10 Things To Do In Sydney – Awesome Weekends Away

Posted on August 29, 2011 - By Michael

Friday

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

BridgeClimb Sydney welcomes visitors from around the world to enjoy the ultimate experience of Sydney on the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. Trek up the side of the bridge in a group from any time of day – dawn, day, twilight and night – and enjoy a group photo of your achievement from the top. Check out the visitor centre while you’re there and enjoy the free entry while learning more about Australia’s iconic structure. This is a great way to start your weekend as you look out over the city that you’re going to be spending your time in. The views stretch for miles and it offers one of the best views around of the Sydney Opera House.

Photo Credit: Wilf

Hyde Park Barracks

Australia, and Sydney in particular have a rich history of criminal containment after Britain, which at the time was the head of a huge empire, started shipping their criminals over. This building was built in 1818 to house men and boys and continued to do so for 30 years, before being turned over for a number of different uses. Nowadays, this large brick building is open as a museum for visitors to explore the history of what happened all those years ago. Tourists who visit the building will discover the daily lives of convicts and Sydney’s male convict labour force, Australia’s convict system, excavated artefacts, exposed layers of building fabric and the complex’s rooms and spaces. It became a world heritage site in 2010 because it’s “the best surviving examples of large-scale convict transportation and the colonial expansion of European powers through the presence and labour of convicts”.

Photo Credit: Newtown Grafitti

Explore the Royal Botanic Gardens

This park is right, smack bang in the middle of it all, bordering the Sydney Opera House with views of the Harbour Bridge. The Botanic Gardens were founded on this site in 1816 and began Australia’s long history of collecting and studying of plants thus making this the oldest scientific institution in Australia, playing a major role in the acclimatisation of plants from other regions. Be sure to dedicate enough time to properly exploring these gardens, viewing the plant life, ponds and pyramid glasshouse and look out for the 22,000 Grey-headed Flying Foxes, a large species of fruitbat which have colonised the area.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Boriss

Sydney Tower Buffet

This isn’t the cheapest restaurant in the city, nor does it have the best food or service, but what it does have is, by far, the best view of the city, in the city. This is Australia’s highest dining venue and hosts an all you can eat buffet which is a mix of local and international cuisine, the freshest seafood, Australian native meats such as emu, crocodile, kangaroo and camel, along with salads and mouth watering desserts. Be sure to book ahead as this is a very popular restaurant, especially in the summertime. Don’t forget to bring a camera to dinner and sit by the window to really make the most of it.

Photo Credit: Karl Baron

Sydney Opera House

Finish off your evening with a night of entertainment in one of the most famous buildings in the world – the Sydney Opera House. The building is so architecturally spectacular that the designer ended up winning the the Pritzker Prize, architecture’s highest honour, in 2003. If someone asks you to think of a building in Australasia, not just Australia or Sydney, you invariable think of this one, and seeing as you’re in the city, it would be a shame not to see a show there. The grand concert halls hosts a show every night and seats 2,679 and contains the worlds largest tractor organ. If you get a chance to see the Sydney Symphony on your trip, then I strongly recommend it.

Photo Credit: bdearth

Saturday

Susannah Place

This is my favourite little hidden gem in Sydney that’s not overrun with tourists like other activities on this list. This is less of a history tour and more like a step back in time as you work your way around the four terrace houses, each preserved at a different point in the 19th or 20th century. The museum tells the stories of the often overlooked lives of working class people and the neighbourhood in which they lived, played, worked and struggled a the corner shop in stuck in 1915 and faithfully still sells the goods from that era. This is a really unique museum and is a real eye opener to what life used to be like for the work class in that area – a must visit in my opinion.

Photo Credit: Jason B

Jet Boating

Sydney seems to have somewhat of a fascination with jet boats with a whole load of different companies offering jet boat tours on some of the fastest commercial jet boats in the world. Prices range from $45-$280 and if you look around you may get one that takes you from Sydney Harbour to Bondi Beach, but they all pretty much go back to where they came from. This is an incredibly high speed pursuit where you’re likely to get very wet (even with a poncho on), and the sharp turns and spins will sling you around your seat like an old rag doll. This is not advisable for anyone with a heart condition, but very advisable to anyone who’s a bit of a thrill seeker.

Photo Credit: Craig Mort

Bondi Beach

This is one of the most famous beaches in the world, with it’s expansive sandy shores and awesome waves. This is about 4 miles out of town, but at times can be equally crowded, only with a slightly more relaxed crowd. If you’re an avid surfer then head down to the south end of the beach where the waves have a rating of 7, and flags are used to mark out a safe area for you. If swimming’s more your thing then the north end of the beach is a great spot, but can get a little crowded. There’s not many sports available in this area because of how popular of a location it gets, but it’s a really great way to spend an afternoon in the sun, building up an appetite for dinner.

Photo Credit: George Grinsted

BBQ in Bronte Park

When you’ve dried off, pick up some food and head south the Bronte Park for some fresh outdoor barbecuing. This park is right by the beach and it’s green lawns are ideal for throwing a ball about while someone else is doing the cooking. All the white tents in the photos below contain open grills where anyone can turn up and start cooking whatever they fancy. This really speaks a lot about the Australian lifestyle and their laid-back nature, just be sure to follow the BBQ etiquette and clean up after yourself. Relax in the evening sun until you fancy a cool beer or cocktail to finish the day off with at the Fringe Bar in Paddington.

Photo Credit: Stuart Hamilton

Fringe Bar, Paddington

This is a fun, young and vibrant bar is decorated in a mixture of black and white photos, bare brick walls, velvet curtains, cool lampshades and kitsch wall decorations. The food is reasonable priced and very tasty, but if you’ve just had a BBQ, maybe stick to the desert menu. Of course, we wouldn’t just recommend any old bar to you, the Fringe Bar offers live acts and DJs, trivia, karaoke and a Monday Night Comedy line up, which is one of Sydney’s favourite and longest running comedy nights. Finish your weekend with a few cocktails in this bohemian paradise, chatting with locals and tourists and dancing to that latest new music.

Photo Credit: Muse Lin

Complete an activity on the Bucket List 500

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The Facts: Go Snorkeling

How much:

I recommend doing this as part of a day long boat trip where you'll stop at various spots recommended by locals to the region you're stay in. This way you'll get to see the best wildlife and fish with minimal fuss and this costs anywhere between £20-£40 depending on the location.

Who should do this:

Anyone looking to explore the underwater wildlife that's typically only seen on a screen for most.

Description:

Snorkeling is the simplest way to see the most spectacular living coral reefs and tropical fish in the clearest blue water of the world.

On Fiked:

2 people want to do this