My favorite activity for my first week in Sydney. I can see from this trail how people can become…read moreenamored with the city. Easy access From Bondi Junction, a 20 minute bus ride depending on where you want to start. I walked 90% of the trail because i wanted shorter Bus route. FYI, the bus is within the building of Bondi Junction above the train station not street side. Reminds me of some of the cliffs along the beaches of California. Some tips. Bring swimming trunk, lotion, sun protection, and water bottle. There are refill stations along the way and bathrooms. Not much shade even on this cloudy day. Multiple beaches along the route where you can take a dip. Restaurants are also accessible, but I prefer a picnic lunch so you can enjoy the views with the plenty benches and the beaches. Some have some shady seating options. I went on a weekday so I'm guessing on weekends more crowds. The beaches often have showers and restrooms.

An amazing, 4 mile walk! Truly breathtaking in all the ways possible. From the beautiful,…read morepicturesque spots, to the graveyard and most perfect blue water I've ever seen, this walk was worth every minute, every mile and every step. One of the most memorable, special moments of my time in Sydney. Pictures don't do it justice, but the memories will last a lifetime. Stop along the way at clovelly beach, dolphin look out, and take in natures finest when you finally make it to the Bondi icebergs!

Not a difficult hike. I think it was about 2 miles. Accessible by bus or ferry. Taking the bus 342…read moremake sure it goes to the Watsons Bay as there's also a shorter round. Not a long walk from Robertsons Park. Maybe 2 miles? However, you can extend for a longer coastAl walk by combining it with the Bondi, which could go on for over 12 km. Much of the power has fencing for safety. Paved throughout.

Beautiful views of downtown Sydney from here. And the smell of fish and chips from Doyle's is…read moreincredible. We laughed hysterically watching a woman with a bag of fish & chips get chased screaming by about 25 large, loud & hungry seagulls. There were lots of beautiful sailboats and a quiet pristine beach. It appears that the indigenous tribes were here in the 1900s & lived around the giant fig tree. The first European settlement were here in 1790 as the bricklayers, carpenters & fishermen. Now Doyle's fish and chips and the Watson Bay boutique hotel are the places to stop here. The special forces the Australian military equivalent to the American navy seals are housed here with lots of equipment.

AW YEAH FIRST TO REVIEW! What? I still get excited by that,…read moreit's getting harder to do these days. So this is my #1 spot to bring visitors to Sydney, it's north of the bridge where they don't get to that often, and you need car, plus it's hard to find so you kind of need to know what you're doing. But man, is it gold. Secluded bush tracks, secret clifftop bunkers, old gun emplacements, insane views of the harbour, kookaburras, gum trees, lookouts, and you may even get lucky enough to see dolphins lolling around at the bottom of the cliff not 50m from you. Oh and boat, plane, and water-ski watching up the wazoo. Make a day of it and go get morning or afternoon tea at Burnt Orange on your way in/out.

My absolute favourite walk in Sydney is the Balmoral to Taronga Zoo walk. It winds its way along…read morethe harbour through hills and bush. It ends up here amongst other places. It's not an easy walk probably a medium level of difficulty. This is an area not so well known to people in Sydney or, visitors. It's pristine landscapes with amazing views across the city and beautiful Sydney harbour. We lived in the area for many years and spent a lot of time walking in the area. It's a great way to spend a day. You also get a few historical sites along here like the gunners barracks, naval quarters and old naval ports. It's also an amazing vantage point for the Sydney to Hobart race as the starting line is just at this point. Ripples, Burnt Orange, Public Dining Room, the Tearoom at Gunners Barracks are some nice places to dine along here with spectacular views. I would take this over any other area of Sydney. It's quiet, pristine and amazingly beautiful :-)

A relaxing place to come, besides that one time a creepy fat homeless person was walking the…read moreperimeter footpath yelling obscenities at cars and spitting every where. Except that one time, this place is great just to sit with friends and catch up. There is a shaded fenced off area with play equipment. I've never had the chance to check out the quality (seriously, a dude hanging around play equipment by himself is NEVER a good look) but the kids sound like they're always having fun. There are a couple of tennis courts (no idea if you need to book them or if you just rock up). A few open field areas where sports can be played. The trees here are HUGE and offer great cover from the afternoon sun. I use to come here with a old friend and just talk for hours.

Burwood Park is conveniently located across from Westfield Shopping Centre, and two hundred meters…read morefrom Burwood train station. During the day, this place is a hub of activity. From tardy school kids to meditating seniors, Burwood Park is a multicultural hotpot buzzing with activity. The covered playground is perfect for little ones, while the outdoor chessboard, tennis courts and barbeque facilities are great for people of all ages. Standing in the shadows of the War Memorial Arch and Sandakan Memorial are Burwood Park's beautiful gardens and duck pond. If you hang around long enough you might even catch a glimpse of the 'bird man', who marches through Burwood Park every evening, with a bulging bag of bread in hand and a determined grimace on his face. But be careful not to loiter too long, because after dark Burwood Park is inhabited by somewhat undesirable characters (despite the extensive lighting). So be careful, and don't walk alone.

