10-Day Sydney Itinerary

Check in near Circular Quay

Land at Sydney Airport and settle into a hotel near Circular Quay, the harbour's ferries already crisscrossing outside.

First flat white in The Rocks

Order a flat white, the coffee Australia claims to have invented, at a cafe tucked in The Rocks' sandstone lanes.

Wander The Rocks' colonial lanes

Walk The Rocks' cobbled streets, Sydney's oldest quarter, past convict-built warehouses turned galleries and pubs.

Meat pie and a harbour view dinner

Try a classic Aussie meat pie at a Circular Quay pub, then a proper dinner with the Opera House lit up across the water.

Sydney Opera House backstage tour

Take a guided tour inside the Sydney Opera House's sail-shaped shells, learning the story behind Jorn Utzon's design.

Royal Botanic Garden walk

Walk from the Opera House through the Royal Botanic Garden along Mrs Macquarie's Point for classic harbour views.

Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Harness up for the BridgeClimb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the whole harbour spread out below.

Dinner under the Bridge in Walsh Bay

Eat at a Walsh Bay wharf restaurant with the Harbour Bridge's steel arch looming directly overhead.

Bondi Beach and the Icebergs pool

Start at Bondi Beach, watching the dawn surf crowd and the famous ocean-edge Icebergs swimming pool.

Clifftop walk to Bronte and Tamarama

Follow the clifftop path past Tamarama's small cove and Bronte's beachside park, sandstone cliffs dropping to the Pacific.

Waverley Cemetery to Coogee

Pass the dramatic clifftop Waverley Cemetery, then finish the walk at Coogee Beach for a well-earned swim.

Fish and chips at Coogee

Reward the walk with fish and chips on the sand at Coogee as the sun drops behind the headland.

Ferry to Taronga Zoo

Take the ferry from Circular Quay across the harbour to Taronga Zoo, docking right at its front gate.

Koalas and kangaroos at Taronga

Walk through Taronga's Australian wildlife section, spotting koalas dozing in eucalyptus and grazing kangaroos.

Sky Safari views over the harbour

Ride the Sky Safari cable car through the zoo for views back across the water to the Opera House and skyline.

Sunset harbour cruise

Board an evening harbour cruise past the Bridge and Opera House as the sky turns orange over the water.

Train to Katoomba

Take the train inland toward Katoomba, climbing into eucalyptus forest as the air cools noticeably.

The Three Sisters lookout

Stand at Echo Point for the view of the Three Sisters rock formation rising out of the blue-tinged Jamison Valley.

Scenic Skyway cable car and rainforest walk

Ride the Scenic Skyway across the gorge, then walk a boardwalk trail through ancient temperate rainforest below.

Evening train back to Sydney

Catch the train back down to the city as the Blue Mountains fade into dusk behind you.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Explore the Art Gallery of NSW's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander galleries alongside its European collection.

Domain parkland walk

Cut through the Domain's open parkland back toward the city, a favourite lunchtime green space for Sydneysiders.

The Rocks Markets

Browse The Rocks Markets' stalls of local crafts, opals and Australian design under the old market awnings.

Modern Australian dinner in the CBD

Sit down to a modern Australian tasting menu built around native ingredients like finger lime and saltbush.

King Street, Newtown

Walk King Street's stretch of vintage stores, bookshops and street art, Newtown's alternative, artsy pulse on display.

Brunch in Surry Hills

Order smashed avocado toast and a long black at a Surry Hills cafe, ground zero for Sydney's brunch culture.

Crown Street boutiques

Browse Surry Hills' Crown Street for independent fashion labels and design stores in converted terrace houses.

Wine bar night in Surry Hills

Finish the day at a small-bar in Surry Hills' laneways, the neighbourhood's after-dark scene in full swing.

Sydney Fish Market

Wander the Sydney Fish Market's auction floor and seafood stalls, one of the largest markets of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Oysters and prawns at the market

Sit at the market's outdoor tables for fresh Sydney rock oysters and king prawns straight off the ice.

Barangaroo waterfront walk

Walk the Barangaroo Reserve's restored headland parkland along the harbour's western edge.

Chinatown dumpling dinner

Head to Chinatown on Dixon Street for a dumpling and yum cha dinner, part of Sydney's deep Cantonese food history.

Ferry to Manly

Take the classic Manly Ferry across the open harbour, passing North Head on the way to the beachside suburb.

Swim at Manly Beach

Spend the late morning on Manly's long surf beach, or take a dip in the sheltered Manly ocean pool.

The Corso and Shelly Beach walk

Wander The Corso's shops, then walk the coastal path to Shelly Beach's calm, snorkel-friendly cove.

Sunset ferry and harbourside dinner

Ride the ferry back as the city skyline lights up, then dinner at a Circular Quay restaurant overlooking the water.

Last souvenirs at The Rocks

Pick up final Australian wool, opals or Aboriginal art prints from a gallery in The Rocks before checkout.

Last look from Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Walk out to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for a final view framing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge together.

Farewell lunch at Circular Quay

A final seafood lunch at Circular Quay with the ferries still coming and going across the harbour.

Transfer to Sydney Airport

Head to the airport for the evening flight home, the Opera House sails catching the last light behind you.