Top 70 Things
to do in Sydney
What to do
in Sydney? Visit the Hawkesbury River
61 Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury
River
The Hawkesbury River is both
an impressive and attractive stretch of water. Boats run from both sides
of the Mooney Mooney Bridge and there are cafes at Brooklyn and a Brooklyn
train station (though I suspect it might take a while from Sydney). With
a couple of exceptions, things to do in Brooklyn are mostly water based
including river tours and island exploring, boat hire, swimming and fishing.
Playground
If you drive as far into
the wharf area as you can you will discover a little playground for
the kids. You could also just park by one of the cafes (if you can find
a space) and walk down with your coffee as there is a path by the water,
you don't have to walk all the way through the car park.
Walks and Pool
Beyond the playground you
can walk, or jog down to a bay, it's not far but the scenery is really
nice and/or you can read up on the history of the area from the information
boards or just take a short stroll around the swimming pool.
The missing Wondabyne Sculptures
and Mount Penang Garden (Kariong, Central Coast)
One of the locally listed
attractions is to see the "Wondabyne's Sandstone Sculptural Park",
by boat of course. Once described as a mini Stonehenge, the eight tonne
stones would have been a sight to see guarding the water's edge. The
only problem with this is they aren't there anymore.
Mt Penang Gardens
Wondabyne's Sandstone Sculptures
have been removed from Wondabyne and, after a clean and some time in
storage, relocated to Mt Penang Gardens in Kariong. Kariong is about
a half an hour's drive further north. Just follow the link below for
a map of the park and directions from Brooklyn.
Brooklyn
on the Hawkesbury River
62 Riverboat Postman - Hawkesbury
River
Only an hour north of Sydney
you can hitch a ride on a boat that delivers mail and supplies to isolated
residents along the Hawkesbury River. The cruise lasts for approximately
three hours. There are other Hawkesbury river cruises if this one is fully
booked but try the Riverboat Postman first.
Hawkesbury Cruises
The Riverboat Postman is
now operating on a new boat with a new company called Hawkesbury Cruises.
Riverboat Postman 1910
The Riverboat Postman commenced
its deliveries over a hundred years ago and it will finish them eventually.
The boats are skippered by knowledgeable locals with stories to tell.
You will visit various communities along the river giving you a feel
for what it must be like to live there - 'wonderful' is a word that
comes to mind.
Kayak the Hawkesbury River
- Marramarra Creek
 Overnight
by the beautiful Hawkesbury River
There is nothing wrong with
going on a cruise but to kayak the Hawkesbury River is something else.
This is a common past time for many locals and is probably the best
way to really appreciate the river, particularly if you decide to stay
the night.
 Kayak the Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury
River Postman
63 Sydney Sightseeing and
Bus Tours
A standard bus tour will
often cover off all the 'essentials' but never leave you enough time
to really appreciate what you are seeing. Just as well then that not
all bus tours are 'standard'.
 Discover
Sydney
64 Sydney Diving
Diving At Shelly Beach (North
Side of Sydney Harbour)
Diving at Shelly Beach is very
popular.
Diving at Gordon's Bay and
Bare Island (South Side of Sydney Harbour)
Gordon's bay (near Coogee)
has a course of things to look at. Bare Island may (near La Perouse) have
some seahorses left. Sadly their numbers are on the decline - 6 females
to every male.
Sydney Diving
Learn to Scuba Dive
Scuba Diving is a wonderful
experience and Sydney is a great place in which to learn how. The visibility
through the water is generally very good and diving expertise in this
country is second to none.
Sydney
Diving
More
Diving in Sydney
65 Harbour
View Hotel - Sydney
The Harbour View Hotel is
a pub with a Sydney Harbour view (surprisingly) but not from the ground
floor – take the stairs, they are located on your left as you
approach the pub. The Harbour View Hotel is on the pricey side if you
lunch but very pleasant. Nice bar with a veranda perched almost directly
under the Sydney Harbour Bridge allows you to wave at the gray suits
climbing up the bridge.
Harbour
View Hotel - Sydney
66 Walk
the Sydney Harbour Bridge
It takes about half an hour
to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on foot. A wire suicide fence impedes
the view a little. Don't forget to smile sympathetically at the bored
looking security guards as you go by. If you commence your journey on
the city side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge you can catch a train back
into the city when you finish your walk. Milsons Point, McMahons Point,
Kirribilli and North Sydney are all relatively close by if you want
to keep going.
