Our Guide to Sydney
Things to do & see
We know many of you are traveling from overseas, so we’ve put together some suggestions for food, sights, and experiences. While the list below focuses on Sydney and its surrounding areas, for those embarking on a longer journey from overseas, consider extending your travels to other captivating cities. More info on this below!
Sydney Icons
Opera House (foyer often open)
Harbour Bridge climb (more of a walk)
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair (famous lookout)
Harbour Bridge walk
Art & culture
Art Gallery of NSW (great Aboriginal art; Wednesday late nights with events).
University of Sydney sandstone quadrangle (Oxford-style campus).
Queen Victoria Building (historic shopping arcade).
Carriageworks Farmers Market (Saturday mornings).
Barangaroo Artisan Market (check dates).
Fun extras
Fireworks every Saturday at Darling Harbour (9pm).
Jetboat rides on the harbour.
Wynyard Station’s York Lane entrance (old wooden escalators as art).
The Goods Line (500m walk along a converted railway).
Coal Loader at Waverton (repurposed industrial park).
Open-air cinemas in summer.
Neighbourhoods
Newtown, King Street (hipster, alternative vibe).
Paddington, Surry Hills (bars & eateries).
Getting Around
Public transport in Sydney is easy to use, just tap your credit card (or phone with Google/Apple pay) on the “Opal” readers on each bus, train, ferry, or light rail, which connect most of Sydney together. Protip: Ride ferries whenever you can, it’s fast and scenic.
Sydney - Food & Drink
Our favourite places in Sydney to eat and drink.
GLENMORE HOTEL
Rooftop bar with Opera House views.
LOVE.FISH @ Barangaroo
Quality Australian seafood in a relaxed, affordable setting.
OPERA BAR
Under the Opera House – Pizzas & salads, good prices for the location. Gets busy in the afternoons.
We also recommend…
Breakfast
Bill’s (Darlinghurst or Bondi)
Lox Stock & Barrel (Bondi)
Bourke Street (Surry Hills or Barangaroo)
Pina (Potts Point)
Reuben Hills (Surry Hills)
The Pavilion (Balmoral Beach - Mosman)
Lunch/Bottomless Brunch
Cho Cho San (Darlinghurst)
Holy Duck (Chippendale)
King Clarence (CBD)
Ripples (Chowder Bay - take a water taxi)
Asian cuisine – Sydney excels here.
Malaysian: Ho Jiak, Malay Chinese Noodle Bar (we suggest the tasting menu, wear something stretchy).
Thai: Chat Thai (reliable chain), Muum Maam (Barangaroo).
Markets: Hay St Market (new eateries, multi-level), Surry Hills (trendy dining).
Seafood & Casual eats
The Sydney Fish Market - for sashimi by weight (!), giant crab
Manly Fish Market for grilled fish & chips.
Totti’s (CBD or Bondi)
Poly (Surry HiIlls)
Rockpool (CBD)
Spice Temple (CBD)
Restaurant Hubert (CBD)
Sokyo (Pyrmont)
AALIA (pre theatre) (CBD)
NOUR (Surry Hills)
Ito (Surry Hills)
Bars & Rooftops
Aster Rooftop (Intercontinental Hotel, Circular Quay).
MCA Café (quiet, good Opera House view).
Double Deuce (cocktail lounge, basement speakeasy vibe).
Wunderlich Lane (Redfern dining laneway – directory)
JAM Record Bar
Joji
Hubert
Old Mate’s Place
Babylon
Special Experiences:
Epicurean Buffet at Crown Casino, Barangaroo (Lunch sittings ~$99).
Barangaroo Wharf dining – stylish Harbourside restaurants overlooking Darling Harbour.
Oncore by Clare Smyth @ Crown Tower Sydney
Sydney Accommodation
For those of you unfamiliar with Sydney and wanting to explore it before or after the wedding, we would generally advise you to stay within 5 km of the Sydney central business district (CBD / downtown). This way, you can conveniently travel by public transport to tourist areas and attractions. Below is a list of some hotels in those areas, although this is a small sample of the hundreds of hotels in Sydney.
Luxury
InterContinental Sydney by IHG
Best Value
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
YHA Sydney Harbour - The Rocks
Budget Friendly
Sydney - Beaches, Walks & Nature
Our favourite Sydney locations to enjoy the outdoors.
FRESHWATER BEACH
aka Steve’s favourite… Relaxed local beach known for calm waves and classic Australian charm.
BONDI TO COOGEE COASTAL WALK
Scenic cliffside trail with ocean views, beaches and rock pools.
BONDI BEACH
Iconic beach with golden sand, surf culture and vibrant coastal dining. Can get very busy!
We also recommend…
Harbour beaches - Calm water
Balmoral, Camp Cove, Parsley Bay (with a cute bridge).
Ocean beaches
Bondi (famous, busy, touristy).
Manly Beach - reachable by ferry – 20 min fast ferry or 30 min regular ferry.
Shelly Beach - near Manly, great snorkelling in Cabbage Tree Bay.
Gordons Bay - rocky, Mediterranean vibe, snorkelling.
Local adventure: Walk from Chinamans Beach to Balmoral at low tide (30 mins, expect wet ankles).
Iconic walks
Bondi to Coogee (famous coastal trail).
Spit Bridge to Manly (scenic bush & coast).
Rose Bay to Watson’s Bay (ferry links at both ends).
Shorter walks:
Cooper Park (mini cliffs, hidden valley).
North Head (Manly) & South Head (Watson’s Bay).
Further Afield - Day Trips
Sydney is close to a range of amazing day trip destinations:
HUNTER VALLEY
Approx. a 2 hour drive from Sydney.
Australia's oldest wine region, famous for its Semillon and Shiraz. We recommend booking a wine tour to explore the many cellar doors.
ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
Approx. 1 hour drive south from Sydney.
Bush walks to swimming holes. We love Karloo Pools from Waterfall/Heathcote stations.
PALM BEACH
Approx. a 1 hour drive from Sydney.
The iconic “Home & Away” filming location
In addition to the above, we can also recommend:
The Three Sisters Lookout in Katoomba - great lookout and easy ~1hr walk, and has an optional 300 meter (1000 ft) stairwell (approximately 998 steps).
Ku-ring-gai National Park – Car needed. Coastal walks & remote beaches (West Head is a highlight).
Burning Mountain – Unusual natural phenomenon in the Hunter region.
More Destinations
For those embarking on a longer journey from overseas, consider extending your travels to other captivating cities. Melbourne offers a vibrant urban experience akin to Sydney, while Cairns provides access to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree rainforest. If you're open to exploring another country, Bali, Indonesia, presents a wonderful and cost-effective stopover on your return, or you could immerse yourself in the stunning natural landscapes of New Zealand.
MELBOURNE
Approx. a 1.5 hour flight from Sydney.
Widely known as the food capital of Australia, Melbourne offers historic arcades and laneways lined with fine dining restaurants, chic cafes, hidden bars and fashion boutiques.
GREAT BARRIER REEF
Approx. a 3 hour flight from Sydney.
There are so many ways to experience the reef: dive it, snorkel it, sail it, learn about it, sleep on it, kayak it, fish on it, fly above it.
BALI, INDONESIA
Approx. a 6.5 hour flight from Sydney.
A favourite holiday destination for Australians, Bali is a paradise island of Indonesia.
Suggested Accommodation in Braidwood
For those of you who indicated you would like to book your own accommodations in Braidwood rather than staying onsite, we can suggest the below for their proximity to the wedding venue.
For those of you who indicated you would like to be included on the onsite accommodations, we have limited availability and will be contacting with room allocations. We are prioritizing rooms by capacity and whether guests are coming as singletons, couples, or families.
There are plenty more options available to explore via Airbnb, simply search ‘Braidwood’ & you will be able to view a range of options.