Electric energy is charging through the Harbour City as the golden sunshine highlights all the ways you can play throughout spring and beyond – and helping the Sydney Opera House celebrate its 50th birthday is only the beginning. Here, just a few of many reasons why you need to be right here in Sydney, right now…

The People’s House is ready to party

1. With its jam-packed events calendar, Sydney is a world-class arena for the arts – the World Heritage Sydney Opera House has long been its gleaming centrepiece, bringing theatre, music and dance to the people since 1973. Now, the icon celebrates its 50th anniversary with festivities throughout October, including 250 performances, workshops, an open house, and more.
2. Step beyond its iconic sails and into its hidden history with a tour of its secret spaces, and upgrade your experience with a tour and dine package at Opera Bar or House Canteen.
3. Be energised as the Sydney Opera House’s roster of performances lights up its hallowed halls throughout spring, summer and beyond.
4. Indulge in a fine-dining feast at Bennelong or Aria Sydney, and become its neighbour with a luxury stay at the Park Hyatt or the Pullman Quay Grand.

The city’s creativity is boundless

5. Sydney is Asia Pacific’s epicentre for the creative industries and all things arts, culture and entertainment, so its impressive lineup of theatre and plays extends beyond the Sydney Opera House, with WICKED The Musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, and Beauty and the Beast filling landmark theatres with singalongs.
6. Feel part of something bigger as the world’s disruptors, tech visionaries and trailblazing creators converge for SXSW Sydney – celebrating innovation with more than 1,000 speakers, workshops, parties and shows.
7. Every month in Sydney and New South Wales, a festival invites you to come as you are and join the fun, from the fearless vibrance of Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to the effervescence of the Sydney Festival.
8. There’s always music in the air as global stars clamber for their place in Sydney’s spotlight, with Taylor Swift, Sam Smith and 50 Cent all performing soon.
9. Unwind with your tribe as live music venues serve beats and memories aplenty from The Vanguard to The Factory Theatre and the beloved Enmore.
10. From the art-filled lanes of Chippendale, Surry Hills and Newtown, to Paddington’s cutting-edge galleries and Carriageworks’ multi-arts events, Inner Sydney is a colourful cauldron of creativity. Book a tour for a trip to new inspiration.
11. Art is truly immersive at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art, where the Volume Festival (22 September – 8 October) and International Art Series turbocharge the experience.
12. Be moved by artistry in action with performances by First Nations troupe Bangarra and the Sydney Dance Company.
13. Dive into the city skyline on an architecture tour, discovering how a hand-hewn convict settlement evolved into an avant-garde wonderland of soaring steel.

Sparkling Harbour views will renew you

14. With its sapphire waters and bejewelled skyline, Sydney Harbour is a visual feast. Breathe it all in from the city’s rooftop bars, and feast in the clouds at Altitude, Infinity or Oncore.
15. Reconnect over a romantic harbour view with helicopter flightseeing, seaplane adventures and scenic spins on Luna Park Sydney’s Ferris wheel.
16. The pulse of 65,000 years of living First Nations heritage beats strong around the harbour. Feel it flow through you at the ancient Grotto Point engraving site, and on a tour with an Aboriginal elder.
17. Take a trip through history with a camping experience on Cocktatoo Island.
18. Refresh your social media with inspired snaps from surprising viewpoints. See the sun set from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and Wendy’s Secret Garden, and feel your heart light up as it rises over Hornby Lighthouse and North Head Sanctuary.
19. Wake up inspired after snoozing upon its glittery shores at Pier One, Ovolo, Crown Towers, the Hyatt Regency, Four Seasons, or the new W Sydney Hotel, opening on 12 October.

Vitamin Sea refreshes body and soul

20. Take your place in a living postcard as you roll our your towel on Bondi Beach’s golden sands, dip into the city’s most 'Grammable pool and gorge on glamorous views at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar.
21. Be invigorated by a new rush as you learn to surf at Manly and Maroubra.
22. Soak away stress in the revitalising sea at one of 35 ocean pools between Cronulla and Palm Beach.
23. Slip on your fins and snorkel for a guided adventure in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve, where 150 types of fish await beneath the waves.
24. Refresh your senses at a beachside eatery, such as The Collaroy, Sean’s Bondi or the Coogee Bay Hotel, where the Marra Bar & Grill’s crab pasta is as moreish as its fresh tiger prawns.

