Sydney

Love is in the air in Sydney. With its stunning harbour, great weather, world-class dining and beautiful beaches, Sydney offers endless opportunities for a romantic getaway. Find fairy-tale romance with your loved one on this ultimate Sydney Playcay for lovers.

Friday

3:00PM: CHECK-IN TO THE ADMIRAL SUITE AT PIER ONE SYDNEY

Located on Sydney Harbour with stunning views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Pier One Sydney Harbour offers the perfect escape for couples in their luxurious Admiral Suite. Watch the sailboats glide by from your private balcony.

3:30PM: SIP A SUNSET COCKTAIL IN A LUXE IGLOO SUITE

Pier One Sydney’s Luxe Igloo Suites are perched high above the harbour for a private and romantic setting to enjoy a beverage and some nibbles while the sun sets.

7:30PM: ENJOY DINNER AT LUMI DINING IN PYRMONT

Settle in for a date night under the whimsical pendant lights at LuMi Dining. The restaurant serves modern Italian cuisine with a Japanese twist and their seven-course tasting menu showcases local and seasonal ingredients.

9:00PM: CAP OFF THE EVENING AT MISTER PERCY

Sample signature cocktails at Mister Percy, Pyrmont’s cosy wine and cocktail bar, and toast to a love-filled day in Sydney.

Saturday

8:00AM: HAVE YOUR BREAKFAST IN BED

Order room service and enjoy breakfast from the comfort of your king bed.

10.00AM: REJUVENATE WITH A COUPLES TREATMENT AT THE DARLING SPA

Nature is right on the doorstep of downtown Sydney. The glittering Harbour City is bordered by magnificent national parks, sandstone cliffs and sandy beaches. The edges of this bustling metropolis are softened by vast vistas of ocean and untouched wilderness at every turn, but even within the city you’ll find lush greenery and stunning landscapes where forest meets city. Get outdoors in Sydney on this ultimate Sydney Playcay itinerary.

Friday

2:00PM: CHECK-IN TO OVOLO WOOLLOOMOOLOO

3:00PM: CYCLE AROUND SYDNEY WITH BLUEBANANAS

Take a private cycling tour with BlueBananas and pedal past iconic Sydney landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, as well as through the city’s spectacular parks.

6:30PM: GET A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF SYDNEY FROM BAR 83 AT SYDNEY TOWER

Enjoy stunning views of the city at sundown from the newly revamped Bar 83 at Sydney Tower, the highest bar in Sydney. As night falls, you’ll see the lights sparkle below you through floor to ceiling windows that give a 260-degree panorama of the city.

Saturday

7:00AM: SPLASH INTO SATURDAY WITH AN EARLY MORNING SWIM

Start the day swimming laps at the outdoor harbourside Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool in The Domain. Afterwards, refuel with breakfast at poolside cafe.

9:00AM: CRUISE AROUND SYDNEY HARBOUR IN A SPEEDBOAT

Jump behind the wheel of a snazzy little red speedboat for a self-drive tour of Sydney Harbour with Explore Sydney Harbour. Feel the wind in your hair as you zip around Australia’s most famous waterway.

1:00PM: WALK THE HERMITAGE FORESHORE

You’ll feel a million miles away from the Big Smoke when walking the Hermitage Foreshore Track. Join a walking tour with Australian Luxury Escapes and visit historical coastal defence sites, a lighthouse and Vaucluse House, a great spot to stop for lunch.

4:00PM: STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD AROUND WATSONS BAY

Rent SUPs or take a lesson with Watssup and enjoy an afternoon paddle. Soak in the amazing views of the city while gliding along the calm protected waters of Watsons Bay.

6:00PM: ENJOY SUNSET DRINKS AND DINNER AT WATSONS BAY HOTEL

Finish the day with a glass of NSW semillon and dinner on the waterfront patio at Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel. Watch the sun set behind the Sydney skyline while you dine on fresh oysters, prawns and mussels. Afterwards, catch a ferry back to Circular Quay.

Sunday

5:45AM: RISE AND SHINE WITH A KAYAK TOUR ON THE HARBOUR

Enjoy an early morning kayak on the harbour as the sun rises with Sydney by Kayak, departing from North Sydney. Notice the incredible juxtaposition of steel and nature as you paddle underneath the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

8:30AM: GRAB COFFEE AT INDUSTRY BEANS

On the way back to your hotel, stop at Industry Beans for coffee and a bit of breakfast, then enjoy some time to refresh at your hotel.

