Katie Nelson

Sydney is an incredible city. From the beautiful harbour to the world-class beaches, national parks and vibrant suburbs, you’ll need at least a few days to really get a taste of Australia’s largest city.

However, if you’re pressed for time you can still squeeze in some of the main sights into one jam-packed day of exploring. So here’s an itinerary of the best things to see and do if you’ve only got a day to explore the city!

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

To make the most of your limited time in Sydney make sure you get up nice and early and head straight to Bondi Beach. Take in the sights of this world famous beach and grab a coffee or bite to eat from one of the many cafes that line the beach front. From there you can do the extremely beautiful Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.

The walk takes you past the beautiful beaches of Tamarama, Bronte and Clovelly as well as the stunning Gordon’s Bay before you arrive in Coogee. Allow 2 hours for the walks itself – it can easily be done in around 1 hour 20, but you’ll want to stop along the way to take in the sights or go for a swim!

Sydney Harbour Bridge & The Rocks

After you’ve arrived in Coogee it’s time to hot foot it over to Milsons Point.

To make the most of your time I’d recommend getting an Uber from Coogee to Central Station and then hop on a train to Milsons Point. The train will take you one stop over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and once you get off it’s a short walk back up onto the bridge from the station. This now allows you to walk back over the bridge and to take in the beautiful view of the harbour and Sydney Opera House.

As you approach the other side, lookout for a set of stairs on your left, they will take you down into The Rocks – Sydney’s oldest suburb, and one of my favourite places in the city!

Sydney Opera House

After spending some time exploring the old cobbled streets in The Rocks it’s time to wander to the opposite side of Circular Quay and take in the spectacular sight of the Sydney Opera House. The world famous building is spectacular up close and you’ll get an incredible view across the harbour to the bridge. After a long morning of exploring it’ll be time for a drink (of the alcoholic variety if you fancy) and Opera Bar is the best spot for a drink or bite to eat.

This ionic bar is situated under the sails of the Opera House and right next to the water, with uninterrupted views of the city. It’s the perfect place to have a drink, soak up the atmosphere of being in Sydney and have a little break from sightseeing.

Botanic Gardens

After you’ve refueled it’s time to move on to Sydney’s famous Botanic Gardens. The entrance to the gardens are a short walk from the Opera House and the gardens themselves are vast. I’d recommend walking to Mrs Macquaries Chair as you’ll get the best view of both the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Ferry Ride to Watson’s Bay

No trip to Sydney is complete without a ferry trip on the harbour and there are numerous options to choose from. One of my favourite spots in Sydney has to be Watson’s Bay – it’s beautiful, has incredible views of the city and harbour and is a great spot to watch the sunset. After you’ve explored the Botanic Gardens, head back to Circular Quay where you’ll be able to catch a ferry to Watson’s Bay.

Once you’re off the ferry you can walk up and down the promenade and take in the views of the harbour and city. Watson’s Bay Hotel is the perfect place for a couple of sundowner drinks and dinner if you’re hungry!

The evening is up to you…

In my (humble) opinion you’ve now experienced the best bits Sydney has to offer if you’re short on time. If you still have enough energy after your day of exploring then you have the evening to enjoy whatever you fancy! My recommendations for areas to visit in the evening would be Newtown for alternative bars, Surry Hills for a wide selection of restaurants or Darling Harbour for a mix of bars, restaurants and water views.

Enjoy!