4 days in Sydney

The harbour edge. The white sails of the opera house, the oldest botanic garden in the country, the first settlement's old streets, then the bridge at dusk. All of it can be walked from the main ferry quay in an easy day.

1. Breakfast

   Flat white and avocado toast

   A flat white, an Australian espresso with microfoam, and toast with smashed avocado and a poached egg.

   Local tip Cafes fill by nine on weekends, so go earlier or book.
2. 1
   MorningWorth the time, go early

   Sydney Opera House

   The white shells of the opera house stand on the harbour, a World Heritage site designed by the Danish architect Jørn Utzon. Walk the steps and the forecourt, and check ahead on a tour or a performance.

   Go when Morning, before the crowds, with the light on the sails.

   Local tip The outside is the best part, so walk right around it. A tour or a performance inside needs a booking, so check ahead.

   

   About 10 min walk0.8 km
3. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

   The oldest botanic garden in Australia, laid out along the harbour shore, with lawns, palms, a rose garden and views of the opera house. A cool place for a picnic and a long walk.

   Go when Midday, with a picnic under the figs.

   Local tip Follow the shore path to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for the classic view of the opera house and the bridge. The garden is open to walk, and tours run on set days.

   

4. Lunch

   A picnic in the garden

   Fresh bread, cheese, fruit and something sweet eaten on the lawn with the harbour behind you.

   Local tip Take your rubbish with you, and watch for ibises that steal food.

   About 11 min walk0.9 km
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   The Rocks

   The oldest part of the city, near where the first European settlement was made in 1788, with sandstone lanes, old pubs and weekend markets. The Gadigal people of the Eora nation lived on this shore long before, and the area keeps that history in its signs and walks.

   Go when Afternoon, or on a weekend when the markets run.

   Local tip Walk the lanes and the stairs behind the quay. Look for the Aboriginal heritage signs, and check ahead for the walking tours that tell the full story.

   

   About 11 min walk0.9 km
6. 4
   EveningAn evening stop

   Sydney Harbour Bridge

   The great steel arch of 1932 that spans the harbour, called the Coathanger. Walk across on the footway, or see it from the water, and look at the city lit up from the quay as the light goes.

   Go when Dusk, when the lights come on (about 7:14 PM).

   Local tip Walk the footway on the east side, or watch from the quay. Climbs and the pylon lookout are separate and need a booking.

   

7. Dinner

   Seafood by the water

   Prawns, oysters or grilled fish eaten near the quay, with a glass of Australian white wine.

   Local tip Tables with a view book up, so reserve ahead.

   

The sea side. The best-known beach, a clifftop path with ocean pools, a second beach and a walk to a terrace of old houses. Take a hat, water, and a swimsuit, and swim only between the flags.

1. Travel from Sydney Harbour BridgeAbout 19 min by car or transit7.3 km

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. Breakfast

   A beachside breakfast

   Eggs, fruit and strong coffee on a terrace above the sand at Bondi.

   Local tip Beachside tables fill at weekends, so go early or walk a block back.
3. 1
   MorningWorth the time, go early

   Bondi Beach

   A wide curve of golden sand with surf, an old ocean-edge pool and a promenade of cafes. A famous beach, and best before the crowds. Swim between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards watch.

   Go when Morning, before the crowds and the heat.

   Local tip Swim only between the red and yellow flags, where lifeguards are watching, and never swim alone on a day with a big surf. Rips are the main danger.

   

   About 17 min walk1.4 km
4. 2
   MiddayA half day on foot

   Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

   A clifftop path of about six kilometres past little bays, sea pools cut into the rock and sandstone headlands. Done at an easy pace, with stops, it takes most of a morning.

   Go when Morning, with water and a hat.

   Local tip The path is paved and signed, but it has steps and little shade. You can stop at any of the beaches and take a bus back. Stay back from the cliff edges.

5. Lunch

   Fish and chips on the grass

   Battered or grilled fish with hot chips, eaten above a bay on the walk.

   Local tip Seagulls are bold, so keep your food close.

   About 9 min by car or transit2.2 km
6. 3
   AfternoonA beach stop

   Coogee

   A calm bay and the end of the coast walk, with a wide beach, a sea pool and a grassy hill above. Rest, swim between the flags, and eat before the ride back.

   Go when Afternoon, for a swim and a rest.

   Local tip A good place to end the walk. A sea pool on the rocks is calmer than the surf, and a bus runs back to the city.

   

   About 14 min by car or transit5.0 km
7. 4
   EveningWorth a short stop

   Paddington

   A hillside suburb of narrow Victorian terraces with iron lace balconies, small galleries and shops. A pleasant, shady walk to end the day.

   Go when Evening, for a slow wander, or on a Saturday for the market.

   Local tip Look up at the iron lace balconies and the terraces. The streets are steep, so wear comfortable shoes.

   

8. Dinner

   A modern Australian dinner

   Local produce cooked simply, such as lamb, barramundi or native herbs, with a glass of wine.

   Local tip Many small restaurants are closed on Monday, so check ahead.

