Top 100 Things
to do in Sydney, Australia
The top 100
includes Cronulla, the Royal National Park, Parsley Bay in Vaucluse and
'God's Country'
91 Cronulla
For some reason Cronulla
appears to have more than its fair share of smiling faces, Cronulla
is clearly a fun place to be. Trains run to/from city but be warned
the line is not highly regarded. Check to see if you can find an express
service. Beach, Cronulla Sharks and general laid back holiday feel to
the place gets Cronulla on to the list of the top 100 things to do in
Sydney. Cronulla beach is quite large and will take you well over an
hour to walk its length. The northern end of Cronulla Beach offers you
views out to the Royal National Park. Pimelwi Rocks whilst the southern
has a view of Captain
Cook's Landing Place.
Royal National Park
Cronulla is the 'Gateway'
(i.e. nearest big place) to The
Royal National Park. A bus ride and a ferry will take you there
(Bundeena). The reported racial violence in Cronulla appears to be well
behind us and sanity has been restored. Violence never resolves anything,
serving only to deepen resentment, ignorance, anger and fear. Its ugliness
has no place in a city gifted with so much beauty as Sydney.
The
Cronulla YHA has some useful maps and information about Cronulla click
for link
92 (139) Parsley Bay in Vaucluse
Parsley Bay is one of the 'hidden
treasures' included in the list of the top 100 things to do in Sydney.
Few visitors come to Parsley Bay even though it is only 10 kilometres
from the Sydney Opera House.
Scenic Bridge
The foreshores of this tiny
but beautiful bay have long been one of Sydney's favourite places. You
should enjoy exploring Parsley Bay and you will probably be drawn to
its small scenic bridge and its well maintained footpaths. The bay contains
some shallow caves to explore, a small watercourse and dense native
vegetation. You might just choose to find a comfortable spot and admire
the view.
Good for Swimming
The sheltered waters of Parsley
Bay are popular with both swimmers and scuba divers. The bay's attractions
have attracted a number of film makers and television producers for
many years. So bring your camera. Bringing your car may involve a longer
walk than planned as parking can be a challenge.
Parsley
Bay - Vaucluse
93 Dee Why, Northern Beaches
or God's Country
Dee Why Beach has more of a
city beach feel to it than its neighbours further north. According to
the locals, Dee Why is in the heart of ‘Gods Country’ and
I'm not about to disagree so it gets a spot on the list of the top 100
things to do in Sydney.
Wakehurst Parkway
Rather than the most direct
route, you could take a long detour for a more pleasant drive to Dee
Why and beyond. Turn left into Seaforth after the Spit Bridge, take
the Wakehurst Parkway and keep going. After driving through forest and
past Narrabeen Lake you'll arrive at Narrabeen. Turn left for Warriewood
and the Northern Beaches at the end of peninsula all the way to Palm
Beach. Turn right (south) for Dee Why past Colloroy.
Be mindful of your speed
- the Wakehurst Parkway is an 80k limit road BUT Frenches Forest Road
that leads into it is residential. Speed is limited to 60 to 40 depending
on the time of day. A poor little girl was almost killed on a pedestrian
crossing so please watch your speed.
Some welcome feedback
from one of our readers:
I would say all of the
beaches on the northern beaches are great and worth a visit, Freshwater,
Mona Vale, Bilgola to name a few, so all of the beaches really are great
and very safe. Also, The Parkway is a fast road, its 80ks/hour nearly
the whole way and there are no cameras, an occasional cop car with a
speedo...Just thought I’d mention these couple of things. And yes, it
is definitely God's Country!
If you have any comments
please get in touch
94 Play a round of
Golf
You can play golf in most cities
but Sydney, and its surrounds, has a large number of courses and arguably
some of the best in the world. Not having hordes of players behind you,
nice scenery and off chance of a marsupial bouncing about just might improve
your game.
 The
beautiful game of golf
Fancy a round of golf on
one of Sydney's finest golf courses? Ranked among the top 50 courses
in Australia and the top 10 in NSW, this course is sure to challenge
everyone, from the beginner to the most skilled golfer. Experience some
of the best 18 holes of golf in Sydney.
