30 Unmissable Sights, Shops, Streets And More From Australia’s Liveliest City

With cheap flights to Sydney available all over the web it’s never been easier, or more affordable (DialAFlight prices start from £646!), to get this exciting and vibrant city.  There’s no need to bore you with any more of an introduction.  This is a mission: we’ve got one of Australia’s most famous cities, three days and 30 tasks to complete. Get ready, get set…. go!

Day 1 – Outdoors

Start the morning at the Bondi Baths (1) on the cliff overlooking the city’s most famous surfer hang out. After your swim, run up to the restaurant (2) for a hearty breakfast, then down for a surf and a photo opp on the promenade (3). Then cycle over to the Spit Bridge where you can hire a kayak (4) and paddle to Balmoral Beach (5) for a stroll along the old tram track. Take lunch at the Bathers Pavilion (6) enjoying the Esplanade’s best view of the water. Kayak back over to Sydney Harbour and head to the bridge, where you can swan past the suits and instead do the BridgeClimb (7) to the top of this amazing structure. Grab corn fritters and other Aussie fare at Bill’s in Darlinghurst (8) then head to Circular Quay for sundown (9) before taking the ferry over to Cockatoo Island (10), just 8 minutes long, where you can camp for the night.

Day 2 – City Slicker

After an adventure under the stars, take the ferry back to civilization and enjoy a coffee at Quay (11). But don’t be tempted by the food, just enjoy the view – we’re heading to trendy Newtown (12). Wander through Erskenville Road to café Sophia’s (13) for French toast and a huge smoothie. Then we’ll zip back on the subway to the Sydney Fish Market (14). Devour at the Blackwattle Deli (15) and feed the pelicans (16) – and if that’s half the fight it should be, get the boat to Doyles (17) in Watson’s Bay. Then walk through Sydney Harbour National Park (18) and finish back at Darlinghurst, near Bills, with a drink at YU-Bar (19), followed by Vietnamese at Libertine (20).

Day 3 – Eclectic – Cheesy – Catch-up

Wake up with a run near Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for a stunning morning view of the Harbour (21). Breakfast at Café Morso  (22) then take a relaxed stroll down on Jones Bay Wharf (23). And then – it has to be done – a boat trip through the Harbour waterway (24), stopping off at the Opera House (25) for photos. Climb the Sydney Pylon Lookout (26), then head to Harbord for Koko’s Pizza (27). Finish up with a digestive wander through Haymarket (28) until you reach Mamak (29) – one of the city’s best, and most authentic no-frills Malaysian restaurants, and finish up with a drink in the lounge bar of the Haymarket Hotel (30).

Shopping in Brisbane

If you’re planning on treating yourself to a trip to the big country of Australia, at some point, you might want to hit the shops – so why not head to Brisbane in Queensland. Friendly, relaxed and cosmopolitan, Brisbane is the perfect city to take home some special gifts and it boasts a huge variety of independant shops, boutiques, shopping malls and markets.  If you enjoy the frenetic atmosphere of a high street mall, with the instant variety and all the top designer labels within reach then head to the Central Business District, where you can wander the Queen Street Mall and shop to your heart’s content!

Queens Plaza is Brisbane’s newest addition to the fashion scene, where you’ll find a range of upmarket, designer wear in a variety of stores. The Myer Centre specialises in denim, so you’re guaranteed to find those pair of jeans you’ve been hunting for, while the Broadway Mall offers formal wear and the Brisbane Arcade offers a quirky range of unique fashion stores and boutiques.

Ecletic Experiences

Of course if you’re looking for a completely different experience why not head to the city’s West End, where you’ll find an edgy, alternative selection of shops, from old bookstores and second hand shops to funky boutique stores where you might just discover a gem or two. Try out one of the Perfect Potion Shops for fabulous spa treatments and all the lotions and creams you could ever want!

Once you’ve finished treating yourself, you can relax with a drink in one of the many terrace cafes and bars, take in the history of the city and surrounding territory in the Queensland Museum, sample the local theatre scene at the Lyric Theatre or simply enjoy a walk through the Southbank Park.

The shopping facilities in Brisbane are second to none and so is the accommodation, with the Ibis Hotel offering top quality facilities at superb prices. Located in the heart of the city, just a short walk from one of the central shopping areas, the hotel has spacious rooms, en suite, of course, and the setting is perfect for travellers wanting real value for money. The hotel has a great restaurant operating the whole day, from buffet breakfast to the scrumptious a la carte dinner menu.

Brisbane itself enjoys good transport connections. Roma Street and Central Station run regular services to and from Brisbane Airport. Take a ferry trip on the  Brisbane City Cat or the River Crossing, both of which are a pleasant 15 minutes walk from the centre of town.

American Express credit card holders can use membership rewards points to purchase an Ibis Gift Card worth up to $1000 and you might be interested to know that gift cards purchased with American Express credit cards are valid for 12 months. Now there is a good idea for a Wedding gift or Anniversary present!