Streetscape, Sydney CBDCredit: Destination NSW
Tramlines running down George Street, Sydney CBD.
#ilovesydney
Sydney is undoubtably one of the world’s most beautiful cities, blessed with scores of beaches, a show-stopping harbour and architecturally arresting buildings. The city centre sits on the south bank of Sydney Harbour, its landmark attractions including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the historic precinct The Rocks, the Royal Botanic Garden and Circular Quay — from where ferries depart across the water. Whether you’re a foodie, love adventure, are on the hunt for culture and history, or are looking to indulge in retail therapy, Sydney never fails to wow.
Highlights:
- Explore Sydney Harbour by ferry, kayak, water taxi or yacht
- Eat and drink with views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House
- Discover Australian retail brands in heritage malls like the Queen Victoria Building and Strand Arcade
Where to eat
Sydney has plenty of restaurants with stunning harbour views. Perhaps most lauded of them all is Quay, offering a degustation-only menu in a space overlooking the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The city’s other elegant favourite, Aria, also overlooks the Sydney Opera House and has a menu showcasing delicate, seasonal Australian produce in dishes created by chef Matt Moran. In between these two bastions is Café Sydney, on the rooftop of Customs House at Circular Quay. A reservation here puts you centre stage for Sydney Harbour vistas, your meal delivering contemporary Australian flavours. Nearby, the café atop the Museum of Contemporary Art not only has top views of the Opera House, but also an interesting menu of global bites.
Head towards the city’s heart to enjoy French classics and live jazz in underground, Parisian-styled eatery Restaurant Hubert; gyoza and bao at rock’n’roll Japanese joint, Kid Kyoto; or visit Chinatown for dim sum and salt-and-pepper squid at perennially busy Golden Century Seafood Restaurant.
Families love Darling Harbour and adjoining Barangaroo in the city’s inner-west for an Italian feast at firm favourite, Fratelli Fresh; some Southern fried chicken from Belles Hot Chicken; or a classic burger from Betty’s Burgers.
For casual eats and after-work bites, Sydneysiders flock to Door Knock Bar for mac-and-cheese croquettes and other homey bites, Kittyhawk for steak tartare and Burgundy snails, and The ArtHouse Hotel at The Galeries shopping mall for bulging buttermilk chicken burgers.
Where to drink
For a drink with a view, head to historic Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks for one of the best views over Sydney Harbour landmarks, or sip bubbles in a landmark at Opera Bar — this semi-open drinking hole is dwarfed by the building’s white sails, and serves up seasonal fare with front-of-house water views. Tucked away on inner-city Millers Point you’ll find cocktail bar Henry Deane perched atop heritage Hotel Palisade, once the city’s highest building courtesy of its position on top of a hill. Settle upstairs on one of the pink couches and look out across to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
To hang with the hip after-work crowd, grab an ale in the garden at Dot’s Rooftop, topping Hotel Sweeny’s beside busy Town Hall Station; order a whisky at saloon-style basement bar Palmer & Co. in Abercrombie Lane; head to hidden Burrow Bar behind an unmarked door off George Street; or stop by The Ivy on George Street, home to popular summer drinking hole, the Pool Club, as well as delicious eateries Ash St. Cellar, Felix, Bar Totti’s and Uccello.
For a sophisticated cocktail as the sun sets, make a beeline for Sydney’s drinking and dining precinct, Barangaroo, where you can enjoy tropical cocktails and colourful share plates at Untied or settle in at stylish lounge Smoke, both with spectacular Darling Harbour views. Another popular sunset spot is Bar One at Walsh Bay, with cabanas lining the Pier One Sydney Harbour hotel almost directly under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Where to play
Sydney city dazzles day or night, with great theatres, museums and galleries, and outdoor adventures. The Sydney Opera House is the jewel on sparkling Sydney Harbour, with fascinating guided tours (one taking you behind the scenes) and a year-round program of dramatic performance, ballet and music. Fringing this landmark is the Royal Botanic Garden, with grassy expanses, shaded nooks and free guided walks — you’ll also find lookouts offering sweeping views of the water, plus Botanic House restaurant, enveloped by forest. It adjoins the Art Gallery of NSW, home to significant collections of Australian and international art. Not far away on the cultural trail you’ll find the State Library of New South Wales, the oldest of its kind in the country and the gothic revival St Mary’s Cathedral.
