{"id":5671,"date":"2018-06-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-23T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=5671"},"modified":"2020-04-02T05:35:32","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T19:35:32","slug":"reasons-to-go-to-sydney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/sydney\/nsw\/reasons-to-go-to-sydney\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons to go to Sydney (and 5 to get out of it)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows that Sydney<\/a> is an iconic, must-visit destination. People come from all over the globe just to get a photo with its world-famous harbour. But only locals know the real Sydney \u2013 the cool pocket precincts that make it buzz. And even fewer know the best-kept secret of all: the many awesome NSW regional destinations<\/a> just a short drive away.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s lucky for you that I\u2019m a Sydneysider who\u2019s happy to spill the beans. Here are five undeniable reasons to go to Sydney (and five more to get out and explore beyond it, too).<\/p>\n

5 reasons to go to Sydney<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. The Rocks<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A trip to The Rocks is like going back in time… except with better coffee. The Rocks is Sydney\u2019s oldest neighbourhood, dating back to the earliest days of European settlement. It was once considered a slum (harsh!), but is now home to excellent restaurants and cafes, fascinating museums and galleries, and high-end boutiques. Have a beer at one of Australia\u2019s oldest pubs (there are a few that claim the title, but the Fortune of War<\/a>, the Australian Hotel<\/a>, and the Lord Nelson<\/a> are the strongest contenders), get your art fix at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia<\/a>, or snoop inside some of Sydney\u2019s oldest terrace houses at Susannah Place Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, The Rocks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

2. Surry Hills<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Okay, you\u2019ve just arrived at Central, Sydney\u2019s biggest train station. What do you do? Answer: Ignore all signs pointing to George St and instead make for an Elizabeth St or Chalmers St exit to check out Surry Hills! Gritty-cool, yet surprisingly leafy and pretty, Surry Hills is one of Sydney\u2019s most vibrant and creative neighbourhoods. It\u2019s home to some of the city\u2019s best eats \u2013 see NOMAD<\/a>, Bourke St Bakery<\/a> and Gelato Messina<\/a> for a start. Make sure you see a show at the Belvoir St Theatre<\/a>, the former (and current) stomping ground of some of Australia\u2019s biggest stars \u2013 think Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett, Judy Davis, Deb Mailman, and more.<\/p>\n

Yum! Bourke Street Bakery deliciousness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

3. Bondi & Coogee<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If you haven\u2019t been to Bondi, have you really been to Sydney? In addition to Australia\u2019s most famous beach (you know, in case that\u2019s not enough for you), Bondi is also the place to go for wholesome cafes (so many smoothie and poke bowls!) and morning yoga, with just a smidge of retail therapy on the side. Breakfast favourites include Porch and Parlour<\/a>, Rocker<\/a>, and Bondi Wholefoods<\/a>. Drake<\/a> is great for a cheeky long lunch (get the gnocchi), and for seafood with sea views, it\u2019s hard to beat North Bondi Fish<\/a> or Fishbowl<\/a> for your poke hit. Once your tummy\u2019s full, check out the Bondi Markets<\/a> (Sundays, 9am \u2013 4pm) for up-and-coming designers and vintage gems, and Westfield Bondi Junction for all<\/strong><\/em> the shopping.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not all. Bondi is also the starting point for the Bondi to Coogee Walk \u2013 possibly Australia\u2019s most famous walk. The whole track is almost 9km and will take you along some of the world\u2019s best coastline (hey, who needs false modesty?). Put it on your list.<\/p>\n

WOW! The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

4. Redfern & Chippendale<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Not all visitors make it to Redfern and Chippendale, but those that don\u2019t are missing out. Redfern is considered by many to be the heart of Sydney\u2019s Aboriginal community \u2013 the neighbhourhood and its residents played an essential role in Australia\u2019s Civil Rights Movement and its vibrant street art (literally) illustrates the suburb\u2019s roots (see Carol Ruff\u2019s 40,000 Years mural and Reko Rennie\u2019s Welcome to Redfern for just two examples). Today Redfern is also home to Carriageworks<\/a> (an awesome performance\/exhibition space with a great farmers\u2019 market every Saturday) and excellent small bars like The Dock<\/a> and The Bearded Tit<\/a>. Make sure you check it out!<\/p>\n

Just a short walk away, Chippendale is a tiny suburb (only 0.7km\u00b2!) that packs in a whole lot of awesome. Once the site of the Carlton & United brewery, its converted warehouses and cottages now house exciting galleries like White Rabbit<\/a> and amazing eateries like Ester<\/a> and Spice Alley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Spice Alley, Chippendale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

