0p · 17/07/2024 11:00

Great ideas from @TeamGeriatric. I would also add a variation: get the ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo - and you can walk around the waterline to Balmoral Beach. Stop and admire the views, sit down at Clifton Gardens for a while and maybe have some fish and chips or a coffee & cake when you reach Balmoral. You can catch a bus up the hill to Military Rd (or walk if you're still keen!) and get back into the City easily from there. It's all very clearly marked and no danger of getting lost.

I also like to pick up some bakery snacks (Circular Quay has a couple of food court type areas) and then walk up the hill to the Botanic Gardens, find a good looking bench and enjoy my goodies! You can then go onto the different areas of the Gardens (succulents, fernery etc). If you keep walking, you can end with some culture in the Art Gallery of NSW. None of this is far from the CBD, where I imagine you'll be staying anyway (?)

Also be sure to visit the Strand Arcade and the QVB for some beautiful surroundings and some window shopping (everything will be $$$). Can recommend a visit to Haigh's chocolate shop as well - there's a store in each of the Strand & QVB. I can recommend the Dark Davidson Plum Block as an usual but delicious taste of Australia. They also have some cute gift tins (etc) if you want to take some home!

Can also recommend Gelato Messina 😀 There's an outlet at Circular Quay and Martin Place (off the top of my head).

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 17/07/2024 16:27

My highlights.
The Bridge Climb - my No1 all time bucket list ✅
Walk from Bondi to Coogee - stunning
Contemporary Art Museum and the view from the rooftop cafe
Gelato Messina in Surry Hills
Ferries around the harbour to Manly and Balmoral. Watson Bay for Doyle’s fish and chips.

BIWI · 18/07/2024 21:21

A boat trip around the harbour is always good.

Get one of the ferries to Manly and go and have lunch there. There's also a lovely aquarium there.

And Taronga zoo is great. Really lovely location. The cable car back down gives you the most fabulous view of the harbour.

Taronga Zoo Sydney | Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Taronga Zoo Sydney is a zoo located on shores of Sydney Harbour, only 12 minutes by ferry from the Sydney CBD. The Sydney icon is home to over 4000 animals from over 350 species.

https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo

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