I was lucky enough to have almost two weeks to spend exploring Sydney (though I wish it were more!), but if I only had a day, and knowing what I know now, there are some things I definitely wouldn’t want to miss. I stayed in a Circular Quay-adjacent, CBD hotel, so I didn’t waste time travelling; I’d do the same again, and here’s how I’d spend the day:
Photo by: Jeff Powell
Thankfully many of Sydney’s most popular sights are pretty close together and almost all butt up against Circular Quay. That’d be my home base, and the perfect place to grab a coffee and quick breakfast at one of the many vendors where food on the run is the specialty. Heading East toward the Opera House (finishing up my delicious meat pie along the way), I’d enter into the Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants from all around Australia are showcased in this massive city oasis along with sprawling lawns and lazing locals. You could spend hours wandering all the different gardens and features of the place, but there’s no time! My favourites were the Fernery (even with the HUGE bats in the trees nearby), Succulent Garden, and Tropical Centre. Signage marks the paths to different destinations
along the way.
Back over to the quay, I’d kill two birds with one stone and buy a roundtrip ferry ticket to the Taronga Zoo (and maybe even grab lunch to take along). The quickest way to get there, a short ferry ride takes you out into Sydney Harbour with must-see views of the Harbour Bridge, Sydney cityscape, and the Opera House. Photo ops abound. Disembark and follow the walkway up to a cable car ride that will bring you over the tops of the animal exhibits to the summit of the zoo (located on a sloping hillside). I’m not the biggest zoo fan, but I’m glad I didn’t miss this one since it’s the best I’ve ever seen and an ideal place to meet countless species of Australia’s unique animal kingdom.
Photo by: Jeff Powell
I’d head back to Sydney and walk west along the quay where the Museum of Contemporary Art is straight ahead. Travelling exhibitions and great galleries give a glimpse of Australia’s thriving Arts scene.
Continuing along the quay there’s a host of bars and restaurants to grab something and people watch, and I’d head to one of Sydney’s poshest hotels for a refreshing pre-drink at the Park Hyatt Hotel’s Harbourbar, located in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge. Then I’d head up into the Rocks – Sydney’s most historic district and the location of some great shopping and dining. Old-time pubs neighbour chic restaurants and bars, so there’d be no lack of choice on how to reward myself for all the walking with an excellent sit-down dinner and a window-shopping wander.
If there was time and energy, I’d catch a cab or train over to Sydney Tower for a perfect nightcap with views of the cosmopolitan Sydney skyline twinkling out before me while I figured out a way to extend my trip for just one more day to cover all the great shopping I’d missed!