11:00AM: TRY THE TASTING MENU AT BOTANIC HOUSE IN THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN

Enjoy an early lunch in the heart of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden at Botanic House. Chef Luke Nguyen’s tasting menu marries Southeast Asian flavours with native Australian ingredients.

1:30PM: LEARN ABOUT ABORIGINAL CULTURE WITH DREAMTIME SOUTHERN X

Dreamtime Southern X’s Aunty Margret provides an interesting and informative Aboriginal Dreaming Tour around The Rocks, highlighting the history of cultural significance of the area.

4:00PM: END YOUR WEEKEND OF ADVENTURE AT BARANGAROO HOUSE OVERLOOKING DARLING HARBOUR

Barangaroo House lives in a unique three-level hive covered in greenery. Sip a rooftop drink at Smoke Bar and watch the ferries come and go from Darling Harbour.

Credit: sydney.com

Gather your crew and show the kids the best parts of Sydney. Take your pick from surfing lessons to zoo expeditions and ocean pool dips. Here’s your guide to a family-friendly long weekend in the harbour city.

Day One Learn from the locals.

MORNING

Start your Sydney adventure by delving into the indigenous culture of the city. This engaging tour blends nature and traditional learnings in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. You will learn from an experienced Aboriginal guide who will share stories about the traditional owners of the land, the tools they used and the bush food they gathered and ate. Your kids will love sampling some of the native bush foods, too, selected by your guide.

AFTERNOON

Take a short stroll past the sails of the Sydney Opera House then along the harbour’s edge to Circular Quay and take the kids on a ferry ride across the water to Taronga Zoo. Spend the afternoon spying all walks of wildlife from towering giraffes with a city skyline backdrop to cheeky meerkats. Treat the kids to a bite to eat at Taronga Food Market, watch the popular Seal for the Wild Show, then settle in for a fascinating keeper talk. Don’t forget to download your Taronga Zoo app for an interactive map in your pocket and fun missions for the kids. Before you go, why not tackle the Wild Ropes Adventure to see Sydney from new heights and wave to koalas and kangaroos along the way as you navigate suspension bridges, climbing walls and flying foxes.

EVENING

After you’ve finished your wild and wonderful zoo adventure, catch a ferry across the harbour back to Circular Quay, then around to Barangaroo for an early dinner at Belle’s Hot Chicken – the delicious crunchy fried chicken comes in different levels of spice to suit everyone. Afterwards, grab a sweet gelato or thickshake from Rivareno and wander the streets and grassy spaces of Barangaroo.

Day Two - Discover an endless playground.

MORNING

The first half of day two is all about aquatic adventures. Head to Sydney’s most iconic beach, Bondi, and hit the foamy peaks with a Lets Go Surfing lesson: you can even book a private family session. If everyone still has energy to burn, start the coastal trail from Bondi and follow the path that hugs the ocean’s edge around to Bronte Beach. Cool off in the rockpool and fuel up at local favourite the Bogey Hole Café.

AFTERNOON

From Sydney’s east, start moving towards the city to Darling Harbour for an afternoon discovering the fascinating nautical history at Australian National Maritime Museum. Kids can climb aboard tall ships, a cold war submarine and many other vessels, go and peek below the surface of the harbour or get involved in plentiful kids’ activities. 

EVENING

Afterwards, spend a bit of time at Darling Quarter Playground, one of the best and largest playgrounds in Australia, with a 21m flying fox, climbing ropes and water games. For dinner, visit nearby Chinatown and slurp delicious noodles at the bustling and vibrant Friday night markets or dine on tasty dumplings along Dixon Street.

Day Three - Thrills and spills.  

MORNING

Start day three on top of the city, with a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Pylon Lookout. You’ll see sweeping views of the entire CBD, north shore and Circular Quay. If you want to ascend the bridge right to the top, prebook a BridgeClimb tour. The ‘Summit Express’ is a slightly shorter climb – and remember kids need to be eight years or older and at least 1.2m tall. Get an iconic photograph of the family atop one of the world’s most famous bridges.

Head down to the water and elevate the excitement with a thrilling boat ride across Sydney Harbour with Thunder Jet Boat. This is sightseeing with a twist, literally – as you race around the water past the Sydney Opera House, the iconic architecture that fringes the shore and dodge a few ferries while your experienced driver performs thrilling slides, twists and fishtails.

AFTERNOON

Back on land, calm your adrenaline rush with an ice cream, then head to the light rail station to jump aboard the tram to Hyde Park. Walk through this lush inner-city park and you’ll come to the Australian Museum, Australia’s oldest. Here, the whole family will marvel at the interactive dinosaur exhibition, with more than 400 animal exhibits at Wild Planet and a fascinating history and climate change exhibit Surviving Australia.

