Sydney Holidays

Sydney is home to some of Australia’s best beaches and, in summer, the city seems to live by the sea because the weather’s wonderful. Sail to Manly Beach by ferry from Circular Quay and you’ll be strolling along the pretty beachfront promenade in just 30 minutes. One of the world’s great surfing beaches, Manly hosts the Australian Surfing Open in February, and even everyday surfers here put on a thrilling show.

But if you go to only one beach, make it Bondi. Less than 30-minutes from the city it’s an easy day out. But it’s also worth hanging around until evening, as the area’s restaurants are also excellent. Try Icebergs Dining Room and admire its remarkable swimming pool or, if you want to make more like a local, go for fish and chips on the beach. Don’t miss Bondi Farmers Markets at the weekend. And for cafés and bars any time, take a stroll along Campbell Parade – its oceanfront views are endless.   

From Bondi you can embark upon the six kilometre Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, a local's favourite, taking you past some spectacular beaches including Bronte, Tamarama and Clovelley.

You don’t have to travel far from Sydney to run into wine country. The legendary Hunter Valley is a doable day out, though it’s worth spending a night or two in Australia’s oldest wine region to really make the most of it. Most wineries are open year-round for sociable and fascinating tasting tours – you can even take a class at the Hunter Valley Wine School.

Proving great wine goes with even better food, Sydney’s also home to a number of Australia’s top restaurants. Stay at the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour and you’ll be surrounded by gourmet greats – there are three impressive restaurants in the Opera House alone. For atmosphere and rising-star chefs, head to Potts Point in Inner Sydney, or wander along the waterfront where historic wharfs now house plenty interesting places to eat. Barangaroo is Sydney’s newest waterfront precinct and foodie hot spot, and it's well worth a visit for lunch or dinner. Nowhere does beach cafés and bars quite like Bondi and Manly, especially weekend brunch. And, when you want to snack or put together a picnic, Carriageworks Farmers Markets in Redfern is the place to be on Saturdays. 

There’s enough to see and do in Sydney to fill several holidays. The trick is to pace yourself and balance iconic sights with meandering round intriguing city neighbourhoods. Consider taking a Harbour Cruise to look at the city from the sea or, if you’re feeling bold, you could even scale the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The climb is daring, but worth it for a brilliant bird’s-eye view of the Sydney Opera House. 

Discover The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest district, where history’s interwoven with lovely galleries and shops. The Rendezvous Hotel Sydney The Rocks and Rydges Sydney Harbour are also in this area, so it makes a good base. For a different mix of old and new, head to Inner Sydney. This lively neighbourhood has markets and theatres, elegant Victorian architecture, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and interesting restaurants on Woolloomooloo Wharf.

Sydney’s seasons are the opposite of the UK – our winter is their summer, and vice versa. But it’s very much a year-round city, thanks to the temperate winters. Even in June, July and August, locals brave the Pacific Ocean at Bondi and other legendary surfing beaches – wearing wetsuits, of course. If you book your Sydney holiday for winter, you might prefer to stay out of the sea, but with temperatures as high as 17°C, Sydney’s great outdoors is still very much open for exploring at this time of year. 

Spring – September to November – is warm and dry with temperatures up to 23°C. Autumn – March to May – is another mild, low-humidity season. Winter – May to November – is the best time to visit for whale watching. Vivid Sydney is another reason to go in winter, this festival of light, music and ideas takes place from the end of May – mid June. But if you want sun-soaked days and plenty of beach time, choose summer. Between December and February, daily temperatures average 26°C, while sea temperatures rise as high as 24°C. It is fairly humid in high summer, but that’s just the perfect excuse to explore more of Sydney’s dramatic Pacific coast.