The north shore. A zoo with a view of the city, the classic ferry to Manly, a headland at the harbour mouth and a surf beach. The ferry is part of the day, so take the upper deck.

1. Travel from PaddingtonAbout 14 min by car or transit4.8 km

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Coffee and a pastry at the quay

   A strong coffee and a croissant or a bacon roll, taken to the ferry wharf.

   Local tip Take the ferry before nine to miss the commuter rush.
3. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   Taronga Zoo

   A zoo on a hillside on the north shore, reached by a short ferry from the main quay, with views across the harbour to the city. See the Australian animals, including koalas, kangaroos and wombats.

   Go when Morning, when the animals are active and it is cooler.

   Local tip Take the ferry, then the cable car or the bus up the hill. The zoo is built on a slope, so plan on a lot of walking. Check ahead on the opening and the entry.

   

   About 17 min by car or transit6.2 km
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Manly

   A harbour and beach village on the north shore, reached on a half-hour ferry from the main quay. A pedestrian street of shops and cafes links the ferry wharf to the ocean beach.

   Go when Midday, after the ferry ride.

   Local tip Sit on the upper outside deck of the ferry for the best harbour views on the way. The walk from the wharf to the ocean beach takes about ten minutes.

   

5. Lunch

   A seafood lunch at Manly

   Grilled prawns, calamari or fish with salad, eaten by the wharf or on the beach front.

   Local tip The ferry runs late, so you can linger over the meal.

   About 9 min by car or transit2.4 km
6. 3
   AfternoonA half day on foot

   North Head

   A tall sandstone headland at the harbour mouth, with lookouts over the ocean and the heads. It is part of a national park, with bush paths and quiet views of the sea and the city.

   Go when Afternoon, with time to walk.

   Local tip A national park with lookouts and bush paths. Winter and spring are good for whale-watching from the headland. Keep to the paths and away from the cliff edges.

   

   About 11 min by car or transit3.1 km
7. 4
   EveningAn evening stop

   Manly Beach

   A long surf beach lined with Norfolk Island pines, a short walk from the ferry wharf. A good place to end the day, with the light off the sea.

   Go when Late afternoon, then a ferry home in the evening light (about 7:14 PM).

   Local tip Swim between the flags. The ferry back to the city quay is a good way to end the day.

   

8. Dinner

   Pizza or pasta by the sea

   A wood-fired pizza or a plate of pasta, eaten after the swim.

   Local tip Check the last ferry before you settle in.

A day by train. A leafy village, a famous lookout over a deep valley, a cliff railway and cableway, and a waterfall. The train takes about two hours each way, so start early and check the last return.

1. Drive from Manly BeachAbout 1 h 25 min by car88.6 km

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Coffee and a bacon-and-egg roll

   A quick breakfast at the station before the early train to the mountains.

   Local tip Buy something for the journey, because the train has little on board.
3. 1
   MorningA slow morning

   Leura

   A leafy mountain village with a pretty main street of cafes and gardens, and bush walks to waterfalls. A gentle start to the day. The Darug and Gundungurra peoples are the traditional owners of this country.

   Go when Morning, with time for coffee and the shops.

   Local tip Take the train from Central, which is easy and scenic. The village is a short walk from the station, and a few paths lead to waterfalls.

   

   About 10 min by car or transit2.7 km
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Echo Point

   The main lookout over the Jamison Valley, with the rock pillars called the Three Sisters in front and blue haze over the forest. The Gundungurra people tell a story about the Three Sisters that is told on signs at the lookout.

   Go when Midday, when the valley is clear.

   Local tip Fog can hide the view, so check the forecast. Walk the paths and steps near the lookout rather than leaning on the rail. The Three Sisters are best seen early or late.

   

5. Lunch

   A pie or a toastie in Katoomba

   A meat pie, a toasted sandwich or a bowl of soup, to warm up in the mountain air.

   Local tip The mountains are cooler than the coast, so carry a jumper.

   About 14 min walk1.1 km
6. 3
   AfternoonBook ahead

   Scenic World

   A cluster of rides in a gorge near Katoomba, including the steepest railway in the world, a cableway across the valley and a boardwalk through rainforest. Check ahead on bookings and which rides are running.

   Go when Afternoon, after the lookout.

   Local tip Check ahead on bookings and on which rides are running. The railway is steep and the boardwalk has steps, so take it slowly.

   

   About 17 min by car or transit6.2 km
7. 4
   EveningWorth the time

   Wentworth Falls

   A village and a waterfall with a lookout over a tall, thin fall into a rocky gorge. Keep to the fenced paths near the edge, and stay clear of the wet rock above the fall.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the light slants into the valley (about 7:14 PM).

   Local tip Keep to the fenced paths and stay off the wet rock above the falls. After heavy rain the paths can be closed, so check ahead.

   

8. Dinner

   A pub dinner in the mountains

   A steak, a parmigiana or a roast in a warm mountain pub before the late train.

   Local tip Check the last train back to the city before you order dessert.