Top 15 things to do in Sydney including the Blue Mountains

Top 15 Things to do in Sydney including the Blue Mountains

What to do in Sydney?

Go for a trip up to the Blue Mountains or just go to the Zoo. How does sailing on Sydney Harbour sound or just spend the day at Bondi Beach. Isn’t it something that we can do all these amazing things so easily.

11 The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains

Drive for an hour and a half, go up a hill, turn left into Katoomba, follow the signs to Echo Point and the Three Sisters, look around for a park then gape at the view. It’s just incredible that a place like the Three Sisters can exist so close to a city the size of Sydney.

Don’t Look at the Three Sisters!

I was tempted not to give a link to, or image of, the Three Sisters as in some ways having no idea what you’re going see there adds to the experience. I obviously did but you don’t have to look! 🙂

Blue Mountains Three Sisters

Featherdale Wildlife Park

You might be debating with yourself whether you can afford a whole day or more to visit the mountains. To make the idea a little more attractive include a little wildlife. Stop on route at the Featherdale Wildlife Park. Featherdale boasts a full range of Aussie critters including koalas, wombats, kangaroos, emus, dingoes, reptiles and a large number of birds.

The Three Sisters and the World’s steepest Scenic Railway and Cableway

There’s a lot more to see than the Three Sisters, although they are worth the trip alone. You could also hitch a ride on the “world’s steepest”:

 Scenic Railway and Cableway

Spectacular Wentworth Falls

A must see is the beautiful Wentworth Falls. Why not take the opportunity to enjoy a little bushwalk around the falls. Walks can take as little as 60 minutes or several hours depending upon your starting point. Be well prepared if you intend going on a long walk and ideally let someone know where you are going. Visitors do get lost in the mountains but you’re too smart (you’re reading this so you must be 🙂 ) for that to happen to you.

Leura Candy Store

If you have a sweet tooth you should enjoy a short stop at the Candy Store. The Candy Store is located in historic Leura which is well-known for its antiques, arts and craft shops. Follow the link below for more helpful links and information:

Blue Mountains links

12 Blue Mountains – After the Three Sisters

There is much to see and experience in the Blue Mountains. Wentworth Falls, train ride down a cliff (the excellent Scenic Railway), Skyway Cable Car, Grand Canyon, Federal Pass and many other great walks and a lot of great Blue Mountain lookouts to look out from.

Blue Mountains Tourist Information

Once you’ve ‘done’ the Three Sisters visit the Blue Mountains Visitor Information Centres in Katoomba. They are a very helpful and friendly bunch.

Are the Blue Mountains really Blue?

On a hazy day the Blue Mountains may earn their name, perhaps. The official explanation is that fine droplets of aromatic oil released by the eucalypt trees refract the sunlight making the mountains appear blue from a distance. Whilst on the subject of the weather, if it’s cloudy be patient as it may just blow away. If the weather has set in consider a trip to Jenolan Caves.

Blue Mountains Bells Line of Road

The Bells Line of Road to the North is my preferred route in and out of the mountains. Stop at the Botanical Gardens and Bellbird Lookout (see below) for nice views back into town.

Richmond and Windsor

Consider taking the Kurmond Road towards Freemans Reach to avoid Richmond and Windsor and a few traffic lights (potentially cheap petrol at the BP Station just before the turn off). Follow the link below for more about the Blue Mountains.

Blue Mountains walks and visitor information 

13 Sailing on Sydney Harbour

Arguable, sailing is the best way to see and experience Sydney Harbour. Wind in your hair, the sound of water against the bit at the front and in the sheet thing above. “Land ahoy!” “There she blows!” “Shiver me timbers”- it’s in our blood! 🙂

Sailing on Sydney Harbour

14 Taronga Zoo – Sydney Zoo by another name

Everybody loves the zoo, well maybe some of the lions might look a little fed up with it but most humans seem to enjoy it. 🙂 Taronga Zoo also boasts classic views across Sydney Harbour including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Catch the ferry from Circular Quay to make the journey part of the experience.

Taronga Zoo for Fantastic Harbour Views

Anything less than a dozen pictures with the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background and you are just not trying. 🙂 There is a cable car leading from the ferry wharf to the zoo or you can bus your way up the hill.

Kids Zoo

Specifically for families Taronga Zoo includes a children’s zoo, an excellent well shaded play-ground and farm animals for brave under-fives to pat. These areas are a little away from the major attractions so it can be a pleasant escape from the crowds, assuming you are used to screaming kids. But maybe it’s the screaming kids that keep the crowds away… 🙂

Tree Tops Cafe

The facilities at Taronga Zoo are surprisingly good with a number of food options from traditional fast food to the pleasant Tree Tops cafe with excellent, if partially obscured, views of Sydney Harbour.

Family Friendly Zoo Pass?

We have been quietly encouraging Taronga Zoo to introduce a family friendly pass or flexible ticket for years. They are now giving a modest discount for families which is a step in the right direction. All we need now is a short-day pass that caters for return trips and we will shut up. If enough people ask for short-day, return pass they might introduce one.

Follow this link to Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo Do’s and Don’ts

You may find Taronga Zoo Do’s and Don’ts particularly useful if you have kids.

Taronga Zoo Do’s and Don’ts

15 (21) Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach, used to be thought as the ‘People’s Beach’, a place of freedom. So as you might expect, it is home to a diverse crowd and Bondi can get crowded at times. Most people just aim for the beach to relax and maybe have a go at body surfing. If you have no inclination to get wet, you can just stroll on, or alongside, the beach and browse the shops on the other side of the road.

Bondi Pavilion

When it’s open, the Bondi Pavilion Balcony is a neat place to watch the waves, wavers and the other people passing by. There is a bar upstairs allowing you to take drinks out onto the balcony.

Exhibitions and Plays

The Bondi Pavilion also hosts exhibits and plays, particularly during the Sydney Festival. Some are fun, and some aren’t, but they are often short and you can take your drinks in with you.

For more information on Bondi