Sydney

I’m Free Tours

A great start to your visit to Sydney is a free walking tour! That’s right, I said FREE! The company’s founder is a young woman who felt that most tours of her beloved city were overpriced and only an hour long. They operate on a donations-only basis, encouraging tourists to pay as much as they feel the tour is worth to them. She and her neon green-shirted tour guides offer three-hour tours daily that hit many of the major sites and offer fun trivia. It’s a perfect way to get oriented and figure out what else to see and do! Also check out their free tour of The Rocks, the initial point of settlement in Sydney.

Sydney Opera House

Situated right across from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you won’t want to miss this architectural masterpiece. Grab an iced latte from the small café outside and enjoy the view and the sun sparkling off the ocean. The inside of the building is less impressive, although tours are available for a fee. For the theatrically minded, there is also a backstage tour. While quite pricey, it is worth the experience for diehard thespians! If you’d like to catch a show, some performances have discounts for audience members under 35, so check their website for details.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Conveniently located near several other famous sites, including the Opera House, the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens are a breathtaking sight. Stroll the path along harbour or wend your way through the flora (over a million specimens!). Entry to the gardens is free, open from dawn to dusk. Free guided tours are available daily, or simply bring a book and relax on a bench in the rose garden for a change of pace. For the artists out there, take a few hours to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney’s highly lauded home to collections including Aboriginal Art, Pacific Art, and Australian Art.

Bondi Beach

Bondi is known across the globe as a surfer’s paradise! Take the bus down out of the main city to check out the surf scene. If you’re not a surfer looking to catch a few waves, stroll along the path that winds across several other stretches of sand and ultimately leads to Coogee Beach. Stop along the way to play in the rough surf of Tamarama or soak up some rays at Clovelly before relaxing at your final destination.

Hyde Park Barracks

Celebrating Australia’s convict history, Hyde Park Barracks is just one of Sydney’s amazing museums. In the late 16^th century, England began using the vast island as a point of exile. Nearly 150 years later, Hyde Park Barracks opened to provide food, shelter, and escape from debauchery to criminals serving their sentences. Museum entry is $10 AUD, but tours are free. Enjoy swinging in a convict hammock and looking up to see if you have any convict ancestors. After the tour, cross the street to wander through St. James Church, where the convicts spent five hours in services every Sunday.

Blue Parrot Backpackers

Fairly typical youth hostel (accepting travelers 18-35 years old) with single-sex and mixed rooms available. Staff can help you arrange local tours and day trips. It’s close to the King’s Cross fun, but tucked away in a safe and quiet nook. Plus it has the added bonus of being a short walk from the train. (Note: their description says that they only accept credit cards at check-in if your balance is greater than $300. Otherwise, cash).

Sydney Harbour YHA

While a bit pricier than the Blue Parrot, this YHA hostel makes up for it with a convenient location and spectacular views of the harbour. Mixed and single-sex accommodations are available, as well as double and family suites. Book early, they fill up fast!

Guzman y Gomez

With locations all over the city, this Mexican eatery won’t disappoint. Grab a burrito to eat on the go, or sit down with some pico de gallo and fish tacos. Better yet, some locations will allow you to order ahead online! Consider it the Chipotle of Sydney.

Pie Face

If you’re looking for some more traditional Australian food, check out the meat pies from Pie Face, another beloved franchise with locations across the city. Not only are the pies loaded with succulent fillings, they come with adorable faces. You can’t lose.

Australian Heritage Hotel

For the true Australian experience, you’ve got to try kangaroo and emu meat. Bring a friend to this hotel pub and split the Coat of Arms Pizza. An absolute must!

• If you take the train from the airport into the city, it will be expensive – but don’t panic! That’s just the rate for that one leg. Train rides within the city are much more reasonably priced, plus walking is easy and safe.
• Traveling on your own? Sydney hostel-goers are incredibly friendly. You’ll have no trouble finding folks to join you for a weekend beach trip on an evening drink. However, as many of them are there on work visas, you’ll likely be on your own during the day.
• As Sydney is in the southern hemisphere, seasons are flipped. If you’re hoping to hit the beach, December through February is your best bet! March is still warm, but tends to get a bit rainy. New Year’s is incredibly popular, though, so make your plans way in advance if you hope to celebrate the holiday in Sydney.