Sydney
The Australian city everybody has heard of, everybody has seen photographs of and which the tourist industry would quite like you to believe is the greatest city ever created.Fortunately, in this case, the hype isn't entirely unjustified' Sydney really is spectacular.
The harbour is magnificent, the Opera House is one of the world's most recognisable buildings, the Harbour Bridge is enormous, there are superb beaches and the city has an enviable amount of sunshine.
It is expensive, it can be crowded and the traffic can be dreadful. Some of the tourist attractions seem to operate on the principle that if something is famous, you can charge a fortune to experience it.
But despite all that, Sydney is one of those cities where you occasionally have to stop moaning and admit that it really is rather good.
Sydney Harbour
Let's start with the obvious.
Sydney Harbour is magnificent, there really isn't much more to say. It is enormous, beautiful and full of little coves, islands and headlands, with the city rising around it.
And then, of course, there are those two buildings.
The Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Put them together with the harbour itself and you have one of the world's great city views. The best thing about it is that you don't necessarily need to pay anything to enjoy it.
Walk along the waterfront, sit on a bench. Take a photograph. Watch the ferries.
It's all there.
And it is every bit as impressive as the photographs suggest.
The Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is one of those buildings that has become so famous that it is almost impossible to appreciate just how unusual it is.Those great white sails have become the symbol of Sydney and, in many ways, Australia itself. It is also considerably more interesting close up than it appears in photographs.
You can take a tour, see a performance or simply walk around the outside and admire it.
Personally, I am perfectly happy doing the latter.
The Opera House was an extraordinary architectural achievement and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
And yes, it is expensive.
But sometimes you have to accept that some things are worth seeing even when your wallet doesn't entirely agree.
The Harbour Bridge
Next door is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.Known affectionately as the Coathanger, it has been connecting the northern and southern sides of Sydney Harbour since 1932.
It is an enormous piece of engineering and, unlike some famous bridges, it actually looks impressive. You can walk across it without paying anything, which gives you superb views of the harbour and Opera House.
Or you can pay considerably more money to climb it.
I've never quite understood the need to climb something when you can simply walk across it. But apparently thousands of people disagree with me.
Good for them. I'll stay on the ground.
Circular Quay
Between the Opera House and Harbour Bridge is Circular Quay.This is where Sydney's transport system and tourism industry appear to have decided to have a party. Trains, buses and ferries all converge here, and it is also one of the best places to stand and admire the harbour.
It can be extremely busy.
Particularly when a cruise ship arrives and suddenly several thousand people who have never seen the Opera House before decide they all need to photograph it at exactly the same time.
But find a quieter corner and Circular Quay is a wonderful place to spend some time.
And this is where you can catch the ferry to Manly, more about that later.
The Rocks
Just around the corner is The Rocks, one of the oldest parts of Sydney.There are historic buildings, old streets, restaurants, pubs and plenty of reminders of Sydney's convict origins. It is rather more attractive than you might expect.
It has also become extremely touristy but you can forgive it that.
The combination of old sandstone buildings and the Harbour Bridge towering overhead makes it one of the most interesting parts of central Sydney. The Rocks Markets also operate at weekends, adding another reason to have a wander around.
The Royal Botanic Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden is another place where Sydney does itself a favour.It sits right beside the harbour and provides an enormous green space immediately next to the city centre. You can walk through gardens, see exotic plants and, best of all, get some superb views back towards the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
It is also somewhere you can escape the crowds.
And after wandering around central Sydney for a few hours, you may well want to.
Darling Harbour
Then there is Darling Harbour.
This is a redeveloped waterfront area containing restaurants, entertainment venues, museums and attractions.
It is pleasant enough, particularly in the evening when everything lights up. There are also attractions such as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
Bondi Beach
Now I may upset a few people.I didn't like Bondi - there, I've said it.
Bondi Beach is probably the most famous beach in Australia, and certainly one of the most famous beaches in the world. It appears in photographs, television programmes and travel brochures with such regularity that you arrive expecting something truly spectacular.
And then you get there.
