Sydney 4 Days
Sydney is a beautiful city on the East Coast of Australia and is the perfect place to start any Australia trip. You can easily spend either as much or as little time here as you like. However, I recommend 4 days as the perfect amount of time to experience the best that Sydney has to offer. Whatever you decide, be sure to explore its famous beaches while you are here!
Last updated September 2024*.
Contents
Table of Contents
Sydney Itinerary
Sydney Day 1 - Bondi
Bondi
To kick start the Sydney adventure, head out for a day of beach hopping. Firstly, take a bus to Coogee Pavilion where you will find the start of the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk. This is a 5.9km paved path that follows the coastline past some of the nicest Sydney beaches. I recommend starting the walk in Coogee, as you will get the best view of Bondi Beach at the end of the trail. So, make sure to fuel up on a delicious brunch at the pavilion before starting the walk!
Also make sure to take a backpack with your beach gear and spend an hour at each beach as you pass through. Gordon’s Bay and Clovelly Beach are my personal favourites, with smaller inlets meaning less crowds. Clovelly also has an ocean pool overlooking the bay, which is a great option if you are a less confident swimmer given that Sydney beaches are known for their surf. There are also plenty of cafés along the way for a delicious beach picnic.
The coastal walk finishes at Bondi Icebergs to the south end of Bondi Beach. This is perhaps the most iconic Instagram spot in the whole city, with thousands snapping pics of the turquoise ocean pool reflecting the breaking waves of the city’s famous beach. Spend the afternoon laying on the beach here, as well as exploring both the shops and cafes along the waterfront. On Sunday mornings, the Bondi Beach Public School hosts the lively Bondi Markets, the best place to grab some local produce and treats.
For an amazing sunset, grab some extra snacks from the supermarket and walk up to North Bondi Lookout. Have a picnic dinner whilst the sun sets over one of the world’s most famous beaches.
Sydney Day 2 - Sydney Harbour & Taronga Zoo
Sydney Harbour
This morning, head to Circular Quay to see some of Australia’s most famous sights. As you exit Circular Quay Station, walk along the water towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Just below the bridge sits the historic Rocks neighbourhood. This area is filled with cafes serving famous Aussie brunch.
A must-do experience in Sydney is the Bridge Climb. The top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge undoubtedly offers the best views of the entire city. Head to the Bridge Climb Center to get suited up and start climbing to the top of the Harbour Bridge. This is an experience that needs to be booked in advance, via the Bridge Climb website for around AUD$354*. Note that the whole experience takes around three hours, so fuel up prior to climbing.
Once your adrenaline levels have recovered, head to the other side of Circular Quay. Here you can see the unique architecture of the Sydney Opera House up close. You will also be able to see the whole bridge (that you just climbed!!) from this side of the harbour.
But, for even better views continue walking through the Royal Botanic Gardens to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Bring food for a picnic, watching the ferries come and go across the harbour.
Taronga Zoo
Easily accessible by ferry from Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo is home to the incredible Taronga Conservation Society. This organisation is a global leader in conservation efforts, and is responsible for the care of over 5,000 animals across the state, including many key species native to Australia. This is one of the best places to see many of Australia’s own furry cuties, and I recommend joining one of the Dingo or Koala Keeper Talks throughout the day to learn more. In order to save on ticket prices, I recommend purchasing online ahed of time from AUD$47.70* for adults.
Taronga Zoo has also recently opened a luxurious eco-retreat, where guests seeking a more boutique experience can opt to stay overnight in the heart of the zoo. The Animal View Room offers the most immersive wildlife experience, overlooking the retreat’s private sanctuary, whilst the Harbour view rooms offer unbeatable, private views of Sydney Harbour. The Me-Gal Restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine to top off this unique experience. This is certainly the most unique and luxurious way of experiencing Australia’s native fauna without leaving the heart of the city, should your budget allow.
Sydney Day 3 - Blue Mountains Day Trip
Blue Mountains Day Trip
Escape the city today on a day trip to the lush Blue Mountains. Blue Mountains National Park is located just West of Sydney, about a 2-hour drive from the city centre. The easiest and most affordable way to explore this area is to take a NSW TrainkLink train on the Blue Mountains Line (BMT), making sure to get off at Katoomba Station. These trains depart from Central Station in Sydney every hour, so be sure to plan ahead.
Once in Katoomba, the easiest way to get around is via the public bus (line 686G) which stops on Katoomba Street just opposite the station every 20 minutes. To see the highlights, hop off at Blue Mountains Tourist Park to walk up to Eagle Hawk Lookout for amazing views, Katoomba Falls Road to see Katoomba Falls and to start the Prince Henry Cliff Walk to the Three Sisters.
There are plenty of food options in both Katoomba and Leura for an early dinner before taking the train back into Sydney, but I recommend packing a picnic lunch and lots of snacks to stay fuelled throughout the day. Transport NSW has a great tool to help plan train and bus journeys for the day.
Sydney Day 4 - Manly
Manly
For your last day in Sydney, take a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly for the day. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as you cannot miss the lush 9.5km North Head Circuit bush-walk starting from Little Manly Beach. Stop at Fairfax Lookout along the way for one of the best views over the Sydney skyline.
If you would prefer not to walk so far, or are looking for a fun way to relax after the hike, a great option is to hire a kayak or stand up paddle board to explore more of the beaches hidden around this beautiful part of the coast. Manly Kayak Centre is a great place to hire equipment from AUD$30* per hour, and is located right beside Manly Wharf. This is something worth booking in advance, as it will get busy on a sunny day.
For any last-minute shopping, check out the Corso pedestrian area on the way back to Manly Wharf. This is a great spot to for shopping and has many restaurants to choose from for an early dinner, including personal favourites The Pantry, El Camino Cantina and Daniel San.
*Please note that all prices are current as of September 2024.
