Sydney's Hidden Gems: 15 Places to Explore off the Typical Tourist Path
Sydney, Australia has many iconic sites to explore, from its golden beaches, stunning coastline, white-sailed Opera House, and sturdy Harbor Bridge. However, there are many interesting places to visit beyond the typical tourist sites that are great to add on to your itinerary as some more unique things to do. In this guide, we share 15 great hidden gems in Sydney.
About Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia is the largest city in the country and continent of Australia and is located in the state of New South Wales. With a sparkling harbor front, miles of coastline with dramatic cliffs and bluffs, golden beaches, and iconic landmarks, Sydney is one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
In the 1700s-1800s, Great Britain began sending its convicts to Australia to help alleviate overcrowding in prisons in England. Of course Australia had already been inhabited for thousands of years by Aborigines, the indigenous people of the land. Over time, the Aborigines lost their culture and land as the new English settlers took over, building a colony on the shores of what would one day become Sydney. With this complicated past, today the Australian government is working to make amends, recognizing the Aborigines as first peoples of the land and bringing to light their culture and history as it intermixes with modern day Australia.
When we went
We visited Australia in January/February 2025. This is the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere so temperatures were high, usually in the 80s, although one day it was over 100!
Sydney experiences a humid subtropical climate, with high temperatures and humidity in the sunny summer months, and comfortable spring, fall, and winter months. Reminder that Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite of what we experience in the Northern Hemisphere.
15 of Sydney’s Must See Hidden Gems
1. High Tea
Enjoying this English tradition of high tea while in Sydney is a wonderful experience. We went to Gunner’s Barracks and had a lovely time.
Gunner’s Barracks was constructed in the late 1800s as a fortification to protect Sydney from attacks. It went through many historical changes until it finally became the venue that it is today.
Gunner’s Barracks | High Tea
With its sturdy stone structure on the outside and the charming Victorian decor on the inside, Gunner’s Barracks delivers a unique dining experience with stunning harbor views.
The view of the harbor from Gunner’s Barracks | High Tea
The high tea was fabulous with a large variety of tea to choose from as well as a delicious array of small bites and desserts.
Delectable bites and delicious tea |High Tea
For a laid-back experience with wonderful views and a historical twist, put Gunner’s Barracks High Tea on your list.
Gunner’s Barracks High Tea
If you’re curious about the dress code, I will share what we wore. I had on linen pants and a dressy top while Mike wore a short-sleeve button down and khaki pants. Most everyone was dressed nicely. I would recommend dressing up for the event as it is part of the experience!
WEBSITE: Gunner’s Barracks
LOCATION: At the end of Suakin Drive | Mosman, NSW | 2088
2. Go Camping at Cockatoo Island
Did you know you that you can camp in the middle of Sydney on an island? Well you can at a unique place to boot! Cockatoo Island features permanent structures for camping, from basic tents to more luxurious glamping tents available.
Aerial view of Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island has quite the storied past. Prior to the English settlers, Cockatoo Island was known as Wareamah and was a meeting place for the First Nations peoples. In the mid-1800s, it housed a jail for convicts, then went on to be a site for shipbuilding, as well as a variety of educational facilities. Today, you can get a peek into the past while urban camping at Cockatoo Island.
3. See the Bats at Hyde Park
For a cool experience in the evening, walk through Hyde Park at dusk and prepare to have bats (aka flying foxes) flying overhead! The bats hang upside down in the trees but once dusk falls, they fly around looking for insects to eat.
A great place to see the bats! | Hyde Park
When we walked through the park, we noticed how huge these bats are, especially compared to the small versions we have at home in the U.S. Watching the bats fly about just as the sun was setting was a unique experience right in the city!
Hyde Park
LOCATION: It’s located near St. James Rd. and Macquarie Square. Continue past St. Mary’s Cathedral which will be on the left. Proceed down the stairs and walk on the path next to the massive trees.
4. Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney was the host of the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and it’s hard to believe it has already been 25 years!
An aerial view | Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney built an incredible park, really a city, in an area that had previously been a derelict industrial site. Even though the games are long over, Olympic Park still stands, hosting many events throughout the year. If you have an interest in the Olympics or remember the 2000 games in Sydney, check out Olympic Park.
