Who doesn’t enjoy a trip to the Land Down Under and visit the iconic Sydney, Australia–a destination great for adults and kids alike?

This is a destination guide, intended to provide assistance for you as you plan your own visit to Sydney, Australia. We paid for all attractions out of our own money and do not have any relationship (financial or otherwise) with the operators of the services described below. That allows us to give our honest feedback about what we did and did not like.

How long to stay?

I’ve been to Sydney, Australia twice. My first visit lasted a full week and my second visit was just a brief layover, in town for less than 36 hours. Jenn, on the other hand, has been to Sydney a couple more times than I have, including a 3-month period of her life where she lived here. If you’re coming here for a first visit to the city, I think planning for around 4 nights is a good start, though I wouldn’t mind tacking on an extra day or two myself.

Sydney is a beautiful city on the water with iconic structures like the Sydney Opera House or the Sydney Harbour Bridge. When you start feeling like you’re running out of things to do, just hop on a ferry and head somewhere else where you might find something new you weren’t expecting.

Take the ferries in Sydney

Along the lines of the above, it’s quite easy to stumble upon a ferry in Sydney. Most will depart from Circular Quay, which additionally has a light rail stop outside and multiple bus routes.

Even just riding the ferry gives you and the family some nice time outdoors. There are also plenty of indoor seats and ferries are typically two stories tall. Plenty of room to fit everyone who needs to travel.

If you want better views, take paths that head to the east from Circular Quay, such as routes to Taronga Zoo or Manly Beach. Then you can get a view of the Sydney Opera House in frame. Paths that head west will typically cross under the Sydney Harbour Bridge but views of the opera house are limited.

Top Things to Do in Sydney

Taronga Zoo

Link to official site: https://www.taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo
Good for ages: All ages
Accessible via: Ferry
Stroller-friendly: Yes

Who doesn’t like visiting a zoo that has something for everyone? In our opinion, some of the best features of the Taronga Zoo are:

• Plenty of local animals
• Lovely views of Sydney across the water
• Overnight options if you want to prolong your stay, with behind-the-scenes tours or a chance to see animals roaming in their natural habitat from the comfort of your room
• Additional activities and experiences to boost your stay

Admission to the zoo is actually reasonably priced at $144 AUD for the family (~$102 USD). Some of the highlights for the kids include the quokka, red kangaroos, and dingoes.

For more on our time at the Taronga Zoo, check out our dedicated post to the attraction.

Bondi Beach

Good for ages: All
Accessible via: Bus (333)
Stroller-friendly: No

Bondi Beach has a claim to one of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches. The sand is soft and the backdrop is lovely. Experienced surfers might also enjoy it here with a bit more waves than at other nearby beaches.

The downside to this beach? If you’re staying in the Sydney CBD (Central Business District), you’re going to have limited options to get here. You’re not going to find a ferry to take you here. Instead, if you’re looking for public transit, you’re limited to taking a bus. Sure, you can take Uber, but don’t expect it to be cheap. (For completeness, there are also hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus tours that come here too.)

The light rail ends up in Bondi Junction, but that’s still about a 30 minute walk over to the beach.

However you get here, bring your beach gear and spend a nice day swimming, playing in the sand, exercising, or just hanging out.

Manly Beach

Good for ages: All
Accessible via: Ferry
Stroller-friendly: No

How about a different beach that is much easier for those in Sydney CBD to visit? Manly Beach is just a ferry ride away, making it quite convenient.

There’s a bit of a friendly rivalry between Manly and Bondi, which both vying for Sydney’s top beach. While the beaches are similar, the water tends to be a bit calmer at Manly. That can make it more suitable for younger children, but experienced surfers might disagree.

The terrain surrounding Manly is a bit flatter than at Bondi. Between the two, Bondi has more of an iconic look to it than Manly does.

But still, there’s plenty of beach here to soak up the rays. Bring plenty of sunscreen!

North Head

Next to: Manly Beach
Good for ages: Ages 8 and up
Accessible via: Ferry
Stroller-friendly: No

While you’re at Manly Beach, you might be interested in taking a relaxing hike. Just head south from Manly and you’ll be making your way to North Head, which offers dramatic views of the Sydney coastline.

You can see the rough idea of the area on the map below. To get to North Head from Manly Beach, head along the water to Shelly Beach, then you’ll find a walking path down towards The Barracks Precinct on your way to North Head. It’s about an hour walk in one direction, so depending on how long you want to explore, consider this to be 3-4 hours roundtrip.

Some of the path is on uneven terrain, but there are metal grates laid down to create a path. In other words, you probably don’t want to bring small children on this hike. I could imagine bringing children as young as 8 or 9 on this hike but they need to be more interested in nature.