5. Paddington & Darlinghurst<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Heads up \u2013 this is where the beautiful people play. Paddington is famous for designer boutiques and small galleries. Check out Paddington Markets<\/a> (Saturdays, 10am \u2013 4pm) for new fashion, Berkelouw Books<\/a> for new, rare, and second-hand reads, the Chauvel Cinema for arthouse flicks, or Just William Chocolates<\/a> for a sweet treat. Then follow Oxford Street north to Darlinghurst, Sydney\u2019s night-life capital. For 40 years, Darlinghurst has been the site of Sydney\u2019s iconic Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with Oxford Street the glittering heart of Sydney\u2019s LGBTIQ scene. Start your party at one of the many awesome bars (Eau de Vie<\/a>, Love, Tilly Devine<\/a>, and Darlo Bar<\/a> are a few to get you started), then catch a gig at the Oxford Art Factory<\/a>. When you remember that you\u2019ve forgotten to have dinner (whoops… ), head to Mr Crackles<\/a> for the best late-night pork roll you\u2019ve ever eaten.<\/p>\n

Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Paddington.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

5 reasons to get out of Sydney<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. The Grand Pacific Drive<\/strong><\/h4>\n

What\u2019s better than a road trip? A NSW road trip, and the Grand Pacific Drive is one of the best. Starting from the Royal National Park (which you also want to check out, by the way), it winds along 140km of stunning coastline, taking you through gorgeous rainforests and chilled-out beach towns like Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, and Shoalhaven. The whole drive is amazing, but Sea Cliff Bridge \u2013 a 665m-long elevated road that swerves in and out from the side of the cliffs – is definitely the highlight. Make sure your passenger has their camera ready!<\/p>\n

What a view! Sea Cliff Bridge, the Grand Pacific Drive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

2. The Blue Mountains<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Just a 90min drive or 2hr train ride from Sydney, the Blue Mountains is a super easy (and super awesome) side trip to add to your Sydney itinerary. Echo Point (with its spectacular views of the Three Sisters), Wentworth Falls, and Govetts Leap are the big must-dos, but Sublime Point, Narrow Neck and Cahills Lookout are also amazing. Put aside a day for the Jenolan Caves (do a Plughole tour<\/a> if you\u2019re brave!) and make sure you leave time to check out Katoomba and Leura\u2019s eclectic shops and tempting cafes. Don\u2019t miss Josophan\u2019s Fine Chocolates<\/a> or Leura Garage<\/a>.<\/p>\n

No wonder they call them the Blue Mountains…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

3. The Snowy Mountains<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Snow bunnies, this one\u2019s for you. The Snowy Mountains region is home to Kosciuszko National Park, where you\u2019ll find Perisher, Thredbo, Charlotte Pass, and Selwyn Snow Resort \u2013 all excellent snowfields, catering for all experience levels and activities (sledding for me, thanks). Funnily enough, Kosciuszko National Park is also where you\u2019ll find Mount Kosciuszko \u2013 Australia\u2019s highest mountain. In winter (June to October), the walk to the summit is snowbound and only recommended for experienced cross-country skiers (there aren\u2019t any snow poles to mark the route). But in summer it\u2019s surprisingly achievable \u2013 the return journey is 18.6km, takes six to eight hours, and is suitable for most fitness levels. And the scenery is just… wow.<\/p>\n

Mount Kosciuszko – beautiful at any time of year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

4. The Hunter Valley<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Hey, it\u2019s not all healthy hiking and extreme snow sports. Head to the Hunter Valley for a truly indulgent side trip. With more cellar doors than any other wine region in Australia (take that, Barossa!), the Hunter Valley is the NSW destination for wining and dining. The Hunter is most famous for its s\u00e9millon, but it produces some mean shiraz, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and verdelho drops as well. There are almost too many cellar doors to choose from, but don\u2019t miss Audrey Wilkinson<\/a> (voted the Hunter Valley\u2019s most picturesque winery, which is saying something), Brokenwood<\/a>, or Tyrrell\u2019s<\/a>. And lunch at Bistro Molines<\/a>, overlooking the rolling hills and vineyards, is a must.<\/p>\n

Sunshine and vines in the Hunter Valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

5. Port Stephens<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Great news! Your Hunter Valley side trip just got more awesome. You\u2019re now adding on a Port Stephens side trip as well. Call it a side-side trip \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Between Sydney and the Hunter Valley (a 2hr, 40min drive from the city and 90 minutes from the Hunter Valley), Port Stephens is a fantastic coastal getaway in its own right. It has gorgeous beaches, a resident population of friendly dolphins, and offers easy access to Myall Lakes National Park. Check out Stockton Beach for exciting quad bike safaris and sandboarding. Once you\u2019ve built up an appetite (and shaken the sand out of your hair), head to the Little Beach House<\/a> in Nelson Bay for modern Australian cuisine with a side of incredible water views.<\/p>\n

Epic view from Tomaree Head Lookout, Port Stephens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

Ready to do Sydney and NSW like a local? Plan your getaway with these top deals.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone knows that Sydney is an iconic, must-visit destination. People come from all over the globe just to get a photo with its world-famous harbour. But only locals know the real Sydney \u2013 the cool pocket precincts that make it buzz. And even fewer know the best-kept secret of all: the many awesome NSW regional …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[776,782],"tags":[140,142,145,143,147,141,137,116,136,117,148,138,144,139,146,30,149],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5671"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5671"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5671\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5741,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5671\/revisions\/5741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}