What to do in Sydney for 6 days

[Smith7]

I could do with a bit of advice please.

I am going to Australia in November with a friend. She is going to see her daughter and family in Perth and I volunteered to go with her, as she didn't want to travel alone (she is 84).

After spending a couple of days with her in Perth, I have opted to go and see Sydney and surrounding area before meeting up with her again in Melbourne for a few days together before flying home via Hong Kong (where we will spend 3 days).

I have booked to go on the Indian-Pacific railway from Perth to Sydney and am very much looking forward to it.

My question revolves around Sydney. I will be there for 6 days and so I am doing lots of research so that I can plan what I am going to do during that time.

I will definitely do a trip to the Blue mountains, a trip around Sydney Harbour and possibly see something at the Opera House.

I am not interested in shopping and would not sit on a beach on my own. I would prefer to spend time seeing beauty spots and wildlife.

Friends have told me that maybe 6 days is too long to spend in Sydney but my timings revolve around my friends quality time with here family, who she hasn't seen for 12 years.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[Smith7]

Hi Jill

https://www.sydneytowereye.com.au/vi...-sydney-tower/

No one has mentioned the Sky Tower. It is inside the Westfield shopping centre. You go up in the lift to level 5, then get your ticket and they direct you to the lift which takes you to the top 309 meters above the middle of Sydney. Amazing views for miles if the weather is nice. You come out of the lift (which only takes a few minutes) into a very large circular room with floor to ceiling windows. I had to convince my husband to go up and that he would not suffer vertigo. He said it was one of the best things we saw in our 3 days there. Ann

Thanks Ann. That's another suggestion for my list and there was I wondering how I would fill 6 days.

[DACY, Jersey]

Hi Jill

https://www.sydneytowereye.com.au/vi...-sydney-tower/

No one has mentioned the Sky Tower. It is inside the Westfield shopping centre. You go up in the lift to level 5, then get your ticket and they direct you to the lift which takes you to the top 309 meters above the middle of Sydney. Amazing views for miles if the weather is nice. You come out of the lift (which only takes a few minutes) into a very large circular room with floor to ceiling windows. I had to convince my husband to go up and that he would not suffer vertigo. He said it was one of the best things we saw in our 3 days there. Ann

[Smith7]

Opera House and if you want to see a production research the programme on line and book ahead.

Botanic Gardens can take ages to walk around thoroughly. A park in fact not so much specialist gardens.

I know you dont want shopping, its not my thing either, but I would try to make time to go to the Queen Victoria Building just to see the interior of the building itself. It is a renovation of a historic building. The mechanical clocks there are interesting too.

If like us you enjoy museums and art galleries there are several of interest. They tend to mostly be in the same area as the Botanic Gardens.

We found the HoHo a good orientation experience.

Hope it all goes well.

Thanks Mags. I will definitely book the Opera House in advance on line, if something appeals to me.

Thanks for the tip on the Queen Victoria building, which is now on my list.

[mags, cardiff]

Opera House and if you want to see a production research the programme on line and book ahead.

Botanic Gardens can take ages to walk around thoroughly. A park in fact not so much specialist gardens.

I know you dont want shopping, its not my thing either, but I would try to make time to go to the Queen Victoria Building just to see the interior of the building itself. It is a renovation of a historic building. The mechanical clocks there are interesting too.

If like us you enjoy museums and art galleries there are several of interest. They tend to mostly be in the same area as the Botanic Gardens.

We found the HoHo a good orientation experience.

Hope it all goes well.

[Smith7]

Hi Jill take the ferry from circular quay and across to Devonport, it was a time warp ,haberdashery shop, book shops fish and chips in newspaper, we spent a lovely day idling over there. I envy you Sydney is one of my favourite ports but can be exhausting .CG

Thanks CG. As I plan lots of ferry trips, I will be sure to add Devonport to my list. The longer my list is getting with all the suggestions on here, the more I am glad I will have 6 days to explore at a leisurely pace.

[Smith7]

I was going to suggest the botanical gardens too. We sat for a while in Mrs Maquires folly . The bats really are a sight worth seeing. There are some really nice places to eat around Darling harbour, we liked it there. We also did a dinner cruise which gave good views of the bridge and the opera house. We also did the blue mountains but it was so foggy we couldn't see anything. I think we stayed 4 days which was just about right do with 6 days you will be able to take this at a leisurely pace and pick a good day for the mountains.

Yes, I plan to pace myself in order to enjoy a day or two of relaxation time by the hotel pool.

[cornish girl, falmouth]

Hi Jill take the ferry from circular quay and across to Devonport, it was a time warp ,haberdashery shop, book shops fish and chips in newspaper, we spent a lovely day idling over there. I envy you Sydney is one of my favourite ports but can be exhausting .CG

[ilovesunshine, east yorks]

I was going to suggest the botanical gardens too. We sat for a while in Mrs Maquires folly . The bats really are a sight worth seeing. There are some really nice places to eat around Darling harbour, we liked it there. We also did a dinner cruise which gave good views of the bridge and the opera house. We also did the blue mountains but it was so foggy we couldn't see anything. I think we stayed 4 days which was just about right do with 6 days you will be able to take this at a leisurely pace and pick a good day for the mountains.

[tiggertom, Cumbernauld]

No problem Jill, nice to chat to you. The gardens are actually called the Chinese Gardens of Friendship but you would have found them as they are well signposted around the harbour area.

[Smith7]

The Chinese Gardens of Peace at Darling Harbour is a must and there is also the maritime museum at Darling Harbour and get the ferry over to Manley from there as well. Maybe a day at Darling Harbour would be best and there are plenty of eating places and bars. Just remember your comfy shoes. Have a fab time.

Nice to hear from you Tig. I hope you are well.


I am staying in a hotel that is less than a mile from Darling harbour, so will be well placed during my stay. Thanks for your input, which I appreciate.

[tiggertom, Cumbernauld]

To add to Mrs. M's excellent suggestions, the Botanic Gardens are interesting, particularly at sunset when the enormous bats fly out by the hundreds. We bought a day ticket on the ferries and explored the harbour area that way. I agree that Bondi Beach was a bit underwhelming, but we watched surfers and saw the rescue teams practicing. We took the train to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains then bought a day ticket on the trolley to explore. We tend to avoid organized tours in favour but if you are travelling solo a tour might be better.

We spent a week in Sydney before a cruise and could easily have spent more time. There is a excellent Visitors' Centre in the Rocks area where we gained a lot of information on how to get to the various places we wanted to see. They told us about a Chinese Garden at Darling Harbour which provided a pleasant contrast after the hustle and bustle of that area.

The Chinese Gardens of Peace at Darling Harbour is a must and there is also the maritime museum at Darling Harbour and get the ferry over to Manley from there as well. Maybe a day at Darling Harbour would be best and there are plenty of eating places and bars. Just remember your comfy shoes. Have a fab time.

[Smith7]

Thank you yesrock, Liverpool and PeterM, Southwell for the Opal Card suggestion. I will definitely get one, as it will make travelling around a lot easier- a bit like our Oyster card in London.

[PeterM, Southwell]

I would agree with the suggestion of getting an Opal card. The ferries are a great way to get around. If you like fish, go to Doyles for fish and chips. You can go by ferry to Watson's Bay if memory serves, and the restaurant is right on the sea front near the landing stage. Different fish to what we're used to, but the best I've ever had.

[Smith7]

Thanks everyone for your response. I am very excited about the trip as I didn't think that I would ever see anything of Australia.

You have given me lots to think about and plan.