3 Days in Sydney: A Photo Essay

Back in Australia

My first impression of Sydney was its outdoor cafe culture. Not long after I arrived, my friend took me to The Grounds of Alexandria near the airport. It was lively, packed with people, and immediately made me want to see more of the city.

The weather was cloudy when we reached Bondi Beach, which turned out to be a blessing. Instead of the packed beach I had imagined, we found it almost deserted.

We spent the afternoon following the coastline, stopping whenever we felt like it, sitting on the cliffs, and taking in the ocean. There was no real plan, which was probably why I enjoyed it so much.

We drove toward Watsons Bay afterward, but parts of the area were closed for renovation at the time, so we eventually headed back into the city and wandered through Chinatown, Thai Town, and Koreatown.

That evening ended with a huge German meal at the Löwenbräu Keller in The Rocks, pork knuckle, sausages, and beers, followed by a much-needed walk around Circular Quay. It was there that I got my first proper glimpse of the Sydney Opera House at night.

It was Valentine's Day, and Darling Harbour was glowing with lights and full of people. After walking around for a while, my friends and I eventually parted ways and I headed back to Wake Up! Sydney near Central Station.

The hostel became an unexpectedly big part of my time in Sydney. There was always something happening, but what I remember most were the travelers I met there. Everyone seemed to have a different story, and conversations with complete strangers could quickly turn into hours of talking as though we had known each other for years.

Sydney on Foot

The next morning, I set out to see Sydney almost entirely on foot. I took the train to Milsons Point and started by walking back toward the city across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

From up there, the Opera House sat across the harbour while “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men played through my headphones. Funny how a song can permanently attach itself to a place. Even now, that track takes me straight back to this view.

I climbed the Pylon Lookout for a higher view over the harbour. From the top, Sydney suddenly made sense: the bridge beneath me, the Opera House across the water, and the city wrapped around the harbour in every direction.

From there, I could also watch people doing the famous BridgeClimb high above the road. I was perfectly happy observing them from a considerably cheaper, and less exposed, part of the bridge. :)

After crossing the bridge, I wandered down into The Rocks. It was Saturday, and the streets had filled with market stalls selling everything from crafts and souvenirs to chocolate.

I continued toward Circular Quay, where the streets opened up to one of my favorite perspectives of the Harbour Bridge.

A short walk later, I was standing in front of the Opera House. Along the waterfront, I stopped to watch Aboriginal performers mixing traditional instruments with contemporary sounds as people gathered around them.

I sat down for a while and sketched the Harbour Bridge, a little travel ritual I had picked up during my previous trip through China. I wasn't particularly good at it, but that was never really the point.

Slowing Down

From the Opera House, I entered the Royal Botanic Garden and followed the waterfront. After spending most of the morning walking through busy parts of Sydney, the garden felt like an entirely different city.

I ended up staying for hours, sitting beneath the trees and looking back toward the harbour. There was nowhere I needed to be and nothing I needed to check off a list.

For a minute, I put the camera away and simply looked. No photos, no talking, just Sydney in front of me.

Eventually, I continued from Mrs Macquarie's Chair back through the city and into Hyde Park.

My final stop was St Mary's Cathedral. I sat inside for a while and listened to the prayers. I'm an atheist, but I've always enjoyed visiting religious places and observing traditions different from my own. Sitting quietly inside the cathedral was a peaceful way to end such a long day of walking.

Goodbye Sydney

That night, I returned to the hostel for one last evening of conversations with fellow travelers. The next morning, my friend drove me to the airport and I boarded a flight into the Australian Outback.

Sydney had started as little more than a stopover on the way to Uluru, but those few days became a memorable part of the trip in their own right. I came expecting to pass through. Instead, I found a city I loved exploring slowly: walking its coastline, crossing the harbour on foot, sitting in its parks, and meeting people whose stories stayed with me long after I left.

Next stop: the Red Centre.

Continue on to the 2nd part of my Australia Trip: