- Australia -
Part 9: Sydney
During my stay in Australia (I have returned back home now) I flew south to pay a visit to beautiful Sydney. Sydney is a vibrant, beautiful and multicultural city located in the state of New South Wales. There is a lot to do and a lot to see, so I tried to pick the best and share my personal favourite list of Sydney. Of course this doesn't come from an insider's point of view, leaving amazing places out, which I haven't come around to see while I was there. If you can, I recommend getting around Sydney by foot to take in the metropolitan atmosphere better.
1st start your day with pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks (4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks); they're delicious and don't use all of your travel money up
2nd walk around the Rocks and learn about the origin of Sydney
3rd play a game of chess at Darling Harbour
4th visit The Strand Arcade, one of the oldest shopping centres in Australia (1891) and only remaining arcade representing Victorian Sydney; you will feel taken aback a hundred years whilst wandering around in the architecturally inspiring building
5th spend more time at Coogee Beach and less at Bondi Beach; it's less crowded, more beautiful and less touched; go hiking along the coast to find your personal favourite beach
6th hop on a ferry to Manly Beach and compare the Nothern Beaches to the Southern ones
7th relax and have a picknick at the Hyde Park or at the Botanic Garden of Sydney after a long walk around the city's CBD
8th visit the Opera House and the "Coathanger" (synonym for the Harbour Bridge) preferably around sunset time to see it both at day and night
9th have dinner in the multicultural and hip district Surry Hills; I can recommend Mexican Burrito Cantina (612 Crown Street, Surry Hills) for a good old bowl of Nachos and Churros for dessert
10th book a day tour to the Blue Mountains and go hiking to see the beautiful forest and astonishing waterfalls
I hope this list gives you a few ideas for your next trip to Sydney. Backpackers and budget travellers, most of these activities are free of charge or only cost a few dollars, so ensure you make the most of your Sydney experience. You'll need a good pair of shoes and a lot of energy and motivation and a well packed lunch to not give in to the touristic traps!
Steph