Just under 9 hours of flight time from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sydney has a lot to offer especially for a city lover.
Sydney is a big city and getting around on foot may be quite challenging so we’d highly recommend that you purchase an Opal card upon arrival that enables you to access all public transportations including buses, trams, trains and ferries. Alternatively, Uber is reliable too for comfort but it can be more expensive when you travel in a company of two.
As for accommodation, you could check out the deals available at Airbnb if you’re not one to splurge on fancy 5-star hotels, or simply book a stay at a boutique hotel such as Manor House, located about 10 minutes away from the city by bus and walking distance from Surry Hills, a quaint neighbourhood with nice cafes.
Here are some highlights we feel should be on your to-do list during your one-week stay in Sydney.
1. Soak in the amazing architecture and sights
The first place that comes into mind when one mentions Sydney would definitely have to be the Sydney Opera House. Although, yes it would be a very touristy thing to do, but you can’t visit Sydney for the first time without taking a picture with this amazing work of architecture. It really is different up close and if you have the extra time, marvel at this beauty from various angles. Either chill on the grass at the Royal Botanic Gardens where you could also take a stroll all the way to Mrs. Macquarie’s chair or hop onto a ferry at Circular Quay that takes you across to the other side to Milsons Point or Luna Park where you’d get a forefront view of the Harbour Bridge with Sydney Opera House at the back. The Sydney Opera House isn’t the only photo worthy sight. Some buildings in the city centre like Queen Victoria and The Strand Arcade definitely deserve a spot in your cameras too! And let’s not forget the night view at Darling Harbour.
2. Satisfy your tastebuds in various cafes
If you’ve been to Australia, you’d know that brunches and desserts are gold in Aussieland! Sydney is no exception (although we must admit that we do prefer the coffee culture in Melbourne). Some of the cafes worthy of a bite or two and the calories include Bills for the best scrambled eggs in the world and hot cakes, Bourke Street Bakery for all the baked goods, The Grounds of Alexandria for the ambiance, coffee and brunch, Black Star Pastry for the watermelon cake, Zumbo Patisserie for the delectable desserts and what tops our list for the best brunch in Sydney is Two Good Eggs Café.
3. Visit the Taronga Zoo
Good news for all you animal lovers because the zoo in Sydney does not disappoint! The Taronga Zoo is located just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay and boasts one of the most magnificient views of the city. The zoo isn’t exactly very vast so it shouldn’t take you more than half a day to explore the entire area and to catch the shows.
4. Check out the weekend markets
A popular activity even for the locals in Sydney is going to the weekend markets. You’d find a list of weekend markets scattered across various parts of the city and the two worth checking out are The Rocks Market and Bondi’s Market. There, you’d find local produce, knick-knacks, vintage items, clothing and more. It wouldn’t take you long to cover the entire market unless you’re a massive shopaholic so a couple of hours should be sufficient. And if you’re already at Bondi’s Market, you could spend the rest of your day just chilling by the beach with a nice cold beer while you people watch and end your day with a nice seafood meal. But be warned, weekends at Bondi can be pretty intense! Not just cos of the sun but it’s insanely crowded.
5. Catch a show
If you’re into theater and the performing arts, you might want to consider catching a show while you’re there. Simply go to sydney.com and check out what shows are available when and where. Who knows something at the Sydney Opera House may tickle your fancy? There are usually a variety of shows to choose from and because we’re such musical buffs here at megsmesh, we caught Beautiul: The Carole King Musical and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Let us know if you tried any of our recommendations or if you have better ones, do share them with us at the comment section below.
With that, we bid you Good Day Mate!
