The best free things to do in Sydney
It’s not hard to find free things to do in a city with as much natural beauty as Sydney. The beaches are among the world’s best and many have ocean pools, underwater snorkelling trails, and surf. Then there are the cliff walks — with the chance of spotting humpback whales if your timing is right — and harbourside parks made for picnicking. For the urban inclined, the inner city offers farmer's markets, street art, and bohemian neighbourhoods to explore.
Read on for our expert's thriftiest suggestions, while here are our guides to Sydney's best hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife, shopping, beaches and attractions, plus how to spend a weekend in Sydney.
Eastern suburbs
Go snorkelling at a secret bay
One of the eastern suburb’s most secret beaches also happens to be one of its most beautiful. Tucked discreetly between Clovelly and Coogee Beaches, Gordon's Bay is a picturesque, rocky beach with clear blue waters and its own underwater nature trail. Like a bushwalk, but underwater, the trail is about 600 metres long and is simple to follow. Information about local marine life is displayed on steel plaques and, on a clear day, can even be seen from above the surface. Note: Gordon’s Bay is accessed via a short trail.
Address: Major Street, Coogee
Take a walk on the whale’s side
It's not anywhere near as famous as the Bondi to Bronte clifftop walk, but The Federation Cliff Walk is equally beautiful. This 5km walking trail from Dover Heights to Watsons Bay travels across sandstone cliffs and through parklands with unbroken views across the Tasman Sea. If your walk falls between April and December, you might just be rewarded with a glimpse of a passing humpback whale. Be aware that parts of this walk deviate onto the road and you will need to follow signs occasionally to get back on track.
Address: start at the end of Raleigh Street, Dover Heights
Have a picnic by the duck pond at Sydney’s answer to Central Park
Centennial Park is situated on 540 acres of land that was once a huge expanse of swamps and sand dunes and home to the Gadi people. With seasonally changing formal gardens, 10 ponds full of birds and marine life (Duck Pond in particular is very popular for bird watching), the park is often busy, but rarely feels crowded. There are many picturesque spots for a picnic and nearby Queen Street in Woollahra has delis at which to stock up. Find a quiet spot and do refrain from feeding the ducks – the geese, in particular, are insane.
Contact: centennialparklands.com.au
Take a drive to one of the oldest national parks in the world
Less than one hour’s drive from the centre of Sydney, The Royal National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the world. There are over 15,000 hectares of rainforest gullies, bushwalking trails, secret beaches and dramatic cliff tops. The figure eight rock pools are a (much-Instagrammed) drawcard but should only be accessed with caution. Check the conditions of the day; they are only accessible at low tide, when the swell is small. Note: there is an AUD$12 (£6) fee for vehicle entry.
Contact: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au
City Centre
Paint the town all colours at the world’s largest festival of light
As the weather cools down, the city lights up with Vivid Festival, which illuminates parts of Sydney from May to June annually. Vivid is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas and brings both local and international talent together in a cacophony of events across the city. A different artist illuminates the sails of The Sydney Opera House every year, and the Botanic Gardens, Taronga Zoo and new Barangaroo precinct become a treasure trove of installations. International performers are also a drawcard.
Contact: vividsydney.com
Enjoy a champagne sunset at an idyllic viewing spot
Lachlan Macquarie served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821, and his wife, Elizabeth, loved coming to this spot so much her husband had some convicts carve her a seat there out of sandstone. The story goes that she liked to sit there and watch for ships sailing from Britain into the harbour. Perhaps she was homesick? More than 200 years later, Macquarie's Chair is still an idyllic spot at any time of the day and spectacular at sunset. End a day in The Royal Botanic Gardens with a bottle of bubbles and enjoy a champagne sunset; Liz would approve.
Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Inner City
Hit the farmers’ market with a side serve of art
Carriageworks is the largest arts centre in Australia, and home to exhibitions and installations, performances and festivals throughout the year. It is situated on the historic site of the former Eveleigh Rail Yards. Every Saturday the space comes alive with the Eveleigh Market, a farmers' market where you can grab a single-origin coffee, sample some delicious cuisine, pick up a loaf of Bread and Butter Project sourdough (baked by asylum seekers), and purchase organic and locally-sourced produce from over 70 sellers from all over NSW.
Contact: carriageworks.com.au
Nearest metro: Redfern station
Dose up on architecture and art in Chippendale
One of Sydney’s most celebrated buildings, One Central Park, is a 117-metre-tall residential tower designed by Jean Nouvel and is known for it’s impressive vertical gardens and cantilevered section. Just behind it, in the backstreets of Sydney’s gentrified suburb of Chippendale, is one of the most significant private art collections in the world. The White Rabbit Gallery is home to one of the largest collections of contemporary Chinese art. Housed in an old warehouse, the collection has nearly 1,000 works by more than 350 artists spread over four floors.
Contact: whiterabbitcollection.org
Sydney Harbour
Take a ferry to an abandoned island in Sydney Harbour
Cockatoo Island is the largest, and possibly creepiest, island in Sydney Harbour. In the last 200 years it has been a penal yard for convicts, one of Australia’s largest shipping yards, and a reform school for wayward girls. With a spectacular backdrop of both industry and natural beauty, it is a space unlike any other in Sydney. After being off limits to the public for a hundred years, the island has undergone a dramatic transformation and now offers tours, and plays host to music and art festivals.
Contact: cockatooisland.gov.au
Nearest metro: Take the ferry from Circular Quay
North Sydney
Drive to your new home away from home
If the scenery looks familiar at Palm Beach that’s because its alter ego is Summer Bay, home of the popular Australian television series Home and Away. But it’s not just the celebrity status that brings in the crowds. Known as the jewel of the Northern Beaches, head south and you’ll find an ideal spot for swimming, including an ocean pool that’s great for laps. The north end is where you’ll spot the surfers as you walk up to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, as good a spot as any for a picnic lunch.
Address: Palm Beach, New South Wales 2108
Jump on a ferry to another Northern Beach
Captain Arthur Phillip gave Manly Beach its name after being struck by the ‘manly’ behaviour of the indigenous residents. The beach is a two-kilometre stretch of sand majestically backed by a guard of towering Norfolk pines. Popular with surfers, many people think Manly lacks the pretence of the eastern beaches. To the south lies the Manly to Shelly Beach Walk and to the north is Freshwater Beach, a local surfing spot with a large rock pool. You can take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf.
Address: Manly Beach, New South Wales
