Sydney attractions

Take selfies with all your favorite celebrities, right on Darling Harbour. Opened in 2012, the Sydney outpost of the Madame Tussauds museum features incredibly lifelike wax replicas of famous figures—from Australian pop idols to sports heroes, movie stars, and politicians.

Kings Cross is Sydney’s late-night entertainment hub. Although the area has begun to shed its rakish reputation—thanks to the emergence of many trendy cafés and bars—it’s still considered the red-light district of Australia. Kings Cross is well-policed at night, but visitors are encouraged to shed their inhibitions before visiting.

Built for the 2000 Olympic Games, this world-class facility still draws travelers and locals looking to experience the Olympic spirit. The park is made up of several venues, including the ANZ Stadium, the Sydney Showground, the Athletic Centre, the Aquatic Centre (which is also open to the public for swimming, and even a skatepark.

As Sydney’s tallest structure, the Sydney Tower Eye is an integral part of the city’s skyline. At twice the height of Sydney Harbour Bridge, the 1,000-foot-high (309-meter) tower provides panoramic views that take in the Sydney Opera House and Bondi Beach; on a clear day, you can even see as far as the Blue Mountains.

The harbor-side amusement park Luna Park Sydney has been entertaining locals and travelers with a lively midway, carnival games, rides, and big top concerts since 1935. More than 20 attractions range from the tame to thrilling, and although it’s small compared to modern amusement parks, Luna Park remains a Sydney family favorite with a nostalgic draw.

Hailed as one of the finest examples of an English-style Gothic cathedral in the world, St. Mary’s Cathedral wows you with its sandstone exterior, stained glass windows, and ornate crypt, which features a mosaic floor and an exhibition on the first Australian Catholics. Plus, a visit to the cathedral affords great views of the skyscrapers in Sydney CBD.

The steps in front of this iconic building serve as a popular meet-up spot for locals, but it is what’s found within its walls that make a visit worthwhile. Built in the 1880s, this sandstone structure is the political powerhouse of the city, housing the Sydney City Council chamber and the offices of the lord mayor and city councilors.

The Gap is a large and attractive cliff on Sydney’s South Head Peninsula, in the Watsons Bay neighborhood, to the east of the central city. There are walking trails along the top of the cliff that offer great views of the ocean and the area’s layered sandstone formations.

Boasting the title of Australia’s oldest park, Sydney Hyde Park is home to the ANZAC Memorial and themed gardens brimming with water features and public art. In addition to almost 600 mature trees, the park also hosts the Archibald Fountain, crowned by a sculpture of Apollo; a Captain Cook statue; and the poignant Pool of Reflection.

Easily the wildest place in the city, Taronga Zoo Sydney is a sprawling wildlife sanctuary where more than 4,000 animals crawl and chirp just minutes from the heart of downtown. Admire fuzzy-faced koalas, playful lemurs, distinctive Malaysian sun bears, saltwater crocs, and other animals before enjoying tours, keeper talks, animal shows, and activities suitable for kids and adults alike.

Woolloomooloo Wharf was built in 1915 and for the next 70-odd years handled the export of much of Australia’s wool, and served as a disembarking point for new migrants arriving to the country. It has since been converted into a fashionable complex, housing some of Sydney’s finest restaurants and most stylish residential flats.

The Sydney suburb of Rose Bay is one of the city's hottest outdoor and nature regions, with many opportunities for water-related activities. Though it's just 4miles (7 kilometers outside the Central Business District, Rose Bay can feel somewhat rural, with a population of around 10,000 people (actor Russel Crow even lives here.

The foundations of Sydney were built on convict labor, and the Hyde Park Barracks are where criminals who were sentenced to live out the rest of their days in Australia were housed. Now, as a museum, the barracks tell the stories of those unlucky enough to pass through its doors.

Located on Gadigal Country—just a 15-minute walk from the city center—the Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of Australia’s premier cultural attractions. The unique art campus features two stunning buildings, Naala Nura and Naala Badu, and an art garden with Harbour views. Spend a day browsing historical and contemporary art (including the Yiribana Gallery, a permanent space showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art), then book one of the museum’s tours or check out dining experiences from renowned Australian chefs. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in Australian culture and stories within one of the world’s most beautiful cultural precincts.

