Why go?
The sun-soaked shores of this supermodel city have long courted attention. Home to some of Australia’s most iconic sights – the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach – Sydney is also the busiest cruise destination in the country and offers an obvious starting point for your cruise Down Under.
Cruise port location
Sydney is the only port in Australia with two dedicated cruise passenger terminals – the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) at Circular Quay and the White Bay Cruise Terminal (WBCT), in the inner-west suburb of Rozelle, where smaller ships typically berth. The two terminals collectively house four berths. Some ships also anchor out beyond the Sydney Opera House, with passengers brought ashore by tenders. Cruise lines such as Princess, Carnival, Dream and P&O Cruises all homeport in Sydney.
Getting around
Exploring central Sydney is easy thanks to the city’s network of ferries, buses, trains and a new light-rail network that’s partially operational, set to be complete by mid-2020. Getting to and from Sydney Airport is a breeze: situated five miles south of the CBD, Sydney Airport is accessible via train (the T8 line) or a 25-minute taxi ride. From the OPT most major Sydney attractions are within walking distance. Those arriving at the WBCT, however, will need to take a shuttle, taxi or Captain Cook Cruises ferry to the CBD – each option takes approximately 10 minutes.
Where to stay pre-cruise
For unadulterated luxury and peerless views check-in to the Park Hyatt Sydney. Located squarely between the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, some of the low-rise hotel’s suites boast six private balconies from which to soak up the picture-postcard panorama. The five-star hotel is also only a five-minute walk from the OPT. For a design-led home away from home try the boutique The Old Clare or Paramount House Hotel. Families would be best-suited to one of the city’s numerous aparthotels, such as the Adina Apartment Bondi Beach, or the ADGE Apartment Hotel, in the inner-city Surry Hills suburb.
Credit:
Getty
What to see and do
There’s plenty to see and do in and around Sydney and a pre or post-cruise stay can easily fill a week. But you might want to make time to relax on the city’s famous beaches too.
What can I do with one day in Sydney?
Luckily, most of Sydney’s biggest sights are concentrated within the CBD, so it’s easy to check off a few heavy hitters in one big gulp. Wander the leafy grounds of the Royal Botanic Garden, which fronts the city’s glittering harbour, and stop in next-door at the Sydney Opera House for a tour of the landmark building.
Survey the rotating permanent collection and temporary exhibitions at the neighbouring MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art Australia), which has a strong focus on the works of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The rooftop MCA Cafe also boasts sweeping views of the harbour. Behind the MCA lies the historic neighbourhood of The Rocks, its cobblestone laneways punctuated with characterful 19th-century pubs and quaint courtyard cafes. It’s also host to markets every Friday through Sunday.
Time permitting, another market worthy of a visit is the Sydney Fish Market – the largest working fish market in the southern hemisphere is a lively pit-stop for a seafood lunch. Time permitting, take on the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb: the quickest tour takes just 1.5 hours, the lengthiest 3.5 hours, and tours are available at practically any time of day.
A trip to Sydney wouldn’t be complete with sundowners at local institution the Opera Bar. Your front-row harbour seats promise show-stopping views as the sun sets: lights illuminate the Opera House’s sails and the Harbour Bridge bathes in the rich pinks and purples of twilight.
Credit:
Getty
What can I do with two or three days?
A city built around the water, it would be criminal not to get out onto Sydney Harbour one way or another. Dial the action down a notch and take the ferry to Manly for a lazy day basking on its pine-fringed beaches, moseying around its surf shops, and drinking in its prohibition-era bars and whitewashed cafes. Those who want to spend more time on the water should try a whale watching cruise (available between May and November), a sailing trip around the harbour or a jet boat ride.
Sydney’s most iconic crescent of sand, there’s rarely a quiet moment on Bondi Beach yet it’s hard to shake the allure. People watch from your towel, take a surfing lesson, or escape the scrum at Iceberg’s, which occupies a plum spot on the cusp of the beach overlooking all the action – it offers several dining options as well as a saltwater swimming pool. More active travellers might prefer the 3.5-mile Bondi to Coogee walk, which traces the coastline’s golden beaches and crashing, Listerine-blue waves.
Back in the city, book tickets to a performance at the Sydney Opera House or a cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (the season runs from October to March).
What can I do with a full week?
Savour the deliciously slow pace of life on the city’s Northern Beaches, home to Palm Beach – an idyllic peninsula that doubles as Home and Away’s Summer Bay – and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which is host to native bushland, local fauna (possums, echidnas, wallabies) and ancient Aboriginal rock paintings.
Take a road trip and explore Australia’s oldest wine region, the Hunter Valley. Famed for semillon, shiraz and chardonnay, the region features more than 150 cellar doors.
Or jump in a hire car and retreat to the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage area of sandstone cliffs and canyons cloaked in greenery.
Credit:
Getty
Eat and drink
Surry Hills is ground zero for foodies – here, specialist eateries such as izakayas (Japanese-style pubs) and bijou wine bars stand cheek-to-cheek with artisanal pie shops. Closer to the port, the recently redeveloped Barangaroo precinct offers numerous sleek dining options. For superlative food and harbour views local stalwart Cafe Sydney can’t be beaten.
Don’t leave the destination without…
Paying a visit to the QVB (Queen Victoria Building), a grand, 1800s, heritage-listed edifice that houses both high-street stores and boutique Australian designers. For upmarket, Sydney-specific souvenirs, the gift shops attached to the MCA and Sydney Opera House are your best bet.
Need to know
Flight time from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Sydney. Instead, choose from the numerous Middle Eastern and Asian carriers that fly to Sydney via their hubs. The minimum flight time (including connections) is approximately 22 hours.
Visas
British citizens need to obtain an eVisitor visa direct from Australia’s Department of Immigration & Border Protection prior to arrival. No fee is associated with the visa application.
When to go
Australia is a year-round cruise destination, but cruise calls to Sydney peak between October and April – a period known as the “Wave Season”. Summer (December to February) is the most popular season at Sydney’s cruise ports, with events such as the New Year’s Eve fireworks display driving up demand (and prices) for hotels. The Vivid Sydney festival (mid-May to mid-June), has also become a major calendar event.
Save money
Get discounted access to some of Sydney’s attractions, such as Taronga Zoo and the Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus, with the Go Sydney card.