In 2010, the Hyde Park Barracks was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an Australian Convict Site. This beautiful Victorian building contains three stories of retail shops and small restaurants. This historic building is one of the best places to go shopping in Sydney.
This wander will also lead you to the Sydney Opera House kids! An absolute must see on fun activities in sydney the list of places to go with kids Sydney. Tick this off the bucket list – walking around and up the massive flight of stairs at the Opera House.

Approximately 1,400 people could live here at any given time and roughly 30,000 people lived in the barracks between 1819 and 1848. Shops range from popular chain stores, such as Coach, Pandora and Country Road, as well as art galleries and boutique shops. Our favorite shop in the QVB is the Aboriginal Art Galleries, where you can shop for Aboriginal artifacts and artworks, including didgeridoos, ceramics, and paintings. You can actually walk outside on the skywalk above the observation deck. The Skywalk adventure is filled with amazing views, great photo opportunities, and a couple glass floors to remind you just how high up you truly are.
Store Beach is one of our favourite slices of paradise in Sydney. It’s a small hidden beach tucked into the harbour, just a short distance from Manly. The ferry departs from Circular Quay every 20 minutes and takes approximately 30 minutes.
Luckily, Sydney's got plenty happening for those looking to have a damn good time — whether that includes discovering new bars, absorbing art or feasting your way through food markets. Powerhouse Castle Hill is the new home for the storage, conservation and display of the Powerhouse Collection, which includes more than 500,000 objects. Open and free to the public every weekend, education programs, workshops, talks and exhibitions will be hosted in the new space. It's hard to talk about Australian culture without mentioning the huge role sport plays in it. As the state's most historic sporting venue, the Sydney Cricket Ground has been the site of many of the country's greatest sporting triumphs. The SCG Museum, part of the SCG Tour, paints a picture of some of the most memorable athletic moments on Australian soil, with one-of-a-kind memorabilia and first-hand accounts of the people who lived it.

The Eight, East Ocean, Mr Wong and Uncle Ming's all offer delicious dumplings alongside Chinese tea and other classic Cantonese dishes. The Kangaroos’ ability to stand and move by hopping is interesting to observe as it’s a distinctive adaptation and feature that sets them apart from other animals. It is a beautiful building from every angle as you go around it.
This was perfect to get to the Taronga Zoo, Shark Island, Watsons Bay, and Clifton Gardens (yes, we made that many stops!). You’ll usually find lots of surf shops where you can rent boards around these beaches. Aloha Surf at Manly Beach is a bit of a Sydney institution, having been in business for over 30 years.

Very few people make it here, so it is an idyllic spot for the afternoon or simply a stop during the walk. You'll get another view of Barranjoey in the distance as well. If you're looking for a wild beach with no road access then Mackeral Beach is calling you. This beautiful beach is found along a walking trail that goes through pretty bushland before descending down to the beach. This is one of the best beaches in Sydney and is fringed by the pine trees that are synonymous with the New South Wales coastline. If you're looking to do one thing outside of the CBD, then make sure this is it.
For something different, book a unique 90-minute Tall Ship Cruise with Sydney Harbour Tall Ships. Board one of their traditional tall ships Southern Swan or the impressive Soren Larsen and discover the sights and sounds of Sydney on a unique ‘historic meets modern’ harbour cruise. It’s a great spot to walk around and enjoy the movement of ferries back and forth over the harbour as well as enjoying the buskers performing for commuters and tourists. Aside from the horse riding, the leafy grounds of Centennial Parklands make it a perfect inner-city location for family picnics and strolls. Kids will love the Wildplay Garden, a free, nature playground amid the lush surrounds of the park, open daily from 10am ‘til 5pm.

The park also caters for younger drivers with lighter karts, as well as double karts for parents and kids to ride together. You’ll find the lookout in the south-eastern pylon of the bridge. Simply follow the Harbour Bridge pedestrian walkway and keep an eye out for the somewhat unusual entrance sign and doorway. The Rocks is one of Sydney’s oldest neighbourhoods, and it’s filled with historic pubs that are well worth a visit. It’s not just about enjoying the classic Sydney pub atmosphere, as many of these places also serve excellent craft beers. From cappuccinos to lattes to long blacks, there’s no shortage of options at your local café.
Read on for a whole list of things activities that you can do in a weekend or a week in Sydney. Head in from 5.30pm onwards, and you can experience the best seat in the harbour for a palatable price. However beautiful Sydney might be by day, it’s just as enchanting by night – so don’t forget your camera on a nighttime walk around town. The elusive – and aptly-named – Washaway Beach is one of the city’s most unique beaches, owing to the fact that it’s completely submerged during high tide.
Taking off from Rose Bay, Sydney Sea Planes will whisk you over the stunning harbour and drop you at a restaurant in the heart of Kuring-gai National Park, only accessible by sea plane or boat. If photography is really important to you some companies will allow you to pay a surcharge of $50 for the front seat. The views here are pretty amazing and it’s one of the highlights of the Coast Track. You can also walk from Garie Beach but our fave is still Wattamolla. The walking trail is an 6.5km loop from West Head Lookout where you can park your car.

Cue Tasmanian Devils, numbats and adorable koalas all in one convenient location. Tickets start at $28.80 for children (2–15 years) and $39 for adults. If you’re up for a bit of adventure to break up your day, head to Luna Park at Milson’s Point.