Visiting Sydney
Our RecommendationS on what to do and how to get around during your time in Sydney.
Arriving in Sydney
Getting around the city
Get a sim card at the airport
Connect your phone with a prepaid Sim Card. You can purchase a sim card at the exit of the airport. There are Vodafone and Telstra retailers and often have traveller specials. On our last trip we purchased plans with 40GB with free talk and text for $30 AUD.
Getting to your accommodation via Train, Airport Shuttles, Taxis, Uber. See below for details.
Transport for NSW - The public transport network for Sydney Metro, Trains, Light Rail, Buses and Ferries. Ubers and taxis are also easily available.
Use an Opal card or pay with a credit card, or debit card. If you plan to use public transport to get around, we recommend getting an Opal Card as you get discounts off your trips.
You can buy one when you arrive either at a train station or any of the partnering retailers
TripView App is the official transit network app. It creates trip plans for metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach services. Plan your trip based on stations, stops and wharves. For bus travel, you can search by route, suburb or stop. It will list all timetabled services with real-time data.
Things to do
Activities in Sydney
Hit the beach - Manly and Coogee are easy to get to on public transport
Explore Manly and Shelly Beach and have lunch at The Boathouse
Walk around the Botanic Gardens, make sure you visit Mrs Macquaries Chair viewing point.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (paid experience), or walk across it for free. (if you’re in Kirribilli - that is the north side of the bridge, we recommend going to BTB Cafe )
Go for a meal or drinks at Opera Bar (at the Sydney Opera House - Circular Quay)
Catch the ferry between Manly and Circular Quay (for stunning views in Sydney Harbour)
See Australian animals at Taronga Zoo in Mosman, there are direct ferries from Manly and Circular Quay.
Visit the Art Gallery of NSW
Visit Breweries - the Inner West Ale Trail
Explore the downtown - George Street, Pitt Street Mall, The Rocks, Circular Quay, Botanic Gardens, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo and Chinatown.
Sydney suburbs to explore
Downtown (Town Hall, Circular Quay, Barangaroo, Haymarket, Darlinghurst, Botanic Gardens, China Town) Surry Hills, Paddington, Newtown, and Manly, Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach.
For more ideas see city guides
Day trips and road trips
Blue Mountains
Royal National Park
Southern Highlands
North Coast (would recommend heading north if you want to do beach things)
South Coast
Our Favourite Eats
Upon writing this, we realised there is an extensive list of things to eat, drink and do. We have added a few of our favourites, and have also attached links to Sydney city guides at the end.
Cafes & casual brunch spots (with good coffee)
Single O Surry Hills (is one of Jax’s favourites)
Paramount Coffee Project Surry Hills(another one of Jax’s favourites)
Gumption Coffee (serving coffee only - find them on the ground floor of the Queen Victoria Building [QVB])
Bourke Street Bakery (one of Ryan’s favourites after a long flight) known for their good coffee, pastries and meat pies.
The Boathouse (Shelly Beach, Manly)
BTB Kiribilli (Kiribilli)
Eat Yummy food
Thai - Chat Thai (Circular Quay)
Malaysian - Mamak - try the roti, (Haymarket)
Aussie Pubs - Jax’s go to meal Chicken Schnitzel & Chips
The Glenmore Hotel Rooftop (The Rocks)
Totti’s - Italian (Town Hall and Bondi Junction)
Japanese Ramen - Ichi-ban Boshi (Town Hall)
Japanese Udon and Soba - Mappen
Sri Lankan - Lankan Filling Station (Darlinghurst)
Continental European - Continental Deli (Newtown)
Snacks & treats
Messina Ice cream
PAFU x Hokkaido baked cheese tart
Black Star Pastry - Modern Australian Patisserie
Bars
The Baxter Inn
Opera Bar (Sydney Opera House)
Cantina Ok!