The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Sydney

The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Sydney

The capital of Australia is a fantastic place to spend a weekend. Whether you are looking for a girl’s trip, a romantic getaway for two, or a family vacation, Sydney is perfect for any of those. Surrounded by beauty including the Blue Mountains, the Royal National Park, and the Sydney Harbor, you can get some amazing pictures here. 

And with average temperatures between the 60s and 80s all year long, outside adventures are popular. Sydney boasts dozens of parks, gardens, and other outdoor venues as well as beaches and waterfronts to enjoy. So, don’t forget to grab your sunscreen and camera out of your bag before dropping it off at one of Sydney’s luggage storage locations. 

Friday Night

• Sydney Opera House

After the flight, you may just want to crash at the hotel but if you have the energy, hit some of the nearby attractions that are open at night. If you need an adult beverage or some food, head to the Opera Bar, which is Australia’s most iconic bar. Yes, it is at the Sydney Opera House, which is one of the most famous structures in the country with an incredible view of the harbor. 

• Fly by Night Helicopter Tour

If you are still up for some fun, head out to one of the nightclubs in the area or take a nighttime helicopter tour. You can see Sydney from a Euro copter twin-engine EC135 helicopter where you will pass over the bridge, opera house, and the beautiful Blue Mountains. Flights last about 25 minutes, and they even provide refreshments. 

Saturday

• Thunder Rides

Want to do something unique? Take a trip through Sydney on the back of a Harley. Tour guides pick up all over the city and will design an itinerary just for you. They even provide a leather jacket and helmet. Choose if you want to spend all day on the bike or just take a quick trip. Some of their stops include the Royal National Park, Blue Mountains, Harbor Bridge, and Sydney’s northern beaches.

• Hyde Park

Australia’s oldest park is a fun way to spend a few hours after your bike ride. See the Archibald Fountain, the Anzac Memorial, or meander alongside the Pool of Reflection. Get some selfies with Captain Cook, Major Macquarie, or William Bede Dalley, play chess at the outdoor chessboard, and stroll through the Sandringham Memorial Garden.

• The Rocks Walking Tour

Grab a bite to eat at the Argyle or Sake before taking a 90-minute walking tour of the Rocks along alleys, cobbled streets, and hidden courtyards. Learn the history of the city as well as the best places to eat, shop, and visit. The walk over the Sydney Harbor Bridge is perfect for those stunning selfies. 

• The Rocks Discovery Museum

After your tour of the Rocks, be sure to stop in at the Discovery Museum in a restored sandstone warehouse from the 1850s. Talk to the Aboriginal artists and watch them work on their crafts. See unique items you will not see anywhere else such as Aboriginal tools and weapons. The best part is that it is totally free!

Pylon Lookout

The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Sydney Take a trip up to the Pylon Lookout at the base of the bridge in Dawes Point Reserve. Level one features artifacts from when the bridge was built in 1924. On level two you can see a model of the day they joined the arches of the bridge. The mezzanine has exhibits from the opening ceremony in 1932. And the lookout has a view you cannot see anywhere else. 

• The Gantry

After working up an appetite, head to the Gantry on the other side of the bridge. This unique and intriguing establishment meets the growers and farmers of the food they use so you know it is the best. You can enjoy Sydney rock oysters, roasted snapper, or BBQ kangaroo. For dessert, try the passion fruit s’mores or the malt whiskey ice cream. 

• Barangaroo Reserve 

Take a walk in the Barangaroo Reserve or take a short tour to learn about the Aboriginal Culture in the area. See over 75,000 Australian trees and other flora in the park. You can also take a lift down to the Cutaway, which is a cultural space carved out of the rock. Be sure to stroll along the water’s edge for a good look at the harbor. Then sit on the stargazer lawn to see the stars before heading back to the hotel. 

The Ultimate Weekend Guide to Sydney

• Pancakes on the Rocks

Start your day at the famous Pancakes on the Rocks, which boasts the best view of Darling Harbor. You can have the Aussie Sunrise, which includes pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a grilled banana with pineapple. Or try the Dawn, which is hash browns, scrambled eggs, bacon, and grilled pineapple. If you are really hungry, try the Big Breakfast. It has everything including pancakes, hash browns, sausage, bacon, eggs, tomato, and a grilled banana with pineapple. 

• WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo

After you eat, check out the WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo in Darling Harbor. They have 10 different zones to explore like the Kangaroo Walkabout, Devil’s Den of the Tasmanian Devil, Gumtree Valley where you can see the Koalas, Wallaby Cliffs, the Kakadu Gorge where you will see some big crocs, and the Nightfall Exhibit where the nocturnal animals hide. 

• Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

If you have time before your departure, stop in at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium right next door to the zoo. They have nine interactive exhibits with shark valley, Dugong Island, the Sydney Harbor, Jurassic Seas, and the Penguin Expedition. With over 13,000 creatures of 700 species, you can see just about anything you are looking for and then some. You can also grab some souvenirs from the gift shop and have lunch before going to the airport. 

Before leaving the city, be sure to get some unique souvenirs from the Aboriginal shops or local gift shops and malls. And do not miss out on trying some Australian cuisine or bush food like kangaroo sausage, Witch Etty grubs, smoked emu, or meat pies. You may not get another chance to try it.