When compared to some of Australia's more naturally spectacular and scenic locations, Sydney has a tough fight to keep the attention of time-strapped travelers. To many, it's just another big city.
Sydney Opera House as seen from the harbor (photo by xiquinho)
Even though I might be a bit biased - I do call Sydney home - I can attest to the city's random and interesting nature. You have to know where to look.
And when you find those quirky and fun bits, you'll be swept away and wondering why you'd ever want to leave. Here are some of the more fun ways to explore Sydney.
Presentation at a South American deli on our Gourmet Safari
Locals in Sydney are familiar with the SBS TV show Food Safari, hosted by Maeve O'Meara. Maeve started showing family and friends around to some of her favorite authentic restaurants across many Sydney suburbs.
This evolved into a food tour company called Gourmet Safari, and boy, are they a lot of fun! My boyfriend and I were given a voucher for a Gourmet Safari for Christmas and booked in for a long Saturday of food from around the world.
The best part? We were introduced to several small shops from lesser-visited suburbs, serving some spectacular cuisine inspired by the cultures of their home countries.
These were places I would never have known without the tour! It's also just a great way to see Sydney and learn more about the different cultures that populate the suburbs.
Go on a local's tour of Newtown (photo by LWY)
Arribaa is a new online venture that was introduced to me through Sydney Travel Massive. The premise of the site is to allow locals to offer tours, covering whatever they might specialize in.
So, if a local girl in Newtown knows a lot about the best coffee shops and cafes, and also likes to knit, you could pay a fee to go on her "tour", creating a scarf along the way. One thing Arribaa is good for - getting a proper local's perspective on their neighborhoods.
Looking cool on the back of a Harley trike.
If you have a "need for speed," a love of leather, and an affinity for feeling the breeze in your hair (or in your helmet), then I suggest signing up for a Harley-Davidson Trike tour.
I know, it sounds silly, and it is, but I had fun on mine. You arrive at the tour booth, and the guide, covered in leather, will help you get into your bad-to-the-bone jacket and top it off with a protective helmet.
Two people can fit on the back of the trike, so bring a friend and prepare for the watching eyes of everyone around you. They're completely jealous.
There are different tour lengths. An hour-long tour might take you around Sydney's Rocks district and across the bridge to North Sydney parklands. A several-hour ride might buy you a trip to the Sea Cliff Bridge just south of the Royal National Park, and a lunch.
A Sydney ferry (photo by dicktay2000)
Being a harbor city, Sydney's ferries are a viable form of public transportation to get you from place to place amongst its sprawling suburbs. Instead of forking out for an actual Sydney Harbour cruise, why not just enjoy the ferry?
You can take a 30-minute ferry ride to Manly in the Northern Beaches - great on a sunny summer day, or you can take a short ferry across the harbor to Mosman and the home of the Taronga Zoo (also home to some of the best city views).
And, please, whenever you are on the beach or exposed to the sun, be mindful of the harsh Australian sun. Always put on plenty of sunscreen. Sunsuit is a good alternative to sunscreen for children.
Cockatoo Island, right in the middle of Sydney Harbour and host to the Island Bar, is just asking for a ferry ride. There, you can kick back a Fat Yak or two with perfect city views.
Sydney at night (photo by kyletaylor)
Sydney loves its nightlife, and you can easily head out for a night on the town at Oxford Street or, if you're brave, Kings Cross. What once looks mild in daylight comes alive at dusk.
Other ways to get into exploring Sydney outside of hitting up a pub crawl at night include:
As you can see, Sydney may not have the mountains or the rainforest, but it sure does know how to show itself off. You can even switch things up by hiring a Tesla rental car for a stylish way to move between attractions. And when the day winds down, you can find great hotels in Sydney that are right in the center of all the activities you would like to take part in.
The post 5 Fun Ways To Explore Sydney appeared first on Go Backpacking.
Sydney Opera House as seen from the harbor (photo by xiquinho)
Even though I might be a bit biased - I do call Sydney home - I can attest to the city's random and interesting nature. You have to know where to look.
