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Australia's famous city, Sydney, is the first place people think of when visiting the continent. Known for its iconic landmarks, pristine beaches, fabulous parks, and vibrant life, Sydney welcomes more than 16 million tourists every year. During summer, the weather gets deadly hot in the city, prompting people to rush to the beaches to cool off. Additionally, families flock to the beaches with their children because of school holidays in summer, leading the shores to become overly crowded.

Thus, one might prefer to give it a second thought and better plan their trip before coming to Sydney. For instance, from September through November, March, and April, the weather is pleasant, and attractions will not be overcrowded. Moreover, some people may prefer to visit the city during winter, where they can wander the points of interest during months like July and August while wearing a light jacket.

UPDATE: 2023/02/05 15:08 EST BY AARON SPRAY

How Much Time Is Needed To Explore Australia?

While a week or two is a good amount of time to see Sydney and the many attractions within drivable distance around it, exploring all of Australia is another story. Sydney may be the largest (not the capital) city of Australia, but it's only one destination in the sprawling nation. This article was expanded with how much time one needs to explore all of Downunder. Spoiler - it's a lot of time.

UPDATE: 2022/11/12 11:45 EST BY AARON SPRAY

Updated With Things To Do Around Sydney.

The main attractions of New Zealand and Australia are not the cities but the many natural attractions of the stunning countries. Tourists typically use the cities as bases to explore the stunning natural attractions around the cities. This article was updated with suggestions of things to see and do on day trips from Sydney (so plan to stay in Sydney longer!).

Related: Melbourne Vs. Sydney: Deciding Which Australian City Is Best For You

How To Get Around Sydney And Where To Stay

Sydney's transportation system is advanced, with light rails, subways, buses, and ferries operating all over the city. It is a must for anyone wishing to use public transportation to get the contactless Smart Opal Card to pay for trips. Otherwise, they have to use their debit or credit cards to pay for transportation. Another alternative for witnessing Sydney's attractions is the hop-on-hop-off bus, with 33 stops between Sydney and Bondi. Another thing that visiting tourists must plan for is accommodation.

With a constantly operating public transportation system, one has many choices to decide where to stay. For instance, the Central Business District, Circular Quay, Wynyard, and Darling Harbour, are strategic places for staying in. The 5-star luxurious Shangri-La Hotel Sydney is a perfect place to stay since it boasts fantastic Harbour Bridge and Opera House views.

Another more affordable option is the 4-star boutique-designed 57Hotel near Sydney's Central Station. For people on a budget, they have the option to stay at a backpacker hostel, such as Wake Up! Sydney Central.

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  • Cost: A Deluxe Darling Harbor King room for two persons in Shangri-La Hotel Sydney costs $221 per night.

This Is The Number Of Days One Needs To See The Best Of Sydney

Sydney boasts a lot of attractions and fun things to do. No matter how long one stays in Sydney, there will always be new and fantastic adventures to make. However, a reasonable number of days one needs to spend in the city to get the best out of it is a minimum of 5 days. On day 1, most tourists begin their trip by visiting the Circular Quay, a part of Sydney's Harbour. This is where the city's main ferry terminal is located and leads to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Next appears the significant world-class architectural landmark Sydney Opera House.

An inside tour of the attraction is recommended. Also, it would be a good idea to visit, on the same day, The Rocks neighborhood which boasts various cafes, restaurants, and food markets. A tour of the Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia is a must.

Later comes the turn of wandering the magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens that boast unique manor houses, themed gardens, and pavilions. Day 2 in Sydney must be preserved to hit the iconic, picturesque Bondi Beach. However, visiting Bondi is not only about the beach, and tourists go to fascinating sites in the area, such as the Bondi Icebergs Club, Bronte Beach, and Coogee Beach.

  • Cost: The entrance fee to Bondi Icebergs Club amounts to $9 per adult and $6 per child aged 12 years and under.

More Attractions: It's Never Enough In Sydney

By day three, during their trip to Sydney, visitors can head to the Sydney Tower in the city center, where they can witness scenic views from atop the tallest building in Sydney. However, it is worth noting that the Skywalk of Sydney Tower is outdoors with glass doors, so people afraid of high spots are not encouraged to go forward with the activity.

Next on the list is Sydney's oldest park, Hyde Park, rich with fig trees and is home to the Anzac Memorial. A good idea is to visit the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Pit Street Mall, and the historic Strand Arcade. Visitors would also like to go to the Darling Harbour, home to the Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussaud's museum, and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Day 4 must be dedicated to Sydney's North Shore, which is reachable by ferry. Places worth visiting include Manly Beach, Freshwater Beach, Taronga Zoo, and Luna Park. On day 5, which is the last day on the trip to Sydney, tourists can head to the majestic Blue Mountains that boast stunning natural scenery.

Attractions in the area include the Three Sisters, which can be best viewed at the Echo Point Lookout in Katoomba. The latter is a local town that houses the Katoomba and Gordon Falls. Moreover, the Wentworth Falls and the Jenolan Caves must be on the list when in the Blue Mountains.

Related: Giant Stairway: Is This Really Australia's Best Mountain View?

What To See With Day Trips From Sydney

Visitors need more time in Sydney if they would like to visit and explore some of the superb attractions outside of Australia's largest city. There are plenty of attractions along the coastline with dramatic coastlines and pristine beaches. Additionally, Sydney is within easy reach of the Blue Mountains - which offer some of the best mountainous landscapes in Australia.

Attractions To Visit On A Day Trip From Sydney:

  • Blue Mountains
  • Kiama Blowhole
  • Royal National Park
  • Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
  • Palm Beach
  • Kangaroo Valley

Another great idea is to go on the world's steepest railway in the Blue Mountains. Scenic World is an attraction tucked away in the UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains. Its key attractions are the Cableway, Skyway, Scenic Walkway, and Scenic Railway. All this means visitors can spend a couple of weeks in Sydney.

How Much Time Is Needed To See All Of Australia?

Forget it. But on a more helpful note, Australia is massive, and it takes a very long time to do justice to it. Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world spanning 7,617,930 square kilometers (2,941,300 square miles) that's only a little smaller than the Lower 48 states which span some 8,080,464 square kilometers or 3,119,884 square miles.

  • Time Needed For Australia: One Year

One of the past times in Australia is to retire and buy a caravan (trailer) and travel around the country for at least a year. The distances are immense. There's a reason why Australia is home to the world's longest shortcut and the world's longest national highway, 14,500 km (9,000 miles) long. The fastest record for completing the "big lap" of Australia is 6 days, 8 hours, and 52 minutes - but the minimum enjoyable amount of time is 3 months.

It takes 41 hours of non-stop driving to get from Sydney to the farthest city of Perth (4,000 km or 2,500 miles away).

Sydney, Australia
Photo by Jamie Davies on Unsplash
Sydney, Australia

It is possible to see most of New Zealand in four weeks. With Australia, one will need to plan differently. Regardless of how much time one has, one will need to just choose what highlights one would like to see. Save the big trip to Australia for retirement. Then buy a caravan and join the "Grey Nomads" in slowly exploring the continent over the course of a year (or go now and buy a van and join the hippies exploring Australia for a year).