Doing Sydney for (almost) free
Taking Selfies at the Sydney Opera House
One of the most iconic buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sydney Opera House is a bit of a stunner, quite frankly. You don’t need to be a music aficionado to appreciate the beauty of this building either. Climb the steps to the doorway and discover the intricate patterns of the building’s exterior while appreciating the gleaming Sydney Harbour and downtown cityscape from a little bit above. Sydney’s a real beaut from this angle.
Napping in the Royal Botanic Gardens
Since you’re down that end of town, enjoy a picnic lunch and a friendly stroll through the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens. A place of natural beauty and tranquillity, not to mention a heckava lot of perfectly manicured vegetation, these gardens are the perfect spot for a romantic rendezvous or a nap in the sun. Just make sure you’ve stowed your valuables away in your pockets first.
Wandering over the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is that other magnificent architectural work of art this harbour-side city is famed far and wide for. And unlike its poor sister in Auckland, people can trot over this bridge to appreciate a wicked view of the city too. If it’s a super sunny day you’ll need your sunnies, lest the Opera House reflect some bad-ass rayz. If you’re the romantic type, keep your eyes peeled for love padlocks sprinkled across the bridge. Nawwwww.
Wandering through The Rocks
Since you’re down that end of town (again), check out the markets at The Rocks. Young, hip, funky, vibrant and a weeny bit alternative, The Rocks is a hub of cool things like restaurants, bars and their popular weekend markets. Browse the stalls and pick up some one-of-a-kind clothing and jewellery from the designers themselves or order a spot of mouth-watering cuisine for lunch.
Catching Some Rays at Bondi Beach or Manly
Just a bus drive away, Bondi Beach is one of the most iconic beachside spots in Australia, let alone Sydney, and if you’re after a day of sun, surf, sand and sightseeing (of the perving variety), it’s a must-see. Be warned though; it gets mighty busy during summer. If you’re after great beachside shopping as well as the sun, surf, sand and total babes, an alternative adventure could be taking a short ferry ride across the harbour from Circular Quay to Manly instead. Just be warned that sometimes the waves across the harbour mouth get a little feisty, so if the man on the loudspeaker strongly suggests you head back inside the boat, you should probably do what he says.
Exploring Luna Park by Night
OK, so maybe this one isn’t totally free, however seeing the night lights of Sydney atop a Ferris wheel is pretty darn awesome. Take a ferry from Circular Quay across to Luna Park’s own wharf. You’ll be slightly terrified by the garish entryway but you’ll quickly get over it when the aroma of candy floss and the ding of fairground games wafts out to meet you. Sydney’s Luna Park has definitely seen better days, but the twinkle of the city lights on the harbour will take your breath away.
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