About halfway through the hike, you’ll come across The Barracks Precinct. This is a historic site once used by the Australian Army where you can see the living quarters and even some artillery and weaponry (no longer active). There are tours that some companies do of the premises and underground tunnels over the weekend. Or, you can be like me and explore it on your own as you head to North Head.

Once you get to North Head, you’ll see some signage to welcome you to the site. I would argue it’s hard to get lost.

Once you get to North Head, watch your step because you could just walk right off if you weren’t paying attention. There are no protective railings to stop anyone from having a bad day.

As you can tell from the cliffs below, you don’t want to be walking off into the water. The cliffs around here are quite dramatic and truly are the star of the show at North Head. If you like hikes, this is an easy one with a clear payoff at the end of it.

Sydney Opera House

Link to official site: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
Good for ages: All ages, depending on the program
Nearest rail station: Circular Quay
Stroller-friendly: N/A

It can be easy to overlook the fact that the legendary Sydney Opera House actually houses performances, orchestras, and plays. Sometimes it feels like what many do is just look at the iconic sails on top and assume it’s just a landmark.

Check out their schedule and see if there’s something that works while you’re in town. They do have programming for all ages, though it might not be in the main concert halls.

Royal Botanic Garden

Next to: Sydney Opera House
Good for ages: All ages
Nearest rail station: Circular Quay
Stroller-friendly: Yes

Want to take a peaceful walk through the gardens and not need to travel anywhere to do it? The Royal Botanic Gardens may be right up your alley. These gardens surround the Sydney Opera House. Come here in the morning, and you’ll find a lot of Aussies getting their morning exercise in. Winters are mild in Sydney, so stop running at your hotel treadmill and come jog here instead.

Be sure to spend a good hour here just roaming the grounds, which is what we did with the kids. The Royal Botanic Garden is open daily from 7AM to sunset.

You could plan certain paths through the garden, but we just liked meandering and trying to get lost. I’ve always stopped by the gardens after a long flight from the United States. Something about feeling the sun’s rays here just gives extra energy.

Luna Park

Link to official site: https://www.lunaparksydney.com/
Good for ages: All ages
Accessible via: Ferry or train
Stroller-friendly: Yes

How does an amusement park sound that’s located right along the waters of Sydney Harbour? Luna Park offers rides and entertainment for kids of all ages, including adults who are kids at heart. Some consider it to be Sydney’s Original Playground, but we just call it fun.

It’s located right across the water from The Rocks and Circular Quay, on the other side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Ultimately, that means it’s easily accessible via ferry or train.

Before you head over here, check the hours of operation. Typically they are open late enough on Fridays and Saturdays, but Sundays are a half-day, and the rest of the week might just be open around lunch time.

BridgeClimb Sydney

Link to official site: https://www.bridgeclimb.com/
Good for ages: 8 and up (minimum height is 1.2 meters or 47″)
Nearest rail station: Circular Quay
Stroller-friendly: No

Speaking of that Sydney Harbour Bridge, how about actually scaling it? Yes, we’re talking about the famous bridge below that links the Sydney CBD to North Sydney. But, no, you don’t need to be Spider-Man to climb it. Thankfully, there’s a safe, fun way to do just that and it’s via BridgeClimb Sydney.

If you zoom in close enough, you might even see them. You’ll scale up the south side of the bridge and make your way up to the top around where the two flags are positioned on top of the bridge. Then after a few celebratory pictures, you can make your way back down the same side you just scaled.

In case you’re worried about falling, don’t be. You are tethered to the structure, so there’s no way that you’ll fall into the deep, cold waters below. Jenn and I did it before and didn’t feel scared at all.

If you manage to come up here in the evening, you’ll get a great picture with the Sydney Opera House in the background. Remember that young children can’t join you, which means this might not be the best family activity depending on the age of your kids. And you can’t bring your own camera up here, so you’ll be forced to buy their photos if you want a memento of your climb. Still, we really enjoyed this one!

Cockatoo Island (Wareamah)

Link to official site: https://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/en/
Good for ages: 8 and up
Accessible via: Ferry
Stroller-friendly: Yes

Cockatoo Island (also known as Wareamah to the Aboriginals) is Sydney Harbour’s largest island. What does one do with a large island in the harbour? Well, the island itself has a lot of history, ranging from a shipbuilding yard to a prison and even a boarding school for children. Odd that children would be at a site that used to house convicts but Australia is a little quirky.

The site is actually free to visit–you just need to pay for the ferry to come over here from Circular Quay. While here, you can spend some time learning about the history of the island, such as seeing cannons that now serve as monuments of the past.

