40+ Things to Do in Sydney: A Local’s Guide

Whether you are looking for things to do in Sydney for your next visit or a local looking for something different to do this weekend this list is a great starting point for finding fun and interesting things you can do in Sydney.

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Get out on the water

Sydney Harbour is not just for tourists. As locals, we still make a point of getting out on the water, whether that is a jet boat ride with visiting friends or a relaxed dinner cruise for a special occasion. Here are the operators worth booking with.

Captain Cook Cruises

Captain Cook Cruises has been running on Sydney Harbour for over 55 years and still covers everything from sightseeing to full dinner cruises. Whatever the occasion, there is a cruise to suit it.

Rack rate pricing (before sale discounts, which change often):

• Whale Watching Cruise: from $100
• Two Course Lunch Cruise: from $109
• Sunset Dinner Cruise: from $129
• Premium Harbour Sightseeing (hop on hop off style): from $82
• High Tea at Sea: from $109
• Sightseeing HOHO Boat

Oz Jetboating

If sightseeing feels too slow, the Shark Attack Thrill Ride puts a whole new spin on the harbour. It is a 30 minute jet boat ride from Circular Quay past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Taronga Zoo, with plenty of spins and fish tails along the way.

Current price: from $89 per person.

Sydney Harbour Tallships

Sydney Tall Ships runs the Southern Swan and Soren Larsen from Campbell’s Cove in The Rocks, with three main cruise options bookable through GetYourGuide.

• Sunset Cruise with Dinner (1.5 hours): from $89
• Tall Ship Lunch Cruise (2 hours): from $109
• Tall Ship Afternoon Cruise (1.5 hours): from $69

All three let you help hoist the sails or take a turn at the wheel, with the mast climb available as an add-on for a bit more adventure.

Take a walking tour

Local Sauce Tours

Local Sauce calls themselves Sydney’s “funnest” small group tours. Their tours focus on helping you see Sydney like a local, telling entertaining stories, mixing in some history and stopping at excellent, independently-owned bars, restaurants and cafes along the way. They also won an award at this year’s NSW Tourism awards for best cultural experience.

I have done most of the Local Sauce tours and always come away with some new places to take friends and learn new facts about the city. This is a great way to get to know your hometown a little better and find places to go back to next time you head out.

Sydney Secret Bar Tour – How long since you had a night out in the city? You will discover four small bars on these fun bar tours and learn about the city’s bar culture. Along the way, guides throw in some interesting history and more than a few laughs.

Explore either Darlinghurst or Surry Hills. We had a blast on the Darlinghurst tour and hope to book the Surry Hills one soon. If you want to explore the historic Rocks they offer a great cocktail tour in this area.

Their “Chinatown – Stories, Snacks & Secrets” that will help you discover half a dozen new places to eat and teach you about the history of Sydney’s Chinese community along the way.

Local Sauce also runs a Newtown food and street art tour that is perfect for discovering some of Sydney’s best murals. Or a visit to Fivedock to learn about Sydney’s Italian community and discover small businesses you will certainly want to go back to!

If you are visiting Sydney for the first time I highly recommend their Ultimate Sydney walking tour – it’s heads and shoulder above the others and the BEST walking tour of Sydney on offer.

Sydney Photography walks

Alfonso Calero offers beginner and intermediate smartphone and digital photography walks in the city centre. Three-hour daytime, night courses and sunset classes are offered for approx $99.

EcoWalks Tours

How well do you know the bushland that surrounds Sydney Harbour? EcoWalks has a number of guided walks that provide a great introduction to bushwalking or just a wonderful way to learn more about the landscape.

Most walks are 3 hours and suitable for Choose from Q Station Wildlife Meanders, Middle Head Battery walk – exploring military relics, Georges Head Walk or Curlew Camp Sydney Walk. Walks are priced from $39.

The Rocks Ghost Tours

It does not have to be Halloween to get your spook on, join this Ghost Tour of the Rocks for a Thursday to Saturday.

Sydney Architecture Walks

How much do you know about the buildings you walk past across the city? With seven tours on offer, the guides at Sydney Architecture Walks (SAW) will help you discover so much about this wonderful city we call home.

