4 Days in Sydney Itinerary
Four days is a solid length of time to spend in Sydney: enough to tick off must-see bucket-list items like the Opera House and Bondi Beach, get under the skin of a trendy neighborhood or two and – why not – to take a day trip out to major satellite attractions like the Blue Mountains or Hunter Valley vineyards. Our 4 days in Sydney itinerary takes in all of these and more, including Taronga Zoo, the historic Rocks neighborhood, and Hyde Park. Read on for the lowdown below…
Day 1: Sydney Harbour
It is a truth universally acknowledged that all first-time visitors to Sydney must go straight to Sydney Harbour, without passing go, the quicker to scratch their selfie at world-famous landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. Strike a pose in front of the iconic sails, then take to the water on a catamaran sightseeing cruise that takes in (deep breath) the Opera House, the Royal Botanical Garden, Luna Park, Fort Denison, the multi-million pound shoreline mansions and, of course, glides gracefully beneath the instantly recognizable steel arch of Sydney Harbour bridge. And, if staring up at it from the water isn’t good enough for you, you could always climb the hulking great thing. That’s right: climbing tours that allow you to scale Sydney Harbour Bridge are available. Steel your nerves and steady your legs as an expert guide leads you to the summit, from where you can take in panoramic views of the city skyline and beyond. Don’t forget to wave to the sightseeing cruisers 440 feet below!
Spend your afternoon exploring the atmospheric cobbled lanes and alleyways of Sydney’s oldest district. The colonial heritage of The Rocks is writ large in the architecture here, and you can sample local brews in pubs like the Lord Nelson and Fortune of War, some of which are nearly as old as the city itself. Take a guided walking tour of the neighborhood to immerse in its history, and don’t miss the huge independent craft market if you happen to be here on the weekend. Not enough day one sightseeing for ya? Heck, if you have time, you’re also in exactly the right place for a stroll through the awesome Royal Botanic Garden. Tick that off in addition to everything else and you really will be able to say you’ve ‘done’ the harbor district!
Day 2: North Shore Adventures
There’s enough to do in the vast North Shore area to fill three or four days, never mind just one. But a single day out of your 4-day Sydney itinerary is enough to get a flavor of its tremendous sandy beaches and twin entertainment highlights: namely the legendary Luna Park and mighty Taronga Zoo. If snorkeling is your bag, you’ll want to strike out for the cove just north of the Sydney Harbour National Park, where the balmy waters at beaches including Manly, Shelly and Freshwater fairly teem with exotic marine species. Eyes peeled for curious-looking critters such as Wobbegong sharks, blue gropers and – if you’re lucky – colorful weedy seadragons.
Spend a morning exploring these beautiful beaches then head back south towards the harbor area, where a glut of popular attractions awaits the thrill-seeking vacationer. First on the roster is the absolutely wild ride that is Taronga Zoo, where you can say hey to cute koalas up in the treetops, feed cuddly capybaras, and encounter all manner of other fearsome creatures – somewhere in the order of 5,000 or so, in fact. And, if the spiders, snakes, crocs and tigers here don’t give you a fright, the wooden Wild Mouse ride, hair-raising Hair Raiser and gut-flipping Big Dipper III at Luna Park surely will.
If you’re looking for more sedate ways to spend your afternoon, Wendy Whitely’s (not-so-secret) Secret Garden at nearby Lavender Bay and the lovely MacCallum Seawater Pool at Mosman have you covered.
Day 3: Get Outta Town!
With so much to do in Sydney, it seems almost absurd to suggest leaving it for the day, but we think you’ll agree these two day trip options merit the sojourn.
First up are the bewitching Blue Mountains, a mere 90 minutes drive (or two hours by train from Sydney). Make your way up into the atmospheric azure haze that gives these hills their name (generated by native eucalyptus trees, fact fans), and be sure to leave ample storage space in your camera roll for the dozens – nay, hundreds – of #humblebrag snaps destined to flood your Instagram feed. This hop-on-hop-off bus tour of the region is a fine way to experience the Blue Mountains in a single day. Stay on board the whole way round for a running commentary on the major attractions, or plot out your own itinerary and make time for lengthier pauses at the likes of Echo Point (for panoramic views of the iconic Three Sisters) and the storybook Leura Village.
Alternatively, book a tour out to Hunter Valley’s verdant vineyards. There are oodles of group tours with specific itineraries available. Or you can tailor your experience on a private tour that allows you to decide how many (and which) vineyards you visit, where to have lunch, and so on. In either case you’ll have a designated driver, so you don’t have to worry about how many of New South Wales’ fine semillons and cab sauvs you’ve sampled by sundown.
Day 4: Bondi Beach
Bondi is as essential a part of Aussie culture as kangaroos, koalas and Kylie. And, in many ways, we’ve saved the best for last. A day spent here on and around the beach is a fine way to round off your four days in Sydney, thanks to its sublime mix of independent shops, hipster cafés, golden sands and fun leisure pursuits. Spend the morning immersing yourself in the famous café culture: think fabulous flat whites, still-warm cinnamon buns and perfect people-watching opportunities galore. Suitably fortified, nab yourself some second-hand books, vintage vinyl records and retro fashions from the boutiques before hitting the beach for further people-watching or, should you so desire, a spot of surfing.
Bondi Beach is also the starting point for the famous clifftop path to Coogee, perhaps one of the finest coastal walking trails on the planet. That’s assuming of course that you make it any further than the landmark Bondi Icebergs Club, which not only features a huge seawater swimming pool hewn into the cliff face, but also serves cocktails. Bliss! There’s plenty more excellent eye candy along this celebrated 3.5-mile route, assuming you still have use of your faculties after that second negroni, including picture-perfect sandstone rock formations, pretty seaside cafés, colorful fishing boats and more. Reward yourself with fresh fish and chips at journey’s end, as the sun sets pink, orange and red over the bay.
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