For our 1st day in Australia, we followed a walking route of the must-sees of Sydney in 1 day. Despite the fatigue of the trip the day before and the jet lag, I must say that this optimized circuit was perfect for a day of sightseeing at a pleasant pace and under the sun!
Organization of our Sydney tour in 1 day
As we had very little time to spend Sydney, it was impossible for us to visit everything. We had to make compromises.
As usual, I started using my Lonely Planet guide to list the must see tours in Sydney. Then I took to the Internet, blogs and travel forums to see photos and detailed comments on these tours. Thus, I was able to select only the places that attracted me the most, taking into account my tastes and my desires.
Then I checked if all these visits were possible in just one short day. Then I organized them on a walking tour so as to optimize the precious time that we always lack!
Here is how our Sydney's must-see day tour.
Sydney in 1 day - My must-sees
Here are the steps of my walking tour which took us about 5 hours at a leisurely pace:
- CCircular Quay
- Campbell's Cove and Campbell's Storehouses
- Harbour Bridge
- Walsh bay
- Observatory Hill
- The Rocks
- Museum of Contemporary Art (George St.)
- Opera quays
- The Opera
- Royal Botanic Garden
Sydney in 1 day - Map of my walking route
Click on "More options" in the map to follow the GPS
Sydney Highlights Tour in 1 Day
Sydney Highlights - Circular Quay
Our walking tour started with Circular Quay. I must say that I booked our hotel based on its location very close to Circular Quay. Indeed, this district is a concentrate of the most touristic and lively sites of Sydney. From our hotel we walked there in 10 minutes. The place is really nice, beautiful view, relaxed atmosphere, a few shops and bars and restaurants…
The walk continues towards Campbell's Cove. This is the photo stop to take the famous Harbor Bridge.
Sydney Highlights - Harbor Bridge
Then we continue the circuit to deviate towards the bridge and climb on the Harbour Bridge via stairs and a passage reserved for pedestrians (east side). We join the pillar of Pylon Lookout from where you have a panoramic view of all of Sydney and of course its beautiful Opera House.
Sydney Highlights - Observatory Hill
We go back to join the Walsh bay in the direction ofObservatory Hill. We climb this small hill from which we have another glimpse of the city of Sydney.
We continue our walk towards the neighborhood The Rocks.
Sydney Highlights - The Rocks
The Rocks is a small historic district (dating from the beginning of colonization) very close to the port. It consists of a few beautiful buildings, pretty identical houses lined up, cottages with sandstone facades and old pubs.
Sydney Highlights - Museum of Contemporary Art
Small detour to the beautiful Museum of Modern Art (free entry) that we will visit in half an hour.
Sydney Highlights - Opera Quays
This is where we sit down for lunch with a fish and chips on the terrace of a small restaurant facing the quays.
We will continue our tour of Sydney along the quay to reach the famous Opera House.
Sydney Highlights - Sydney Opera House
It is Sydney's most famous and touristic site. Its architecture, which dates from the XNUMXth century, is majestic and allows light to be captured with colors that change according to the time and place from which the photos are taken.
The Opera can be visited inside, but I must admit that I didn't really want to spend $ 42 to see the interior, which I had already seen in photos on the Internet.
Sydney Highlights - Royal Botanic Garden
It is in beautiful gardens that we end our short tour of Sydney's must-sees.
I could have added a few sites that I was planning to visit in Sydney but I preferred to book them for the next morning and thus better enjoy the atmosphere of Circular Quay…
My cheap hotel in Sydney
We spent 2 nights at City Lodge Hotel (who is called now Comfort Hotel Sydney City) - Price of the night: 88 Euros without breakfasts.
In addition to its very low price, its main asset is its location. Indeed, located in the business district of Sydney, its location is very central with the Winyard station nearby which allows direct access to the airport. In addition, placed between the two large and main avenues Pitts Street and Georges Street, it is only a 15-minute walk from the famous Sydney Opera House. From this hotel you can also walk to Circular quays, the Rocks and the harbor in just 10 minutes!
Admittedly, its decoration is a little dated (and the carpet stained) but a kitchen with a dining area is available in the common areas (very practical for the evening when you are too tired to go to the restaurant).
Discover the rest of my stay in Sydney:
