Sydney is known to the world for its many iconic landmarks, from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to our Opera House and its proud display of Australia’s architectural finesse.
But behind the bright lights and well-trodden avenues, there is a city that we locals know, filled with an array of diverging cultures slowly brewing over the past decades.
For the Yelp-following tourist to truly acquaint themselves with our beautiful city, it’s time to put away the map and venture into these lesser-known territories…
1. Catch a public ferry and explore the shores of Manly
One of the greatest privileges us locals have is the cheap public ferries that frequently pull up outside Circular Quay docks. With a return ticket costing less than your lunch, hopping aboard a ferry is one of the greatest ways to see the many bays and inlets normally hidden from plain sight.
By far the most popular stop is the docks of Manly Wharf, where passengers will find themselves on Sydney’s northern coastline, across from the shores of the city.
Sydney (Circular Quay) – Manly Ferry
Cost: $7.80 USD return
Runs approximately every half hour until midnight
Journey time approximately 30 minutes
2. Take a walk down the world’s finest walking tracks
Arriving on the shores of Manly will bring you to the starting point of one of the world’s finest network of walking trails.
The Manly to Spit Bridge walk is universally known as Sydney’s best walking trail and is 10km walk that takes about three hours to explore. The winding trek will take you through lush bushland around the coast, past pristine beaches and scenic lookouts with uninhibited views of Sydney Harbour, perfect for whale-watching in the colder months.
Manly to Spit Walk
Length: 10 km
Walking time: approximately 3-4 hours for one way at a steady pace
A more recent addition is the Manly to North Head circuit, which takes hikers down to quieter beaches and reserves. One of the top spots is Shelly Beach, a secluded beach known as one of just two west-facing ocean beaches along Australia’s east coast. Being uniquely protected from ocean swells, Shelly Beach is one of our calmest beaches and a popular spot for beginners snorkeling.
At the very end of this trail is North Head, a spectacular coastline with simply the most awe-inspiring views of nature Sydney has to offer. The view is absolutely magnificent.
Manly to North Head Walk
Length: 9.5 km
Walking time: approx 4 hours to complete circuit
3. Meet the local artists at Newtown
Newtown is the beating heart of Sydney’s bohemian arts scene – for the uninitiated, it’s the gateway to our vibrant crowd of young, unorthodox artists.
Just a short train ride away from Sydney’s city area, Newtown’s finest offerings stretch across King Street and Enmore Road, a busy strip filled with alternative stores and restaurants.
If you’re in the area don’t miss out on lining up for gelato at Cow and the Moon, a quirky dessert spot recently crowned as the world’s best gelato makers.
Thai food is also a must-try at the famous Newtown restaurant Thai Pothong and has been repeatedly named Sydney’s best Thai restaurant, a great feat in a city renowned for its diverse Asian cuisine.
Cow and the Moon
Open seven days of the week till late
Location: 181 Enmore Road, approx 8 minute walk from Newtown Station
Thai Pothong
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner
Location: 294 King Street, approx 50m from Newtown Station
The sun sets only to welcome the buzz of cool night-time hangouts, bubbling with the unapologetic enthusiasm of our local live acts. For a slice of comedy, the Enmore Theatre hosts live comedy shows every Tuesday night. For therapeutic tunes to cure your ear ache from chart-hitting pop songs, head to The Vanguard – all throughout the week, this delightful restaurant serves their food with intimate musical performances.
Enmore Comedy Club
Tickets: $10 pre-purchase, $15 at the door
Location: 130 Enmore Road
4. Drop by the occasional food festival
There’s no question that modern Sydney’s diverse cultures have birthed a rich and vibrant food scene rivalling the world’s most progressive stages.
For visitors looking to sample a palate of Sydney’s best flavours, look out for the food events that pop up all year round.
Keep your eyes peeled for our annual Good Food Month, where we fulfill our cravings for Asian cuisine at the Night Noodle Markets. Launched just a few years ago, this has quickly grown into one of the city’s most beloved food festivals, where the best picks from Sydney’s renowned food joints assemble into a delicious Asian hawker market.
For wine connoisseurs looking for a more mature taste, Sydney has a growing food and wine scene and a string of yearly events to match. The Good Food and Wine Show is one of Australia’s largest food showcases, where winemakers all across the state bring their best casks of wine to Sydney for a fabulous weekend of taste-testing.
Sydney’s Good Food Month
Dates: TBC
Keep your eyes peeled at: http://sydney.goodfoodmonth.com/
Good Food and Wine Show 2016
Dates: 5-7 August 2016
Tickets: $24.00 before Friday 5 August
Location: Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Website: http://goodfoodshow.com.au/sydney/whats-on/overview/
5. Venture into Sydney’s small bar scene
Sydney’s nightlife has transformed dramatically in recent years following the introduction of strict lockout laws (i.e. last call regulations for North American readers). Small, hidden bars channelling New York’s speakeasy culture from its 1920s prohibition era are now taking over the quieter corners of the city.
A personal favourite haunt is the popular Baxter Inn, recently voted one of the world’s best bars with an eyebrow-raising selection of whiskeys. Hidden behind a dank laneway, this underground bar now has a reputation for long lines, drawing regular crowds of sophisticated locals from their hiding places.
The Baxter Inn
Open: Monday to Saturday
Location: Basement, 152-156 Clarence Street
Website: http://thebaxterinn.com/
For a more low-key night out, Grandma’s Bar is conspicuously hidden in a basement sitting below a staircase entrance guarded by a stuffed deer wearing grandma’s knits. The mount raises questions of its own, but venture further and you’ll be greeted with an inner-city tropical hideout that brings the fun back into rum.
Grandma’s Bar
Open: Monday to Saturday
Location: Basement, 275 Clarence Street
Website: http://www.grandmasbarsydney.com.au
So where are you planning to explore next time you’re in Sydney? Whether it’s the rocky shores of an isolated beach or a dingy bar sprawled below the well-trodden roads of our city, we have an endless list of adventures just waiting here for the intrepid traveller to discover…