And you can spend time wandering the halls and buildings. There are tours here that you can take, which help bring the island to life a bit more. While there is no hard cutoff for ages (technically you can bring babies here), the subject matter seems more interesting for kids who like a bit of history. I could see our 6-year-old complaining about a visit, so I’d put the age around 8 to enjoy this one.

Blue Mountain / Three Sisters

Good for ages: All ages
Accessible via: Train (exit at Katoomba)
Stroller-friendly: No

This is the day trip that many take from Sydney, and for good reason. There’s a lot of nature here waiting for you. You can explore the village, check out the Scenic World sites, and also visit the Three Sisters. Getting here either requires a 3 hour train ride (yuck) or a 90 minute car ride. There are also buses and tours that come here if either of those options don’t appeal to you.

A word of caution: if you’re coming here during Australian winter, be prepared for colder weather. While Sydney’s winter weather is generally mild, you are up in the mountains here. You generally won’t find snow, but you might find it’s quite a bit colder here.

But those views and the hikes here are fascinating…

A little about Scenic World. This is a company that operates some attractions in the area. It’s composed of four features (Scenic Skyway, Scenic Railway, Scenic Cableway, and Scenic Walkway). This set of four experiences will take you all around the Blue Mountains. You don’t need to pay for the extra add-on to do all this, but we enjoyed it.

Take, for example, the Scenic Railway. You’ll sit in this contraption as you’re lowered down a steep cliff. They claim it’s the steepest passenger railway in the world. And I don’t doubt the claim–it’s steep.

How steep is it? Well, just take a look for yourself. It’s not a rollercoaster but it sure looks like one!

Whether or not you choose to add on the Scenic World experiences, the star of the show is viewing the Three Sisters. You’ll see them proudly on display below. These sandstone peaks on the side of the mountain have names (Meehni, Wimlah, and Gunnedoo). As you might suspect based on the names, the structure holds profound spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people.

Where to Eat in Sydney

We normally have a lot of restaurants that we’ve tried and we’re eager to pass along our thoughts on each. Unfortunately, for Sydney, our recommendations are a bit lacking compared to the average city. There are a few reasons for this:

• Our most recent trip only lasted 36 hours, and we ate most meals at our hotel.
• When Jenn lived in Sydney, and I came to visit her, many meals were just homemade.
• Of those meals that we ate in a restaurant, many no longer exist.

With that said, hopefully you won’t eat all your meals at Hungry Jack’s. For those who don’t know, that’s what Burger King calls itself in Australia because there was already another Burger King when they entered the market and they couldn’t buy the name.

Harry’s Café de Wheels

Website: https://www.harryscafedewheels.com.au/
Address: Multiple locations, visited Woolloomooloo location (Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011, Australia)
Dedicated kids menu: No
Nearest train station: St. James (17 min walk)
Reservations needed: N/A

Sometimes you just want a guilty pleasure. That’s exactly what you get from Harry’s Café de Wheels, which specializes in meat pies but they also have hot dogs and sandwiches. There are multiple locations, but if you’re in the Sydney CBD, the Woolloomooloo location is closest.

Meat pies aren’t uncommon in Australia, and the meat pies here were among the better we’ve had. Pie Face, a competitor, is also here in Sydney but honestly, we preferred the flavor and texture of these more. There are over half a dozen different pies to choose from, including some vegetarian options, making this a quick-service meal that will appeal to many.

Max Brenner

Website: https://maxbrenner.com.au/
Address: Multiple locations
Dedicated kids menu: No
Nearest rail station: Museum (7 minute walk) for the World Square location
Reservations needed: N/A

Hot chocolate cafes are a thing in Australia. One of our favorites was Max Brenner, which has far more sweets than just hot chocolate. Desserts include waffles, pancakes, crepes, and even chocolate pizzas. But why load up purely on sugar when you can get some hot dark chocolate? Dark chocolate is a little less sweet, making it feel not quite as filling as other treats.

If you’re unsatisfied by the dessert options at the restaurant you’re at or want an afternoon pick-me-up, this is a good spot to try.

Gelatissimo

Link to official site: https://gelatissimo.com.au/
Address: Multiple locations, visited Circular Quay location (Circular Quay Esplanade, Alfred St
C2, Circular Quay, 2000, NSW)
Dedicated kids menu: No
Nearest rail station: Circular Quay (1 minute walk)
Reservations needed: N/A

Another popular treat throughout all of Australia is ice cream and gelato. Even in the fall or winter months when you wouldn’t normally associate life with a cone in your hand, it can still be crowded here. We visited the Circular Quay location, which is right next to the wharfs. This is a nice stop right after you get back from visiting Taronga Zoo or Cockatoo Island–as if you need an excuse.

