Sydney Harbour Bridge New Years
Sydney is likely to be on most travelers itinerary when visiting Australia. It’s an amazing city which has some equally amazing sights and surprisingly you won’t have to reach for your credit card in order to afford them. There are a whole host of great sights and activities that won’t cost you a penny, here are our top 20.
#1. Bondi Beach
– You can’t miss Australia’s most famous and busiest beach. The beach is approximately 1 kilometre long and in summer, tens of thousands of Sydney-siders flock here. Watch out for the waves and losing your stuff to petty thieves.
#2. Sydney Coastal Walk
– Take the walk from Bondi to Coogee Walk and enjoy the beautiful coastline, beaches and cafe strips. Finish up with a swim at Coogee Beach.
#3. Manly Beach
– Much longer than Bondi Beach, Manly is one of the best beaches on the North Shore of Sydney. It does cost to park here, but access to the beach is free. You can also rent lockers to keep your possessions secure while your swim or surf.
#4. Opera House and the Domain
– Get the perfect “I’m in Sydney” tourist photo right at the Opera House. You can walk up the steps and around the buildings, inside and out. A guided tour is much more insightful, but it costs money. After that, stroll around Farm Cove to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for some great harbour views. Appreciate Sydney from the green space of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Domain.
#5. Darling Harbour
– Walk around Sydney’s Darling Harbour, the “all-seasons playground”, that features free entertainment from buskers to the odd outdoor show.
#6. Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge
– No need to whip out your credit card here, this isn’t the walk where you walk up to the top of the Bridge. There is a public walkway which will allow you to walk across each way.
#7. Government House
– Located within the Royal Botanic Gardens the Government House has a free weekend tour when the late 19th century style staterooms can be viewed. The gardens are open daily.
#8. Parliament House
– Visit the Parliament House buildings on Macquarie Street which dates back to Sydney’s early days in 1810.
#9. The Writers Walk
– Walk the old cobblestone streets of The Rocks, an area which dates back to the early days of Sydney in the 1800’s. As you make your way along the promenade of Circular Quay you’ll spot 50 metal plaques, each has a selection of thoughts from renowned Australian writers and literary contributors.
#10. The Rocks
– Free admission to the The Rocks Discovery Museum takes you on a journey from pre-European days to the present using interactive displays and artifacts.
#11. The Art Gallery of New South Wales
– The Art Gallery of New South Wales has an outstanding collection of works, including the largest permanent collection of Aboriginal art in the world. Admission is mostly free (fees apply for special events and exhibitions), as are the guided tours, and there are often free Aboriginal performances in Yiribana Gallery.
#12. Sydney Observatory
– Breathtaking Sydney Harbour views, Australia’s oldest observatory lets you explore the heavens, use a telescope or see a star explode. Free during the day (fees apply for the 3D space theatre and telescope).
#13. Australian National Maritime Museum
– Its free to explore the museum’s galleries and special exhibitions, the Maritime Heritage Centre, Wharf 7, the North Wharf, the marina and Cape Bowling Green lighthouse.
#14. Museum of Contemporary Art
– Enjoy free admission to the exhibitions, based on contemporary Ausralian issues in the visual arts, design, architecture and film.
#15. Royal Botanic Gardens
– Thirty hectares of gardens in the heart of Sydney, next to Circular Quay, are real harbour side oasis. Established back in 1816, the Royal Botanic Gardens have an outstanding collection of native and foreign horticulture.
#16. Sydney Olympic Park
– The 40 hectare park lands are great place to walk or take your bicycle ride along the tracks or enjoy a picnic.
#17. Nielsen Park
– Enjoy the scenic beach, picnic areas and walking trails of this Eastern suburb foreshore.
#18. Pelican Feeding
– If you’re on your way north on the highway, stop in at the Central Coast town of ‘The Entrance’. Each and every afternoon at 3pm a local bird conservation group lead a talk on Pelicans and feed the hordes of Pelicans who congregate at the promenade waiting to be feed fish! Drop in, watch the pelicans, enjoy a snack then keep going north.
#19. Centennial Park
– Enjoy the verdant landscape of ponds, grass hills and woodlands of Centennial Park which was dedicated by Sir Henry Parkes back in 1888. The park has a lot of history attached to it, it was the venue for the inauguration of the Federation in 1901. It’s an ideal space for a picnic, cycling, rollerblading or just lazing about in the sun.
#20. Kirribilli Market
– On the corner of Alfred and Burton Streets, over on the north side of the Sydney Harbour is Milsons Point where you’ll find Bradfield Park. Here, on every four Saturday each month between January and November and third Saturdays in December there’s over 300 stalls of new and vintage fashion, accessories, arts, craft, collectibles, antiques, plants, fresh flowers, gift ware and gourmet food on display.
#21. Home & Away – Palm Beach
– A must for any Australian soap fan, a visit to the set of “Home & Away” on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Australia isn’t the cheapest destinition in the world, but you needn’t spend a fortune seeing the sights and having a fantastic time. Stay tuned to our Australia Guide for more budget busting tips for other destinations in Australia.
Do you have any favourite free activities and sights in Sydney?
Let us know by commenting below.