Sydney Olympic Park
There are sidewalks throughout the area with restaurants and cafes as well as parklands and paths where you can have picnics or enjoy walking in a beautiful greenspace.
Parklands | Sydney Olympic Park
5. Harbord Diggers Beach Club and Freshwater Beach
For a great beach and dining experience look no further than dining at Harbord Diggers.
Harbord Diggers features a wonderful underground parking area if you are self-driving. Take the elevator up, check in, and choose to dine from several options. Sit outside at the Ocean Terrace, dine inside at Teddy Larkin’s, and enjoy drinks from the bar. This place is very family friendly with a kids club, TVs with sports playing, and a great view of the ocean.
The indoor bar area | Harbord Diggers
From here, it’s just a short walk across the street to Freshwater Beach. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s actually an ocean beach, but it is very quiet and peaceful, especially when we visited in the evening.
Freshwater Beach
You can walk the coastal path or walk in the sand along the waters edge, taking in the stunning rock formations and steep cliffs.
Coastal Path | Freshwater Beach
Freshwater Beach
6. Koala Park
Who doesn’t want to see koalas, kangaroos, and more when visiting Australia?! The animals here are unique to the country and you must see them while here!
The Taronga Zoo is a popular place to visit, easily accessed by a short ferry ride from Circular Quay. It’s a large zoo with great views of Sydney while checking out the animals.
But for a much more intimate option, how about an animal sanctuary? We visited Koala Park and got our “Australian animal fix” in this intimate venue just outside of Sydney.
Kangaroo feeding area | Koala Park
Here you can feed kangaroos, explore the emu area, watch cocktaoos fly about, and come face to face with a dingo.
The koala sanctuary | Koala Park
The best part of all was getting up close to koalas.
Koala Park Sanctuary
WEBSITE: Koala Park Sanctuary
Koala Park Sanctuary is located in West Pennant Hills, west of the city, and is open 9 am – 5 pm every day (closed on Christmas Day). Pay attention to the schedule posted at the koala area as you can get up close to them during these times. You cannot touch them nor hold them (in the entire state of New South Wales), but seeing them up close is not to be missed!
7. Check out the Prime Minister’s House
The Prime Minister of Australia resides at Kirribilli House which is located right in Sydney Harbor. Located across from the Sydney Harbor Bridge on Kirribilli Point, it is located next door to Admirality House, residence of the Australian governor general.
The Prime Minister’s House | Kirribilli Point
You can see Kirribilli House from the water and even walk right on the sidewalk next to it as well as Admirality House.
The residence of the Governor-General of Australia | Admirality House
It’s neat to get up close to these high-ranking residences!
8. Go on a Helicopter Ride
For the ultimate views over Sydney, how about a helicopter ride?! The views of Sydney from around the city are incredible, but nothing quite beats an aerial view. On a one hour trip, fly over Olympic Park, the Parramatta River, Sydney Harbor, and the Heads, seeing the epic coast from above.
The best views of Sydney are from above | Helicopter Tour
9. Curzon Hall
Located west of Sydney, Curzon Hall is an estate that hosts events on its beautiful grounds.
The beautiful exterior of Curzon Hall
Curzon Hall is known to be Sydney’s iconic castle, with its lavish interior and extraordinary exterior.
Curzon Hall is also the filming location of the movie, The Great Gatsby!
10. See a Movie at OpenAir Sydney Cinema
Branded the world’s most beautiful outdoor cinema, Westpac OpenAir Sydney features a massive movie screen, showing popular movies with the background of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge twinkling in the distance. There are multiple ticket options with various dining options available, including world-class chefs fixing high-quality fare before your movie.
The “world’s most beautiful cinema” | OpenAir Sydney
11. Get a History Lesson at The Big Dig
Located in The Rocks area of Sydney, The Big Dig features an excavated area of about 30 convicts’ homes and businesses dating back to the late 1700s.
Learn about the excavation at The Big Dig
Digging here began in the mid 1990s and uncovered the homes, business, and various archeological finds, featuring some artifacts on display.
Artifacts | The Big Dig
A campfire was also discovered, dating back to about 300 years before the Europeans arrived. Within the fire, remnants of various seafood were found!
Today, the Big Dig is an open site for taking in this history lessons while a hostel, YHA Sydney Harbor, sits above.
