Out and About in Sydney!

Hi, fellow travelers! I’ve just returned from a whirlwind 5-day trip to Sydney—my first time there in 4 years—and I enjoyed so many unique experiences that I can’t wait to share with all of you! See some photos and highlights from my trip below.

First Stop: Sydney Tour

A city tour of Sydney is perfect for first-timers, especially for your first day in the city. It gives you a great overview of the different neighborhoods and covers a lot more ground than you would by simply walking around on your own. The best part is having a great guide who can answer all your questions and point out hidden gems you should visit for a bite to eat or a local beer!

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Photo in front of the Sydney skyline? Check! ✔

Vivid Sydney

The highlight of the trip was the exciting festival known as Vivid Sydney, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018. Vivid truly showcases the magic and beauty of Sydney in early winter. Icons throughout the city participate in different ways with art installations, light shows, and projections.

The animated light show that was projected onto the Sydney Opera House, along with the colorful lights throughout the city, were simply breathtaking! I did an evening cruise in Sydney Harbour and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge at twilight. Both experiences gave me a unique view of the Vivid festivities—I highly recommend doing at least one of these!

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Bridge Climb during Vivid Sydney. Check out the lights on the Sydney Opera House!

Quad Bikes and Sandboarding

If you’re looking to get away from the city for a couple days, Port Stephens is a great option and only about a 2.5-hour drive from Sydney. There you can find beautiful beaches, plenty of locals, and the largest moving sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, which make an awesome adventure playground! My first experience quad biking through the dunes and sand boarding down a huge hill with the ocean looming in the background was one I will never forget.

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Quad biking on Port Stephens sand dunes

Hunter Valley Wine Country

No trip is complete for me until I do some wine tasting, and the Hunter Valley did not disappoint! The views are spectacular and I tried some amazing Sémillon and some of the best Shiraz I’ve ever had. We sadly only had 1 night in this region, but I’d highly recommend 2 if you have the time, as it’s a wonderful oasis outside of Sydney and perfect for some quiet time among the vines.

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Vineyard views in Hunter Valley

Whether it’s your first time to Sydney or your tenth, there are always new experiences to be had and different areas to explore. It still stands as my favorite city in the world, and I’d love to help you see it for yourself! Browse Australia travel packages on our website or email me at kmarta@downunderendeavours.com so we can start planning your next dream trip!