5 top things to Sydney, Australia

I have been lucky enough to travel to Sydney twice in the last year, and it has quickly become one of my favorite destinations! From the food to the coffee, the locals and the things you can do, I have created a list of my top five things to do if you get a chance to visit this beautiful city on the water!

Bridge Climb-

The bridge climb will take you all the way to the middle of the Sydney Harbor bridge on the very top, giving you the most incredible views! You get a fantastic view of the Opera house on one side, and the Blue Mountains on the other. The company that sets up this activity does several tours a day- the twilight tours are the most popular and sell out the fastest, so I recommend booking in advance of your trip! www.bridgeclimb.com

What to expect:

You are given a suit to wear and protective harnesses which connect you to the bridge..ITIt is a lot of steps and a decent sized walk so being in good health is essential, and covered footwear is required.

You cant bring a phone or a camera, so the downside is you have to rely on them for pictures

After walking the pedestrian bridge and viewing the harbor that way, I can say that the bridge climb is worth the investment!

Luna Park-

If you want to go to an amusement park reminiscent of the 90's, I would recommend Luna Park. The fair games and amusements are very much like you would find in the 80's and 90's in America, and the rides are pretty old school. It is a beautiful location, right on the water, and is an easy ferry ride across the bay with excellent views of the Opera House.

Bondi Beach-

The beach is a surfers paradise and is one of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. It is also not a safe place for inexperienced swimmers because currents are rough! If you do go, make sure you stay in between the flags, so you have a lifeguard watching you. You also have to option to pay to go to the Iceberg pool on the right side of Bondi that is connected to the ocean and is breathtaking! The beach itself is beautiful and vast, and the water is cold, but very green and blue. Across the street from the ocean are many restaurants and surf shops. I highly recommend the Surf and Fries, for amazing fish or chicken and chips! There is also a coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee (or you could start in Coogee) with views of the ocean, and many beaches and coffee shops to stop and refuel. It passes a fantastic cemetery right on the cliff overlooking the ocean. It takes a few hours, so don't forget the sunscreen!

Manly Beach-

Manly beach is the quintessential surfer town. It is accessible by ferry from Circular Quay in Sydney; boats leave every half hour. Once off the ferry, it is by a long drag of restaurants, souvenir shops, and surf shops. The beach is beautiful, white soft sand. Just like Bondi Beach, be careful with the riptides and currents and stay between the flags for swimming. If you follow Manly beach to the right, you will find a trail to lead you to a cove called Cabbage tree bay that is much better for swimming. The beach is rocky, but the water is crystal clear, and it is a beautiful cove right next to a nature preserve. The cove seems like a spot lots of locals go to, and on the way, is a pool connected to the ocean that is free of charge and offers stunning views.

Sydney Opera house-

If you go to Sydney, stopping at the Opera house is a must. They offer tours daily, but also many performances each night of theater, opera or symphony.

Can not wait to tell you more about my adventures in Perth, Cairnes, and Melbourne and driving on the wrong side of the road!