You’ll never be short of free things to do in Sydney. From coastal walks to uniquely Sydney attractions, there’s plenty to do without giving your wallet a workout.
Sydney Highlights
Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Whether you’re ticking it off your list as a first time visitor to Sydney, or you’re a long time Sydneysider reminding yourself how good it is to call the harbour city home, a jaunt across the Sydney Harbour Bridge is your ticket to iconic views. The Sydney Harbour Bridge pedestrian walk runs between The Rocks (via Bridge Stairs on Cumberland St) and Kirribilli (via Bridge Stairs on Broughton St).
See the Sydney Opera House
Wander harbourside in the shadow of the famous sails, sit on the steps, and enjoy a view of one of the most iconic buildings in the world.
The Rocks Self-Guided Tour
Discover Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood as you take yourself on a tour of The Rocks. Walk the historic lane ways, enjoy a drink at Fortune of War (Sydney’s oldest pub), see The Argyle Cut (constructed in the 1800s by convict and council labour), and learn all the historic stories at The Rocks Discovery Museum. Visit on a weekend and you’ll find yourself at one of Sydney’s favourite markets as George & Playfair Streets fill with stalls. Want a little guidance for your walk? Download City of Sydney’s Culture Walks app and look up the Passage walk.
Gardens
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Picnic on the lawn overlooking the harbour, visit The Sydney Fernery, and walk the pathways to discover the garden’s many highlights from the Succulent Garden (that was once a zoo!) to the Wildflower Meadow.
Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan
With plenty of space to picnic, free BBQs, and playgrounds for the kids, the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is the perfect free family-friendly day out in Sydney. Located in south west Sydney, you could spend hours walking or cycling the grounds as you discover the garden highlights. Don’t miss the Banksia and Grevillea Gardens and the Sundial Hill and The Conifer Arboretum with its scenic views over Sydney. And if you’re hoping to spot local wildlife, be sure to visit the Woodland Conservation Areas and keep your eyes peeled for the swamp wallabies and wallaroos.
Wendy’s Secret Garden
Need a break from the bustling chaos of Sydney? Take a quick trip across the harbour to Lavender Bay to visit Wendy’s Secret Garden. This peaceful harbourside garden is a labour of love, lovingly created by Wendy Whiteley. Enjoy views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, shaded spots to sit, and unique artefacts.
Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Green gardens meet industrial aesthetic at this heritage-listed park in Paddington that was once a water reservoir, operating from 1878 to 1899. The site had various uses before becoming a public park in 1953. In 2009, it was transformed into the Paddington Reservoir Gardens, a green oasis in Sydney’s busy inner city. When you visit, you can explore lawns and gardens set among the original brick and timber structures from its reservoir days.
Lisgar Gardens
A hidden gem in Hornsby, Lisgar Gardens is a picturesque spot about 15 minutes’ walk from the train station. The gardens were created by Max Cotton. In the late 1960s, Hornsby Council purchased the gardens and opened them to the public. The gardens are home to many plant species, but are especially known for the range of Camellias.
Parks
Barangaroo Reserve
Sprawling lawns, cycle ways and walking paths, and a safe place to swim in Sydney Harbour. A visit to Barangaroo Reserve is always a good idea. Pack a picnic, do the harbourside Wulugul Walk, and swim at Marinawi Cove.
Darling Harbour Playgound
If you’ve got little ones to keep entertained, this is one of the best kid-friendly activities in Sydney… and it’s free! The Darling Harbour Playground has slippery dips, swings, tunnels, a sandpit, ropes, and water features to splash around in.
Cremorne Reserve
This harbourside park has something for everyone. The kids will love the playground and the grown-ups will enjoy the walking paths, swimming at Maccallum Pool, the view of Robertsons Point Lighthouse, and visiting The Lex and Ruby Graham Gardens.
Balmoral
Swim at Balmoral Baths, relax on the sand at Balmoral Beach, picnic on the grass at the foreshore reserve, and play at Rocky Point Island. Balmoral has plenty of space to enjoy a day in the sun.
Walks
Bondi to Coogee Coast Walk
This Sydney coastal walk is a crowd favourite. Busy with locals getting their morning jog in, and with visitors seeing experiencing the track that connects some of Sydney’s best beaches, the 6km Bondi to Coogee Walk is one of the best free things to do in Sydney. Enjoy plenty of places to stop off along the way to swim and relax, and views you’ll never grow tired of.
South Head Heritage Trail
Enjoy a view of the city and across to Manly from Sydney’s mighty South Head. The South Head Heritage Trail is a scenic 1km loop walking track around South Head near Watsons Bay. You can get to the track via Camp Cove Beach. Highlights of the walk include seeing historic gun emplacements, the red and white striped Hornby Lighthouse, the Lightkeepers Cottage of 1858, and the clothing-optional Lady Bay Beach.
Hermitage Foreshore Track
Sydney is spoiled for choice when it comes to scenic walking tracks. The Hermitage Foreshore Track is a 2km walk between Vaucluse and Rose Bay. Pack a picnic and a beach towel and enjoy stop offs at the grounds of Strickland House, as well as your choice of hidden harbour beaches including Milk Beach, Hermit Beach, and Queens Beach.