While you could always venture into the outback in search of Australia’s natural wonders, the Australian Museum makes getting up close to the wild a whole lot easier. Wander through air-conditioned hallways filled with more than 40,000 artifacts, including examples of rare native minerals and exotic tropical birds.

Located between Echo Point and Scenic World, Katoomba Falls is one of the most popular and accessible waterfalls in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains. A beautiful, segmented waterfall, Katoomba Falls drops about 492 feet (150 meters) in two main stages into Jamison Valley and can be viewed from a number of lookouts in the area.

Built in Victorian Romanesque style in 1898, the sumptuously-decorated Queen Victoria Building is Sydney’s most impressive shopping destination: a stained-glass central dome looks down on balconied floors linked by grand staircases. Originally the site of the Sydney Markets, today the complex offers stores that range from stationers and tailors to coffee shops.

A favorite of campers, hikers, and nature lovers, Ku-ring-gai Chase is Australia’s second-oldest national park. The lush rain forest landscape, quiet creeks, and mountain passes just might make you forget you’re still within Sydney city limits.

Spiders, snakes, and saltwater crocs are just some of the Australian species on display at this Sydney zoo. From the Outback to Tasmania, the country’s diverse ecosystems are represented in 10 themed zones. Enter the nocturnal section of the zoo to see sugar gliders, wombats, and other creatures you’re unlikely to spot in the wild.

Shark Island is a 3.5-acre (1.5-hectare) island in the Sydney Harbour National Park that affordssweeping views of Sydney's famous skyline. It’s a popular picnic spot, and visitors can also swim off the sandy beaches and paddle a kayak or other small boat around the shore.

A family favorite and lower-key than the better-known Bondi, Coogee Beach, in the eastern Sydney suburbs, offers a sheltered arc of sand lapped by waves. Popular year-round with Sydneysiders and visitors alike, Coogee offers surfing, swimming, and snorkeling, as well as shopping, restaurants, and bars.

One of eastern Sydney’s prettiest areas, the ritzy suburb of Double Bay attracts well-heeled travelers and locals to its top-flight boutiques and restaurants. Surrounded by Sydney Harbour, it’s also a great spot to relax in a leafy park or soak up the sun on the beach.

A popular day hike from Sydney, the Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk also may be one of the world’s most scenic coastal walkways. Stretching 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) south from the famed Bondi Beach, the route follows the cliffs via Tamarama, Bronte, and Clovelly, providing panoramic views and beach pop-offs along the way.

This elevated perch in the heart of downtown offers sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. Dotted with huge Moreton Bay fig trees, grassy ObservatoryPark is a great spot for a picnic and attracts joggers, lunching office workers, and visitors to the Observatory.

Established in 1848, the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is Sydney's primary venue for cricket and Australian rules football. It also serves as the home stadium for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Australian Football League’s Sydney Swans. The SCG holds just over 47,000 spectators.

Witness the ocean’s force as it pushes water up through the rocks, creating the spout of the Kiama Blowhole—the biggest natural blowhole in the world. Kiarama-a is believed to be the Aboriginal term, meaning “the noise of the sea.” Explosions of water can reach up to 80 feet (25 meters), which makes for quite the natural spectacle.

Dating back to the 1920s, Australia’s largest Chinatown is brimming with Asian restaurants, shops, and markets. Bookended by two lion-guarded gateways, pedestrianized Dixon Street sits at the heart of the action and hosts a weekly Friday night market.

The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden is on Mt. Tomah in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Previously known as the Mt. Tomah Botanic Garden, the 69-acre (28-hectare) garden is set within a UNESCO-listed area at around 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) and contains local and international plants and views of the Blue Mountains.

In bustling Circular Quay, Customs House stands on the spot where modern Australia was founded. This is where, in 1788, the First Fleet came ashore to establish a British penal colony in a faraway land. Built in 1845 in a classically Georgian style, the building is exceptionally well preserved, and the exterior is a sight in itself.

Sprawled across the ground floor of the Market City complex, Paddy’s Market offers everything from street food and fresh produce to souvenirs, fast fashion, and jewelry in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown. Eclectic and more affordable than many Sydney shopping options, it’s a fun place to browse with a great food court upstairs.