In February 2014, I had a chance to revisit my childhood travel. Australia was the first country I had ever set foot on outside of Thailand when I was 8, and I was excited to see how my childhood memory differs from the reality.
The main reason I chose Australia as my destination was Uluru (Ayers Rock). Uluru is a large sandstone rock formation in the middle of the desert in Australia. The fact that it is magnificent in itself, and it is my first time traveling to a desert, made me decide without hesitation that Australia would be my next country after China. While planning, I found that flying to Sydney and then to Ayers Rock seemed to be the cheapest option, so I decided to stay in Sydney for 3 days, meet some friends, go on some walks, and see how people live. Since Sydney wasn't the highlight of my trip, I did not expect much. However, as it turns out, the experience far exceeded my expectations.
Even though Sydney is expensive as hell, it does offer one of the best and safest urban walks with one of the most vibrant and engaging backpacking communities I have ever experienced. Since it was very expensive to stay in hotels, for this trip, I decided to be more flexible and stay in hostels throughout my trip, and I was not disappointed. The people in Australian hostels are some of the most inspiring, friendly, and engaging travelers I have ever met. They come from all walks of life, have their own cultures, experiences, and stories to share with each other. We talked to each other as if we had been friends for years. It was what made this trip different. If you are planning to visit Australia, you should definitely try staying in a hostel for a few days. You won't regret it.
Australia Travel Video
Day 1: Sydney Drive-around
First impression of Sydney: They have an awesome outdoor cafe culture. My friend took me to The Grounds of Alexandria near the airport, and I was instantly hooked. The authenticity and liveliness of the place left me wanting more.
Since it was a little cloudy that day, I was able to experience an almost deserted Bondi Beach.
We walked along the coastline, chilled out, and hung our feet off cliffs. It was amazing!
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We drove to Watson Bay afterward, but unfortunately, parts of it were closed due to renovation. So, we headed back and walked around China Town, Thai Town, and Korea Town (yes, these are all real). Afterward, we went for a German feast at the Löwenbräu Keller, which was awesome, to say the least (and EXPENSIVE!). We filled our stomachs with a knuckle, sausages, and beers. In order to digest all that, we had to walk. I was able to get a glimpse of the Opera House at night from the Circular Quay.
Since it was during Valentine's Day, Darling Harbor was very well decorated than usual with beautiful lighting, activities, and gatherings.
My friends and I parted ways as the night was ending, and I simply crashed at the hostel called the Hostel Wake Up! near the Central Station. This hostel really spiced up my stay because the hotel environment is catered to partygoers, and they have a great club down in the basement with activities like Speed Dating and Trivial Night every Friday. It was new to me and was an interesting and refreshing experience. I met so many fun people during my 2-night stay there.
Day 2: Sydney's Best Known Urban Walk
I started my second day with a morning walk across the Harbour Bridge. I took a train from Central Station to Milson's Point train station (2 stations away from Central Station) and walked across the bridge, seeing the spectacular architecture in person.
Enjoying the magnificent Opera House while listening to "Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men.
I paid AU$11 to climb the Pylon Lookout to get the overall view of Sydney from one of the towers on the bridge.
I saw people climbing the bridge. To climb, you will have to pay around AU$ 250 - AU$ 360 to climb this bad boy. I chose to stay and watch people climb instead. :)
I walked across the bridge, turned left, and went through The Rocks, one of the most historic towns in Sydney. Since it was Saturday, The Rocks was turned into a flea market where people gather to sell all kinds of handcrafted products, from hand-painted boomerangs to handmade chocolate.
From The Rocks, approaching Circular Quay, you will get a pretty unique perspective of the bridge.
Approaching the Opera House after a 10-minute walk from The Circle, I enjoyed the street performances by the Aborigines. They mixed traditional instruments with digital sounds, creating a somewhat unique beat that I could see people dancing to.
Doing a few sketches of the Harbor Bridge, a travel ritual I acquired from my last trip to China.
I entered the Royal Botanic Garden from the Opera House's side and walked along the coastline, enjoying the view of both the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.
The garden was peacefully breathtaking. I spent several hours just sitting and absorbing everything slowly.
When you are here, for one minute, don't talk, take no photos, and just look and see.
After spending a good amount of hours, I walked back from Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, down through the city, and went into Hyde Park.
A final stop at St Mary's Cathedral. I was honored to be able to sit inside and listen to the prayers, even though I am an atheist. I always love to explore other religions. It was a beautiful experience.
And that concludes my second day in Sydney. I went back to the hostel, enjoyed many great talks with other travelers before I went to bed, and prepared for a takeoff to Uluru (Ayers Rock) the next morning.
Day 3: Bye Bye Sydney
My friend took me to the airport the next morning, one hour before the plane departed. I was surprised by the minimal security checks at the domestic terminal in comparison to when I was arriving (I had to go through 2-3 security checkpoints to enter the city). No wonder why my friend insisted that 1 hour before departure was more than enough.
And this concludes my brief trip to Sydney and our first part of the Solo Traveler's Journal #7. Stay tuned for part two where we will explore The Red Center together and discover why Uluru is not just a single rock in a desert like most people think.
Sydney Tours & Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
7 Comments
Stunning photos! Makes me very glad to be living here!
Thank you for the comments!
Whats the camera you are using? and do you use a tripod to take photos of yourself? Loved the article btw
Sony RX100 M1 at the time and yes, I always have my tripod with me. :)
Beautiful pictures! and the guide is so complete! I made a quick video guide as well to help felow travelers with fun and mostly free stuff in Sydney, check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WTDvASldcY
Yep - don't forget the Newport up on the Northern Beaches! Grab an Airbnb and stay up their for the night! Cushie properties are generally good - Clean, well maintained and positioned (You can check out their properties online https://www.cushie.com) . No visit to Sydney is complete without seeing the beaches up north.
What a fantastic itinerary for a 3-day trip to Sydney! Your recommendations are spot on and cover a great mix of iconic landmarks and local experiences. The detailed descriptions and practical tips will be so helpful for planning my visit. I especially loved the idea of starting the day with a walk along Bondi Beach and ending it with a sunset at Sydney Harbor. Thank you for such an inspiring and useful guide!