You may think you know all of Sydney’s secrets – that you’ve scoured every lane, found all the hidden gems and gotten close to each of its postcard-worthy attractions – but there’s always something new to discover in Sydney. And, with the latest Feeling Drops, curated by NSW’s Icons of Culture, you can explore an endless combination of leisure, culture and adventure. Hit shuffle on the tool to find the perfect trio of experiences that will make you feel new in Sydney. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer. 

Get a fresh perspective

Sydney’s icons inspire awe at ground level but adding altitude can have you feeling new levels of admiration for every glimmering detail. Soaring over the harbour with Sydney HeliTours, catch glimpses of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, or greet the sun from the basket of a hot air balloon with Balloon Aloft in Camden. If you’re seeking a similar sky-grazing journey with an added cultural connection, set your sights on the BridgeClimb Burrawa Aboriginal Climb Experience where you’ll ascend the Sydney Harbour Bridge with an Aboriginal guide who shares stories of Australia’s first people. Or, to pursue a more grounded path, scout out a view with a side of snacks and drinks at one of Sydney’s many rooftop bars, such as The Light Brigade.   

Uncover hidden treasures

Sydney is a treasure trove of speakeasy-style haunts that bring a bit of mystique to your social calendar. Atop the grand sandstone form of the State Library, you’ll find The Library Bar, a secretive spot for cocktails, mocktails and bar snacks – books are optional. If you want to peer behind the curtain of another of the city's architectural icons, the Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour gives you rare access to hidden spaces like the Green Room, usually reserved for high-profile performers. To peel back the layers of one of Sydney’s most storied precincts, book a spot on one of Local Sauce’s popular Chinatown tours. Not only will you be privy to the many historical threads of the heart of Sydney’s Chinese community in the 1920s, you’ll also sample noodles, dumplings, and other on-the-go snacks along the way.

Feast with abandon 

Discovering something new is always exciting, but tasting a dish that rocks your world enters ‘core memory’ territory. For those who live to eat, Sydney is bursting with rising culinary stars, global influences and incredible ingredients that present an ever-changing, always-electrifying food scene. Whether you’re melting into your chair after a bite of Bistecca’s signature steak (one of the World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants) or awed choosing from more than 30 street food vendors at Burwood Chinatown, you’ll always find new flavours in Sydney. And it’s not only the flavours, it’s the local produce too. The seafood alone is world class. Just shuck your own oyster on a Sydney Oyster Farm Tour to redefine ‘fresh’. Or step into Saint Peter for one of the country’s best fine-dining experiences, recognised internationally for its sustainability and innovation in seafood cooking.  
 

Get your blood pumping

Sydney is a natural playground where you can find almost any activity suited to your skill and energy levels. Witness the sunrise light up the Harbour Bridge with Sydney Kayak Experience or fast forward your sightseeing by taking it at a jog with Fit City Tours. Head out to the Blue Mountains and crush your daily step count while marvelling at the majesty of 300m tall sandstone cliffs on the Wentworth Falls track. Sydney’s most iconic thrill has to be its surf but the coast can be unpredictable, particularly for beginners. URBNSURF Sydney brings waves with the same beauty as the coast but perfect consistency every single time. But to deep dive below the surface of the ocean, make a date to snorkel with Ecotreasures at Shelly Beach – keep an eye out for the turtle! 

Push your limits 

There’s nothing like a surge of adrenaline to make you feel new and Sydney isn’t short of heart-starting experiences. Thrill-seekers can make a beeline to Oz Jet Boating to embrace their need for speed. Here you’ll be whisked across Sydney Harbour, under the bridge and past the Opera House at 75km/hour, only pausing to catch your breath following one of many hair-raising spins. But if you seek your thrills at new heights, it’s hard to top Scenic World’s Beyond Skyway experience in the Blue Mountains. Click into a harness and climb aboard the roof of the cable car that cruises 270m above the Jamison Valley at dusk – definitely do look down to see 360-degree views of UNESCO World Heritage wilderness.   

Immerse yourself in culture 

Calmer pursuits can still shake you to the core and Sydney’s cultural connections reverberate through the city. Feel the ordinary slide into the extraordinary as you enter either of the two buildings of the Art Gallery of NSW, its vast collection spanning eras, cultures and the world over, including one of the largest permanent exhibitions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Don’t miss The Tank for a truly immersive experience – this decommissioned fuel bunker turned art space is simultaneously eerie and awe inspiring. Or, if you want to feel uplifted by the newest sounds in Sydney, join the free-ticket ballot for an avant-garde performance from the architecturally striking Phoenix Central Park. 

Lean into luxury

If you’re keen to feel like an A-lister, you’ll find Sydney to be your ideal stage. Numerous sleek stays master that ‘just-checked-into-paradise’ feeling, including the likes of Lilypad where your villa (sauna, outdoor deck and canoes included) floats on the tranquil seas of Palm Beach. For a dose of opulence, find your spot beside one of Sydney’s sparkling rooftop pools – Theo’s Rooftop Bar in Penrith is even blessed with sweeping views of the Blue Mountains. Or, for a taste of the five-star hotel experience without the need to check in, swing past the latest, sleekest hotel bars dotted throughout the city. Kiln at Ace Hotel is both one of the best restaurants in Sydney (helmed by acclaimed head chef Beau Clugston) and a bar with sweeping city views.   

Feel your stress melt away 

While the city thrums with energy, Sydney is also set up with spaces to calm and rejuvenate. Capybara Bathing in Surry Hills is a haven of relaxation, giving you 90 minutes of pure stress-melting bliss courtesy of a sauna, steam room, cold plunge and enormous magnesium bath. Or stretch it all out in a yoga session – the stand-up paddleboard option with Flow mOcean in Manly is sure to test even the most experienced yogi’s balance. While you’re there you can jump aboard a Manly Sailing adventure to feel the wind in your hair as you surrender to the sea’s soft rhythm before disembarking for one of Amazing Co’s Mystery Picnics in the Royal Botanic Garden (ideal if a treasure hunt is your idea of fun). And to experience the infinite depth of our universe and to make a wish upon a star, chart your course for Palm Beach Headland for DIY stargazing in Australia’s first Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP). Here you’ll feel the wonder of life, the cosmos and everything right there at your fingertips.

If you’re looking to feel new in Sydney, hit shuffle on our new interactive tool to find and book all these experiences and many more new combinations.