Follow this link for a little
video of the walk across the bridge
67 Sydney
Swans (Aussie Rules Football)
The Sydney Swans roost in
the Sydney Football Stadium east of the city (but only a short cab ride)
and next door to the Entertainment Quarter and Fox Studios. They occasionally
fly around at Homebush. Ideally you'd be taken by a Sydneysider who regards
'Aussie Rules' as 'aerial ping pong' to get the maximum enjoyment.
Rugby League (NRL)
Try counting the rules. If
you need more than one hand you've probably been duped into see the
Roosters play Ruby League. Assuming it is the Sydney Swans / Aussie
Rules you're watching keep an eye out for any off the ball action, boo
the officials and 'barrack' for the Swans 'Sid-nee, Sid-nee, Sid-nee'
etc. Australian Rules is, as the name suggests, uniquely Australian,
just ask any Irishman.
More
on the Sydney Swans
68 Captain
Cook's Landing Place
Captain to be, James Cook,
first set foot on Australian soil at Kurnell Peninsula Headland in Botany
Bay on 29th April 1770. This was the moon landing of the 1700s. History
was in the making, a new nation was born.
Walking in Cook's foot steps
You would think there would
be a huge deal made of this place. But no, not really, but don't let
that put you off, it is still worth going to, perhaps more so for its
understated nature. Stand where Cook stood and think of England, I mean
Australia.
Victoria
Captain Cook first sighted
Victoria and with a mind on the future, they thought they could do better
so headed north. Wollongong was considered but the surf was up and you
don't get decent surf in England so they decided to keep going. In the
end Cook headed into Sydney, and can you blame him.
Local Greeting
Well the Aborigines were
not impressed, threw stones and then got into a bit of a huff. Might
have had something to do with a musket being fired, maybe a bowl a sugar
would have been a better idea.
Bush Telegraph
Whilst Cook wrote out a few
postcards, wonderful beaches, nice weather, wish you were here that
kind of thing, the Aborigines spread the word that the Poms had arrived.
Accounts of “The Foot” where Captain Cook took his first
step exist in parts of Aboriginal Australia that Cook never actually
explored. Such was the bush telegraph in those days.
The Foot
Eventfully, somebody will
rename Kurnell Peninsula the “The Foot”. Sydney100 starts
today, in fact; maybe we should rename a few more places. Surely we
can do better than 'The Spit Bridge'. Captain Cook's Landing Place is
a good place to take your feet and have a walk about, just no huffs,
stone throwing or musket firing – perhaps that's why Sydney doesn't
make a big deal of this place.
Captain
Cook's Landing Place
69 Sydney
Opera House
Some buildings look more
impressive from the outside. Still, worth a visit if only for the tortured
story of its birth and after all, the Sydney Opera House is the building
in Australia to visit. It is just a shame the government of the day
were too short sighted to realise it.
Sydney
Opera House - Tours Links
Free
Sydney Opera House Tour with a Sydney Attractions Pass
70 Green Point Reserve
Green Point Reserve, also known
as Laings Point, is a great picnic spot not far from Doyles at Watsons
Bay and the secluded Camp Cove. This grassy cliff-top reserve has
sweeping 180-degree views across Sydney Harbour taking in the city skyline.
Whilst it is a popular picnic spot it has limited shade, so bring your
own, or at least a decent hat.
Romantic Reserve
Green Point has great family
appeal during the day. As the set sets, it can get a little less reserved
and little more romantic. The attraction for most though is its fantastic
views of Sydney. You can sit there for hours and watch the harbour's
comings and goings.
How to get to Green Point
Reserve
Most options are available
excluding the train. There are even parking spaces. Ferry, as ever,
is the recommended mode of transport, particularly if you are new to
Sydney.
View
Larger Map
Green
Point Reserve
Sydney Harbour (again)
Have another look. Sydney Harbour
varies with the weather, the time of day and (obviously) from your vantage
point. Don't make the mistake of thinking been there - done that, because
that's when you're missing a huge orange moon rise above Sydney Heads,
a couple of whales gallivanting off of Darling Harbour or maybe just a
realisation that you really need to stop working so hard. I remember a
ferry master claiming to have the best job in the world because Sydney
Harbour was different everyday – those who can, and are smart, commute
by ferry.
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