Sydney Luxury Cruise, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Sydney Luxury Cruises operates on Sydney Harbour exploring the harbour beaches, waterfront mansions and icons.
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The city is buzzing – days are long, nights are warm and vibes are high in Sydney during summer. Embrace the very best the city has to offer at the tail end of the year, welcoming new adventures and creating memories with your favourite people. Here are 10 ways to make the most of late December and early January in Sydney.
1. Play outside ’til dark
There’s magic afoot when the sun sets and city lights twinkle to life. Settle in for a night with Sydney’s shimmering skyline at harbourside rooftop bars such as Barangaroo House, Henry Deane or The Glenmore. In the city centre, enjoy urban views at The Rook, Old Mate’s Place or Aster, or visit the Ivy's Pool Club for resort-style glamour. As a sunshiny day turns into a glittery night, settle in for sweeping city views at Mosman’s The Fernery or The Butler in Potts Point.
2. Go shopping
Sydney’s creative flair spans food to fashion, and is eclectic, eccentric and always authentic. Explore artisan markets in The Rocks, Glebe, Paddington and Kirribilli, or if you prefer perusing markets of the fresh produce kind, Carriageworks, Marrickville, Camden and Sutherland’s options are your best bet.
Beyond markets, head to Glenmore Road in Paddington (and the shops east and west of it on Oxford Street) for a plethora of Australian designer boutiques; King Street in Newtown for second-hand fashion; and Birkenhead Point for Sydney’s largest brand outlet.
Aster Bar Credit: InterContinental Sydney
Aster Bar, InterContinental Sydney
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Aster Bar Credit: InterContinental Sydney
Aster Bar, InterContinental Sydney
King Street, Newtown Credit: Destination NSW
Young people walking down King Street in Newtown
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King Street, Newtown Credit: Destination NSW
Young people walking down King Street in Newtown
3. Upgrade your family barbecue
Polish up your grilling skills at one of Sydney’s cooking schools or leave the sizzling to Darling Harbour’s masters at Waterfront Grill and Hurricanes. If you are seeking something a little more fancy, try Rockpool Bar & Grill in the heart of the CBD, where premium cuts are enhanced by fire and charcoal. Alternatively, gather around one of the city’s many free electric barbecues, such as those at Bicentennial Park at Sydney Olympic Park, and let the kids choose their own adventure as they play in the surroundings.
4. Dance ’til the sun comes up
Whatever gets you grooving, Sydney’s summer nights are made for moving. Dance to a genre-bending mix of music with Sydney Festival’s line-up or throw shapes all New Year’s Day in the Domain at Field Day. Sydney’s iconic nightclubs shouldn’t be forgotten – Sydney’s best dancefloors crank up the electro, house, techno and EDM tunes to move you all night long. The Imperial, The Burdekin, Home and Oxford Art Factory are well worth a boogie.
Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a picnic at Bicentennial Park in Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush
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Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a picnic at Bicentennial Park in Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush
The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Club event at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
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The Imperial Erskineville Credit: Destination NSW
Club event at The Imperial Erskineville in Sydney's inner west.
5. Learn about Sydney from a First Nations perspective
Summer’s the season for new discoveries, and throughout Sydney, 65,000-year-old cultural gems are hidden in plain sight. Marvel at ancient Aboriginal rock engravings at Grotto Point; learn from First Nations storytellers in The Rocks, Barangaroo Reserve, and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney; embrace a new outlook on the Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience; or refresh your perspective of January 26 at Yabun Festival, a one-day festival celebrating Aboriginal culture in the Inner West.
6. Make new friends
Nothing brings people together like seeing their team win, and Sydney’s sporting events will have you cheering all summer long. Join likeminded fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Big Bash League or head to Sydney Olympic Park to catch the Sydney Kings in action. Prefer to stay indoors? Trade the stadium for a legendary sports bars such as the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Courthouse Hotel or The Henson.
Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Reserve Credit: Destination NSW
Woman learning about Aboriginal culture on a tour with Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Reserve.
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Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Reserve Credit: Destination NSW
Woman learning about Aboriginal culture on a tour with Aboriginal Cultural Tours, Barangaroo Reserve.
