“All cities have a natural side just waiting to be discovered” – Karen Rose

Sydney, Australia

An old strong beautiful tree in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia

Sunrise Sydney Harbour Bridge, NSW, Australia

One of many beautiful coves on the Bondi to Coogee Walk, Sydney, Australia

Whether you are visiting or live here, getting outside is a great way to enjoy Sydney. As one of the most iconic cities in the world, it certainly has a little bit of everything you could want from a destination, including an incredible connection with the water that surrounds it. Some of the best parts of any city are outside and Sydney is no exception. Here are just three of the many natural things to enjoy in this vibrant and modern hub on the south east coast of Australia.

1. Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

Take a sunny day to walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal path. We chose to go backwards and start in Coogee with a spot of brunch. Easy to find, buses from Circular Quay will drop you off right by Coogee Beach. The walk takes you on a windy trail along the coast where you can enjoy wonderful sights and feel the spray of the sea. Watch surfers tackle the waves and relax on various beaches en-route. There’s also a picturesque cemetery, namely Waverley, that has a wonderfully peaceful feel, with gravestones looking out to sea.

If you are planning a trip soon, check out your accommodation options in Sydney.

Waverley Cemetery on the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk in Sydney

One of many beautiful coves on the Bondi to Coogee Walk, Sydney, Australia

Completing your walk in Bondi allows you to fully appreciate this popular spot as you wander past the street art along the sea path and snap photos of the waves. Finish your walk by treating yourself to a drink in The Bucket List bar or one of the other venues with a beachfront view. We were recommended to finish our walk in Bondi and it was certainly a great feeling when we rounded the corner and saw the infamous beach stretching ahead of us.

You may also like Blue Mountains National Park.

From Bondi, buses take you back to Circular Quay regularly. Buses cost around 4 AUD with an Opal card which can be obtained and pre-loaded from Circular Quay, as well as many newsagents and shops. Opal is the cheapest and easiest way to use public transport in the city because buses and ferries do not take cash or card payments onboard.

2. The Royal Botanic Gardens

A sunny summer walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney

Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Pick an afternoon to wander the Royal Botanic Gardens, our favourite picnic spot in Sydney, where you can learn about a number of different Australian plants and herbs. This hub of green in the city is a welcome respite from the tall buildings and hustle and bustle, especially on a warm day. We recommend walking the path that clings to the harbour first, from the Opera House to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

You can enjoy views along this path of the Opera House in front of the Harbour Bridge which is a cool angle for photos. Check out what guided walks and tours are on in the gardens during your stay so that you can get the most out of the park. We would have loved the Aboriginal Medicine and Food tour that teaches you all about native remedies for keeping well with plants, but sadly it wasn’t on during our visit. So, if you happen to go, please report back and let me know what it was like!

You may also like our Byron Bay Itinerary – Spirit and Surf.

3. A Harbour Bridge Sunset

Whether you stay for one night or many, enjoy a Harbour Bridge sunset. Or sunrise. Or ideally, both. Iconic landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are a pleasure to enjoy as the captivating light of these magical times of day plays behind or in front of them.

If you have more than a night in the city, take the view in from different angles each evening, and try to find somewhere to stay that affords a great sunrise shot if you’re not sure you can make it out of bed before dawn. The north side of Sydney is where you need to be to get the angle shown in the picture above. You can catch a ferry from Circular Quay to McMahon’s Point where there is a small park and a very small beach to enjoy sunset from.

The ultimate way to enjoy Sydney Harbour Bridge is on a BridgeClimb experience.

Alternatively, on a sunny day, stop for a cold drink outside at Opera Kitchen for views of the harbour from the opposite side and a real summer-in-the-city, laid-back vibe. Relax here and wait for sunset to come to get photos of the other side of the bridge, or enjoy a ferry taxi ride as the sun begins to drop for photos underneath the bridge set against the glowing sky.

You may also like our East Coast of Australia Road Trip.

You could live in Sydney and never get bored of the interesting walks, things to do on the water, or the ever-changing sky colours that set off its iconic landmarks. So whatever you decide to do in Sydney will be worthwhile and mainly determined by the length of your stay. We feel Sydney is a must-see city in Australia and really loved our wonderful location on the north side as a starting point to our trip. Next month, join us as we navigate the east coast in search of all the beauty that this side of Australia has to offer outside of the city. Thanks so much eclectic Sydney for getting us started and for having natural beauty to balance out your city buzz!

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Are you planning long days out in the sun soon?

We love the sun and feel fantastic after absorbing lots of Vitamin D. We highly recommend choosing a natural suncream with no nasties in order to enjoy the sun safely, especially when visiting beautiful coastal areas with delicate marine life.

Yaoh Suncare Organic Hemp Seed Oil Sun Block SPF 30 (240ml)