This rocky 32-acre (13-hectare island in the heart of Port Jackson is as rich in history as it is in sandstone. Once home to an explosives store and later a convict stockade, Goat Island has housed the Sydney Water Police and even served as a film set. These days, it’s part of Sydney Harbour National Park.
With a bohemian soul plus a party-hearty student population, Sydney’s Inner West suburb of Newtown offers street art, live music, retail therapy, performance spaces, and a wealth of bars, cafés, and restaurants. Head to King Street, the main drag, for bookshops, vintage stores, vinyl outlets, young designers—and plenty of food.
Since opening in 2009 in an industrial building in Sydney’s then-rundown Chippendale neighborhood, billionaire Judith Neilson’s White Rabbit Gallery has blazed a trail for contemporary Chinese art—not just in Australia, but globally. It makes highlights of Neilson’s collection available for everyone to enjoy—free of charge.
Extending out of Sydney Harbour’s north shore, Bradleys Head overlooks many of the city’s most iconic sights—you’re sure to capture some great shots of Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Fort Denison from here. Part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, it’s also home to the mast of the naval ship HMAS Sydney, which is mounted on the headland as a memorial.
If you’re on a large cruise ship stopping in Sydney, you might pass through the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Situated in the heart of Australia’s biggest city, the port aims to make it as convenient as possible to get off (and back on) the ship, and also connects travelers to a plethora of sightseeing options.
Founded in 1991, the Justice and Police Museum is dedicated to the history of crime and the underworld in Sydney. Housed in three 19th-century buildings that served as the Water Police Station, Water Police Court, and Police Court, the museum sheds light on the dark and violent side of the city in the mid-to-late 1800s.
Pitt Street Mall offers some of the most exciting shopping in Sydney, in a pedestrianized area in the heart of the Central Business District. The retail hub comprises several flagship stores, more than 500 retail spaces, plus an arcade and separate shopping centers—which range from couture and classic fashion to electronics and the latest in athletic wear—all housed in some of the most expensive commercial real estate in Australia.
The Grand Pacific Drive is a scenic coastal drive that stretches from the Royal National Park about an hour south of central Sydney, through the seaside New South Wales villages and towns of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and Shoalhaven. Visitors can choose their own adventure with numerous coastal and rainforest walks, surfing, swimming, shopping, and endless dining options along the route.
Located in the Northern Beaches area, Avalon Beach is a popular day trip from Sydney. The beautiful and pristine beach is known primarily for its surf, but it’s also ideal for swimming, windsurfing, and fishing. The beach includes plenty of amenities and also offers proximity to quaint cafés and a cute shopping village.
Vivid Sydney is an annual light show that transforms the city for 23 days and nights with light shows, immersive art installations, musical performances, and more. The event casts new (and colorful) light on iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge—the already-lovely attractions become even more incredible while shrouded in technicolor projections. If you want to get an up-close view of Sydney’s artistic prowess, this is the event for you. (This year’s Vivid Sydney festival takes place from May 23 to June 14, 2025.)
Located in the middle of Sydney Harbour, Cockatoo Island was once a gaol, or jail, in the 1800s, and much of it was built by convicts. Visit and learn a little about that time period, and also discover how the island was important for shipbuilding. There are also cafés, occasional live performances, heritage home accommodations, and a campground if that’s more your style.
Crowned by the country’s highest mountain, Mt. Kosciuszko, for which the park is named, this national park spans nearly 2,700 square miles (6,900 square km) in the southeastern corner of New South Wales. The park contains Australia's most extensive alpine region, characterized by its Snow Gum forests, glacial lakes, meadows and rivers.
Located near the historic Anzac Bridge, the White Bay Cruise Terminal (WBCT) is a busy port and the convenient gateway to Sydney for cruise passengers arriving on smaller vessels. Use the terminal as a jumping-off point for a variety of day trips into the modern, cosmopolitan city, which offers plenty of historical, cultural, and natural attractions.
Part of the University of Sydney, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (or the Con, as it’s known to locals) is the preeminent music school in Australia—it was once the site of Australia’s first full orchestra composed of both professionals and students. Today, the Conservatorium provides musical education, research, and some of the city’s top performances. Plus, its music library is the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Australia’s two biggest ski resorts, Perisher and Thredbo, are located in New South Wales’ Kosciusko National Park. While each has world-class skiing and riding—along with a fun après ski scene—the two resorts have distinctive personalities. Whether you’re a first-time skier or looking for challenging terrain, here’s what you need to know.
