Sydney’s Top Attractions Uncovered
Now that Australia has invited tourists back again, it’s the perfect time to visit the nation and some of its major landmark cities. One of the destinations I’ve set my eyes on is Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales. This city on the southeastern coast of Australia is bursting with a whole lot of things to do, see and experience and if you haven’t been here already, now is the time. During my four years in Sydney as a student, I came across many standout attractions in and around the Central Business District that are perfect for the young, old, residents and tourists alike. Here are a few of them.
The harbour is one of the hottest destinations in the Emerald City that never fails to impress. Even though Sydney’s magnificent edifices shine bright during the day, it’s a whole different scene at night. The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and more come alive at night with bright lights and serve as the perfect backdrop for a stunning dinner cruise. The dinner cruise experience is extraordinary to say the least. Surrounded by the most stunning harbour and its landmark attractions, you get to enjoy a delicious fare in an exclusive ambience. You also get to choose from a variety of top vessels such as the catamarans, paddlewheeler and luxury glass boats, all of them offering a breathtaking sightseeing plus dining experience. And with a comprehensive beverage list to savour your taste buds, the dinner cruises in Sydney are the ideal choice for you to go out and paint the town red.
Westhead
Exploring the epic outdoors of Sydney is the best way to experience and fully appreciate what this spectacular city is all about, afterall, it's called the urban jungle for a reason. I spent most of my spare time in West Head, which is an incredible wilderness area in the central section of the famous Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. It’s mainly accessed via ferries from Palm Beach, offering a breathtaking lookout point and a steep wilderness trail down to a WWII emplacement. From the lookout you can marvel at the Palm Beach peninsula or north towards Lion Island and to Umina and Pearl Beach. The Basin Track is a more lesser known trail about 3.5km short of West Head, that leads you to an intricate set of Indigenous carvings. The access to Westhead is via this track or by a ferry from Palm Beach–it’s better to hop on the ferry as some branches of the track will also lead to other remote, beachside suburbs.
Pub Crawl
South of the Harbour Bridge is the birthplace of Sydney and of the nation, The Rocks. This is one of Sydney’s oldest precincts and is where most of the city's history and culture resonates. Tourists spent most of their time here exploring the ol’ cobblestone laneways, the Vciotrian-era buildings, museums, art workshops, theatres and the like. But it is also an entertainment hub. If you're on the hunt for a group activity with friends, then the pub crawl here would be perfect, as it is home to some of the most iconic and historic pubs and bars including the Glenmore Hotel and Australian Heritage Hotel. Raising a glass or two against the backdrop of the mighty Harbour Bridge is a special experience no matter how many times you've done it and these famous pubs will offer you just that along with some fizzy drinks!
Sunset Views
Are you an opacarophile like me? Then boy! Are you in for a treat! Brimming with prominent skyscrapers, legendary landmarks and dramatic landscapes, Sydney is blessed with a unique skyline. This means you can enjoy the sunset from many vantage points across the city. Arguably the best spot to watch the sun go down is Mrs Macqauire’s Chair–the views here are absolutely out of this world and it is easy to locate as well.