And think: - Is that it?
Don't get me wrong. Bondi is a perfectly decent beach. The sand is golden, the water is blue and there is plenty of surf.
The problem is that Bondi has become a brand as much as a beach.
It feels as though everybody has decided that because Bondi is famous, it must therefore be wonderful.
I'm not convinced.
There are better beaches around Sydney.
Sydney's Beaches
Thankfully Bondi isn't the only beach.
There are beaches all around the coastline, many of which are considerably quieter. That is worth remembering.
If Bondi is packed, go somewhere else. Sydney has plenty of coastline.
You don't have to spend your entire holiday standing shoulder-to-shoulder with several thousand other people simply because one beach appears in every tourist brochure.
Taronga Zoo
Sydney also has one of the world's most spectacularly located zoos.
Taronga Zoo sits on the northern side of the harbour, with views back towards the Opera House and city skyline.
Even the journey there is part of the experience because you can take a ferry from Circular Quay.
And there is something rather surreal about looking at giraffes while the Sydney skyline sits behind them.
The giraffes presumably aren't impressed.
They probably have better views than most tourists anyway.
The Blue Mountains
If you have time, get out of Sydney.
The Blue Mountains are only a couple of hours away and provide a complete change from the city.
There are dramatic cliffs, eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints. The Three Sisters at Katoomba are the most famous sight, although there is considerably more to the area than one rock formation.
This is where you realise just how fortunate Sydney is.
You can be surrounded by skyscrapers in the morning and standing in the Australian bush looking across enormous valleys later the same day.
Manly
If Sydney ever becomes too much, take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly.
This isn't merely a way of getting from A to B. The journey is one of the great pleasures of visiting Sydney.
You leave Circular Quay with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge behind you, cross the harbour and head towards the Heads and the Pacific.
It takes roughly half an hour and provides some spectacular views along the way.
And then you arrive at Manly. Suddenly Sydney feels different.
Manly Beach
Walk through The Corso from the ferry wharf and, a few minutes later, you reach Manly Beach. It is a superb stretch of sand facing the Pacific, with the sort of waves that make it obvious why surfing is such a major part of Australian culture.There are cafés, restaurants and shops along the way, but the beach is the main attraction.
And unlike Bondi, Manly has a rather more relaxed feel. At least it did when I was there.
I'm sure somebody has opened another coffee shop since.
Shelly Beach
A short walk around the headland brings you to Shelly Beach, which is much smaller and more sheltered.
It is a lovely spot for swimming, snorkelling or simply sitting around doing absolutely nothing. There are also some excellent coastal walks around Manly and North Head.
This is one of those places where you can easily spend an entire day without having to do very much at all.
Which, as far as I'm concerned, is the sign of a good holiday destination.
The Manly Ferry
And don't underestimate the ferry journey home.Watching Sydney appear in front of you as you cross back towards Circular Quay is one of those moments when the city really earns its reputation.
The Opera House.
The Bridge.
The harbour.
The skyline.
All from the deck of a fairly ordinary public ferry.
You could pay considerably more money for a sightseeing cruise and still struggle to beat it.
So, Is Sydney Worth Visiting?
Yes.
Despite everything.
Despite the crowds.
Despite the prices.
Despite the traffic.
Despite the tourists taking photographs of exactly the same things you are photographing.
Sydney really is spectacular.
The harbour is extraordinary, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge are genuinely magnificent, the beaches are superb and there is an enormous amount to see and do.
But the best way to enjoy Sydney is not to spend your entire visit rushing from one famous attraction to another.
Sydney is at its best when you stop worrying about ticking attractions off a list and simply enjoy the city.
And Manly is an essential part of that.
In fact, if I had to choose one particularly memorable Sydney experience, it might not be the Opera House or even the Harbour Bridge.
It might simply be sitting on the deck of the ferry from Circular Quay, watching the harbour unfold around you as you head towards Manly.
Because for once, Sydney doesn't have to sell itself.
You can see why it's famous for yourself.
Prices correct as at August 2026
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