And when you find those quirky and fun bits, you'll be swept away and wondering why you'd ever want to leave. Here are some of the more fun ways to explore Sydney.
Sydney Activities
1. Take a Gourmet Safari
Presentation at a South American deli on our Gourmet Safari
Locals in Sydney are familiar with the SBS TV show Food Safari, hosted by Maeve O'Meara. Maeve started showing family and friends around to some of her favorite authentic restaurants across many Sydney suburbs.
This evolved into a food tour company called Gourmet Safari, and boy, are they a lot of fun! My boyfriend and I were given a voucher for a Gourmet Safari for Christmas and booked in for a long Saturday of food from around the world.
The best part? We were introduced to several small shops from lesser-visited suburbs, serving some spectacular cuisine inspired by the cultures of their home countries.
These were places I would never have known without the tour! It's also just a great way to see Sydney and learn more about the different cultures that populate the suburbs.
2. Arribaa Local Tours
Go on a local's tour of Newtown (photo by LWY)
Arribaa is a new online venture that was introduced to me through Sydney Travel Massive. The premise of the site is to allow locals to offer tours, covering whatever they might specialize in.
So, if a local girl in Newtown knows a lot about the best coffee shops and cafes, and also likes to knit, you could pay a fee to go on her "tour", creating a scarf along the way. One thing Arribaa is good for - getting a proper local's perspective on their neighborhoods.
3. Harley Trike Tours
Looking cool on the back of a Harley trike.
If you have a "need for speed," a love of leather, and an affinity for feeling the breeze in your hair (or in your helmet), then I suggest signing up for a Harley-Davidson Trike tour.
I know, it sounds silly, and it is, but I had fun on mine. You arrive at the tour booth, and the guide, covered in leather, will help you get into your bad-to-the-bone jacket and top it off with a protective helmet.
Two people can fit on the back of the trike, so bring a friend and prepare for the watching eyes of everyone around you. They're completely jealous.
There are different tour lengths. An hour-long tour might take you around Sydney's Rocks district and across the bridge to North Sydney parklands. A several-hour ride might buy you a trip to the Sea Cliff Bridge just south of the Royal National Park, and a lunch.
4. Take the Ferry
A Sydney ferry (photo by dicktay2000)
Being a harbor city, Sydney's ferries are a viable form of public transportation to get you from place to place amongst its sprawling suburbs. Instead of forking out for an actual Sydney Harbour cruise, why not just enjoy the ferry?
You can take a 30-minute ferry ride to Manly in the Northern Beaches - great on a sunny summer day, or you can take a short ferry across the harbor to Mosman and the home of the Taronga Zoo (also home to some of the best city views).
And, please, whenever you are on the beach or exposed to the sun, be mindful of the harsh Australian sun. Always put on plenty of sunscreen. Sunsuit is a good alternative to sunscreen for children.
Cockatoo Island, right in the middle of Sydney Harbour and host to the Island Bar, is just asking for a ferry ride. There, you can kick back a Fat Yak or two with perfect city views.
5. Explore Sydney at Night
Sydney at night (photo by kyletaylor)
Sydney loves its nightlife, and you can easily head out for a night on the town at Oxford Street or, if you're brave, Kings Cross. What once looks mild in daylight comes alive at dusk.
Other ways to get into exploring Sydney outside of hitting up a pub crawl at night include:
- Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge at dusk
- Going on a Rocks Ghost Tour
- Taking a Twilight Discovery tour with Understand Down Under
- Taking a Manly 2.5-hour Q-Station Ghost Tour
As you can see, Sydney may not have the mountains or the rainforest, but it sure does know how to show itself off. You can even switch things up by hiring a Tesla rental car for a stylish way to move between attractions. And when the day winds down, you can find great hotels in Sydney that are right in the center of all the activities you would like to take part in.
The post 5 Fun Ways To Explore Sydney appeared first on Go Backpacking.