Cruise and feel new

25. Get on deck for a journey through Sydney’s saltwater heart, witnessing harbour vignettes that’ve inspired a million artists. Learn the ropes with EastSail, take an Aboriginal cultural cruise, set sail on a classic Sydney Tallship, or kick back on a party boat.
26. Claim your slice of harbour paradise with a picnic cruise to its secret islands.
27. Surrender to the adrenaline as your jetboat thunders past lesser known harbour highlights, like Clark and Shark Islands, and Watsons Bay.
28. See the harbour’s day begin on a magical sunrise kayak tour, and paddle yourself happy aboard your SUP in Rose Bay.

Your tastebuds will thank you

29. With its famous produce and culinary legends plating up lauded fare, Sydney is a gourmet playground. Take your place at an acclaimed harbourside table such as Quay, Margaret, or Café Sydney, and follow your tastebuds through city-centre dining hubs like Chinatown and Sydney Place.
30. The delicious discoveries continue in Inner Sydney, where precincts like Spice Alley and South Eveleigh, and eateries such as Sixpenny, Firedoor, Ester and Porteno, put innovation on every menu.
31. From Afghani street food to Little India and classic Vietnamese in Cabramatta, Western Sydney’s multicultural neighbourhoods plate up a world of flavours. Join a foodie tour and make local favourites at a cooking school.
32. Clink glasses in the speakeasies of the YCK Laneways, and sip creative cocktails in glam surrounds at Shell House, Employees Only and Ivy.
33. Thirsty for a new adventure? Hit the Inner West ale trail for some of Sydney’s best independent craft breweries.
34. Sample local hand-crafted delicacies at farmers’ and food markets in Bondi, Pyrmont, Redfern and Kings Cross.

You’re always among friends

35. From Darlinghurst to vibrant Newtown and beyond, Sydney’s welcome mat shines every colour of the rainbow. Be embraced by its welcoming queer social scene at a host of LGBTQIA+-friendly bars, clubs and experiences across the city – including tours with drag queens.
36. Join a sea of kindred spirits in the grandstand as you cheer on the champs at a stellar line-up of sporting events, including the Bathurst 1000, cricket’s New Year’s Test, and the Sydney Everest racing carnival.
37. Assemble the crew at the gamer’s haven, Fortress Sydney, where you’ll make new memories in private booths and battle it out in arcades, e-sports, Alienware PC Gaming, and more.

It’s the perfect spot to treasure hunt

38. Whether you’re on the prowl for a party frock or a chic souvenir, Sydney’s boutiques are a goldmine of local design. Stock up on leading labels at the Queen Victoria Building, Strand Arcade, and Pitt Street Mall’s 600-plus specialty stores. Nearby, the Paddington Intersection and Newtown’s King Street are must-shops for stylistas.
39. Revel in the eclectic energy of markets in Chinatown, The Rocks, Glebe, Paddington, Rozelle and Bare Island, as you can trawl for handcrafted wares where artistic ingenuity meets fearless creativity.

There’s nowhere better for an outdoor adventure

40. Replenish your soul in the grand-scale wilderness of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, where there’s a scenic railway, towering waterfalls, caves and a wild walk to suit every hiker – all just 90 minutes from Sydney.
41. Feel on top of the world as you conquer the Coat-hanger on the BridgeClimb Ultimate experience, with every step unveiling a new, invigorating view of the glimmering cityscape.
42. Go west for a wild rush. At Raging Waters Sydney, brace yourself for a splashy extravaganza of 40 water slides, while in nearby Penrith you can take flight with a jetpack or indoor skydive.
43. Feel exhilarated as you reel in the catch of the day on a guided fishing adventure in Sydney Harbour.
44. Bow down to the majesty of the Royal National Park as you explore charming Audley by canoe, wander to ancient Aboriginal engravings and picnic beside sparkling beaches.
45. Up for a new challenge? Visit Sydney Olympic Park to try your hand at archery, hit the trapeze and test your balance on a segway tour.
46. Hotfoot on coastal trails that challenge and inspire, including Bondi to Coogee; Bundeena to Otford; and Manly Lagoon to North Head.

Wildlife encounters make your heart dance

47. Renowned as a conservation powerhouse with a picturesque backdrop, Taronga Zoo offers unmissable critter encounters just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. Snooze amongst the animals at Taronga’s Wildlife Retreat or a Roar and Snore glamping adventure, and learn from the zoo’s famous keeper talks.
48. Deepen your understanding of creatures great and small as you discover Sydney Zoo’s 4,000 animals, then view the sprawling ark from aboard the giant Ferris wheel – just 40 minutes from the city centre. At nearby Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, 260 different species are on standby to greet you.
49. Thrill to a life-affirming connection as you lock eyes with a giant on a whale-watching cruise.
50. Feel your heart leap as you meet Australia’s Big Five at WILD LIFE Sydney, and embrace memorable encounters with sharks and penguins with at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.