SYDNEY

I didn’t think I would be going to Australia this soon but fate had its way and I was en route to down under.

It’s really sad but since working for a luxury travel agency, I base a lot of my travel on where we have perks. Perks being translated to free hotel stays - who could say no to that? After all, accommodations is typically the biggest chunk to consider when planning a trip. Since I had this advantage, I always opted to go far flung places or base it solely on the hotel as the destination itself. Hey, when the hotel is worth $2300 USD a night, that is the vacation. So having this benefit has definitely made my travels a lot more affordable which is why I do it often.

So, Sydney. This was the origin of my journey to the Tasman Sea. I was thinking of visiting Sydney for the weekend (which sounds crazy for some), but the flight was hovering around $1000 which seemed attainable at the time. But because I was staying on a complimentary basis, I had to wait for confirmation from the hotel to see if they could accommodate me. Unfortunately, for me, the flight prices astronomically shot up while waiting for the hotel to confirm where I could no longer justify the price for a simple weekend trip…which is why I added New Zealand and Fiji onto my trip. Although Sydney was part of the original plan, I saved it for last because I was going to end my trip on glorious sunshine and beaches - perfect!

I had really underestimated Sydney. The sheer size of Sydney is ginormous and impossible to do in a few days - even for me! I picked and chose the attractions that I thought resonate with me the most and what I would enjoy greatly. Luckily, the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, where I stayed was situated in an excellent location which helped me navigate everywhere from the tourist jungle of Circular Quay to Manly to the beaches of Bondi and the Grounds of Alexandria.

The hotel was lovely. Located right at the mouth of Darling Harbour, it is ideal for business travelers as it is conveniently located across the street from International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney. It is also right across the street from the Light Rail which was perfect for getting to and from SYD without walking in the hot Australian heat. Because it was a business hotel, it lacked in certain details (ie. lack of personalization, limited bed-side technology, no standalone bathtubs except in larger rooms). Since starting to work at this travel agency, I’ve been groomed to a luxury life. Sigh, life is hard.

But where to begin? Many attractions are located within walking distance from Circular Quay (ie. Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Museum of Contemporary Art, etc). Because the sheer size of Sydney is quite large, it’s best to pick and choose what attractions speak to you the most, especially if you’re limited to just a couple days!

For myself, Sydney’s best attractions were its beaches. The more I travel, the more I crave for an off-the-beaten-path experience. I take peoples’ recommendations as a tiny grain of salt. However, I had everyone and their mom urging me to do the Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk and I am so glad I did! Sydney’s breathtaking beaches, smooth sand, and rocky cliffs provided the most idyllic backdrop for me. There are so many great spots to take photos, sit down as reflect. Bronte Beach was probably my favourite but I’ll let you be the judge.

Know before you go:

Australia is the only country which requires a Visa for entry admission. Yes, every single. country. Even as a well-seasoned traveler holding a Canadian passport, I was totally unaware of this which came as a surprise where I had to purchase mine on the spot at Nadi Airport in Fiji, cutting it close to my gate closing! You will need to purchase an Electronic Transportation Authority (ETA) which, for Canadians, can be purchased instantly online for $20.
Australia can be a bit pricey for going out to eat! Breakfasts and lunches would generally cost you around $20 - $30 AUD. Some places can go as low as $10 AUD (bacon and egg roll + coffee) or if you choose fast food services - really up to you what kind of food you want to eat.
Get an Opal card! Great way to get around the city via train, bus and some ferries.

Getting around Sydney:

Bus - I found the bus to be the most reliable source of transportation, believe it or not. It didn’t take me more than 20-30 minutes to get anywhere and they were quick and efficient. An Opal card would be key to anyone visiting Sydney. The card costs nothing - just top up your balance (minimum $20 AUD) and go on your merry way!
Walking - Of course, my preference would always be to walk. But Sydney is a MASSIVE city. MASSIVE. I tried walking everywhere and the distance paired with the hot Australian sun was probably not the best choice. Get the Opal card and do yourself a favour and save yourself from the sunburn!
Metro - Using the Sydney Metro is a very efficient way to get in and out of the city. I used this to get from the airport over to my hotel in conjunction with the tram system. Again, easy and accessible use with an Opal card!
Light rail - I used the tram once or twice to get from one of the metro stations and over to my hotel since a tram station was right by the Sydney Convention Centre, located beside my hotel. Quick and easy - the trams may be used with your Opal card.

