Once You See Sydney Through a Local’s Eyes, It Becomes a Completely New Destination

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Sydney is famous for so many reasons. The city boasts the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, Bondi Beach, and more. But if you want to see Sydney through a local’s perspective, it becomes an even greater place. Experience a Sydney that you could only have dreamed of, and watch it come alive.

What to Do

Being outdoors and by the ocean is obviously one of the top priorities for everyone in Sydney, especially the locals. It’s a must to see Bondi Beach while you’re in Sydney, but instead of getting a tan there with all the crowds, try something different and do the Bondi to Coogee Walk! This urban coastal walk is the perfect way to experience the outdoors, but also see amazing cliffs, rock pools, lesser-known beaches, and more!

If you stay a while at Bondi Beach, a really important spot for you to visit is the Cooee Art Gallery. This was the first gallery dedicated to aboriginal people’s art, and visiting it means acknowledging and learning about the aboriginal people’s history and struggles as a result of their colonization.

Another great place to go and be outside is the Darling Harbor. This harbor is just beside the city center, so there are excellent views of the city. The harbor also has a Chinese Garden, the Australian National Maritime Museum, great walkways, and other fun activities.

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Feet looking hot👣 @holly.mather

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If you want a really different experience that only locals know about, you only have to go a few kilometers outside the Sydney city center to get to Moore Park. This park is not only beautiful and great to relax at, but it also hosts a totally unique movie experience called Mov’in bed. Mov’in bed is an outdoor movie theater where you can watch a flick from a real bed instead of a chair! If you want to a chill night after a long day of sightseeing, this is the place to go.

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Last night’s coziness 🍿

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Dining and Nightlife

For a really sophisticated atmosphere but wholesome meal, go to The Grounds of the City. This restaurant has another location slightly outside the city in Alexandria, which is actually at an old pie factory! But the one in the city is just as lovely, and serves really fresh and innovative meals in a simple yet luxurious way.

Surry Hills is a really cool suburb of Sydney, which is only a couple kilometers outside the center, so it’s totally walkable, and is known as the foodie neighborhood of Sydney. There’s also a lot of bars there, specifically on Foveaux Street. Whether you want a karaoke bar, a proper Irish pub, or a fancy cocktail, you’ll find everything on this street.

Another really cool area is the suburb of Newtown, which has a super bohemian vibe with a ton of cafes and music venues. There’s always something cool going on at night if you just walk around, and if you want something sweet, head over to Gelato Blue, a totally plant-based gelato shop with the best flavors!