The land down under!
This unique continent was officially crossed off the bucket list this past September on my way to Indonesia. It wasn’t the longest trip to Aussie but we made the most of our quick 5 days in Sydney. We knew we had to hit the major tourist attractions such as the infamous Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, and Bondi Beach. However, to escape an overly touristy experience we decided on a cute AirBnB in the quaint neighborhood of Surry Hills. Surry Hills had a great San Francisco urban feel mixed with the chill vibe of San Diego. The restaurants and wine bars were foodie and filled with mostly locals. Our mornings started with cappuccinos & healthy breakfasts right in our neighborhood before we set off to explore Sydney.
We arrived in Sydney on their first day of Spring and so the temps were around 65 degrees and didn’t get much warmer than the low 70s our entire time there. We started our days in Surry Hills and explored much of the Quay area, Darling Harbour while super cute, I felt didn’t really reflect much of the Sydney charm we saw in other parts of the city. Some of the more memorable dining & cocktail venues were in The Rocks area of Sydney that are definitely worth the trek to!
Do check out: O Bar a really awesome revolving bar that gives you a 360 view of the entire city as you enjoy a nice glass of wine or cocktails. It is located on the 47th floor and the views are magnificent!
Dine at: Sake Restaurant, The Rocks
Top 3 sushi & sashimi I’ve ever had! I enjoyed the “Sexpress Roll” pictured above, paired with a variety of Sake that the chef brought out to us. The staff were super attentive and the vibe in this restaurant was urban chic with a menu that featured inventive sushi & sashimi.
Away from the city’s hustle & bustle is a quick ferry ride to Manly Beach. Since we arrived in the Spring we were told that this beach typically is much busier in the summer months. However, I still loved the pine tree lined pristine beaches and the plaza which was lined with boutiques and beachy breezy restaurants.
Do check out: The Pantry, Manly Beach
It is perfect for breakfast lunch or dinner located right on the beach. The Pantry is pretty upscale with rustic chic decor and windows that open up to the Pacific Ocean. The wine list boasts everything from New Zealand & Australian wines to European favorites such as a floral but crisp Cote De Provence Rose! Guess which wine did I order? 🙂
Bondi Beach definitely lived up to its reputation! We started the day at the Bondi Icebergs Club and some bubbles!
Since it was too chilly to go swimming we walked up the boardwalk/path and soaked up the sunshine! There were a number of bars & restaurants on the beach with live music and many locals from all walks of life. We had lunch with British tourists and moved on to the next venue to make friends with local Aussies.
Our time in Sydney was short but really fun and gave us a glimpse of the local scene, food, wine and beach towns. The Aussies were a nice mix of European & American cultures and were certainly some of the friendliest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting!
The flight to Sydney was direct from LAX and total time is 16 hours. My next trip to AU will definitely be to the Gold Coast and some wine tasting.
I hope this was helpful and feel free to comment or drop me a line with any questions.
Cheers 🙂
World Adventures by Fz 