Sydney holidays

1. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge. One of the best ways to experience Sydney’s famous ‘Coathanger’ is to climb to its summit where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views stretching from skyscrapers to mountain ranges on a clear day. Another great way to experience the bridge is to kayak beneath it – glide across silvery water to look up at the lofty steel beams. Then find views of the bridge framed by winding ferns and fig trees at Wendy’s Secret Garden.
2. Visit the Royal Botanic Garden. Sitting in the Central Business District (CBD to Sydneysiders), Australia’s oldest botanical garden showcases everything from preened plants to wilful wildflowers. Take an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour with a First Nations guide to learn about Indigenous history and taste traditional bush foods.
3. Admire the Sydney Opera House at Bennelong Point. This architectural marvel is moored at the tip of a peninsula, its roof shells resembling billowing sails. See a concert or visit just for the view – watch the harbour from the opera bar terrace as you snack on freshly shucked oysters and sip chilled wine.
4. Go for a coastal walk. See the surf at Bondi before following cliff-top trails to Coogee beach, stopping to sunbathe on sandy bays and flag down ice cream boats along the way. If you’re visiting between May and November, you might even spot whales showing their bellies to the sun as they breach in the distance.
5. Find beaches and bushwalks at Sydney’s national parks. Royal National Park is freckled with sandy spots like Wattamolla where you can swim in a warm lagoon. You can also listen to the tumble of waterfalls and look up at a rainforest canopy. In the Kurnell area of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, you can whale watch at Cape Solander and see Captain Cook’s landing place.

• Bondi Beach is a Sydney idol. This coastal suburb is known for its huge stretch of sand and its sapphire waves. Take a surfing lesson and dip into the Bondi Icebergs for an iconic swim. Then wander around a market, sip locally blended espresso in a brunch spot and spend the afternoon cracking open cold drinks on the promenade.
• Kings Cross is Sydney’s classic party place. Nowadays the suburb is a concoction of hip wine bars and cocktail clubs. Find your scene – whether it’s a rooftop terrace or an underground parlour – and don’t (not that you could) miss the Coca-Cola billboard. Outside of the late, neon-lit hours, small theatre companies and hole-in-the-wall cafes attract Sydneysiders seeking culture and ice-cold lattes in The Cross.
• The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest colonial neighbourhood. Right by the harbour, this is where the convicts first lived in the city. Walk along cobbled lanes and pull up chairs in historic pubs like The Fortune of War. Look down little alleyways to find artisan shops and pop-up stalls. You can also learn about Aboriginal history: take The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour to gain insight into ancient culture and modern Sydney.
• Newtown is a bohemian beauty. Flick through racks of vintage denim in King Street and sample craft beers in breweries across the neighbourhood. Find art splashed on the walls of tall buildings and on the stages of live music bars. There’s always a new act to see, a new bevvy to drink and a new (or, rather, old) vintage record to play here.

• If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Sydney, the Macleay Hotel Sydney sits in a great location in Potts Point. Studio apartments come with kitchenettes, so you can prepare some of your own food, and two-bedroom apartments can fit up to six people. Ibis Styles Sydney Central in the CBD also offers rooms with kitchenettes and other convenient facilities for a cheap holiday to Sydney.
• For ultimate comfort and indulgence, check into one of our luxury Sydney hotels. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney in the city centre is a beautiful, boutique-style hotel set in a beaux-arts building that once housed a newspaper empire. Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay is another stylish choice – choose a room overlooking the harbour bridge or the opera house for an iconic Sydney view.

Sydney is on Australian Eastern Standard Time from April to October. In October, the clocks change to Australian Eastern Daylight Time.