Spit to Manly Walk (Manly Scenic Walkway)
An iconic Sydney walk, the Spit to Manly Walk (or the Manly Scenic Walkway) traces the harbour for 10km from Spit Reserve through to Manly. Along the way you’ll enjoy coastal bushland and harbour beaches including Clontarf Beach, Castle Rock Beach, Forty Baskets Beach, and Fairlight Beach. Other highlights of the Spit to Manly walk include the views from Dobroyd Head and the rock engravings at Grotto Point.
Swimming Spots
Shark Beach
Shark Beach in Vaucluse is a popular spot to swim in Sydney Harbour. Located in Nielsen Park, it offers a netted swimming area in summer, shady fig trees, picnic tables, toilets, showers, a kiosk, and stunning harbour views. Nearby, you’ll find parking, a bus stop, and access to the Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Bottle and Glass Point, and Shakespeares Point.
Maccallum Pool
Maccallum Pool at Cremorne Reserve boasts sweeping views across Sydney Harbour toward the city and Sydney Opera House. Built in the 1920s, this harbourside gem remains a beloved swimming spot for both locals and visitors. Open year-round except for scheduled weekly cleanings, it offers easy access to nearby facilities, including toilets and drinking fountains in Cremorne Reserve.
Fairlight Beach Rock Pool
Fairlight Rock Pool is a scenic tidal pool at Fairlight Beach on Sydney Harbour’s northern side. Positioned on the coastal walk to Manly, the beach features a sandy shore and a grassy reserve ideal for picnics. With toilets and showers available at the beach, it’s a great spot to swim.
Murray Rose Pool (Redleaf Pool), Rose Bay
Murray Rose Pool, previously known as Redleaf Pool, is a scenic harbour swimming spot in Double Bay. Enclosed by a protective net, it features a semi-circular jetty and floating pontoons for swimmers to enjoy. Adjacent to Seven Shillings Beach, Murray Rose Pool has a range of facilities including drinking fountains, toilets, showers, shaded seating areas, and an on-site café for snacks and drinks.
Sunset Spots
Mrs Macquarie’s Point
Whether it’s your first visit to Sydney or you’re a long time local, this is the sunset vantage point that never gets old. The view from Mrs Macquarie’s Point is the stuff of postcards. Enjoy the view of the Sydney skyline, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge as you farewell another glorious day in the harbour city.
Observatory Hill
Observatory Hill is another of Sydney’s postcard-worthy vantage points. Located in Millers Point and home to Australia’s first observatory, Observatory Hill is an ideal place in the inner city to enjoy a sunset over Sydney Harbour.
Dudley Page Reserve
Worth the jaunt out to the eastern suburbs, Dudley Page Reserve is a popular sunset vantage point due to its elevated location. At Dudley Page Reserve you can enjoy a view over the harbour and Sydney city skyline. Pack a picnic blanket and make yourself comfortable as you enjoy one of Sydney’s favourite sunset spots.
Historic Attractions
Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Sydney Harbour, was once a convict penal settlement and later a shipyard. It is known as Wareamah to First Nations peoples. Today, the island is place where you can explore maritime history and enjoy waterfront parkland.
Middle Head
The first gun emplacement was installed at Middle Head in 1801, and over the years, the area evolved into a strategic defence complex with underground tunnels, gun pits, and barracks. Today, Middle Head is a public park where you can explore the remnants of these fortifications and take in sweeping views of Sydney Harbour. The Middle Head precinct also offers walking tracks, hidden beaches, and grassy picnic spots.
North Head
At the lookout from Fairfax Walk on North Head you’ll enjoy views right across the harbour toward the Sydney city skyline. North Head is at the outer reaches of Sydney Harbour, and is renowned for its scenic views. If you’re keen for a bit of an adventure, walk up from Manly wharf, stopping off at Collins Beach along the way.
South Head
Directly across from North Head is South Head. Reach South Head via the scenic South Head Heritage Trail. Pack a picnic or pick up fish and chips in Watsons Bay and find a spot on the grass to enjoy watching the boats cruise around Sydney Harbour. Keen for a swim? You’ll pass Camp Cove on the walk up to South Head.
Coal Loader Parklands at Balls Head
Located walking distance from Waverton train station, the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability sits on the grounds of a former industrial coal-loading facility. Operating from the 1920s to the 1990s, the site has been transformed into a community hub focused on sustainable living. When you visit you can wander through the historic tunnels and enjoy the surrounding harbourside bushland that connects with Balls Head Reserve.
Grotto Point Aboriginal Rock Engravings
Grotto Point at Dobroyd Head is home to ancient Aboriginal rock engravings etched into the sandstone, offering a glimpse into Australia’s Indigenous heritage. Overlooking the harbour, these carvings depict fish, boomerangs, and a kangaroo, serving as a lasting connection to the area’s First Nations history.
Uniquely Sydney
Shep’s Mound
Plane spotters, rejoice! Shep’s Mound is one of Sydney’s best places for plane spotting. Located alongside the air traffic control tower at Sydney Airport, Shep’s Mound has a car park and elevated viewing area to watch the planes come and go.
SS Ayrfield at Homebush Bay
Witness the photogenic deteriorated remains of the SS Ayrfield in the shallows of Homebush Bay. From the hull a forest of greenery has emerged as the ship has slowly been reclaimed by mangroves.