The colors are vibrant, which if we learned anything from our travels to Italy, isn’t what you really want in authentic gelato. Still, it’s flavorful and we still enjoyed stopping in to get a cone. Plus, you’re far away from Italy, so stop worrying about getting tricked.

Just look at that–three happy campers. If you want to walk around The Rocks, Circular Quay, or the Royal Botanic Garden, doing so with some gelato in your hands adds a little pep to your step.

Where we stayed

Four Seasons Sydney

Link to official site: https://www.fourseasons.com/sydney/
Good for kids: Yes
Nearest rail station: Circular Quay (4 minute walk)
Points needed: N/A

Yes, yes. It’s the Four Seasons. Of course it will be a great stay. We get that.

But there’s more here to see than just a good hotel in a great location. We would actually say it’s one of the best luxury properties out there for children too. Were you expecting that?

To start, yes, the common areas are nice. The exterior of the building looks a bit drab and hides how nice it is inside.

When you get to your room, like this suite that we had, you’ll really be impressed by the small details. Our room overlooked both the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll even get a pair of binoculars to do some peoplewatching. Oh, and in this suite, all the in-room snacks and drinks are included in the room rate. You don’t get that with all rooms, but this room gets the freebies, along with access for all occupants to the club lounge.

What makes the hotel so good with kids? They have a special room unlockable with a secret key. Ask about it when you check in. The door is right next to the front desk but an employee needs to give you an oversized key to unlock the room. Inside this room is a wall full of snacks, puzzles, activity books, and even stuffed animals. This is absolutely a treat for younger ones and kickstarts a great stay.

If you’d like to learn more about our stay in the Four Seasons Sydney, check out our dedicated post to the hotel.

Sample 4-day Sydney itinerary

If you only have four days in Sydney, what should you do? Our recommendation would be the following:

Day 1

• Morning: Royal Botanic Garden
• Afternoon: Taronga Zoo

Start off your trip easily with some physical activity. This is especially important if you’re just getting off a long flight and want to stay active. Remember that beating jetlag is always easier if you are out in the sun.

That’s why we like to start our visit with a nice morning stroll at the Royal Botanic Garden. It’s a peaceful stroll, perfect for lots of zen after a potentially stressful flight.

What else is good to do while you’re in the area? Taking the ferry over to Taronga Zoo isn’t a bad choice. It will give you a nice view of the city from afar and lovely views of the Sydney Opera House. And you’ll knock off seeing all the Australian animals you wanted to see right from the start of the trip.

Day 2

• Day: Bondi Beach
• Evening: BridgeClimb Sydney

Another easy day would be to spend some time soaking in the sun at Bondi Beach. Between Manly and Bondi, there’s a bit more sand at Bondi, so we’d pick that as the beach to spend more time at. However, either is a great choice. Depending on the season, it can be crowded here. If you don’t think you can spend a full day at the beach, consider checking out SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium over in Darling Harbour. We didn’t talk about it above, but it’s worth a brief visit if you have kids.

In the evening, BridgeClimb Sydney offers a great opportunity to see the city at night. Who really wants to make the climb when the sun is beating down on you? It’s not like you’ll get much shade when you’re atop a bridge. So, still to the evening or late afternoon climbs and enjoy the view.

Day 3

• Morning: Cockatoo Island
• Afternoon: Manly Beach and North Head
• Evening: Luna Park or Sydney Opera House

The visitor center for Cockatoo Island opens at 10AM, so we’d say don’t start your day too early here. But take a moment and check out the storied past and present of the island. You won’t find food on the island, so head back to Circular Quay to eat–or make your way over to Manly Beach and eat there.

Continuing along the historical theme of the day, we’d say you should go check out North Head. Seeing the Barracks Precinct along the way will add to the military vibe you got from Cockatoo Island. And spending time checking out the magnificent cliffs at the water’s edge is just a nice cap to the hike.

In the evening, consider blowing off steam at either Luna Park (if it’s open late enough, check the hours) or watch a performance at the Sydney Opera House.

Day 4

• All-day: Blue Mountains, Scenic World, and Three Sisters

No trip to Sydney is truly complete without a day trip to the Blue Mountains. It’s best to consider this a full-day activity since it will take 90 minutes to drive there from Sydney CBD. When there, enjoy nature and potentially amplify the experience with adding on the Scenic World activities. But no visit to the Blue Mountains is complete without checking out the Three Sisters.

There are restaurants in the area, so don’t feel like you need to do this on an empty stomach.

Let us know what you like to do in Sydney, Australia!

Suggested reading:

• Trip Introduction: Secret Trip 2.0 is Back With New Players
• Pro Tip: Exchange Currency at Your Destination
• The Travel Gadgets That Make Our Travel Easy