 Sydney
Golf
Golf Midweek Deluxe Break
for Two
You will stay at the luxurious
5 star Riverside Oaks complete with its picturesque rural views. You
will face and overcome a championship golf course with the beautiful
Blue Mountains providing the perfect setting for your perfect round
of golf. If only it were always like this.
Your
perfect round of Golf
Golf Links
Follow the golf links to
access 100 or so courses with ratings attached. Ring ahead to ensure
you don't have to be a member. (I believe Chatswood and Moore Park are
two centrally located courses open to the public but call first). Please
ensure you meet the golf club's dress code e.g. no thongs (sandals)
or singlets (skimpy t shirts) to avoid any possible disappointment.
Golfing
Links
95 St
Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral is worth
admiring if you like gothic looking buildings. There is a free tour
of St Mary's Cathedral at noon on Sundays that commences at the main
entrance. If you want to get married St Mary's would like at least six
months’ notice, so I suggest you hurry up and ask someone!
St
Mary's Cathedral Link
96 Clovelly Beach,
Eastern Suburbs
The inviting Clovelly Beach
is very popular with the locals and ideal for children and anyone not
keen on swimming in rough seas. The breakwaters are very effective and
the beach slopes very gently into the sea. A relatively new cafe nearby
and the Clovelly Hotel adds to the areas appeal.
Clovelly Hotel
Sunday nights - live music followed by a free bus to the Place Hotel
in Coogee for a boogie. Alternatively, enjoy a tasty but reasonably
priced lunch. The Clovelly Hotel is one of Sydney's better pubs.
Clovelly
Hotel
97 Sawmillers
Reserve
You'll find Sawmillers Reserve
just off Blues Point Road in McMahons Point close to North Sydney. The
reserve is a little hideaway in the heart of the city. Snap up a few
more shots of Sydney Harbour with few locals to share it with let alone
tourists. Sawmillers Reserve is just a short walk from McMahons Point.
View
Larger Map
98 Sydney
Markets
I hate shopping too, but you
probably ought to buy somebody something and then there's fish.
Paddy's Market
Paddy's Market is the largest
non-fish market in the city. Open Thursday to Sunday in the Haymarket
area in the heart of town.
The Rocks market
The Rocks market is more
arts, craft and expensive. The Rocks market is smaller, easier to walk
around and there are pubs close at hand to escape into.
Sydney Fish Market
The Sydney Fish Markets is
'where the city meets the sea'....made me smile. Open 7am every day.
See the Sydney Fish Market (SFM) website from the link below for a detailed
page on how to get there and more information about the 'largest market
of its kind in the southern hemisphere'. The Sydney Fish Markets are
not far from the Madonna's
Bra and are relatively easy to drive to.
Glebe Market
Alternatively, visit Glebe
Market for a second hand jacket ('alternatively' is a bit of a clue).
Paddington ('Paddo') Market
Or more up-market market
you could go to Paddington (Paddo) Market.
Birkenhead Point
You could also try Birkenhead
Point for a less touristy, more factory outlet (a phrase meaning ‘shop’?)
and pleasantly situated by the water. Catch the ferry (but only Monday
to Friday)
Other Sydney Markets
We have added a link to a
useful award winning website that gives you virtual guide to Sydney's
best and latest markets selling everything from fresh food to antiques.
Market
Links
99 (92) Minskys Sing-along
For the party animals that
like a sing-along there's the piano bar at Minskys at the Metropole
Hotel in Cremorne. Popular with the late, late, late why do I always
end up here less than totally sober crowd. "Our legendary Piano
Man can be found every weekend singing all the classics like “Tiny
Dancer” and “American Pie,” plus all your favourite
requests."
Where's the Karaoke Bus
gone?
If you are hoping to catch
the Karaoke Bus from here it’s moved on to stop
no. 82.
Minskys
100 Walk around Lane Cove
There is a shortish three
kilometre walk to enjoy around Tambourine Bay in Lane Cove. Walk along
sandstone cliffs into mangrove swamps, see odd rock formations, wild
flowers (when in season) and even a cheese tree (you can grow anything
here).
Tambourine
Bay pool in Lane Cove Link
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100 Things To Do In Sydney, Australia 
