Four Days in Sydney, Australia.
Going to Australia was always on my bucket list when I was already halfway there from the UK living in Singapore. Even though I only had four days to work with it was time to finally go down under. Luckily I was traveling with my bestie Sammie who’s possibly the most organised person in the world. Everything was planned weeks before with reservations made, outfits planned, and routes for massive walks that I didn’t think would happen on our city break. It turns out we packed a lot in from staying in the suburbs, eating in trendy restaurants, doing nature hikes, visiting beaches and even getting on a ferry.
What we did.
We had a very tight schedule which is a huge understatement. From all the food we were planning on eating, there had to be some balance so we planned to do two different hikes. The first was from Coogee to Bondi. The normal route is doing it the other way but we wanted to end up at the famous beach. Whatever you do, don’t turn right at Coogee and walk the other way, if you end up passing a nudist beach you know you’ve made the same mistake we did (I blame all of this on the cocktails from the night before). The other was Split to Manly which is just over six miles and stunning. It’s definitely a good idea to wear good shoes as you’re walking along beaches and nature trails. We brought our bikinis with us too so we could dip into the ocean after our walks but it was slightly too chilly for a February swim.
Back in the city, we’re both obsessed with beauty and makeup products so we made a stop at MECCA which is Australia’s answer to Sephora and I bought their own brand of SPF which is amazing and tried out Go-To Skincare after tons of recommendations. Their sheet maks and Face Hero oil are the best I’ve ever used and I think the stand out products of the brand.
We also made the necessary stops to the Opera House, got the ferry over to Luna Park under the Harbour Bridge, walked around the Royal Botanic Garden. Very cultured.
What we ate.
We definitely had a list of places we wanted to try that were recommended by friends that had either visited or lived there, but we wanted to stay local to Surry Hills so we weren’t having to travel too far. We booked at least a week in advance as the good places tend to fill up fast too.
Where we stayed.
We decided to stay in the very trendy area of Surrey Hills, about a mile south-east of the city centre. There were more than a few to pick from but my decision was overridden when we stumbled upon a house that was pink.
How we got around.
The easiest way for us to get around was Uber for longer trips and getting home after being out at night. For going into town from the AirBnb we could walk or get the bus, then when we were in town you can get the tram and easily pay with contactless for both. Getting the ferry from and to Circular Quay (city centre) is a must as you get the best view of Sydney.
The Itinerary.
Day One
Arrive in Sydney and get settled in the Airbnb.
Brunch at Paramount Coffee Project The clue is in the name that they’re famous for their coffee, but try the Crumbled Eggs on Toast, essentially a tempura-style egg that was my highlight of the trip.
Get an Uber to the Royal Botanic Gardens and walk to the Sydney Opera House from there for pictures. Grab a fridge magnet at one of the really terrible tourist shops (holiday tradition, must be the tackiest one there).
Head back to the Airbnb to get ready for dinner.
Dinner at Madam Nhu for super famous Vietnamese food, definitely get the Pho.
Day Two
Coffee and bacon roll at Single O.
Take an Uber to Coogee for brunch at Coogee Pavilion. The restaurant has different sections displaying all the cuisines, kind of like a posh food hall from in a shopping centre. Grab an ice cream to walk with before you leave.
Walk from Coogee to Bondi. Get some pics of the Icebergs (very photogenic swimming pools) and beach, then grab an Uber back to the Airbnb for a shower and to get ready for dinner.
Dinner at Flour, Eggs, Water. Share a couple of starters and make sure the meatballs are one of them. Then have all the pasta for your main, making sure to check out the specials too.
Stop off for drinks at The Winery on the way home.
Day Three
Walk to Bourke Street Bakery for croissants and baked goods to get you going for the day. Make sure you get a muffin.
Get an Uber to Split Bridge for the walk to Manly.
Lunch at The Pantry Manly that’s right on the beach, so you have to get Fish and Chips.
Take the ferry back to Circular Quay (city centre) and head back to the Airbnb for a shower and to get ready for dinner.
Dinner at Nomad. Get tons of dishes to share, more of a snack vibe so don’t expect to leave full.
After dinner drinks at Shady Pines or Big Poppa’s if you’re not too tired.
Day Four
Visit The Sydney Fish Market. Open from 7 am to 4 pm and definitely load up on oysters.
Walk into town for shopping at the Queen Victoria Building.
Lunch at Chin Chin Go for the Chef’s Banquet if you’re starving, which is a selection of the best dishes for two people.
Check out of Airbnb and head to the airport.
