One of the world’s very best city destinations, Sydney is the biggest city in Australia, with an equally large variety of landmarks, places to see and things to do (take a look at these five great attractions in Sydney for starters).
Alongside the incredible sightseeing the city has to offer, there are so many fun things to do in Sydney, from adrenaline-fuelled activities to unusual attractions. Take a look at these fun places to go in Sydney for something a little different during your time in the city.
See the Blue Mountains from above in four different ways
Around 100km outside of Sydney, you’ll find the incredible Blue Mountains, a spectacular landscape of mountains, gorges, bushland and waterfalls. At the National Park’s Scenic World, you can see the stunning sights of the Blue Mountains from up high in four different ways.
Take the Scenic Cableway, a glass-walled cable car up a mountain, with amazing views over the Jamison Valley and the rainforest below. Descend on the Scenic Railway, down a hair-raising 52º incline (the world’s steepest) through a rock tunnel, before wandering along the Scenic Walkway, a series of raised boardwalks with museum-style exhibits on the area’s mining heritage. You can also ride across the Jamison Valley on the Scenic Skyway, a 720m cable car ride with views across to the Three Sisters.
Ride a horse around Centennial Parklands
Horse riding through miles of lush parkland probably doesn’t come to mind when you think of fun activities to do in Sydney! One of the world’s only urban parks with riding facilities, this huge equestrian facility gives you the chance to enjoy a unique horse riding experience with the city as your backdrop.
The Centennial Parklands offer a scenic 3.6km horse track, with the Eastside Riding Academy offering riding lessons and experiences for all abilities. Whatever your level, you’ll be able to ride around the perimeter of the park in an hour-long circuit, taking in the views of the picturesque parks and the surrounding city scenes.
Enjoy thrills and nostalgia at Luna Park
Perfect for the young at heart, Luna Park is a large urban theme park overlooking Sydney Harbour. Greeted by a smiling moon as you enter the park, the theme park has over twenty rides to choose from, ranging from the classic dodgems and Ferris wheel to the heart-stopping Rotor and Hair Raiser. You can also unleash your inner child at the variety of sideshows and games.
This is also one of our favourite fun things to do in Sydney at night, as the bright lights and music bring a whole different atmosphere to the park.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
This astounding feat of architecture is not just to be admired – you can also climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and discover the views from the top.
Donning a jumpsuit, a belt and a slider clip, the climb isn’t as difficult as you think; it’s more like ascending a staircase than climbing a ladder. It’s definitely thrilling though, navigating the maze of steel to see the far-reaching views of Sydney Harbour, the Blue Mountains in the west and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Along the way, you’ll also learn some fascinating facts about the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its construction.
Marvel at the items on show in the Powerhouse Museum
Another of our top fun attractions in Sydney is the Powerhouse Museum, perhaps one of the city’s most eclectic museums. Boasting a collection of more than 380,000 objects, the museum displays span a whole host of different fields, from art and history of science and technology, so there’s definitely something for everyone here.
Permanent exhibitions include The Lab, a hands-on multimedia space, and The Steam Revolution, chronicling how steam helped change our lives forever. The museum also has a packed-out events calendar, spanning a host of workshops, temporary exhibitions, talks and more.
Look out over Sydney from the highest point in the city
The second-highest viewing tower in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sydney Tower Eye offers 360-degree views out over Sydney’s streets and the surrounding landscapes 250 metres above the ground from its observation deck. As well as Sydney’s top landmarks, you’ll also be able to see out to the Blue Mountains, the North and South Coast and the Pacific Ocean from here.
Discover Sydney’s many fun attractions for yourself
These six great experiences are just a taster of the many fun, exciting and unforgettable things you can do in Sydney. There’s also far more to Australia than just Sydney; it’s an incredibly diverse country offering unrivalled landscapes, adventures, history and culture.
Fall in love with Sydney and Australia with a tour showcasing the best they have to offer. Our Essential Australia tour departing from the UK covers the must-sees of Australia, including Sydney and its much-loved attractions, while also giving you the freedom to explore many of the locations visited at your own leisure.
Images by Daniel Buckle, Simon Rae and Annie Spratt via Unsplash and pattyjansen via Pixabay.
