Things to do in New South Wales
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Sydney Opera House
Overcome with admiration for the Sydney Opera House, famous architect Louis Kahn said, ‘The sun did not know how beautiful its light was until it was reflected off this building.’ Danish architect Jørn Utzon’s competition-winning 1956 design is Australia’s most recognisable icon. It’s mused to have drawn inspiration from orange segments, palm fronds and Maya temples, and has been poetically likened to a typewriter stuffed with scallop shells and the sexual congress of turtles. While viewed from any angle it’s architecturally orgasmic, the ferry view approaching Circular Quay is hard to beat.
The predicted four-year construction started in 1959. After a tumult…
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Sydney Harbour Bridge
Whether they’re driving over it, climbing up it, rollerblading across it or sailing under it, Sydneysiders adore their bridge and swarm around it like ants on ice cream. Dubbed the ‘old coathanger’, it’s a spookily big object – moving around town you’ll catch sight of it in the corner of your eye and get a fright! Perhaps Sydney poet Kenneth Slessor said it best: ‘Day and night, the bridge trembles and echoes like a living thing.’
Vital statistics: 134m high, 502m long, 49m wide and 53,000 tonnes. The massive bridge links the CBD with North Sydney, crossing the harbour at one of its narrowest points. The two halves of chief engineer JJC Bradfield’s mighty …
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Spice I Am
Once the preserve of expat Thais wanting a taste of home, this little red-hot chilli pepper now has queues out the door. No wonder, as everything we’ve tried from the 70-plus affordable dishes on the menu is superfragrant and superspicy. BYO and no corkage!
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Quay
Quay is shamelessly guilty of breaking the rule that good views make for bad food. Peter Gilmore may be one of Sydney’s younger celeb chefs, but Quay’s exquisite menu proves he’s at the top of his game (doubters should try the crispy-skin Murray cod with shiitake). And the view? Like dining in a postcard. Bookings essential.
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Bodhi
Bodhi scores highly for its cool design and leafy position. Quick-fire waiters bounce off stainless-steel minimalism inside and slatted wooden tables and umbrellas outside. Swim at the pool next door before daily yum cha (10am to 4pm), a relaxed and value-for-money affair. The barbecue buns rule.
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Twisted Sista
Bounteous baked goods include huge muffins, cheesy casseroles and overstuffed sandwiches on beautiful bread. Outdoor tables add to the slightly happy hungover vibe.
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Aquabumps Gallery
Photographer/surfer Eugene Tan has been snapping photos of Sydney’s sunrises, surf and sand for 10 years and his colourful prints hang in this cool space, a splash from Bondi Beach.
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Bills
Sydney adores Bill Granger (aka Mr Scrambled Egg) and his original sunny eatery with its newspaper-strewn communal table. Dishes such as sweet-corn fritters served with roast tomato, spinach and bacon are equally adorable. Can’t get a seat? Head for bills in Surry Hills or Woollahra.
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Aria
Aria is a star in Sydney’s fine-dining firmament, an award-winning combination of chef Matthew Moran’s stellar dishes, awesome Opera House views ( is there a cooler building?) and faultless service. The mouth-watering lamb rack is hard to overlook. Pre- and after-theatre supper menu available. Reservations essential.
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Bondi Beach
Definitively Sydney, Bondi is one of the world’s great beaches: ocean and land collide, the Pacific arrives in great foaming swells and all people are equal, as democratic as sand. It’s the closest ocean beach to the city centre (8km away), has consistently good (though crowded) waves, and is great for a rough-and-tumble swim (the average water temperature is a considerate 21°C). If the sea’s angry, try the salt-water sea baths at either end of the beach; these are perfect for kids.
The two surf clubs – Bondi and North Bondi – patrol the beach between sets of red and yellow flags, positioned to avoid the worst rips and holes. Thousands of unfortunates have to be re…
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Chinta Ria
Despite its Malaysian-hawker-inspired menu it's not really cheap food, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Perched on a leafy rooftop, an enormous Buddha greets you at the door of the giant pagoda dining room, while colourful place settings, clanging dishes and efficient service only add to your enjoyment of the spicy chicken laksa.
