Thank you so much to Alexander Hunkin for this guest post!
Sydney, one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Rich in culture, food, sunshine and good vibes, it has it all. With all that in mind, we have taken the liberty of writing up some tips on how to make the most of your time there.
There are many smoke-free zones
If you have not quit smoking by the time your trip starts (something you really should do anyway) then you need to be aware of Sydney’s anti-smoking laws. Namely, you cannot smoke anywhere where food is served, you can’t smoke at bus and train stations, sporting grounds, building entrances, public recreation areas… There are even some streets, like Pitt Street mall, that are completely smoke-free.
Sydney is all about early birds.
Almost everything opens up at 6 or 7 am. However, this also means that a lot of places close by 9 pm, like shops and restaurants. The bars and clubs are no different, they close their doors by 1.30 am, and everybody has to get out by 3 am. There are even some places that close before midnight. Also, some restaurants close even sooner on either a Monday or a Sunday night. You should probably check, just in case.
Getting from point A to point B
Keep in mind that you have a bus every 30 minutes or so. Also keep in mind that they are often late. The same goes for ferries, so public transit isn’t really reliable. We advise you rent a car, especially if you’re travelling with family. Just be sure that you have everything set up in accordance with child seat laws in NSW, and any other traffic laws for that matter.
Check out a real community barbecue
First of all, don’t ever say “Put another Shrimp on the Barbie” – nobody says that in Australia, unless you’re trying to be ironic. Clichéd phrases aside, Australians really do love their barbecue, and for good reason. You’re out in the fresh air, the food is delicious, and everybody’s having fun. So what you should definitely search for is a free barbecue spot. There are barbecues scattered around the city parks and beaches, places where you can legally cook and fry some stuff up.
Check out the whales
Ever wanted to bask in the majesty of the biggest living animals on earth? Well now you can see the whales, as there have been many sightings of whales in this area. There are even apps where people report sightings that you can check out.
The Sun here is no joke
The Australian sun is not something that should be taken lightly. Many a tourist made the mistake of coming to Sydney ill-prepared, and leaving with a very serious sunburn. And on a more serious note, this can cause skin issues, and even heatstroke. Even if you think you’re used to it, you should take all the necessary precautions, like staying hydrated and wearing sunblock. Always carry a reusable water bottle with you, and stock up on sunblock. A straw sun-hat and sunglasses are also important items.
So much art!
There are several galleries you can visit, and most of them are free. For example, the Museum of Contemporary Art, or the Art Gallery of New South Wales have permanent exhibitions that are free. Some exhibits, however, require you to purchase tickets, but, as we’ve said, some do not.
Some other public art institutions are open until p.m., and often have free public programming you can check out. And of course, the world-famous Sydney Opera House is right there, just waiting for you. You simply must go in. It hosts 2000 events per year, being a home for theatre, classical music, and rock.
Conclusion
And there you have it folks, a couple of tips for any first time Sydney visitor. Just take the entire city in, protect yourself from the Sun, and enjoy your stay.
Have you ever been to Sydney?
18 Responses
I have never been to any part of Australia but I would really love to! II had no idea about the smoke free zones but as a non smoker that makes me happy
As an asthmatic non smoker it makes me happy too! Australia seems to really think and care about their citizens, from what I can tell.
Never been to Sydney but would love to go. It looks so lovely! 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip
It really is! I need to go back to explore more!
I have never been, but it’s on my bucket list.
It is perfect bucket list material!
This is such an informative post. I love that everything opens so early there! That’d definitely encourage me to get up earlier. Sydney has never really been on my bucket list because I HATE the heat. So I wouldn’t fare very well there haha!
Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com
Fun fact! I also hate the heat, but the heat in Sydney (and certain other parts of Australia) is a dry heat, so you aren’t super sweaty and it’s very bearable!
Aah I’ve always wanted to go to Australia and this post makes me want to go even more! x
10/10 recommend! If you ever get the chance, go!
Fab post! I haven’t been to Sydney before, I would love to visit one day. And I would definitely stock up on sun cream, I don’t do too well with hot weather anyway, so even when it’s sunny in the UK (which isn’t often) I burn haha. Definitely on my list of dream places to visit tho! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Chloe xx
http://www.chloechats.com
Thanks Chloe!
I burn easy also. My first few days in Australia I got burned SO badly, even though I used lots of sunscreen haha.
I’ve never been to Sydney but it’s on my list, it looks so beautiful. I love the idea of community BBQs! If only it was hot enough in the UK to have them here.
Charlotte xx
charlotterick.com
I love community BBQ’s also! How fun and easy for people to get outside and socialize!
I went to Australia with my parents in 2012 & Sydney was our first stop! These are great tips & one of the first things we did was go whale watching (whales are my mum’s favorite animal). We also went to the Sydney Opera House!
What whales did you see?! That would be so much fun.
I’ve been outside the Sydney Opera House but never inside. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.
Great tips! I never knew about the free barbecue spots – what a lovely idea 🙂
I know, I wish we had that here in Vancouver!