As we continued on our Australia adventure, our next stop is Sydney. We arrived 2 days before new years days which allowed us to get settled a little bit, buy some food at the local grocery store.
New Years is a huge celebration in Sydney and requires planning ahead. We luckily got tickets to watch fireworks that gave us a pretty good view from Clarke Island which is located in the Sydney Harbuor. We departed on a ferry at around 5:30, packed a picnic for dinner and ate on the island and watched the sunset on the city as seen in the photo below.
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebration featured two breathtaking fireworks displays—one at 9:00 PM and the grand finale at midnight. The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated throughout the night, shifting colors in a dazzling spectacle.
While the 9 PM show was shorter than the midnight finale, it was still an incredible display of light and energy, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Adding to the magic, the harbuor was filled with boats, ships, and yachts, all adorned with synchronized lights, creating a mesmerizing sight on the water.
In the photo below, you can see the ship glowing in a striking purple hue, just one of the many color transformations throughout the night. After the fireworks, we rode ferry back, just be prepared as its very busy public transportation.
On New Year’s Day, we couldn’t pass up the chance to visit the world-famous Sydney Opera House. The landmark was even more impressive in person—much larger than I had expected and bustling with visitors. While we weren’t able to go inside (it was actually blocked off), just seeing it up close in all its architectural glory was an unforgettable experience.
I took a few more photos the following day under an overcast sky. While they may not be as bright, the Opera House still looked breathtaking—its beauty undiminished, no matter the lighting.
The iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House are actually composed of thousands of intricately arranged tiles, as seen in the photo below. Up close, this detail offers a completely new perspective, revealing the craftsmanship behind its striking design.
While the Sydney Opera House is often the first landmark that comes to mind, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is just as iconic. Visitors can either take a leisurely walk across it or sign up for the exhilarating BridgeClimb to scale its towering arches. We opted for the scenic walkway, which still offered incredible views of the harbuor and city skyline.
Managed to catch a beautiful photo of the sunset of the city skyline.
Another must visit place in Sydney is Bondi Beach. One of the popular coastal walks is from Bondi to Coogee Beach, approx 3 miles or 5 km. After a long walking the day before we opted for the shorter but still scenic route that started at Bronte Beach then headed north toward Bondi beach, which was still 2.1 miles or 3.4 km. Along the way, there were countless picturesque spots to pause, take in the breathtaking views, and capture some incredible photos.
On the north part of Bondi beach you can visit the flat rock area of Bondi Beach and depending on tide, get some fun photos of the water slashing up.
We also visited the Chinese Garden of Friendship, a serene and beautiful spot despite the overcast weather. While the lighting wasn’t ideal for photos, the garden itself was stunning. Strolling through its peaceful pathways and exploring the various structures made for a truly relaxing experience. We also took some time to read about its history, which was both fascinating and enriching.
With Sydney’s vast size and endless attractions, you could easily spend weeks exploring every corner of the city. We managed to cover a lot in just five days, packing in a mix of iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and incredible food.
Some of the other notable stops included a visit to the nostalgic Luna Park, a stop at Sticky—a unique candy shop in The Rocks, and souvenir shopping at Paddy’s Markets in Haymarket. We also indulged in some fantastic meals at restaurants in Circular Quay, Chinatown, and Darling Harbour, each offering a diverse taste of the city’s vibrant food scene.
From my research, I’d also highly recommend a trip to the Blue Mountains for breathtaking landscapes and hiking trails. However, since our next stop is Tasmania, we decided to save more sightseeing for the next leg of our journey!
Whatever you decide to do I hope you get to enjoy this city as much as we did.
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