Sydney is the jewel in Australia’s hat. It’s flashy, it’s a show-off city, and I ate up every bit and licked the plate, too!
Certainly it features the most recognizable and most beautiful harbor in the world. With the sails of the Opera House reaching over to look at their reflection in the water and the Harbor Bridge spanning it, there’s no doubt that you are, indeed in Australia.
My hands-down best night in Sydney was
New Years Eve. It’s ruined me for all other NYE for the rest of my life. I was on a boat in the harbor, watching the magnificent Harbor Bridge not only put on a show for those in Sydney, but showing the rest of the world how it’s done.
Upon my arrival in the city, my first glance of the
Opera House and the
Harbor Bridge brought tears to my eyes. I almost asked someone walking by to pinch me to make sure I was really awake. This was my dream trip, and I was standing there looking at these two icons, thinking to myself that my dreams hadn’t done them justice.
Climbing that “coat hanger,” as the Sydney-ites call it, was another high point for me. The
Bridge Climb was exciting, and not as challenging as I had feared. The vantage point was incredible, and since my birthday was a week away, I was serenaded at the top by my climb group. There’s nothing like a sunset from atop the bridge, either.
The best Sydney meal was at
Wolfie’s Grill, a very nice steak with potatoes and a view of the aforementioned Opera House. The best drinks were with an American whom I met on the flight over who works in Sydney, and she recommended the
HarborView Hotel. Hanging out with her, meeting authentic Australian boys and drinking a “Sex on the Bridge” was a great way to close out my Australian journey on my last day.
Quick Tips:
For NYE, the best spot is on a boat in the harbor. Second best spot would be Mrs. Maquarie’s Chair, but you’ll have to get there pretty early in the day. By 10am the space around the opera house was already filling up.
Ask your travel agent for coupons. Mine gave me some coupons for dinner, and through my tour group, I had a certificate for a free koala pin with an opal from one of the opal shops as one of many "vouchers" we were given to attractions around Australia.
Sydney is also probably your cheapest option for opals, unless you’re mining them yourself. However, gold is more expensive there, so you’re not saving much.
Photographers: The best place to get a bridge/Opera House combo photo is Mrs. Maquarie's Chair. For sunset in January, I recommend the other side of the bridge at Milson's Point.
Lastly, If you can’t book a Bridge Climb, go to the offices anyway. While I was there, I was able to even move tour times, so your best bet is to go direct to the source, rather than through your concierge, who probably blocks off batch tickets, and it’ll cost you more that way, too.
Read other reviews from my Australia trip:
Melbourne |
Alice Springs |
Uluru |
CairnsBest Way To Get Around:
I think the best way to get around is by foot. That way, you can stop in all the shops and really get the best look at Sydney. When you wear yourself out, cabs are easily available and inexpensive options. (Look for taxi areas, or just flag one down.)
When my new Sydney friend joined me for drinks, she took a train in, and mentioned that she once walked an hour or so home because it was a nice day. So everything is accessible as a modern city.