Overview
An Australia vacation wouldn’t be complete without visiting the stunning city of Sydney.
Sydney is located on the east coast of the country in the state of New South Wales. It is Australia’s biggest and most cosmopolitan city and an essential stop on any traveller’s Australia vacation. Surrounding the city is a wonderland of national parks, forests, mountains, river valleys and historic riverside towns. The first settlers arrived in 1788 came here to create a penal colony, finding the world’s largest natural harbour, and 70 beaches along the coast within a reasonable distance of the city. In more recent times, Sydney also hosted the 2000 Olympic Games.
Must-See Attractions in Sydney
Sydney HarbourThe breathtaking Sydney Harbour is the heart of the city, surrounded by a mix of downtown attractions and charming suburbs. One of the best ways to explore the harbour is by hopping on a ferry from Circular Quay, where you can enjoy stunning views and access various destinations.
Iconic Landmarks
- Sydney Harbour Bridge: Known affectionately as "The Coat Hanger," this steel arch bridge is a defining feature of Sydney’s skyline. Don’t miss the exhilarating Bridge Climb for panoramic views of the city.
- Sydney Opera House: This architectural marvel, opened in 1973, is not just a feast for the eyes but also a cultural hub for music, opera, and the arts.
The Sydney Tower is the tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere, soaring above the Harbour Bridge. Its observation deck offers breathtaking views of the cityscape and beyond.
Step back in time in The Rocks District, Sydney’s oldest precinct, filled with sandstone buildings, cobblestone streets, and rich history. This vibrant area offers some of the finest dining and entertainment options in the city.
Just a short stroll from the city center, Darling Harbour is a hub for shopping, dining, and attractions like the Sydney Aquarium and National Maritime Museum. Consider a sunset cruise for a magical end to your day.
Explore Sydney's Neighborhoods
Sydney's diverse neighborhoods each offer unique experiences:
- Darlinghurst: A lively district filled with nightlife, restaurants, and boutique shops.
- Paddington: Known for its charming Victorian terrace houses and trendy designer stores.
Just across the Harbour Bridge, you’ll find:
- Taronga Zoo: Home to over 2,600 animals, including exotic species like Sumatran tigers and Kodiak bears.
- Luna Park: Sydney's beloved amusement park, reminiscent of Australia’s Coney Island, offers fun for all ages.
Culture lovers will appreciate Sydney’s impressive array of museums and galleries:
- Australian Museum: The oldest in Australia, showcasing natural history and cultural artifacts.
- Museum of Sydney: Offers insights into the city's history from Aboriginal times to the present.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales: Features an extensive collection of both Australian and international art.
Just 7 km from the city center, Bondi Beach is Australia’s most famous beach, perfect for swimming, surfing, and soaking up the sun at nearby cafes and bars.
Reach Manly Beach by ferry for a stunning coastal experience. Enjoy swimming, scenic walks, and a variety of shopping and dining options.
A short drive from Sydney, Royal National Park boasts coastal cliffs, rainforests, and secluded beaches, ideal for swimming and bushwalking. Trails lead to Bungoona Lookout for breathtaking views and Uloola Falls for a picturesque hike.
A must-visit day trip, the Blue Mountains are about two hours from Sydney and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore awe-inspiring cliffs, eucalyptus forests, and charming villages, including the iconic Three Sisters rock formation. With 140 km of walking trails and the steepest cable railway, there’s plenty to discover.
Just 120 km north of Sydney, Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine region and a must inclusion on any trip to Australia. Sample fine wines paired with local cuisine, or take a relaxing cruise on the Hunter River.
Plan Your Sydney Adventure Today
Incorporating at least one of our Sydney tours into your travel to Australia is a must. With its stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture, Sydney is one of the most desirable cities in the world to explore. Book your Australia vacation today and start your adventure in this incredible city!
Australia Travel Guides
Top 10 Things to do in Sydney, Australia
Four Perfect Ways to Spend a Day in Sydney
15 Ways to Explore Sydney, Australia
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37 Trips Found
Classic Australia: Sydney, Uluru, Reef & Melbourne
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Victoria, and MelbourneDiscover Australia on an independent journey through harbour, reef, desert and city, where vibrant culture meets extraordinary natural beauty.
12 days
From US$4,747/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essence of Australia: Sydney, Rock and Reef
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachDiscover the wonders of Australia on this journey! Experience Sydney’s famed landmarks, explore the majesty of Uluru, and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
11 days
From US$3,648/p.p.
Request a Quote
Aussie Fly & Stay: Melbourne, Great Barrier Reef & Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Victoria, and MelbourneDiscover Australia on an air inclusive trip, mixing Independent and Small group touring, with coral reefs, ancient rainforest, wild coastlines, wildlife and harbour views.
12 days
From US$4,299/p.p.
Request a Quote
Australia: Wildlife, Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, South Australia, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachDiscover the diverse beauty of Australia on this adventure! Experience Sydney's iconic sights, explore wildlife on Kangaroo Island, and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
10 days
From US$3,745/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pacific Coast Road Trip: Sydney to Cairns
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays, Brisbane, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachSet off along Australia's captivating east coast, where vineyards meet golden sands. From Hunter Valley's wines to Cairns’ tropical allure, this classic road trip beckons.
20 days
From US$4,785/p.p.
Request a Quote
Aussie Rail Spectacular
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, South Australia, Adelaide, Northern Territory, Darwin, Victoria, and MelbourneRide Australia’s legendary rails on an Independent and Small group journey, watching the outback unfold before wildlife encounters and coastal calm.
