Alright let’s be upfront here, as of April 2020 travel plans are on hold around the world. But when things get back to normal and the world opens up it will be fun to travel again. Having spent some time in Sydney I wanted to go over some fun things you can do if you visit.

If you look at a map you’ll see Australia is a big place. A very big place. You can’t cover too much of it in a day. So stick to Sydney. Not the capital, but arguably Australia’s most legendary metropolis. Don’t tell that to Melbourne! 🙂

Sydney is on the East Coast of Australia and although considered one of the most expensive cities in the world, it is also consistently ranked as one of the most liveable on earth! Winter or summer, Sydney is a pleasant place to be.

Because of the summer heat, the sea temperature stays fairly warm throughout the year, never falling below 23 celsius. In winter, the temperature rarely drops beneath 9 celsius and in the summer averages a comfortable 28 degrees.

Whether escaping your hemisphere’s winter or summer, here are a variety of ways to fill 24 hours in Sydney with plenty of reasons to return for round two

Morning:

Up bright and early? Of course, you are, you want to make the most of every minute of every hour in Sydney! How to start the day? First drop off your luggage at Stasher, an international luggage storage depot with locations in Sydney, then say..

Buon Giorno to Little Italy

Sydney, and Australia in general, has a reputation for some of the finest coffees on earth. In Sydney, the barista craft was authentically introduced by Italians and if you want a tasty wake-up call, try an Italian cafe.

Italian Cafes have popped up all over the city since the fifties. But back then, the original Little Italy was Stanley Street in East Sydney. Take a blast into the past and pick up your coffee at Bill and Toni’s, which still stands out amongst the new, trendier eateries surrounding it. Their downstairs bakery is open at the crackin’ dawn of 6 am so you can scarf a pastry to wash down with their delicious brew and maybe still catch a sunrise.

The new Little Italy is now unofficially Bondi Beach. That’s great because you can enjoy the morning view while you sip a full-bodied espresso or creamy latte from Gusto – Italian for tasty – Espresso Bar on Hall Street. It’s so close to the water it sits atop a platform on the sand.

After The Sun Rises

Spend the rest of the morning on a legendary cliff top walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Walk. It is a distance of about 6 kilometers and will take you a solid two hours even without the scenic route. But take the scenic route. Be sure to pack sunscreen and comfortable shoes!

Along the way you can swim, sail, or just rest at a beach or park and admire the scenery. Other options along this once upon a time trail include deep sea diving and surfing on the southern coast. Also take a moment to admire the famed sculpture-by-the-sea and stop by the picturesque aquatic reserve Gordon’s Bay.

Noon

Your stomach will be growling when you finally reach Coogee. Coogee is about 20 minutes from Sydney CBD, or Central Business District, so it won’t be long before you need to…

Munch a Lunch

This is where it gets tricky. Where to eat? What to do? With only 24 hours, it’s best to choose a neighborhood and explore it, instead of spending your precious time traveling from sight to sight. Here are some of the distinctive neighborhoods in Sydney and what each one has to offer.

PADDINGTON is east of the CBD and you can grab an authentic Chinatown lunch there. Chinatown is also home to the acclaimed Paddington market where you can browse everything from fresh food to memorable souvenirs and chinese medicine. Note the market is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

SURREY HILL is a multicultural zone and a hip and stylish one at that! Wanna be chic? Catch a movie at the classic arthouse film landmark Golden Age Cinema and Bar or doll yourself up in some vintage threads at the market on Crown Street. Wander around and you might discover some striking street art.

HABERFIELD is known as the “garden suburb” and informally as another “Little Italy”. It’s eclectic – the old post office is a pizza parlor and the former Salvation Army a fruit market. It’s a pleasant atmosphere for a rambling stroll.

Not far from Paddington and Chinatown is Darling Harbour. About a 15-minute walk. If it’s a cooler winter day, try the aquarium and meet some sharks. On a hotter summer day, walk around the Wild Life Sydney Zoo. We’ve all heard about Australia’s kwazy animals like koalas and kangaroos and here you can have an actual encounter with one.

If you would like to devote the afternoon to a tour, there are a couple interesting options. One is the Western Sydney Wine Tour, which will pick you up in CBD and take you to some of western Sydney’s finest vineyards. On a motorcycle or sidecar to boot!

Or try mapping your own tour of famous movie locations. Movies which have filmed in Sydney include The Matrix, The Great Gatsby, Mad Max, Babe and Superman Returns, one of a handful of movies featuring the Martin Place Fountain.

Night

is upon us and the day is wearing thin. Just time for a couple quick suggestions for wrapping up your adventure.

Sydney Harbour

Head to Sydney Harbour for a ride on the ferris wheel at Luna Park to take in the view of Sydney’s famous landmarks such as Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Hop off as the sun sets to catch a cocktail.

Night Lifin’

For a pleasant, luxurious dinner and a quiet evening, head to Newport, where you will find a classy and diverse mix of dining options.

For a more wild night of drinks and dancing, The Rocks is the neighborhood where you want to be! Speakeasies and craft breweries abound as well as jazz clubs and whiskey houses.

Finish your day and night under the moonlight at the less crowded Manly Beach. For a nightcap to go along with it, try Skiff Club nearby Manly Wharf, where you can sit pretty far out on the water.