The struggle between three and four stars is real and I think the bill for our lunch tipped the…read morescales towards the lower end. Strong message there: go for the experience, go for the cultural tour, don't go for the food. The cadre for this experience was fantastic: an island facing North Syndey, Rose Bay, the Harbour Bridge AND the Opera House. I mean when you really think about - because you probably just read that passively and took my word for it - this is a unique venue in the world most iconic harbour. Look at the pictures, as I said: fantastic. Now the restaurant itself: the entrees were nice if pricy which was expected, but the mains are just not to the level of the visual experience you are having - beyond the stuffy plastic gazebo under which you are lunching that is. The quality of the kangaroo meat was average, with a side of beetroot and Gorgonzola salad that lacked subtlety is presentation or refinement. Which in this context was disappointing. The wine list is nice and it saved the meal on my end. It is a shame that the restaurant has opted for a half-hearted elegant cuisine instead of a fine dining restaurant on the one end, or a simpler menu with quality products. The price is not high in itself but when measured against the quality of the meal ... The museum and the explanations about the fort's history are interesting and displayed in a very accessible set of little rooms next to the restaurant. I really enjoyed learning about this iconic landmark. I recommend it strongly but not for the food!

When you camera missed a fraction of second and the event can't be repeated until next day, at 1 pm…read moresharp!.... I don't have words for it! Yep, I'm talking about the 1o'clock gun firing at Port Denison, it's a tradition they kept on this fort. Port Denison it self play a major role on our defence system. There is a video room that playing some documentary about history of the island. Tour of the island also available with extra cost. Our tour guide was lovely, she is a bit camera shy though, explaining everything thoroughly. It's a good experience over all

I'm not sure if you could actually call this place Sydney's northern point, but ever since I was a…read morekid I've seen it as such. So, I decided that I would actually go and check it out. Sure, you have to meander your way between Home and Away film sets (Australians will know what I mean by that), and it is a bit of a hike, but the views once you get to the top are pretty outstanding. Oh, they also have a smugglers track, which as a climb is a bit more difficult, but a lot more fun.

Amazing views across the Pittwater and central coast are the main features of this walk. It's not a…read morevery long walk and you can choose the windy pathway or the steps to get up here. It's also a place you can whale watch from during migration season. The walk leading to here is slightly confusing due to construction at the moment. Once you get up there you forget it all and enjoy the amazing scenery. I have been here many times and love making this walk up the hill to the lighthouse. Well worth doing for locals and visitors.

"Mrs Macquarie's Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie's Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into…read morethe shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales." - Wikipedia Located near the Royal Botanic Gardens, this is a great landmark to view the Syndey Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I recommend jogging around the whole gardens and taking a break at/around Mrs Macquarie's Chair to take in the air and scenery.

Great views of Sydney Harbour from this location…read more If you're walking and don't know what you're looking for you can miss it. The monument is an unmarked and simple concrete seat, but it plainly says Mrs Macquarie's Road... on it. Easy place to sit and relax, maybe not the best views on the peninsula, but it's peaceful enough. Plenty of flora around, the sounds of the harbour and water are evident. You are within a quarter mile of the Botanical Gardens on one side and Art Gallery of NSW on the other.

Customs House is a lovely building just across from the wharf. It is a fantastic place for…read moretourists, as it has lots of history about the city, but it had FREE wifi, which is rare in Sydney! They welcome everyone in. You can read the many newspapers they have available, sit in a comfy spot and surf the web, or enjoy the full scale model of the city underneath the glass floor. They have a cafe on the top floor that was too pricey for us to try and friendly staff at the information desk to answer your questions. I recommend that anyone visiting the city check it out.

You guys! You can pretend you're godzilla stomping all over a giant mini model of Sydney!…read more Okay so there's actually strong glass protecting the model city, but it's still heaps fun to walk all over it, the model itself is huge. And there's always tons of stuff happening inside, from functions to galas to the library on the First Floor (pro tip: there's tons of kids books if you're lugging the little ones around Circular Quay and they get tired). Oh and it's made of sandstone, my favourite of all building materials. And there's pretty pictures projected onto it when Vivid is on. And Cafe Sydney is on the top floor. It's a triple threat.

