Sydney and Bondi Beach

We arrived at Sydney Airport and took a taxi directly into the city to check into the Hilton Sydney. After settling in, we spent the rest of the day doing some light exploring around downtown, walking nearby streets and getting a feel for the city after a long international flight.

We spent the day using the hop-on hop-off bus, which was an easy and affordable way to see many of Sydney’s main sights while getting oriented. We stopped to visit St Mary’s Cathedral, which was absolutely beautiful and impressive to see in person, with its grand architecture and peaceful atmosphere. We also spent time shopping and wandering through the Queen Victoria Building, which felt just as much like a sightseeing stop as a shopping one, thanks to its stunning historic design and elegant interior. We later hopped off to explore the Royal Botanic Garden, walking through the grounds and enjoying the greenery and harbor views. It was a relaxed but full day and helped us decide which areas we wanted to spend more time in during the rest of the trip.

We took the hop-on hop-off bus to Circular Quay Wharf and hopped off to explore around the harbor and the area surrounding the Sydney Opera House. We spent time walking along the waterfront, taking in the views, and watching the activity around the wharf before stopping for lunch at one of the many restaurants right on the water. The iconic setting, combined with the lively harbor atmosphere, made this day a standout part of our time in Sydney.

We took an Uber from downtown Sydney to Bondi Beach and checked into our Airbnb on Hall Street. The location was ideal, with restaurants, shops, and cafés all around us and the beach just a short walk away. We spent the day at Bondi Beach relaxing, watching surfers, and soaking up the beach-town energy before wandering the neighborhood in the evening.

We walked the Bondi to Bronte coastal trail, which offered beautiful ocean views the entire way. Along the route, we passed Tamarama Point and Tamarama Beach, and stopped at Gordon’s Bay, which felt quieter and more low-key compared to Bondi. There were so many people out exercising along the walk, with outdoor gym equipment set up and even group fitness classes happening right along the coast, which gave the whole area an energetic, healthy vibe. It definitely felt like part of the local lifestyle, and you’d want to pack your cute gym outfits for this walk. We continued on to Bronte Beach, where we had lunch and drinks at a casual beachside spot, and enjoyed the area so much that we returned more than once during our stay, drawn back by the views and relaxed atmosphere.

We rented a car for the day and drove out to Featherdale Wildlife Park, which was about a 45-minute drive from the city. As we got farther from Sydney, the surroundings started to feel much quieter and more spread out, almost like being in the middle of nowhere compared to the busy city and beach areas we had been staying in. The park itself was very affordable (around $20) and focused on native Australian wildlife, making it easy to see animals up close. We saw kangaroos, wallabies, and were able to take photos with koalas, which was a highlight of the trip. After spending a few hours at the park, we drove back to our AirBnB in the evening.

We took the ferry from Rose Bay Wharf to Manly Beach and spent the day soaking up the sun and swimming. The ferry ride itself was an easy and scenic way to cross the bay, and Manly immediately felt more relaxed compared to Bondi. The beach was lined with pine trees, which gave it a slightly different feel and made it a great place to spend a slower, laid-back day. We stopped for a drink at Felons Brewing Co Manley, which was a perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere before heading back across the harbor.

Day 8 we decided to rest and just soak up some sun at Bondi Beach. We watched the surfers, which was quite a nice view.

We spent the evening at an outdoor movie theater right off the beach in Bondi, which was such a fun and relaxed way to end the day. They served all the classic movie snacks along with a full bar, so it felt more like an experience than just seeing a movie. You could bring your own chair and blanket, or choose a seat with furniture already set up, which made it easy to get comfortable and settle in for the night. Watching a movie outdoors so close to the beach was a really memorable and laid-back Bondi experience.

We spent the day walking all around Bondi, taking our time exploring the neighborhood and doing some shopping and souvenir hunting. There were so many cute stores everywhere, along with endless surf shops, making it easy to wander without a plan and still find great things along the way. We stopped for a late lunch at Glory Days Beach Bar, which was a perfect place to take a break, enjoy the atmosphere, and soak up more of the Bondi beach vibe before continuing to explore.

We made it a point to stop at the Bondi Icebergs Club for a drink since we had walked past it so many times during the trip and didn’t want to leave without experiencing it. Sitting there with the ocean stretching out below us felt both special and a little fancy, and the views alone made it worth it. It was a great way to slow down, take it all in, and enjoy one of Bondi’s most iconic spots.

We spent our last day taking it easy and soaking in the Bondi Beach weather and views before our long flight home. It was a relaxed day of enjoying the beach, slowing down, and appreciating the scenery one last time before driving back to Sydney to wrap up the trip.

We ordered an Uber and headed back to Sydney, where we stayed at the Pullman Sydney Airport Hotel since it was right next to the airport and perfect for an early flight the next morning. The hotel was very nice and comfortable, and the beds were especially cozy, which made it a great place to rest and recharge before traveling home to California.