The Harbour Bridge, The Opera House, Bondi Beach, these are all the first things you think of ticking off on your Sydney travel list. However, if you're like us and are seasoned travellers to Sydney, or perhaps are just looking for something different, then this list is for you. In this post, we will share our top 5 favourite day trips from and Sydney, Australia.
1. Sydney to the Blue Mountains National Park by Tour with Urban Legends Tour Co
Taking in the crisp fresh air and a sweeping blue haze over the open mountain ranges of the Blue Mountains National Park tops our list of day trips from Sydney, Australia.
Getting to the Blue Mountains from Sydney:
It is possible to self-drive or take a train to Katoomba station from Sydney, however for ease of travel and to make the most of having just one day we'd recommend booking a tour. As we like to have flexibility and more privacy on a tour, we always look for customisable small group options. Urban Legends Tour Co offer fully customisable single or multiple day Blue Mountains tours from Sydney, either privately or for select group sizes. Pick up is from the heart of Sydney.
Start the day with brunch at Katoomba:
Start the morning with a visit to the small town of Katoomba, where you will be immediately immersed in that small town Aussie vibe. Rows of local country stores and cafes line the main street. We made a stop here to fuel up on brunch before we began our first hike of the day upon reaching the Blue Mountains National Park.
Go hiking in search of waterfalls:
There were many hiking options to choose from, suitable for all levels of fitness. We opted to start with a walk along Nature Pass, a 4.5km hiking loop taking around 2.5 hours to complete given its steep stair climbs. The trail took us along the sharp edge of a white rock face. We wound down stairs until we reached a stunning waterfall at the bottom, where we could sit back and enjoy the view before burning up our calves on the way back.
Don't miss the Katoomba Falls and Three Sisters:
Our next stop was the Three Sisters, three striking rock formations emerging from the blue haze of mountains surrounding them. After capturing your impressive distance shots from the Lookout at Echo Point, take short a walk right up to the sisters to see them up close! The benefit of doing this in a tour is there's always a friendly tour guide around to help you get your couple shots when travelling.
Want to enjoy more of the Nature of the Blue Mountains National Park:
If there's more you want to see in the Blue Mountains, such as the Jenolan Caves, or more adventure you want to have, like Canyoning through the Blue Mountains, just let Urban Legends Tour Co when planning your tour.
2. Experience Convict History on Cockatoo Island
Take a short ferry from the heart of Sydney Harbour onto Cockatoo Island. Enjoy the cool breeze in your hair as you watch the city skyline and harbour bridge pass you by. Upon arrival pick up an audio guide to make the most of your time on the island learning all about its history as a convict prison and navy shipyard during world war two. If some of the old docks look familiar, you may recognize them from scenes in the latest Wolverine movie.
3. Explore the Sydney coastline on foot for the day: Bondi to Coogee
Sydney is full of striking coastal views, put on your running shoes and take a long walk across some of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches. We recommend Bondi to Coogee a 6m trail, taking about 2 hours in duration at a leisurely pace. The walk will take you past some of Sydney's top beaches including Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Beach and Gordon's bay (Pictured below).
4. Take a ferry to Manly beach from Sydney Harbour:
Enjoy the iconic Sydney harbour views as you make your way by ferry down to Manly beach. Stroll the esplanade and stop for lunch at a beachfront cafe or take a scenic coastal walk.
5. Wine and dine in the Hunter Valley:
Want a more relaxing day? Take a wine tasting tour of the Hunter Valley. Urban Legends Tour Co also offers Wine Tours across the region if you're looking to taste some fresh local vineyard flavours.
We hope you enjoyed our guide day trips from Sydney, Australia. To see more of our other destination guides click here.
This post was brought to you in collaboration with Urban Legends Tour Co.
Your,
LITTLE SHERPAs
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