15 days
From US$9,323/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Downunder: New Zealand & Australia
Victoria, Melbourne, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch, Rotorua, and AucklandVenture through New Zealand and Australia, where ancient landscapes meet cities. From Auckland's museums to the Great Barrier Reef's wonders, each stop tells a story.
22 days
From US$8,457/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Australia: A Luxury Journey
Victoria, Melbourne, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachA luxury, private-guided Australia journey pairs harbour sparkle, ancient rainforest, red desert silence, and reef-blue horizons in one unforgettable escape.
15 days
From US$19,325/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
Classic Australia: Sydney, Uluru, Reef & Melbourne
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Victoria, and MelbourneDiscover Australia on an independent journey through harbour, reef, desert and city, where vibrant culture meets extraordinary natural beauty.
12 days
From US$4,747/p.p.
Request a Quote
Essence of Australia: Sydney, Rock and Reef
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachDiscover the wonders of Australia on this journey! Experience Sydney’s famed landmarks, explore the majesty of Uluru, and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
11 days
From US$3,648/p.p.
Request a Quote
Aussie Fly & Stay: Melbourne, Great Barrier Reef & Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Victoria, and MelbourneDiscover Australia on an air inclusive trip, mixing Independent and Small group touring, with coral reefs, ancient rainforest, wild coastlines, wildlife and harbour views.
12 days
From US$4,299/p.p.
Request a Quote
Australia: Wildlife, Great Barrier Reef & Rainforest
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, South Australia, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachDiscover the diverse beauty of Australia on this adventure! Experience Sydney's iconic sights, explore wildlife on Kangaroo Island, and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
10 days
From US$3,745/p.p.
Request a Quote
Pacific Coast Road Trip: Sydney to Cairns
Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays, Brisbane, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachSet off along Australia's captivating east coast, where vineyards meet golden sands. From Hunter Valley's wines to Cairns’ tropical allure, this classic road trip beckons.
20 days
From US$4,785/p.p.
Request a Quote
Aussie Rail Spectacular
Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, South Australia, Adelaide, Northern Territory, Darwin, Victoria, and MelbourneRide Australia’s legendary rails on an Independent and Small group journey, watching the outback unfold before wildlife encounters and coastal calm.
15 days
From US$9,323/p.p.
Request a Quote
Classic Downunder: New Zealand & Australia
Victoria, Melbourne, Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch, Rotorua, and AucklandVenture through New Zealand and Australia, where ancient landscapes meet cities. From Auckland's museums to the Great Barrier Reef's wonders, each stop tells a story.
22 days
From US$8,457/p.p.
Request a Quote
Ultimate Australia: A Luxury Journey
Victoria, Melbourne, Queensland, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Northern Territory, Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney Opera House, and Bondi BeachA luxury, private-guided Australia journey pairs harbour sparkle, ancient rainforest, red desert silence, and reef-blue horizons in one unforgettable escape.
15 days
From US$19,325/p.p.
Request a Quote
Don't see the
perfect trip idea?
Request a custom quote.
Turn your travel dreams into reality with Goway. Our customized vacations take travellers to all corners of the world.
What do the experts say?
Tasmania is under the radar for many travelers, but it’s great for hikes, natural landscapes and now modern art!
Sydney and Melbourne are a great combination for first-time visitors to Australia, with Brisbane, Adelaide and/or the Outback added in, depending on how much time you have. Returnees should take in Perth, Darwin and the Kakadu National Park area and/or Tasmania if they can, plus spend some time in the cities they loved the first time around
It might sound cliche, but you really can visit year-round. Australia is a big country, so there is always somewhere with amazing weather!
Goway’s trips to Australia are not stock itineraries. We can put together trips of a few weeks or a few months, allowing you to see as much of the land Downunder as you can. And we offer a mix of travel options, from self-drives to train journeys to long stays.
Goway has partnerships with many unique inns and hotels in Australia. Among the most memorable are Qualia on Hamilton Island, Longitude 131 at Uluru and Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island.
A land of adventure, diversity & natural wonders.
Every corner of Australia's largest city promises new discoveries and authentic Aussie character, from the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House to the rugged cliffs of the Blue Mountains, historic pubs in the Rocks, and iconic golden beaches including Bondi, Coogee, and Manly Beach. Sydney's delicious and diverse culinary scene offers everything from fresh seafood markets to five-star harbourfront dining, while unique neighbourhoods like Newtown offer electric street art and cultural experiences at every turn.
The Sydney Opera house with the harbour bridge ...
Sunset view of Darling Harbour, New South Wales
The world famous Bondi Beach - a most certain i...
A view across the harbour at sunset is always a...
A beautiful Sydney sunrise
Walking through Hyde Park
Manly Cove
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The 7‑night Idyllic Aegean Cruise was a major highlight. It was beautifully arranged and gave us an unforgettable way to explore the islands. Our excursions were equally impressive:
Skip‑the‑Line Acropolis & Acropolis Museum timed entry, which made sightseeing smooth and efficient
Classical Greece: Olympia, Delphi & Meteora, a breathtaking and well‑paced journey through some of Greece’s most iconic historical sites
Avery was consistently responsive, knowledgeable, and proactive throughout the planning process. Every confirmation, transfer, and timing detail was handled flawlessly, allowing us to simply enjoy the trip without worrying about logistics.
I highly recommend GoWay Travel — and especially Avery — for anyone planning a trip to Greece. This was one of the best travel experiences I’ve had, thanks to their outstanding service and organization.Lorraine
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