Sydney – the jewel in Australia’s crown (or at least we think so!). Sparkling harbour, dynamic city, wonderful weather. Yes, we are biased – Sydney is our hometown and one we feel very lucky to come back to.
The world famous Sydney Opera House is as spectacular as its images suggest. There’s a full program of opera, dance and orchestra as well as drama, smaller shows and festivals. It’s worth booking ahead to experience the full majesty of this extraordinary building. If time doesn’t permit, take a walk along the harbour foreshore from Circular Quay, enjoy a glass of wine at one of the many bars and restaurants and then wander around and inside the Opera House. Finish up with a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens. And it’s all right there in the middle of the city.
Sydney Harbour is a sparkling gem in the crown. Have a picnic on the foreshores, or get out on the Harbour to see Sydney from the water. There are any number of harbour cruises leaving Darling Harbour. A really affordable way to see the Harbour (although without any commentary) is to catch a Sydney Ferry. Our favourite is the Manly Ferry, which will take you to the fabulous Manly Beach (‘7 miles from Sydney, 1000 miles from care’). If you are looking for a hike within easy reach of the city, the ‘Spit to Manly’ walk, is a wonderful ramble, mostly through National Park and around the harbour foreshore. It’s easily accessible by public transport at either end. Take water, and your swimmers if you’d like a dip in Sydney Harbour. Alternatively, Bondi Beach and the Bondi Pavilion are within easy reach of the city.
Take another spectacular walk, across the Harbour Bridge. Easily accessible from either the City or Kirribilli, it’s free to enjoy and gives a sprawling view of the Harbour, with yachts, ferries and cruise ships coming and going against a city backdrop. You can book in for the Bridge Climb or enjoy a concise history of the bridge in the lower cost option of the Pylon Lookout and Museum.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is an easy walk from the city centre. It’s recently been extended to create space for more contemporary exhibitions. Themed exhibitions are held regularly, and include Australia’s richest prize for portraiture, the annual ‘Archibald Prize’. From the Art Gallery, wander back to the city via Hyde Park and the art deco Anzac Memorial to learn about the experience of the ‘diggers’ who fought for Australia.
Sydney loves a festival, and in May each year VIVID lights up the city, the Opera House and many public buildings. The Sydney Festival happens in January, and the Biennale of Sydney in the first half of the year. Each offers a cultural glimpse of the fabric of the city and is widely attended by good natured crowds.
Here’s the very handy trip planner for getting around Sydney on ferries, trains and buses. Use your Visa/Mastercard to ‘tap on’ at the start of each journey and ‘tap off’ at the end or buy a pre-loaded ‘Opal’ card at most convenience stores.
There’s a small sample of destinations on the east coast, beyond Sydney (and Melbourne) here.
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and almost as big as Sydney. Both are large cities on a global scale with more than five million residents. Melbourne is home to some iconic sporting events – the Boxing Day Cricket Test in January, the Australian Open tennis also in January, the Formula One Grand Prix currently held early in the year, and the Melbourne Cup horse racing carnival in November. For visitors, an Australian Rules Football Game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the ‘G’) is worth experiencing (one visiting friend described this highly athletic and competitive game as a cross between ballet and outright combat!). Golf also features on the Melbourne sporting calendar.
If you are up and about early, join walkers and joggers on ‘the Tan’ beside the Yarra, and watch early morning rowers skimming down the river.
Melbourne was once the richest city in world, off the back of gold discoveries across the state of Victoria. The CBD is laid out on a grid, so easy to get around. And in a fantastic innovation, trams within the CBD are free – just hop on and hop off, including near the Queen Victoria Markets where you can sample the freshest of produce, and delicious specialties. Melbourne is even more addicted to coffee than the rest of Australia, so take time to savour a freshly brewed cup in one of the city laneways or arcades.
Try ACMI, (used to be called the Australian Centre for Moving Image) in Federation Square for a dose of screen culture and contemporary exhibitions. Or head just across the Yarra River to the National Gallery of Victoria on St Kilda Rd. If a night at the theatre beckons, Melbourne always has plenty to offer.
Paul Kelly, singer/song writer and ‘Australia’s greatest living poet’ prefers Melbourne’s St Kilda to Sydney and King’s Cross in his song ‘From St Kilda to King’s Cross’ on Youtube here.
Victoria has much to offer, take a look at the east coast beyond Melbourne (and Sydney) here.
Brisbane will be the home of the Olympic Games in 2032, and is just north of the Gold Coast, where you’ll find sun, sand, theme parks and more.
Canberra is where you will find the nations’ capital, Parliament House and attractions like the National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial (museum). Floriade is spectacular in spring, and there’s bike paths aplenty.
We’ll add more on Brisbane and Canberra next time we travel there. We haven’t been to either city recently and our older photos don’t do these cities justice. On travelsampler.world we only include destinations we’ve been and use our own photos – unless one of our travellers has sent us their experience and we share it with you credited to the traveller. No AI generated copy or images, and no copying someone else’s content. Our travels are real and our samples genuine experiences.
Do share a photo you’ve taken of Brisbane or Canberra, and what it meant to you – we’d love your thoughts. ideas@travelsampler.world