We decided to stop by an oasis in the middle of Sydney: Chinese Garden of Friendship. The garden…read moreis a 1 hectare garden built by Guangzhou Landscape Bureau. It represents the collaborative efforts of Sister States, New South Wales, Australia & Guangdong, China. The space is super chill and inc a lake, koi pond and waterfall. At the end of the tour, you can stop by the tea shop for yum cha and real tea service. The area w/ the restaurant also has an upstairs space for private events. The entrance fee is only $12 AUD (~ $8 USD), and you can take advantage of a free guide. I highly recommend visiting CGF for a relaxing thing to do while staying in Sydney.

Beautiful place in Sydney to check out. You can spend 1-2 hours just wandering around checking out…read morethe beautiful scenery. If you're in Sydney and you're looking for a cheap activity, this is the place to check out!

I knew nothing of this bridge when we got here but I liked it so much we walked over it a few times…read moreand I took A LOT of pictures of it and of the area around it. You'll find a lot of people crossing this bridge, locals on their way to places, tourists taking pics and deciding where to go next, runners doing their exercising. Maybe it's my extreme aversion for stairs but I also loved that you can get up to the bridge (from the CBD side) via escalator instead of taking the stairs.

#62 for 2021 The…read morePyrmont Bridge is a fun bridge to walk across to get to the main attractions of Darling Harbour. We crossed it twice daily while we were staying in an apartment loaned to us for a week to explore Darling Harbor and the surrounding area. It was a great way to start the day with some walking exercise to prep us for walking all day. Wearing comfortable broken in shoes is a must. Plus you get to soak up some sun and get some history. There are all kinds of activity being carried out here. The bridge offers several spots to take beautiful pictures of Darling Harbour . Selfies are great with the city skyline for those memorable photos. Tourist, locals traveling back and forth to work, sitting and talking, eating and drinking, cyclist pedaling and the colorful flags hoisted on both sides make it a beautiful landmark to visit. Did you know this was not the 1st Pyrmont Bridge? The 1st one, a wooden bridge with a metal center, began operation March 17, 1858. It cost a penny to cross. In the 1st 2 weeks business was brisk crossed by 20,000 pedestrians. But wait there's more. It was also crossed by "932 carts and drays, 43 gigs, 17 carriages and 125 horse and rider." Tolls were discontinued when the NSW government paid the Pyrmont Bridge Company 25,500 pounds in 1884. That saved lots of pennies. The new steel bridge officially opened in 1902 accommodating Sydney's first motor vehicles connecting Pyrmont to the central business district. In 1981 the bridge was closed off to bicycles and foot traffic only as motor vehicles were redirected to adjacent freeway overpasses. On its' 100th year anniversary in 2002 Pyrmont Bridge was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on the 28th of June. This may not be on the top of your list to see but i do recommend walking through it. It truly is a nice bridge.

Sometimes, a lazy weekend at the Rocks is the best way to relax and have some family time. And the…read morebest place to visit in this area is Nurses Walk. Nurses Walk is part of a network of lanes in the Rocks district and full of history. Many of the old buildings and houses in this area have been transformed into cafes, restaurants, and shops. The atmosphere is quaint and relaxing, inviting you to stroll around and enjoy its many offerings. There's always something to do and see along this lane. Enjoy a glass of ice mocha, have some great pub grub for lunch, or browse around some shops. If you're a local or a tourist doing some sightseeing in Sydney, Nurses Walk is highly recommended.

The most beautiful harbor I've experienced on this planet! Natural beauty, awesome engineering &…read moresculptured landscapes. Romantic, thrilling & inspirational from every angle. This area is an alluring life experience & the perfect setting for relaxation or sight seeing. Ferries are a major form of transport in Sydney harbor & a great excuse to get out onto the water. Circular Quay is the main ferry hub & the perfect area to establish a temporary home base. Quey West Suites, Four Seasons or Shangri-La all have spectacular views of the harbor, Opera House & Harbor Bridge. Plus, these hotels are just a short walk away from the ferry terminal. Public ferries are slow & packed with locals during business hours. The high speed ferries operate more like a sight seeing tour with narration of the highlights along the way. High speed ferries offer multi day packages that include entry into some of the most popular sights. Taronga Zoo, Manley Beach & Darling Harbour shouldn't be missed.

Sydney exists around and because of the harbour and, immediately upon taking it in the first time,…read moreit becomes abundantly clear. The harbour is a working feature, still providing for active industry, but it has come to be so much more, adding to the overall feeling of the city. There are plenty of places to poke around the harbour, too, from Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, and Circular Quay on the south side to Manly and various other neighborhoods and historic sites on the north. It's probably impossible to avoid the harbour on a visit so simply be aware of it and take in the industrial, cultural, and natural resource.