Credit: Sydney.com

Sydney is a vibrant city with a rich multicultural heritage that contributes to its diverse culture and exciting arts scene. In the inner city precincts, the epicentre of Sydney’s arts and culture, you’ll find wonderful galleries, public artworks and fantastic annual events, showcasing that Sydney is a world class destination for the arts. Here is your ultimate creative weekend in Sydney.

Friday

2:00PM: CHECK-IN TO THE OLD CLARE HOTEL IN CHIPPENDAL

Arrive at The Old Clare Hotel and check in to the Showroom Suite, complete with a vintage bar, salvaged and restored from the former brewery building onsite. The beautifully appointed, design-forward room includes vintage furniture and lamps, a super king-sized bed and a modern oversized bathroom.

3:00PM: VISIT THE WHITE RABBIT GALLERY

Stop in at White Rabbit Gallery, which presents four floors of vibrant, original, thought-provoking art. The work of at least 35 artists is on show at any one time including painting, photography, sculpture, video art, drawing and installations. The gallery also houses one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art.

5:00PM: DINE AT CHIN CHIN IN SURRY HILLS

Chin Chin melds Australian and Southeast Asian flavours in a modern converted warehouse space in Surry Hills. Try their tasting menu ‘Feed Me’ for a selection of dishes to share.

7:30PM: CATCH A SHOW AT THE BELVOIR

Belvoir St Theatre is one of Australia’s most respected theatres, with Cate Blanchett and other stars gracing its stages. For over 30 years, this much-loved venue has engaged prominent and promising playwrights, actors and directors for an evocative annual artistic program.

Saturday

9:00AM: BREAKFAST AT CUCKOO CALLAY NEWTOWN

Soak up the culture of the Inner West, starting with breakfast in Newtown. Located at the heritage site of Newtown Station, Cuckoo Callay is a quirky cafe serving colourful brunch and great coffee.

1:00PM: GRAB A LUNCH AT THE STINKING BISHOPS

Curate your own cheese board at The Stinking Bishops using a selection of 40+ hand selected artisanal cheeses. You can also choose from cured meats and light grazing meals, all paired with an extensive wine list.

3:00PM: SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP IN NEWTOWN

Explore the unique boutiques, bookstores and vintage shops in Newtown, like SWOP, U Turn, Pentimento Papeterie, P&V Wine & Liquor, Rising Sun Workshop, Better Read Than Dead, The Social Outfit, Made590, Milk & Thistle and Status Anxiety.

6:00PM: FIND YOUR INNER DRAG QUEEN AT PRISCILLAS IN ERSKINEVILLE

Priscillas at The Imperial is a jewel of the Inner West. Join the fun at ‘Rood Food’ Drag and Dine and be treated to a delicious vegetable-forward dinner and drag show. You might even be called on stage for an impromptu performance.

Sunday

9:00AM: HEAD TO HENRY LEE'S IN REDFERN FOR BREAKFAST

A truly creative space, Henry Lee's is located in the 16 Eveleigh Creative Precinct. Admire original artworks including “Lucky Penny” designed by Vince Frost of Frost Collective.

11:00AM: VISIT THE ART GALLERY OF NSW

Drop in to the Art Gallery of NSW to see the latest exhibitions including Under the Stars: Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists highlight our shared understandings of the night sky; and Streeton: A significant retrospective of Australian impressionist artist Arthur Streeton (coming 7 November).

1:00PM: GRAB LUNCH AT GRAZE MCA

Walk through The Domain and make your way to the MCA to enjoy lunch on the patio at Graze MCA. Overlooking Circular Quay and the Sydney Opera House, enjoy dishes like twice cooked duck leg and pan-seared king prawns with linguine.

2:30PM: CHECK OUT EXHIBITS AT THE MCA

Discover the MCA’s exhibitions including Today Tomorrow Yesterday: Considering the impact of the past on the art of today; and Lindy Lee’s Moon in a Dew Drop: A major survey exhibition by Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee (coming 2 October).

5:30PM: END YOUR ARTS AND CULTURE PLAYCAY WITH DRINKS AND DINNER AT THE ARTHOUSE HOTEL

The ArtHouse Hotel lives in a refurbished 1836 arts school, and is the perfect spot to send off the fabulous weekend that was. Enjoy drinks and dinner in the Graffiti Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge and cheers to an arts and culture-filled weekend in Sydney.

Credit: Sydney.com