11 Experiences You Can Only Have In Sydney

With a wealth of activities around, it comes as no surprise that wanderers, travellers and locals love Sydney for all of the unique experiences at hand. This cosmopolitan city boasts some serious lifestyle advantages, one certainly being its endless list of mind-blowing experiences only available here. Whether its an adrenaline-filled excursion or activities in tune with exercise and wellbeing, Sydney truly has it all.

1. Sydney Opera House, Sydney

Opera House, Architectural Landmark

Sydney Skyline Early Morning Dawn Sunrise With Sydney Opera House And Harbour Sydney Australia

Experience live opera at the Sydney Opera House, one of the world’s leading venues for opera. Not only is it one of the 20th century’s most recognised buildings, but it has been voted in endless lists of ‘top 10 Best Opera Houses in the World’ from National Geographic to Culture Trip. Showing over 40 performances a week ranging from music, dance, theatre, and, of course, opera, this is the ultimate venue to experience unrivalled showmanship.

2. BridgeClimb

Bridge, Opera House

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge - Sydney New South Wales AUSTRALIA

This daredevil experience is not for the faint-hearted. Climb this grand piece of architecture, which soars 134 meters above sea level for the ultimate uninterrupted views of Sydney’s Central Business District, Opera House and Sydney Harbour at dawn, during the day or at dusk. Choose from five different climbs of varying prices that all show the city in different lights; it’ll be a pretty unique experience climbing the largest steel arch bridge in the world.

3. Surf at Bondi

Natural Feature

Bondi Beach is synonymous with that all-too-cool laid back Aussie lifestyle. A trip to Sydney would not be complete without getting immersed in Bondi; experience long-hair barefooted, bronze-skinned beach babes with board in hand en route to the beach. The continent may be flourish with places to catch a wave, but none other will match the quintessential experience that comes with doing so at Bondi. Luckily there’s a heap of surf schools dotting the shore, making it just as accessible for newbies as it is seasoned surfers.

4. Royal National Park, New South Wales

Park

Find a little slice of heaven at the Royal National Park, about two hours’ drive out of Sydney city. Showing the finest festival of flora and fauna, wild bushland, jagged cliffs, white-sand secluded beaches and impressive rock formations (to name a few), the Royal National Park is an experience like no other. As the second oldest National Park in the world (and the first to coin the term ‘National Park’), this experience like no other.

5. Whale Watching

Natural Feature

Whale Watching in Sydney is one of the most impressive and beautiful natural displays the city has to offer. Curious locals and travellers can hop on a ferry and experience these magnificent creatures up close between May and November each year, and all just moments from Sydney Harbour. Although tour companies are aplenty, Whale Watching Sydney is a great choice with a 99% sight success rate and free return visit should you not catch a glimpse of these friendly giants on your first visit.

6. Skywalk Sydney Tower

Shopping Mall, Architectural Landmark, Building

Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, tourists stand on a platform outside of the Sydney tower on the Skywalk

Sydney Tower is the city’s answer to London’s Big Ben, or New York’s Empire State Building. It is the tallest building in Sydney, not to mention the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Enter Skywalk, an experience only suggested for serious thrill-seekers. Those who love to live life on the edge (literally) can rejoice as Skywalk allows visitors to walk the perimeter of the building which reaches to 309 meters in the sky with a 360-degree view of the city. This is certainly an experience only to be had in Sydney.

7. Hot Air Balloon the Hunter Valley

Natural Feature

Hot air ballooning - Hunter Valley, New South Wales AUSTRALIA

With breathtaking landscapes as far as the eye can see and over 150 wineries, Hunter Valley is certainly one of the most impressive sights just a few hours from the city; add a hot air balloon into the equation and the experience becomes like no other. Tours which include breakfast and lunch are on offer aplenty, and make for the perfect way to spend an afternoon, not far from Sydney city. Check out Beyond Ballooning for a serious selection of amazing experiences.

8. Bondi to Coogee walk

Hiking Trail

This multi-million six-kilometre boardwalk is one of the most breath taking attractions in Sydney. The stretch leads visitors from the bustling beach of Bondi all the way to the sleepy seaside suburb of Coogee, with stunning coastal scenery, impressive cliffs and cream-coloured beaches in abundance en route. Bring a picnic and some swimmers (Aussie slang for swimsuit) and make this a true Sydney experience.

9. Explore the Blue Mountains

Natural Feature, Park

Sunset landscape at Blue Mountains, Australia

Not far from Sydney is Blue Mountains National Park, a stunning mountain range and parklands spanning over 11,400 km². With endless hikes and walking paths, stunning rock formations, waterfalls, camping grounds, eucalyptus forests and garden trails, this is the perfect way to experience nature in its fullest – all less than a few hours from the city.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.