I’m pretty sure there’s a law that says all must-do lists for Sydney have to start with the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour. These are the two most famous landmarks in the country. Every year on New Years the Opera House and the Harbor are projected to the world as the first place on earth to celebrate the start of the new year (sorry New Zealand somehow you don’t count).

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous (and photographed) buildings in the world, and for good reason. Completed in 1973, the Opera House has a distinctive white shell exterior that dominates the Harbour’s skyline. It’s recognized as one of the greatest examples of modern architecture and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Even though the name suggests a single venue, it’s actually composed of many venues and hosts over 1,500 performances annually which are attended by more than 1.2 million people.

Enhancing the Opera House’s beauty is the amazing Harbour. This great attraction can be enjoyed in so many different ways. Take a leisurely stroll on walking trails on either side of the harbour, ride a ferry or boat on this amazing waterway or (even better) kayak along it, get panoramic views by climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge or walk across it for the same incredible views for free!

This is one of my favorite destinations in the city which I found myself returning to time and time again. I never got tired of the views here.

Sydney is a very walkable city, don’t believe me? Google walking tours in Sydney — there are many options to choose from.

Best part, a lot of these tours are free (my favorite word). Personally I love walking around in new cities. It’s the best way to get to know a town, popular areas you should visit include:

• Circular Quay: This is a great place to start your tour of the city. It gives you access to Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour, Royal Botanical Gardens, the Harbour Bridge and The Rocks district. It’s a vibrant, bustling place with ferries leaving for Manly, Watson Bay, Mosman and Taronga Park Zoo.
• The Rocks: This is one of the most popular districts with tourists and it’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. It has many preserved colonial buildings that speak to the history of Sydney; because of this architectural history The Rocks is referred to as an outside museum. There are lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from and on the weekends there’s usually free outdoor entertainment.
• Darling Harbor: This is another popular destination offering a number of attractions including a maritime museum, the Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife World, King Street and Cockle Bay Warf, Sydney Entertainment Center and Dixon Street (the historic heart of Chinatown).

I love coastal walks, nothing beats the serenity and natural high you get from walking next to seaside cliffs, past beautiful forested areas while enjoying a breath of fresh air. It’s very addictive and Sydney is blessed with having a large number of coastal walks for you to get hooked on. Popular walks include:

• Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: This is most famous and accessible coastal walk most tourist do. It takes you past beaches, rockpools, parks and spectacular coastal views. It’s a 6 km walk that’ll take you 1 – 2 hours to complete at a leisurely pace.
• Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk: This is another popular trail that offers bush and ocean views. Very beautiful and scenic.
• Bradley Head to Chowder Bay Walk: This 5km walk begins at Taronga Zoo and ends at quaint Chowder Bay. This path gives you a bird’s eyeview of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the city skyline. Once you make it to Chowder Bay you can reward yourself with well deserved lunch.

Just so you know what I’m talking about check out this video from a coastal walk I did in Noosa.

I have a love/hate relationship with beaches in Australia. This country is blessed with some truly amazing surf. Unfortunately, when you go to a famous beach like Bondi you have to fight the crowds, swim between two flags, stake your claim on piece of valuable sand real estate, bake in the sun for a couple of hours and then bugger off.  Kinda sucks all the enjoyment out of it.

Even with all those negatives, Bondi beach is an amazing beach to see in person. It attracts hordes of sun worshipers for a reason. There’s also plenty of activities to keep you busy around Bondi including surfing, markets and an outdoor cinema that runs during the summer months.

If you’re looking for alternatives beaches there are plenty to choose from including: Manly beach, Bronte beach, Tamarama beach and more.

Australia has more than its fair share of incredible National Parks that are listed as World Heritage site. Honestly, it borders on selfish for one country to have so much beauty ?

The Blue Mountains are (another) amazing park that has dramatic scenery, steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests, waterfalls and villages. It’s a great day trip from Sydney, but it’s best explored over a couple days at a slower pace. The most famous site in the Blue Mountains are the Three Sisters which are three rock formations that (according to Aboriginal legend) were siblings who were turned to stone.