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With its glittering harbour and world-famous attractions, Sydney is the jewel in the crown of Australia’s cities and the country’s most popular travel destination.
And yes, you can spend your time following the well-trodden tourist trail, but where’s the fun in that? Whether you’re an airline passenger jetting in for a much anticipated holiday, or a modern seafarer boarding a cruise from Sydney, with a little research you can track down some of the Harbour City’s lesser known but no less amazing landmarks and attractions. And you’ll be able to tick off big ticket sights like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House along the way.
Here are ten of Sydney’s best kept secrets and hidden gems.
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10 Top Things to Do in SYDNEY, Australia in 2024 | Ultimate Travel Guide & To-Do List
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1. The Big Dig
Inhabited by the convict population at the time of European settlement, and later an infamous slum, today The Rocks is a prized heritage precinct and a must-see during your stay in Sydney. And while it’s super popular with tourists, the area has plenty of secret spots that most people miss entirely!
The first is The Big Dig archaeological site, which is tucked away between Cumberland and Gloucester Streets. It’s an uphill climb to get there, but persevere — it’s worth the effort. The site has a traceable history back to 1795, and you’ll see the unearthed foundations of a group of convict cottages. There’s also an array of recovered artefacts on display in glass cases (larger finds can be viewed at The Rocks Discovery Museum).
2. Foundation Park
This one is an absolute gem and chances are you’ll have it all to yourself! Continue along Cumberland Street and take the atmospheric Argyle Stairs down to narrow Gloucester Walk. Turn left and follow Gloucester to Foundation Park — a little known green space constructed within the surviving foundations of what were once 19th century terrace buildings. You can clearly see how tiny the original rooms were, and they once would have housed entire families. The park has lots of different levels and yields a unique perspective of the rest of The Rocks precinct below.
3. Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden
Fun fact: Most visitors to Sydney don’t step foot on the Harbour’s North Shore. It might as well be another planet! But there are plenty of rewards for the intrepid explorer willing to cross the Harbour Bridge — including Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden. And with a name like that, you just know you’re onto something good! Tucked away in Lavender Bay, this tranquil green space was created by philanthropist Wendy Whiteley as a tribute to her late husband Brett Whiteley — one of Australia’s most esteemed artists.
The garden is open to the public and despite being on every known list of Sydney’s ‘secrets’, you’re unlikely to meet another soul here. The walk over the Bridge from the CBD will take you around 15 minutes, and it’s a further eight minutes on foot to Lavender Bay. Enjoy!
4. Milk Beach
While hoards of holidaymakers make haste to Bondi and Manly to jostle for a patch of sand, it is possible to enjoy a Sydney beach day and escape the crowds all but entirely. Try the delightfully named Milk Beach — a secluded and dainty harbour cove in the upmarket suburb of Vaucluse. The homes here run into the multi millions of dollars to buy, but it’s free to wiggle your toes in the sand and soak up the fabulous views of the city skyline. To PT it from the CBD to Milk will take you around 45 to 50 minutes each way. Take the 325 bus from Wynyard Station towards Watsons Bay.
5. Maccallum Seawater Pool
The New South Wales capital has a long and proud tradition of ocean swimming, and public pools fed by seawater can be found across the city. The most famous is Bondi Icebergs (originally known as the Bondi Baths). However, if you want to (a) stick closer to the CBD and (b) beat the crowds (again!), try the heritage Maccallum Pool at Cremorne Point. It lies directly opposite the CBD on the far side of the Harbour and offers incredible views back towards the city. And Maccallum is a breeze to get to; just take a ferry from Circular Quay to Cremorne Point.
6. Strand Arcade
Sydney’s fascinating Victorian heritage is on full display at the Strand Arcade off Pitt Street in the CBD. The street front doesn’t give too much away, and consequently this is one gem you could walk right past and not even know is there. Step inside and all will be revealed. The Strand wasn’t the first grand arcade to be constructed in the CBD, but it’s the only one to have survived intact. It has three levels, which sit beneath an intricate vaulted ceiling. Even if you don’t plan to splash any cash, it’s well worth a visit just to soak up the ornate ambiance.
7. MCA Cafe and Sculpture Terrace
This one’s well known to Sydneysiders, but less so to visitors. If you plan to check out the harbourside Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (and you absolutely must!), leave time to enjoy the views and a bite to eat from its rooftop cafe. For the price of a coffee and perhaps a pastry (oh, go on), you can enjoy a sweeping vista of the Bridge, Opera House, and comings and goings at Circular Quay. You may also want to avail yourself of the fast-and-free Wi-Fi.
8. Brett Whiteley Studio
The inner-city suburb of Surry Hills is a haven for arty types, and just wandering its narrow byways and thoroughfares will yield surprises aplenty. Drop by the former combined home and art studio of Brett Whiteley, which is located in Raper Street and is open to the public. Managed by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, it provides a wonderfully intimate look at the life and work of this Avant Garde expressionist. There are unfinished works on display, along with many personal effects. Entry to the Brett Whiteley Studio is free of charge.
9. The Hero of Waterloo Hotel
Sydney’s classic 19th century public houses hold myriad secrets within their thick sandstone walls. Every single one of these pubs has a tale to tell, so try and tick two or three off as you explore the city. The ridiculously characterful Hero of Waterloo Hotel in Millers Point (ten minutes’ walk from the heart of The Rocks) dates back to the mid 1840s. If you head down into the cellar (which comes complete with wall shackles) you’ll see the remains of a tunnel entrance. Legend says it was used for smuggling rum, and to carry unsuspecting, under-the-weather youths down to the Harbour and onto waiting ships to begin a life at sea — whether they wanted to or not!
10. Bare Island
Located in Botany Bay — sometimes referred to as Sydney’s ‘back door’ — Bare Island takes a bit of effort to get to from the CBD (it’s an hour by public transport). But there are plenty of good reasons to head out to this small outcrop and historic edifice, which is linked to the mainland by a century-old wooden bridge. It was first noted by Lieutenant James Cook as ‘a small bare island’ when he came ashore in Botany Bay in 1770 while charting Australia’s east coast. If you look directly across the bay, you’ll be able to spot the Cook’s Landing memorial.
The main fortifications on the island were built in the mid 1880s to protect the entrance to Botany Bay. Guided tours of the fort are offered on selected Sundays and must be booked in advance. Alternatively, consider doing a section of the nearby Cape Banks Walking Track. It’s delightfully picturesque, uncrowded, and you may see whales breaching offshore through the middle of the year.
This post was published thanks to Celebrity Cruises.
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Additional images: Bigstock
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
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