In the heart of the city, seek out the whimsical installation Forgotten Songs in alleyway Angel Place, near Martin Place. Look up to see 120 bird cages suspended while listening to the sounds of extinct or threatened bird species, which once flourished in Sydney before urbanisation.
There are plenty of ways to explore Sydney Harbour — on ferries, yachts, high-speed jet boats, water taxis or kayaks. And if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing humpbacks in the wild, make sure you join a whale-watching cruise from Circular Quay from May to November.
From Circular Quay, explore cobblestone lanes and heritage buildings in The Rocks. Australia’s oldest pubs are here, and the Argyle Stairs lead to Cumberland Street for access to the free Sydney Harbour Bridge walk, or a BridgeClimb tour to the top of the mighty steel arch.
Cafe Sydney, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Dining room with a view at Café Sydney.
#ilovesydney
Cafe Sydney, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Dining room with a view at Café Sydney.
Hotel Palisade, Millers Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy drinks with Harbour views at Henry Deane cocktail lounge in Hotel Palisade, Millers Point.
#ilovesydney
Hotel Palisade, Millers Point Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoy drinks with Harbour views at Henry Deane cocktail lounge in Hotel Palisade, Millers Point.
Where to shop
The city centre is home to glamorous shopping at David Jones and Myer department stores, and at the enormous Westfield Sydney off Pitt Street Mall. Visit to browse collections from some of the world's most exclusive brands — among the 280-plus retailers you’ll find Fendi, Coach, Givenchy and Chanel. Make the most of high-end services such as valet parking and personal styling, then zip to the top of the Sydney Tower Eye directly above for a bird’s-eye view over the city.
Nearby, The Strand Arcade is Sydney’s only remaining Victorian-style shopping arcade; today, it’s home to specialty shops such as Andrew McDonald Shoemaker, Strand Hatters and Rox Gems and Jewellery, as well as homegrown Aussie designers like Akira, Aesop and Bassike.
Then there’s historic landmark the Queen Victoria Building, an 1898 architectural masterpiece home to luxury global brands, high street retail and the legendary Queen Victoria Tea Room, famous for its high tea.
Where to stay
Nestled amid the historic lanes of The Rocks is The Harbour Rocks boutique hotel, a five-minute walk from Circular Quay — the garden terrace and contemporary rooms are particularly appealing. Nearby, the Rydges Sydney Harbour occupies a significant heritage building, topped by a pool offering dazzling views over Sydney Harbour.
For the ultimate in harbourside luxury, the Park Hyatt Sydney is favoured by celebrities for its luxurious rooms and views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is also your backdrop when you check in to the Pier One Sydney Harbour, at Walsh Bay, replete with a private pontoon and plush rooms.
Near the retail heart of the city, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park overlooks leafy Hyde Park and has slick rooms and suites reminiscent of luxury apartment living. The luxury Pullman Sydney Hyde Park hotel also overlooks this central Sydney refuge of fig trees and lush lawns.
For those looking to linger in cultural and dining hub Barangaroo, West Hotel has design-driven rooms and a soul-lifting internal atrium, while the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour nearby is a comfortable and convenient stay for families. For a boutique experience on this side of the water, Ovolo 1888 Darling Harbour sits in a restored heritage building, its character-filled rooms boasting exposed brick and revived vintage furniture.
You can also sleep in serious style at the Establishment Hotel on Bridge Lane — book one of the penthouse suites for added indulgence, and order room service from popular modern Cantonese restaurant Mr. Wong, which sits at the base of the hotel.
Shopping, Queen Victoria Building Credit: Destination NSW
Four levels of shopping in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney CBD.
#ilovesydney
Shopping, Queen Victoria Building Credit: Destination NSW
Four levels of shopping in the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney CBD.
Pullman Sydney, Hyde Park Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoying a day by the pool at Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hotel.
#ilovesydney
Pullman Sydney, Hyde Park Credit: Destination NSW
Enjoying a day by the pool at Pullman Sydney Hyde Park Hotel.
More Inspirational Stories
The Fall Guy Credit: Universal & UPI Media
The Fall Guy in Sydney with a spectacular Glebe Island Silo Stunt
#feelnewsydney
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.
#feelnewsydney
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.
#feelnewsydney
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.
#feelnewsydney
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.
#feelnewsydney
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.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
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.
#feelnewsydney
Little National Hotel, Sydney Credit: Little National Hotel
The rooftop lounge at the Little National, in Wynyard in Sydney.