Sydney, the land way down under. No one in their right mind travels to Australia to stay for just two days, except me.
Life is short. Time is precious. It made perfect sense to stop in Australia en route to New Zealand from magical Bali.
sydney opera house
It didn’t matter that I was still tired from the uncomfortable flight. When you only have two days in Sydney, you power through.
So, when I found the beautiful Sydney Opera House, I had to do more than snap a selfie, I went inside! Do yourself a favor and see a performance while you’re here. They also have walking tours which give you a chance to explore behind the scenes some of the worlds most infamous productions.
Sydney Harbour is beautiful and crowded. Depending on what you like to do, you can see a variety of things in this area. In fact, you could spend an entire 48 hours just checking out the aquarium, zoo, museum, or shopping in China Town. Plenty of bars, restaurants, and entertainment in the area.
Sydney IMAX boasts the worlds largest movie screen. I can’t co-sign as it appeared under major construction so if you catch a film, let me know!
No one in their right mind travels to Sydney for just two days, except me! What I did in 48 hours. Click To TweetDining & strolling: quick yummy eats around Sydney
B&B Cafe was my first food stop for an Aussie style breakfast loaded with carbs and juice after my red-eye flight. Mike was welcoming. It wasn’t long before he served a hot fresh meal. The café mocha was chocolatey delicious!
Jimmys in Circular Quay offered a taste of Malaysia. The owner saw me examining the menu and walked out to greet me. It was his friendly conversation that led me inside to place an order. The vibe inside was so cool and the patrons were even super friendly. Many joined the discussion and suggested things to do in such a short period of time. If you go to Jimmys, give Josh and Alwin my regards. Just tell them the girl from New York who came to Sydney for two days sent you!
Mad Mex reminded me of Chipotle but with enough spice to put me in tears! This little fast food tex-mex chain has loads of flavor.
City Extra is a yummy diner at the harbour open 24/7 and serves an international cuisine. They had a number of vegetarian options too!
sydney harbour bridge
See it, sail it, climb it!
fort denison
If you’re into forts, this historic island fort may suit your fancy. There’s a nice restaurant here which is highly enjoyable thanks to the view.
watsons bay
Seafood, pubs, and sand. Watsons Bay is a nice remote spot to hang loose for a few. There are coves too.
bondi beach
Aww, Bondi Beach! I’d love to return in warmer months. However, the cold water did not stop beach goers who surfed the high waves and dived in. Bondi Beach is definitely a sight to see and soak up the sun even if you don’t take a dip. It is a very clean and family friendly beach.
night life in sydney
Word on the street for night life near Circular Quay area:
- South West Parlor – heard this was the spot for brothels, erotic massages, and happy endings. Adult entertainment much?
- Ivy– upscale bar, drinks and eats
- Slip Inn Bar – bar, dance, night life
where to stay in sydney
For the first time, I stayed in an Airbnb!
The house in Kyeemagh was lovely. Not only was it my first time staying in an Airbnb, I opted for the private room option so the homeowner was there as well. There weren’t any other travelers during my stay.
I tried caviar for the first time out of respect for the homeowner who insisted. Never again.
All went well until the last night. As I walked into the bathroom, something ran across the floor and freaked me out. It was dark so I couldn’t tell what it was. By the speed, I thought a mouse but it didn’t appear large enough. I waited a few minutes with the light on and sure enough it came out of its hiding place. An enormous cockroach! It was too big to kill and could fly. Yup, I split.
Overall, enjoyed my stay!
So, this is how I saw Sydney in just two days. I cannot wait to go back!
You may also enjoy: How I planned for a solo trip to Bali, Australia, and New Zealand
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