If there’s one piece of advice I could give anyone before they visit Australia’s largest city, it would be simply; bring your camera! Sydney is a selfie lover’s heaven, with iconic buildings and views around every corner. Of course, any trip to Sydney must start with a stop at the world-famous Sydney Opera House. Besides being one of the most identified buildings in the world, the Opera House serves as Sydney’s cultural center with performances of various shows running throughout the year. I was there at Christmas time and was fortunate enough to see The Nutcracker and can attest to the amazing acoustics for which the building is famous for.
Next up, for the more “adventurous” ones, is a climb to the top of the world-famous Sydney Harbor Bridge. After suiting up in their special suit (which assures nothing falls from the bridge), it’s time to make the one-hour climb atop the massive steel structure for what can only be termed as one of the best views in the world. I treated my sister to a trip to Sydney for her 21st birthday, so she was more than happy to flash a 21 once we got to the top. And yes, cameras are allowed on the climb but that’s about it for what they will allow you to take up with you.
The Opera House and Harbor Bridge both overlook Sydney Harbor, but there’s also Darling Harbor, which is lined with restaurants and shops and is a must visit as well. Like most major cities, Sydney has a Red Bus tour available for tourists, which I typically frown upon (I like to navigate a city myself), but for Sydney I recommend due to its massive size and lack of good public transportation.
One stop the Red Bus will take you is perhaps the most famous beach in the world, Bondi beach. Packed with people on any sunny day, the beach is “shark proof” out to about 50 yards into the sea. Outside of the shark barriers, swimmer and surfers take the risk of an encounter with Sydney’s most famous underwater predator, and there is certainly no shortage of news stories every year from those who ventured further out than they should have and paid the price.
The only slight negative about Sydney is the prices. It’s one of the most expensive cities in the world, especially when it comes to food and drink. While Australia is a massive country, they unfortunately still must import a lot of their food items, thus driving up the price. However, there are deals if you look hard enough and don’t mind eating somewhere without a view. One thing that was worth paying for when we were there was watching the world’s largest fireworks display from underneath the Sydney Harbor Bridge. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we will remember forever and was well worth the cost.
You won’t have any trouble finding things to do or places to see when you go to Sydney. It’s an unbelievable city with a culture all its own. I’m sure you will enjoy it just as much as I did. Until next time, safe travels!