Want to have a whale of a time?…read more I particularly love going to North head for spotting whales! From May to Nov, North head offers an amazing opportunity to watch a Blow, a fin, an occasional body splash. The migration route is close to the coast so these whales can often be seen from the north headlands. From late August to November, the whales head southwards. Females with their newborns, and males after the mating season. Mothers tend to spend more time on surface and swim slower so that the calf can keep up. The calves tend to come out of the water more often. Remember to bring your binoculars! The North and South Heads of Sydney mark the entrance to Sydney harbour. The bay is called the Mouth of Sydney and this is where all ships enter and leave Sydney. The lookout points towards the city and you can catch views of the Harbour Bridge, city, Rose bay all the way unto Vaculuse. North Head National Parks is a ten minute drive from Manly. It's a pristine headland and a great vantage point to watch the Sydney to Hobart race on Boxing day. They have walking tracks and barracks. If you stand close to the edge, you can feel the water spray from below. This is particularly welcome during summer months.

Are you looking for the ultimate view of Sydney. Look no further. On a blue sky day, driving…read morethrough the stone gate, along the bushy road, and then coming across the two lookouts... well... it is stunning. For me though, while there are more sporting options of biking and hiking... the quick tourist drive in and maybe a picnic would suffice. Besides... I quick drive away from here you'll find Shelly Beach ( http://frid.co/mYE5LL ), which for my money offers a much more relaxing location (though the parking cost is a bit of a killer).

What a fabulous green space. Sydney is full of wonderful areas to sit or take a walk and just enjoy…read morenature. This being the largest park and smack in the middle of the city, it is quite impressive. Large mature trees, walkways, seating areas, multiple fountains, memorials, an art gallery and even a museum. My favorite part was the huge chess game and the watching the folks playing getting into heated discussions as bystanders were taking sides of the two players and loudly voiced their continued advice. What a fabulous addition to the city. The only problem are the birds as seems to be the case all over Sydney. Mostly the Ibis, which seem to be also called bin chickens. They are everywhere, quite aggressive and therefor not so well liked.

Hyde Park is absolutely lovely! It's home to such a bunch of grand trees like I've never seen…read morebefore! It's obvious by the lushness of this park that it's well taken care of and a national treasure. It's easily accessible by foot and the Museum station. It's close to all kinds of attractions and has amazing city views from all angles. I definitely recommend visiting it and maybe sitting to have lunch if possible. If you're into chess, there's a human sized chessboard.

Less than 3 hour activity. From Darling Harbour, take a scenic ferry ride to Watsons Bay, and begin…read moreyour walk along the ocean cliffs. You'll arrive at Sydney Harbour National Park, Hornsby Lighthouse. As you approach the lighthouse, the trail offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour, the Pacific Ocean, and even many photo opportunities of the Sydney skyline in the distance. Built in 1858, Hornsby Lighthouse holds a special place in Australian history. Its construction was prompted by the tragic sinking of the Dunbar in 1857, a maritime disaster that highlighted the need for improved navigational aids around Sydney's rugged coastlines. Painted in distinctive red and white stripes. Perfect short activity from Darling Harbour.

Went on a warm sunny day. Nice little walk to the lighthouse from Lady Bay Beach. Great views on…read morethe cliff side across the bay and below.

We took a walk down to this pretty park from our nearby apartment. It's got a bit of everything -…read morewalking/running paths, great water views, tennis courts, play equipment for the kids and more! We walked along the bay for a bit, and stopped at the marina for a drink. There are signs warning you that sharks have been spotted in the bay, so not a place for a refreshing dip. But if you have a boat, it sure seems like a nice place to dock it. For a place so close to the CBD, it was quiet and felt like smiles away from the noise of the city.

Rushcutters Bay Park has a few hidden gems (ok maybe not that hidden) that are great if you are…read moreactive or not. The monkey bars at the south end are actually a great area to do a workout. Watch out for peak hour - right after work - sometimes there are groups of people being coached in that area so you might need to wait for specific stations. There are tennis courts at the south west side of the park - book them online but if you try for early evening there are some people that have standard bookings each week. Later at night is good since they have a great lighting system. Even better is during the day with fewer people around. There is a cafe here that is decent for a coffee but there are so many other coffee shops nearby that you may want to walk a bit. At the Cruising Yacht Club there is a restaurant as well. Fantastic outdoor deck seating and fish and chips are ok. Of course nice cold beer is available as well. You can get reservations and some weekends are very busy. Never tried the indoor seating (why would you when you are by the harbour?). The whole park is dog friendly so be prepared for some visitors if you are having a picnic. Some dogs running 'free-range' but never had a problem. Just make some new friends.