24 Hours in Sydney, Australia

17:35 Steampunk 0 Comments

Warning: Once you spend five minutes in Sydney , Australia , you are not going to want to leave (No joke, I called my dad crying the day I was due to leave and told him I was never coming home). I was lucky enough to spend an entire semester studying broad at the University of Sydney and I fell completely in love with the city.

Sydney is huge, but luckily has an excellent bus system so you will be able to travel around without a problem.

Hostel: Make Wake Up! Sydney Central your home base. It has a very modern and sleek feel, is clean and spacious, has a fun staff (see above), and a bar attached (that’s my requirement when staying at hostel). It’s also centrally located next to Central Station, city sites, and other backpacker hostels. Moreover, their daily programming features things like free walking tours, free beach tours, live bands, theme parties, DJ’s, drink specials, “Tight Arse” Trivia, free BBQ’s, pool competitions, and more.

8AM: Go have breakfast at the Wakeup Cafe. It’s cheap, convenient, quick, and delicious. Make sure to get some carbs in your meal, as you have a long day ahead of you. Note: Be sure to wear a bathing suit under your clothing!

9AM: Head over to the Royal Botanic Gardens , which is about a 35 minute walk. One of the best parts about walking there is you’ll get to pass through Hyde Park , an enormous, peaceful park in Sydney with wide fig-lined walkways, various gardens, fountains, the ANZAC Memorial, and the Pool of Remembrance . You’ll definitely want to stop there to take some photos.

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney themselves are absolutely amazing for many reasons. First of all, they are located along Sydney Harbour, giving you picture-perfect views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Moreover, the garden covers about 74 acres of property, all filled with peaceful and unique gardens, like the Palm Grove, Palace Rose Garden, Rare and Threatened Plants Garden, Herb Garden, and Oriental Garden, to name a few. There are also outdoor art and sculptures that add a different kind of creativity to the scenery. And, every day at 10AM there are free guided tours that can help you learn more about the horticulture of the area.

Before you leave, make sure to walk over to the Sydney Opera House, which is attached to the gardens, to get an up-close and personal look at this unique building.

12PM: Now it’s time for some real exercise in a beach setting. Take the 555 bus from the Circular Quay bus stop and get off at Elizabeth Street near Martin Place. Then, walk over to the Martin Place Rail Station and get a ticket to Bondi Junction Station. Once you arrive at the station you can take the 389 bus right to the beach.

1PM: It’s time to do the famous Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Walk . Sydney is well-known for its beautiful beaches and this activity is perfect as it takes you along four beaches: Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, and Coogee. You’ll also pass through communities, parks, palm tree-littered cemeteries, and unique public art. The walk is a little less than four miles, with many boardwalks and some uphill terrain. Once you make it to the end, make sure to go for a swim and layout on the white sand, go for a dip in the clear waters, or head over to the adjacent Coogee Bay Hotel for a drink (beach bars, outdoor bars, and a beer garden! I spent many afternoons here getting tipsy).

5PM: Make your way back to your hostel to get ready for dinner. There are numerous bus stops around the beach that can get you back in about 40 minutes. Buses you can take include the 370 and 373. You will be getting off at Elizabeth Street near Market Street.

7PM: Head out for dinner. It would be impossible for me to recommend just one restaurant. I will say, however, that Sydney is home to many superb Thai restaurants. My favorite neighborhood (where I actually lived, as well) was Newtown. A walk along King Street will give you an array of options for Thai restaurants as well as organic, vegan, Indian, African, and other international cuisines. Remember that in Sydney a lot of restaurants are “Bring Your Own Beer” (BYOB), so grab some friends and get some bottles of wine.

9:30PM: It’s time for a night out on the town. Again, King Street is home to an array of bars and clubs, and you can essentially create your own pub crawl without ever having to even get on a bus. If you love to dance, head over to Kings Cross where there are tons of fun clubs like Tunnel Nightclub and, my personal favorite, The World Bar .  If you like live music, check out 3 Wise Monkeys on George Street (right near the hostel), or if it’s a Tuesday, Scruffy Murphy’s on Goulburn Street, also right near the hostel. For ambiance and clubbing, head over to the famous Darling Harbour, where there are myriad clubs, bars, and outdoor lounges right on the water.

Bonus: Check out this list of free things to do in Sydney, Australia to help you plan your trip on a budget.