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Top 70 things to do in Sydney

What to do in Sydney? Visit the Hawkesbury River

61 Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury River

The Hawkesbury is both an impressive and attractive stretch of water. The 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). Beyond resting and eating, things to do in Brooklyn are mostly water based including river tours and island exploring, boat hire, swimming and fishing with a couple of exceptions.

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 waters 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 hours 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 up (unless you're a mailman/postie in which case perhaps not ).

Hawkesbury Cruises

The Riverboat Postman is now operating on a new boat with a new company called Hawkesbury Cruises. You will still be able to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the lower Hawkesbury River as they deliver the mail and other essentials (the odd bottle of whisky perhaps) to the river-access-only settlements upriver from Brooklyn.

Riverboat Postman 1910

The Riverboat Postman commenced its deliveries over a hundred years ago. The boats are skippered by locals who have lived in the area their whole lives. You will visit Dangar Island, Kangaroo Point, Milson Island, Bar Point, Marlow Creek, Fisherman's Point and Milson's Passage before returning to Brooklyn in time for the train.

Kayak the Hawkesbury River - Marramarra Creek

Overnight by the beautiful Hawkesbury River

Kayak the Hawkesbury River and discover the wreck of HMAS Parramatta, towering cliffs, unspoilt bushland, history, serenity.. you get the idea. Go back in time to experience what it was like when the first settlers arrived and, spend the night under the crystal clear sky staring at the stars.

The cost includes all meals, camping gear (except sleeping bag/air bed), kayak and gear, guide, National Park fees, transfers and an indelible experience you are unlikely to forget.

Kayak the Hawkesbury

Hawkesbury River Postman

63 Sydney Sightseeing and Bus Tours

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A standard bus tour will often cover off all the "essentials" but never leave you enough time to really appreciate what you are seeing. On top of that, you may have already seen and visited some of the attractions on route - holiday time is a scarce resource. It's not all bad of course, you may not have hardly anytime at all, in which case a bus tour might be perfect. Mind you, if you have reached this far down the list that's probably not you. So why list bus and sightseeing tours at all? Well, not all tours are equal..

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 Sea Horses left. Sadly their numbers are on the decline - 6 females to every male and no Viagra in sight.

Sydney Diving

Learn to Scuba Dive with PADI

Scuba Diving will feel strange at first, however as you ease beneath the water and inhale for the first time, you soon forget the mask and equipment. You become light and agile, free like you've never experienced before. If you see life as an adventure then Learning to Dive is for you!

Learning Scuba Diving with PADI gives you an Internationally recognised passport for diving all over the world. To earn this qualification you must progress through 3 simple stages, which are typically taught over 4 days (duration may be slightly longer over the winter months).

The confined water dives are where the fun begins. Here you will learn and practice safe dive procedures and skills, you do this, usually in a pool, always under the supervision of your qualified PADI Instructor.

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.

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 'ping-pong' to get 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 Swannies 'Sidnee, Sidnee, Sidnee etc' If they get thrashed it's ok to leave at three quarter time (just follow the crowd). Should prove to be entertaining for a couple of hours. Australian Rules is, as the name suggests, uniquely Australian, just ask any Irishman.

More on the Sydney Swans

68 The FOOT – Captain Cooks Landing Place, Kurnell Peninsula

Captain to be, James Cook, first set foot on Australian soil at Kurnell Peninsula Headland in Botany Bay on 29 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 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 – The Spit Bridge, I ask you. Anyway, I digress, this 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.

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 Watson's 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 it's 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

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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