In the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD), the Strand Arcade is a Victorian-style shopping center that houses specialty stores catering to a sophisticated clientele, as well as boutique showrooms representing a selection of high-end Australian designer labels and even a restaurant.
A bustling, modern entertainment complex, Cockle Bay Wharf sits on the Darling Harbour waterfront in the heart of Sydney. Venues span the gamut from 3-story superclub Home and the Sydney outpost of Ibiza’s Café del Mar brand to cafés, bars, cabaret, a steakhouse, a seafood restaurant, and even a dessert bar.
Centered on the Star Casino, The Star Sydney is a landmark entertainment complex on the shores of Sydney’s Darling Harbour. A club, a spa, a theater, three hotels, and a wealth of bars and restaurants surround the signature casino—with games from slots to baccarat—and private gaming areas reserved for elite members.
Tucked into The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest neighborhood, the Susannah Place Museum is a row of four terraced homes that housed working-class families from 1844 to the 1980s. Now a museum, the restored homes—incorporating an original corner shop—let visitors chart the lives of some of Sydney’s earliest and poorest residents.
A warren of shops, cafés, and restaurants, Nurses Walk is a narrow laneway in Sydney’s historic The Rocks neighborhood. Like nearby Surgeons Court, its name honors the people who worked in a hospital on this site. Plaques celebrate pioneers including Lucy Osburn, who was trained by Florence Nightingale and is considered the founder of modern nursing in Australia.
Located in historic Haymarket, the Capitol Theater began its life in 1892 as the Belmore Markets, which closed in 1916, and later housed a circus and a cinema. It was scheduled to be demolished in the 1980s, but a Heritage Council conservation order saved the theatre transforming it into the world-class theatre that is today.
The 1,014-foot (309-meter) Sydney Tower is one of the most prominent buildings on the Sydney skyline and a city favorite for its panoramic views. The revolving SkyFeast restaurant on the 82nd floor provides slowly changing views alongside an extensive buffet of Australian and international fare. Locals visit for special occasions, while it's also a popular stop on Sydney sightseeing itineraries.
The Sydney Jewish Museum serves as a moving tribute to Australia’s Jewish community. It’s devoted to telling the story of the city’s Jewish history and heritage, from the population’s first arrivals in 1788 to the almost 30,000 survivors who started new lives in Australia after World War II and the Holocaust.
Part of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, Botany Bay holds great historical significance for Sydney—it was where Captain James Cook first stepped onto Australia after exploring New Zealand in 1770. The heritage-listed spot is now home to a monument marking the meeting of European and Aboriginal cultures here.
The tall ships of Sydney Harbour offer a traditional way to see the iconic sights of the Harbour City. The ships, which are characterized by their billowing sails and wooden helms, let you escape the crowds on land and give you unobstructed views of Sydney Harbour Bridge, Fort Denison, and the Sydney Opera House.
If you have eclectic tastes, Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum is for you. It spans arts, design, science, and technology. With around half a million objects in its collection, the Powerhouse Museum is Australia's largest group of museums. There are four venues—Powerhouse Ultimo, Parramatta, Castle Hill, and the Sydney Observatory—with Ultimo being the main branch most commonly associated with the Powerhouse Museum.
Whether you call it CBD or simply "the City," Sydney Central Business District is at the heart of the action in Australia's trendiest city. Home to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Rocks, plus bars, restaurants, museums, galleries, and malls, it's almost impossible to visit Sydney without swinging by.
A collaboration between the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, the Australian Museum, and Sydney Living Museums, the Museums Discovery Centre is one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets. There are hundreds of displays to explore and plenty of opportunities to learn about museum collecting, conservation, and research practices.
Tobruk Sheep Station is a scenic 50-acre working sheep farm about 45 miles (70 kilometers) north of Sydney. Visitors to the farm get a peek into what life is like for an Australian sheep farmer. From “mustering” (herding) sheep with the help of some hard-working dogs to enjoying an authentic outback BBQ lunch with can-brewed “Billy Tea,” visitors can observe and take part in all aspects of life on the farm.
Garrison Church isn’t the largest church in Sydney—nor its most popular or famous—but it's significant to the city’s military families. Established back in 1840, Garrison Church (officially known as Holy Trinity Church) was the first military church in Australia. Today, it hosts Sunday services and houses a small museum displaying early Australian military and historical items.
