Turn off Netflix. A summer’s day in Australia doesn’t exist so you could stay indoors, watching fictional characters live out their lives. You’ve mountains to be climbing and sparkling blue waters in need of swimming and tents crying out for a long weekend gone bush.
Sydney fares better than most metropolises when it comes to the provision of spots for carefree springtime frolicking, but there isn’t a substitute for venturing beyond the city limits.
These are some of our favourite things to do in summer in Sydney:
Royal Botanic Gardens have never looked so beautiful than they do in summer. Enjoy a walk through the gardens taking in the native flora. The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will immerse
you in the rich Aboriginal culture of the traditional owners of the Sydney city area, the Gadigal and help you see the Garden in a new and exciting way. Discover the history of Warrane (the Cadigal name for Sydney Cove Circular Quay) and learn about the ways
the plants in the Garden are used by the Cadigal people, you can even take a guided tour and taste Aboriginal bush foods! Afterwards, you can enjoy a shop in the garden; shop for gardening books, seeds and gifts at the Garden Shop. If you’re a sweet tooth,
you’ll love the 100% raw and unheated honey collected from our beehives.
Explore Centennial Parklands with almost 31 million visitors a year, it’s one of Australia’s most popular and historic public parklands. Centennial Park boasts events all year round varying in nature from classical music performances, camping, art and lifestyle such as the World’s Largest exhibition of Banksy Art! Centennial Parklands is also a kids paradise. Whether you have a budding golfer, BBQ picnic lover, pony lover or future Archibald Prize winner to entertain, there’s a program, workshop or activity for them in the Parklands.
Sydney Opera House demands to be enjoyed as you stroll along Circular Quay! On the edge of beautiful Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay in Sydney Cove is a gateway to many iconic attractions. Stroll along the eastern side to the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden. Hop on a ferry and explore one of the world’s great natural harbours, visiting gems such as Taronga Zoo. You can take a ferry across the sparkling harbour to Manly, Watsons Bay or under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and along the Parramatta River to UNESCO World Heritage-listed convict sites in Parramatta. Trains and buses depart the quay too, such as the 333 bus to iconic Bondi Beach.
Bondi Beach is a bucket list item to tick off – Check out the vibrant summer events calendar for beachside markets, ocean swims, surf carnivals and fun festivals. For fresh produce and gourmet treats, the Bondi Farmers Market is every Saturday in Bondi and the delicious Palm Beach Market, on the northern beaches of Sydney, is held monthly on a Sunday in idyllic Palm Beach.
Moonlight Cinema is the perfect excuse to cuddle close to your summer romance. Feel like enjoying a film in a park, or by the water? Do alfresco movies like an expert, from blockbusters to tearjerkers to real horror shows. Bring a rug, bring your family – some even let you bring your dog. Moonlight Cinema Sydney will be announcing their showtimes in December! Stay tuned.
Observatory Hill picnic is the perfect low-budget date that is sure to impress – finish here after a stroll along Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you are looking for the best picnic spot not far from the Sydney CBD, forget the usual destination. Go up north a bit but not too far. Not everybody wants to drive, particularly in the Sydney CBD and surrounds, where parking can not only be a slight dilemma, it is also another cost to your trip. – Observatory Hill overlooks a good part of the Harbour and the west of Sydney skyline. If you have the time, you could wait until dusk when you could appreciate the beauty of the sunset against the skyline west of Sydney. It is perfect for a quiet romantic moment with your dearest someone.
During the Australian summer, which starts on December 1 and ends on the last day of February, you will find yourself constantly exploring the infamous Australian sunny way of life. It is a time of great cultural activity as theatre, street performances, and art exhibitions are rampant within the city at this gorgeous time. If that’s not your thing, you can always take a quick trip down to the beach and see everything that Mother Nature
has gifted to this glorious city.
The Sydney summer is a season of festivals, starting from the Christmas season in December. With this grand festivity in the air, it’s clear to see that the summers in Australia are already off to a great start! If you’ve got friends and family living in Sydney, summer is the perfect time to visit. It’s also a great Christmas getaway for anybody itching to escape the snow.
On Boxing Day, December 26, the gruelling Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race starts in Sydney Harbour. The Sydney Festival, a month-long celebration of the arts, is on in January and runs until Australia Day, January 26.
The Sydney Fringe Festival may be held within this period as well. The Great Ferry Race is held on Australia Day in Sydney Harbour. You may even be able to ride on one of the racing ferries. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras said to the biggest of its kind in the world, is generally held in February. Doubts have been expressed as to whether the festival will continue to be held because of financial problems and high insurance costs
– but for now, it’s going strong.