What to see in Sydney:

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk - This is, by far, my most favourite memory I had of Sydney. I’m not a beach person by any stretch but the beaches in Sydney were absolutely breathtaking. This 1.5 hour stroll (hardly any stopping!) was so beautiful. I had gone through a break up just before I had left for my Tasman Sea trip and this walk really helped me reflect. You’ll pass by lots of smaller beaches along the way which were much better than Bondi and Coogee. My favourites being Gordons Bay, Bronte Beach and Clovelly Beach.
Sydney Opera House - Iconic. It was a dream to see the most beautiful opera house in the world. I did not tour inside but I admired simply by the gardens. A true architectural masterpiece.
Royal Botanic Gardens - Massive, just massive. A beautiful garden complex that is free to visit for all. I spent a couple hours wandering through the different part of the gardens and made my way over to see the other attractions by Circular Quay. Be sure to stop by The Calyx, an indoor greenhouse with beautiful and interesting plant displays.
Sydney Harbour Bridge - The iconic Sydney Harbour. The bridge is massive and gorgeous to photograph. Yes, you can climb it for a few hundred dollars. I didn’t get a chance to do it due to my time constraints but everyone I know who has visited Sydney recommends this!
The Rocks - Finding yourself near the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Under it, you’ll find a beautiful outdoor market called The Rocks. Live music, artisan gifts and housewares and tons of delicious food trucks are in array. It’s a lovely spot to take in some shade and cool off.
Sydney Fish Market - You know there isn’t enough time in a city if you can’t even make room in your stomach to eat anything at the world famous fish market. I had visited the Sydney Fish Market the morning I was leaving. The market was just waking up and I remember marvelling at all of the delicious-looking fish on display. It’s very spacious and lots of food vendors available so be sure to come hungry!
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia - If you’re by Circulay Quay and looking for something indoors to enjoy, then pop by the Museum of Contemporary Art. The MCA offers free general admission to visitors. It provides a great opportunity to see and experience local art.
The Grounds of Alexandria - Yes, this Instagram-haven is out of the way but if you are a hardcore Instagrammer you’ll be stupid to pass up this opportunity of Instagram gold. Everything here is picture perfect, so photogenic. TOO perfect though. Food was subpar and so out of the way. Luckily, I was around the neighbourhood for a pole dancing class so I’m glad I didn’t come out this way for nothing. Too many people wanting to get “that shot” but hey, maybe you’ll enjoy it more than me!
Haymarket/Chinatown - LOVED Chinatown here. So many great eats, super safe and clean. This neighbourhood was just a hop, skip and away from Darling Harbour where I was located and I ate here frequently. Highly would recommend Gumshara for the best ramen in the neighbourhood - seriously, the line says it all!
Manly - Take a ferry over from Circular Quay to Manly Beach. Not only is the ferry ride quick and breezy, Manly is a lot quieter than the city vibes you’ll get downtown. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes from Circular Quay and the ride itself is a mere 30 minutes as well.

What to eat in Sydney:

Because I was there for work, I had to eat at the Sofitel (which had an excellent array of food - do NOT skip out on the freshly-made liege waffles with Nutella!) so I ate as much as I could. But also since I visited in Australian summer, it was just TOO hot to eat! I was honestly craving beverages most of the time so I’ll name out the places where I truly enjoyed the food.

I will also admit that I feel like Australia is a lot like Canada - no real national food but rather, a multicultural hub for a lot of different foods from varying ethnicities.

Ramen - I will specifically call out Gumshara (again!) as it had one of the most unique ramens I’ve had ever. The thick, gravy-style tonkotsu sauce as heavy, filling and super delicious. Unlimited toppings was a real treat, especially their soy garlic sauce - do not miss out on that! The line is insane. I advise you to go right at opening to avoid any disappointment.
Poke - Out surfing by Bondi? Pop in by Fishbowl Poke Bar for some seriously outstanding poke bowls. This is no where near an authentic Hawaiian version but their aburi-style poke bowls were unique and done well. I’m super picky when it comes to poke and they’ve done a really great job. Great balance in flavours, high quality ingredients and portion control.
Kaiseki - Damn, didn’t realize how many Japanese flavours I was having while in Sydney. Because dining out can be pricey in Sydney, I popped into MISO for one of their signature kaiseki sets. It’s a casual restaurant specializing in these bento boxes for cheap! Each bento was around $25 on average.
Coffee - I like to get my caffeine fix when I’m on vacation and the best coffee, hands down, that I had in 2019 was at Kingswood Coffee. Incredibly smooth, zero bitterness, low acidity.
Smashed avocado on toast - Australians love their smashed avocado on toast. You’ll see this on every menu and as pretentious and millennial as it may be, I had to have one. Incredibly Instagrammable but sadly, not as good. Can’t even recall the name and I wouldn’t recommend so I’ll keep quiet!

Sydney was a real surprise on so many levels. It’s sprawling, it’s busy, and there is a LOT to see and do that will certainly take you more than a 2-night stay! This is the one city that has had me beat at my own game. Definitely can’t wait to go back but maybe down the coast for a chiller vibe.

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