Tours include Utzon and the Sydney Opera House, Modern Sydney, The transformation and regeneration of Ultimo or Chippendale and even a bicycle tour. I want to do them all!

Enjoy the arts at Sydney Opera House

The Opera House stages more than 1800 performances a year, so there is always something on, no matter when you visit. Rather than list specific shows that will be old news in a few months, here is how to plan your own night at the House.

Opera Australia

Book through Opera Australia or via GetYourGuide, where seasonal productions and highlights shows are sold as they come up.

At the time of writing, current listings include:

• Rigoletto in August
• My Fair Lady in September and October
• The Merry Widow in July and August
• La Stupenda – A Celebration of Joan Sutherland
• The regular Great Opera Hits concerts

Buy tickets to see Opera Australia perform at the Sydney Opera House before the performance take a good look around the building itself.

There is a good range of tickets options in Premium, A, B, C and D Reserve. D Reserve tickets are usually $99 (excluding Saturday night performances)

Australian Ballet

Two Australian Ballet productions are showing in Sydney this year. Copland Dance Episodes which runs from 6-21 November 2026 and The Nutcracker from 28 Nov-16 December 2026. Both performances will be at the Sydney Opera House. Tickets for the Nutcracker are selling fast and some dates are already limited as at July 2026.

Tickets: Nutcracker: $118–298 for adults, from $73 for kids. Copeland Dance Episodes from $52

Bangara Dance

Bangarra performs regularly at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, often teaming up with the Australian Ballet for new work. Check the current season listing before you visit, since their shows run for a few weeks at a time rather than all year.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs have 7 shows on their performance schedule this year. With tickets starting at $58

Outdoor Activities in Sydney

Make the most of your time outdoors with these great offerings

Beyond the Blacktop Hikes

If you have always wanted to go hiking in the Blue Mountains but feel you don’t have the experience to do it alone then Beyond the Blacktop is a great option.

Blue Mountains locals, Steph and Paul have recently started offering guided hikes of some of the best trails in the mountains including:

• Grand Canyon at Blackheath – 4 hours
• Round walk – Katoomba – 2 hours
• Butterbox Point – Leura – 3.5 hours
• Overcliff/Undercliff trail at Wentworth falls – 3 hours

All four walks offer you a chance to step off the tourist trail and learn more about the region from your guides.

Manly Kayak Centre

Hire a kayak or paddleboard and explore the north of the Harbour or paddle around to Store Beach for a swim. Manly Kayak Centre is right by the wharf and offers a range of options.

Eco Treasures

Eco Treasures offer paddleboard, kayak and snorkel hire and tours at both The Basin in Ku-ring-gai National Park and Manly.

Things to do in Sydney when it rains

Strike Bowling

Strike Bowling Locations at King Street Wharf, Chatswood, Castle Hill and the Entertainment Quarter.

Climb Fit

Climb Fit indoor climbing centres. There are centres at Kirrawee, St Leonards and Macquarie.

X-Golf

If the rain has you off the course you can still get your fix at X-Golf Indoor Golf Entertainment Centre. Suitable for golfers of all levels this could be a perfect time to see if you are a golfing natural. Casual play, comps, coaching & heaps of fun!

Holey Moley

Mini-golf Venues at Darlinghurst, Chatswood, Alexandria, North Strathfield Castle Towers and Penrith.

Meet the Animals

• Taronga Zoo – Taronga operates two zoos the harbour front zoon in Mosman and the safari style zoon in Dubbo.
• Symbio Wildlife Park – Symbio Wildlife Park
• Sea Life Aquarium – Explore the Sea Life Aquarium at Darling Harbour
• Featherdale Wildlife Park – Featherdale in western Sydney is a fantastic place to see native Australian animals.
• Wildlife Zoo Sydney – Planning a day in Darling Harbour? Pop this small zoo on your list
• Sydney Zoo – Sydney Zoo in Western Sydney is a great option for families.

Check out our detailed guide to animal and wildlife experiences in Sydney to help you decide which one to visit.

Find more great things to do in Sydney

• 33 Lookouts in the Blue Mountains
• An ABC of Gardens in Sydney
• The Best Day Trips from Sydney
• 21 of the Best Picnic Spots in Sydney

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.