A hostel is now located right above the excavation | The Big Dig
12. Visit the Justice and Police Museum
With a history steeped in criminality and convicts, what better place to learn about justice and police than at the Justice and Police Museum located in Sydney?!
The Justice and Police Museum shares a view on the world of crime, punishment and more!
13. Watson’s Bay and The Gap
The great thing about the Sydney Ferry system is that all corners of the harbor are well connected, allowing you to design a variety of great days. When we visited, we spent a lovely day taking the ferry from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay and then up to Manly Beach.
Watson’s Bay is a lovely harbor front area with restaurants, shops, and a historic hotel It was also a lot less busy here than many of the other areas we visited in Sydney.
Watson’s Bay
From the waterfront, we continued on up the pathway that leads to The Gap, a beautiful coastal area with views of the cliffs plunging into the rocking ocean. The views from the Gap are incredible!
Incredible views at The Gap
While here, we dined at the Beach Club Watson’s Bay and had a great lunch with lovely water views.
Watson’s Bay
WEBSITE: Sydney Ferry System
The ferry system is extensive. You can build a great day exploring the city by perusing the ferries. We will soon be publishing a guide on the exact itinerary we used for a great day exploring Sydney solely by ferry.
14. The Sydney Harbor Bridge: South Pylon
Wherever you are in the city, chances are you’ll get a glimpse of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, whether popping up above the tree line or in the distance as part of the skyline.
Sydney Harbor Bridge as seen from The Rocks area of Sydney
While in Sydney, you might find yourself driving over it, walking on it, taking a ferry under it, or climbing to the top of its steel arch.
The Bridge Climb is a popular thing to do in Sydney, taking you in groups up stairs to the top of the bridge. From here you’ll no doubt get incredible views. However, there are a few caveats with this. First of all, you are with a group so must move as one. Second, you cannot have anything on your person, which means no phone or camera. And finally, you are exposed the whole way up.
Bridge climbers, as seen from the South Pylon
Depending on weather and time of year, you could be out in the scorching sun while wearing a jumpsuit. As popular as this is, we actually recommend visiting the South Pylon over doing the Bridge Climb, which is what we did.
Bridge climbers, as seen from the South Pylon
The South Pylon is one of four pylons that help to support the Harbor Bridge. From the South Pylon, you get incredible views of the city from every direction, including a birds eye view of the Opera House. Enter the museum to learn about the engineering and construction of the Harbor Bridge and you will likely leave with a greater appreciation for it. While we were on it, we saw climbers moving up the stairs for the ultimate lookout of Sydney.
We enjoyed our views of the city, harbor, and Opera House up here.
Great views from the South Pylon
South Pylon Bridge & Bridge Climb Sydney
WEBSITE: South Pylon Lookout & Museum
WEBSITE: Bridge Climb
COST: In 2025, it cost $29.95 AUD per adult to visit the South Pylon. The cost to do the Bridge Climb depends on the day you choose to do so. In February 2025 it varied from $181 AUD to $207 AUD per adult. Given the cost and restrictions, in my opinion the South Pylon is the way to go.
GETTING HERE: We parked on Cumberland Street, right in front of the entrance to the Bridge Climb gift shop (also where we purchased our tickets). Directly across the street is the Glenmore Hotel. To enter the Harbor Bridge there is a glass lift or stairs to the left. Follow the stairs up and you will soon be on the Harbor Bridge.
15. Shop for Aboriginal Artwork
The Aboriginal people had already inhabited the land that we now know as Australia for thousands of years before the European settlers arrived. As the original inhabitants of the land, learning about their culture through a variety of art is great way to connect.
Originally, Aboriginals painted on cave walls and more to tell cultural stories and how to survive on the land for generations. Dots are frequently used in Aboriginal artwork and it is thought that this was to conceal information from the settlers as it helped hide secret information underneath.
The modern day Aboriginal Art Movement helps to provide an income for rural communities as well as strengthening the culture in modern day Australia.
You can find Aboriginal artwork in many places around Sydney. I bought pieces in The Rocks area as well as the Queen Victoria Building and plan to frame these canvases!
Sydney, Australia is full of great places to visit, both iconic sites as well as these hidden gems. You can easily fill your time with a combination of both all while taking in the stunning coasts and sparkling harbor front. Sydney has easily become one of our favorite places in the world!
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