Sydney 2 Day Itinerary

Two days in Sydney, are you ready? The key is to be organised and know what you want to see, having said that you need time where you just wander and discover her charms as well. I have outlined a possible 2 day itinerary to give you an idea of what you can do. You need to be an early riser (kidding!).

With only 2 days for the itinerary my suggestion is to stay somewhere very central. You don’t want to waste time just getting to where you want to go.

Day 1

First thing head down to Circular Quay, it is the Opera House you are dying to see, right? The Quay is full of activity in the morning as the ferries come and go bringing the workforce to the city from other areas of Sydney. As you walk towards the Opera House you will see the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well. I would grab a coffee and then sit at the waters edge looking at the harbour and all that is going on. You are surrounded by the great Sydney icons. This will keep you happy and will take a couple of hours to look and wander around here. If you are a nature lover be sure to wander through the Botanical Gardens just to the right of The Sydney Opera House. You get amazing views over the harbour from there.

Head to The Rocks

It is a short and very picturesque walk from Circular Quay to The Rocks. Be sure to watch where you are going as I have walked into things looking across the harbour to the Opera House. If you need a rest by this stage stop at Graze Restaurant on the ground level in front of MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and watch the harbour from this fabulous vantage point. Time to move and start exploring The Rocks, full of history and little alleyways etc. Visit The Rocks Discovery Museum to learn more. After all is where Sydney began. After enjoying the area, it is time to head towards the city centre.

The city next

There are wonderful old building and shopping areas in amongst the new and modern shops. The Queen Victoria Building, finished in 1898 and covers an entire block, and the Strand Arcade, originally constructed in 1891(only remaining arcade from the late nineteenth century) are not to be missed, beautiful old buildings with charm, now house great shops.

For a modern experience you have the big, bright and bold Westfield’s. My tip is to go to the top of Centrepoint, access is from inside Westfield’s, tell them you want to go to the bar for a drink and you won’t have to pay to go to the Observation Deck just above. By this time you will need a drink and the bonus is a 360 degree view of Sydney (it takes about 50 minutes to revolve all the way around). I love going just before the sun sets and by the time you leave the lights have come on

End of Day 1

It has been a big day so I would suggest to choose one of the many fantastic restaurants, have a great meal and head off to bed. Of course if you love the theatre or music you would have done your research in advance and may be heading off to a show.

Some of my favourite Sydney restaurants.

Mr Wong is a fabulous restaurant on many fronts, it is situated down near Circular Queue in the old part of Sydney. It is housed in a wonderful old heritage building, 2 levels, and the fit out is in Colonial Chinese style. Your senses on all fronts are bombarded. Just love this place and no trip to Sydney is ever complete without a visit to Mr Wong, whether I am by myself, with my partner or meeting a group of friends, it never disappoints.

Chat Thai is 25 years old, they have never lost sight of what they wanted to be, “to bring honest and authentic Thai fare to discerning and loyal Sydney diners”. To survive this long they are certainly doing something right. They have several restaurants in Sydney but I go to the one on the top floor of Westfield’s

Indu is my latest discovery, I was walking along George Street coming from The Rocks, when I saw a person stuffing ochre in a window just below street level! I am always looking at my surroundings as I never won’t to miss a thing! Anyway I followed my nose and the entrance was in Angel Place (where you will find the singling birdcages) and there it was. It is a fantastic fit out and the amazing aromas draw you in. It is located in the basement of a heritage listed building. The food is from the villages of Sri Lanka. Make sure you read their story, it is inspirational.

Longrain I love this place and have been dinning there for many years. “It is inspired by the the communal eating philosophy of the Asian table”. They deliver perfect harmony between “hot, sour, salty and sweet”, the key to great Asian Food. It is just out of the city in Surrey Hills.

A Tyvola This is one of the great Italian restaurants that I love in Sydney. I love sitting at the long table positioned just as you walk in, you get to see the kitchen and the cocktails being made. They have another room for more intimate dining. You will find this gem in Darlinghurst.

Felix Bistrot is a great French eating experience. It is so French, from the menu, the fit out and even the aprons on the waiters! It is in Ash Street Laneway, one of my favorite little eating lanes!

Sydney Itinerary Day 2

Different day and a different pace! This morning make your way down to Coogee and do the “Coastal Walk” ending up at Bondi. The Bondi to Coogee walk is 6 kilometres along Sydney Eastern Beaches. It is a medium grade urban walk with stunning views of beaches, bays, parks and cliffs. The beaches you are are Coogee, Clovelly, Bronte and Bondi. You get a good feel on how Sydney is made up of lots of little beaches along the coastline and each beach has its own style and character. The walk is one of the most famous walks not just in Australia but world wide.

You will be spoilt for choice on where to have brunch or lunch (depending on how early you got out of bed!). I love popping into the Bondi Surf Club for a break and just gaze out over Bondi Beach. I have even spotted whales and dolphins. Have a wander around Bondi, get its vibe before having to move on.

Want to find out more about Sydney? Including our favourite tours, latest specials, travel information and plenty more. See our Sydney Things to Do Travel Guide.

Time to get on the Harbour

Head back to the city and now it is time to get out onto the famous Sydney Harbour. You can catch ferries or go on a cruise, either way make sure you get out onto the harbour. If you go on a ferry, one to catch is the Darling Harbour Ferry. You get to go under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, stop at Lunar Park and onto Balmain. This suburb is one of the earliest settled suburbs of Sydney, a workers suburb, being the birth place of the Labour Party. Not any more! It has one long main street and is well worth a walk through. You can catch a complimentary bus to the top and then walk back down to the ferry.

End of Day 2

After these two days, I believe this itinerary will have given you a good cross section of what makes Sydney unique. You have seen the iconic landmarks, been on the Sydney Harbour, soaked up the history, seen the modern city and experienced the beauty that nature has provided.