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking into the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch a game of cricket
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Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking into the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch a game of cricket
7. Picnic in style
Picnics in Sydney are almost always accompanied by an incredible backdrop. Snack under the stars with an outdoor flick at the Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park, park up at Mrs Macquarie's Point for harbourside snacks and Sydney Opera House views, or roll out your rug in one of Sydney’s many gardens and parks.
8. Light up the darkness
By day, Sydney’s summery skies shine every shade of blue; by night, fireworks illuminate them in technicolour. Catch Sydney’s world-famous fireworks on New Year’s Eve and feel the excitement of new beginnings as rainbows explode all over the city. Between celebrations, take in nature’s own light show with stargazing experiences in Campbelltown and Werrington, or catch the moon rise over Long Reef, Cape Solander or Malabar.
Moonlight Cinema, Centennial Parklands, Sydney Credit: Centennial Parklands
Centennial Park - outdoor cinema at its best. Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Sydney.
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Moonlight Cinema, Centennial Parklands, Sydney Credit: Centennial Parklands
Centennial Park - outdoor cinema at its best. Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Sydney.
Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Art installation at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
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Lawn With A View, New Years Eve, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Art installation at the Lawn With A View event on New Years Eve in the Royal Botanic Gardens
9. Toast the year ahead
Whether you’re ringing in the New Year or catching up with friends, Sydney’s bars are always a highlight. Wander between waterholes in the YCK Laneways, or head to Marrickville where you’ll find a dense collection of craft breweries and distilleries. Hours roll by in the blink of an eye as you nosh and banter in late-night eateries across Chinatown and Haymarket, or reconnect with mates in the cosy bars of Chippendale, Redfern and Surry Hills.
10. … then break your New Year’s resolutions
Good intentions are one thing, but Sydney’s food scene is another thing entirely – the city is teeming with enough fine dining options to make the incoming year your tastiest yet. Treat yourself to a world-class experience at some of the city’s most revered restaurants such as Quay, Sixpenny, Pilu at Freshwater, Fred’s, and Saint Peter. Prefer to keep things snacky? Head to Chinatown for the Emperors Garden’s legendary cream puffs, Black Star Pastry for an Instagram-famous cake or indulge your sweet tooth at Donut Papi in Marrickville.
Be sure to check business websites and/or social media for up-to-date opening hours and information ahead of your visit.
Black Star Pastry, Rosebery Credit: Destination NSW
Street view of Black Star Pastry, Rosebery.
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Black Star Pastry, Rosebery Credit: Destination NSW
Street view of Black Star Pastry, Rosebery.
More Inspirational Stories
The Fall Guy Credit: Universal & UPI Media
The Fall Guy in Sydney with a spectacular Glebe Island Silo Stunt
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Action-comedy film The Fall Guy explodes onto Australian screens on 24 April, and along with Hollywood superstars Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, Sydney also plays a starring role. But the city isn’t just a backdrop to many of the action-packed scenes in the film, it also offers real-life action experiences to get your heart pumping. Here’s our guide to high-octane experiences in Sydney.
On-the-water adrenaline
Just like Ryan Gosling blasting around Sydney Harbour in a high-speed boat chase, you too can feel the wind in your hair, the sea spray on your face and your heart in your mouth on an Oz Jet Boating experience. These bright red, shark-faced jetboats fish-tail, spin and slide under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, past Dawes Point Park (where we meet Jean Claude the kelpie in the film) and the iconic Sydney Opera House, leaving you breathless and somewhat damp. Turn it down a notch with a two-, three- or five-day course from EastSail, with classes on the calm shores of Rushcutters Bay, or go five-star by hiring your very own superyacht from the fleet at Sydney Harbour Luxe Charters – Ghost II was featured in the film.
Get locked in an escape room
A bolted door, a countdown clock and a series of fiendish puzzles – outsmart the bad guys and challenge your friends in one of Sydney’s best escape rooms. Award-winning The Cipher Room, with locations in Newtown and St Peters, offers immersive, expertly designed rooms. Choose from a film noir-style hotel, a mysterious abandoned toy shop or a dystopian French bunker. Entermission Sydney has virtual-reality rooms, with themes like Alice in Wonderland, a pirate ship or space station. While not strictly an escape room, the one-of-a-kind Hijinx Hotel is a fun escape-like challenge set inside a quirky 15-room hotel.
Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking along Sydney Harbour in the morning.
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Hickson Road Reserve, Dawes Point Credit: Destination NSW
Friends walking along Sydney Harbour in the morning.
Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
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Oz Jet Boating, Sydney Harbour Credit: Destination NSW
Experience the incredible speed of the red shark boats as they blast across Sydney harbour at high speed with Oz Jet Boating.
Find your need for speed
It’s not an action movie without a car chase, and while you can’t speed through the CBD streets like Ryan Gosling and Jean Claude, you can still challenge your friends to race via go kart at Hyper Karting Moore Park. At the 410-metre indoor track, the electric cars offer plenty of exhilarating straights and corners, with a high-speed function to help you overtake your mates. True petrol heads should make a pitstop at Luddenham Raceway in southwest Sydney, where the go karts are fuelled and the 600m outdoor pro circuit offers 12 high-speed corners and even nighttime drives. Want to do the real thing? Trackschool has half-day passenger or driving experiences in a Porsche 911 Carrera also at the raceway.
Have an adventure up high
A high-stakes, sky-high chopper scene is an action flick essential; recreate the experience (minus the stress) on a flight with Sydney HeliTours. The 20- or 30-minute tours take in jaw-dropping views of harbour icons like the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Or live out your Hollywood star dreams onboard the luxury Sydney Seaplanes. If free-falling from the sky like Ryan Gosling does jumping from a multi-story building is the heart race you crave, get the thrills without the spills at iFly Downunder: fully accessible, all-ages indoor skydiving that will make you feel like a superhero. Or take a day trip to the Blue Mountains for a ride on Scenic World’s 270m-high glass-cased Beyond Skyway for that soaring feeling while safely enclosed in a cable car.
Luddenham Raceway, Luddenham Credit: Destination NSW
Track Day at Luddenham Raceway Motorsport Park, Luddenham.
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Luddenham Raceway, Luddenham Credit: Destination NSW
Track Day at Luddenham Raceway Motorsport Park, Luddenham.
Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ready to enjoy a Sydney Seaplanes flight from Rose Bay, Sydney.
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Sydney Seaplanes, Rose Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ready to enjoy a Sydney Seaplanes flight from Rose Bay, Sydney.
Scale walls and cliffs
Action heroes need to be agile and spider-like; flex your skills scaling rock walls at one of Sydney’s top indoor rock-climbing centres. Climb Fit in St Leonards has beginner and high-tech climbs using augmented reality, while Ledge is a smaller centre in Camperdown perfect for beginners, and BlocHaus in Marrickville focuses solely on bouldering. If you prefer to climb surrounded by waterfalls and forests, make the extra leap to the Blue Mountains, and challenge yourself on an abseil or rock-climb under the expert guidance of the Blue Mountains Adventure Company.
Spots to refuel
After all that adventuring, you’re going to need a spot to refuel and cheers to a big day. Make it a meal with a view at Aster Bar on top of the InterContinental Sydney – with uninterrupted views of the harbour. The rooftop bar featured in the film is the Ivy – which is a local favourite for big nights out. Partake in Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt’s love for spicy margaritas at Centro 86, a new underground tequila bar in the CBD, or taste award-winning cocktails at Dean and Nancy on 22. Finish up with a feast at one of the restaurants located around Jones Bay Wharf (you’ll spot this area in the film as Ryan Gosling hides on his boat from the bad guys) or snack in the late-night dining havens in Chinatown: try Japanese izakaya Nakano Darling, xiao long bao from Nanjing Dumpling or Mamak’s legendary roti.
Rest your head
Even heroes need their beauty sleep. Rest up like an A-lister at the Kimpton Margot, a recently opened CBD hotel with Art Deco touches, and featured in the movie (ask Kevin for the fruit plate). Compact yet comfortable, the Little National Hotel is located in the heart of the city near Wynyard (also a major filming locale for The Fall Guy). And for a boutique hotel suitable for everyone from film stars to stunt crew, stay in the Ace Hotel in Surry Hills, with unique in-room features like guitars, record players and locally made custom robes.
Sydney Adventure Tours, Katoomba Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Adventure Tours offers private tours to the Blue Mountains. With an experienced tour guide, take a bushwalk through nature and experience the rainforests.
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Sydney Adventure Tours, Katoomba Credit: Destination NSW
Sydney Adventure Tours offers private tours to the Blue Mountains. With an experienced tour guide, take a bushwalk through nature and experience the rainforests.
Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.
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Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.