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Bungalow 8
Retreat to the far end of King St Wharf if the mayhem of Darling Harbour starts to melt your mind. Slink into a low leather booth on the cool slate floor, watch the harbour lights and slurp a lemongrass laksa stacked high with fresh mussels (all-you-can-eat bivalves on Tuesdays). The Loft bar upstairs has cool cocktails.
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Mohr Fish
Teutonic Iron Chef Hans Mohr started this fishy takeaway decades ago, plating up fancy fish and chips with Euro stylings. The interior is more East End London eel-and-mash shop than hip Sydney, but the food is brilliant: don’t miss the prawn-and-fish dumplings with chilli soy sauce.
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Blue Water Pizza
Bright and brassy, this lively waterfront eatery is the place to come for wood-fired pizza, particularly on a Monday when all pies are a bargain $14.
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Mylan
This is a great choice, especially for its excellent Vietnamese seafood.
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Chocolate By The Bald Man Max Brenner
The crazy bald guy has taken a leaf from Willy Wonka's book. Shiny copper pipes lead to big vats of liquid heaven, while shelves bulge with all sorts of tempting treats to takeaway. Try the warm chocolate fondue for two, served with fruit, banana bread and marshmallows (around A$16), or just sneak in for a coffee and brownie.
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Opera House Guided Tours
One-hour guided tours depart half-hourly (you’ll save a few bucks if you book online). Tours employ archival video footage to help tell the story of the iconic building’s construction. A highlight is the Utzon Room, the only part of the house to have an interior designed by the great man himself. For a more in-depth nosy around, the two-hour early-morning backstage tour includes the Green Room and stars’ dressing rooms.
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Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel
Built in 1841, this boutique sandstone pub has its own brewery (try a pint of Nelson’s Blood), and is just far enough from The Rocks’ tourist throng. Rooms are elegantly colonial, with stripy sheets, stone walls and dormer windows – the owners have resisted the urge to spew flowers and lace all over the place. Most of the nine rooms are spacious and have en suites; there are also cheaper, smaller rooms with shared facilities.
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The Summit Restaurant Orbit Lounge Bar
Sure, it's not exactly cheap, but you're here for the supreme 360-degree views of Sydney. This high-rise restaurant rotates a full turn every 105 minutes, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the chilli-prawn tapas, seared rare tuna, wagyu beef rump or pepper-crust snapper before the view starts repeating itself. And remember to dress up: there's a dress code.
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Doyles at the Quay
Here is another slick, well-placed branch of the Doyles empire, offering outstanding views of the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay in general. On a sunny day, snag a breezy promenade table under a white umbrella and enjoy the massive-portioned (and wallet-emptying) fish and chips - life doesn't get much better than this.
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Bar Reggio
Most of East Sydney’s celebrated Italian restaurants have closed or gone upmarket, but blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Bar Reggio has retained a beautiful budget atmosphere. The walls are plastered with Ferrari flags and Rome murals, and the pasta, pizza, meat and fish dishes have stood the test of time. Closed on Sundays (church!).
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Hugo’s Bar Pizza
This indoor-outdoor neighbourhood nook has been seducing pizza fans with its delicious discs and home-style Italian fare. The marble-fronted bar and sunken velvet lounge spell luxury, but the menu won’t break the bank. Try the puttanesca pizza. If you feel like a drink, try Hugo’s Lounge Bar upstairs.
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Longrain
Longrain makes serving dozens of diners look easy. Inside a century-old, wedge-shaped printing-press building, urbanites slurp down delicacies such as red venison and snakebean curry or caramelised pork hock with five spices and chilli vinegar. Sip a Caipiroska (vodka, crushed lime and sugar syrup) at the bar afterwards.
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Aki's
First cab off the rank as you walk onto Woolloomooloo's wharf is Aki's. Walk no further: this is beautifully presented, intuitively constructed high-Indian cuisine, supplemented by a six-page wine list showcasing local and international drops by the glass or bottle. The Kerala chilli beef is a simmering sensation.
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