Top Sydney Day Trips

Maximize your time in Sydney with some of these top-rated day trips:

• Blue Mountains: Three Sisters, Scenic World and Wildlife Park
• Small-Group Blue Mountains Day Tour with Wildlife Park Admission
• Blue Mountains Day Tour Including Parramatta River Cruise
• Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney Including Scenic World
• Small Group Blue Mountains Day Trip from Sydney with Scenic World

Plan to spend anywhere from US$70 per person for a full-day tour with a group up to US$1,500 per group for a private tour. Top-rated day trips from Sydney range from about US$100 to US$200 for a full day of sightseeing fun.

The two closest major cities near Sydney are Wollongong and Newcastle, which are both within about a 2-hour drive. Australia’s capital city of Canberra is just over a 3-hour drive from Sydney, which makes it another day trip candidate if you leave early enough.

No. Melbourne is approximately a 9-hour drive from Sydney, Australia, so would not be advisable as a day trip. Whether you drive or hop on a direct flight, you’ll definitely want to linger in Melbourne for a couple of days at least.

Yes, the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed region, are one of the best day trips from Sydney. In a 10-hour tour, you can cover a lot of territory, including seeing Wentworth Falls, the Three Sisters rock formation, and several other sites along the way.

You should plan to stay at least three days in Sydney if possible. This will give you enough time to see the major sites, such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, and Bondi Beach, and potentially fit in a day trip from Sydney to a site like the Blue Mountains, as well.

There are tons of fun tours and excursions in Sydney aside from day trips. According to previous travelers, these are the best activities to book for your next trip:

• Whale Watching

• Hop-On Hop-Off Buses

• Dinner Cruises

• Surfing Lessons

• Safaris

Sydney day trip prices vary depending on duration and inclusions. If you’re looking for high-quality experiences on the lower end of the price range, these are the best tours to book now:

• Blue Mountains Day Tour, Including Parramatta River Cruise

• Wombat and Kangaroo Wildlife Tour From Sydney

• Port Stephens Day Trip From Sydney

• Blue Mountains Small Group Tour with Waterfall Walk & Fresh Lunch

• Luxury Hunter Valley Wildlife & Wine-Tasting Tour From Sydney

If you want to take a day trip from Sydney but don’t want to sit in a bus all day, you don’t have to venture too far beyond the city. Sydney is a large, sprawling city, and there are many great day-trip destinations a short drive from the city, such as the Blue Mountains, Royal National Park, and beaches along the coast. Make sure you take a day trip in an air-conditioned vehicle, especially if you’re traveling in summer: Sydney can get very hot.

Wherever you’re going on a day trip and whichever season you’re traveling in, be well-prepared for the strong sun. Sunblock, sun hats, and bottled water are necessary in all seasons (even winter, as it’s not always cool and wet). If you’re venturing into a natural area, you don’t need to be overly afraid of Australia’s notorious wild animals. Many travelers are wary of snakes and spiders, but guides will know how best to avoid these—and what to do if there’s an incident. And in reality, problematic encounters are very rare.

Sydney and surrounding areas are most comfortable in spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May), when the temperatures are generally warm but not too hot. These are great times to take day trips from the city, especially if you’ll spend a lot of time outdoors. If you’re traveling in summer (December–February), take a day trip to a beach or other waterway to cool off.