I don’t know why, but as much as I love Sydney, years always seem to pass between my visits to this beautiful city.
Sydney was actually the reason I wanted to move to Australia in the first place. In my early twenties, I had pictures of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge all over my bedroom walls, dreaming of the day I would finally see them for myself. As soon as I’d saved enough money to make my way across the world, I was off!
And I wasn’t disappointed.
I fell in love with Sydney on that first visit and have always considered it, alongside Cape Town, one of my favourite cities in the world. They both have everything I love, incredible scenery, beautiful beaches, interesting history and great walks.
But somehow, eight years had passed since my last visit. And I won’t lie, I did wonder whether Sydney would still feel the same.
I shouldn’t have worried. Admittedly, fighting my way out of a very busy Sydney Airport on a Thursday evening wasn’t exactly the romantic reunion I’d imagined! But the following morning, as I made my way towards the Botanic Gardens and caught my first proper glimpse of that harbour again, the smile was back on my face. It was still absolutely bloody beautiful.
This wasn’t my first visit, so there was no checklist this time. No rushing around trying to see every famous sight. Instead, I simply wandered with my camera. So here is Sydney through my lens, and why I still think it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
The Sydney Opera House
There are famous landmarks that don’t quite live up to the hype.
The Sydney Opera House isn’t one of them. It’s not only the icon of Sydney, but probably one of the most recognisable symbols of Australia. And no matter how many times I see it, I still love it.
Its location is what makes it so special. Sitting right on the edge of that enormous harbour, with the Harbour Bridge behind it, it somehow manages to look spectacular from just about every angle.
Early morning is my favourite time to be here, before Circular Quay really comes to life and the crowds arrive. You can wander around the Opera House, photograph those famous sails from every possible direction and then simply sit for a while and admire the view.
I’ve seen it plenty of times before. Apparently I still need another 47 photos of it. 😂
Sydney Harbour
You can’t really talk about what makes Sydney beautiful without talking about the harbour itself. Because the Opera House and Harbour Bridge might be the stars, but Sydney Harbour is their stage.
One of my favourite things to do here is simply get on a ferry. The views change constantly as you move across the water, and somehow even public transport feels like sightseeing.
Looking back towards the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water reminded me just how ridiculously photogenic this city is.
Blue water, ferries criss-crossing the harbour, yachts, little bays and those two famous icons appearing from completely different angles, sometimes Sydney really does show off.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
If the Opera House is elegant, the Harbour Bridge is an absolute monster. And I mean that in the best possible way!
You don’t really appreciate the sheer size of it until you walk underneath those enormous stone pylons and then cross it on foot.
I’d seen and photographed the bridge countless times before, but this was the first time I walked all the way across to Milsons Point. And I’m so glad I did.
The walk gives you fantastic views over the harbour, Circular Quay and the Opera House, but it was what I found on the other side that ended up being one of my favourite little discoveries of the weekend.
Discovering Milsons Point
How had I never properly explored Milsons Point before?
After crossing the Harbour Bridge, everything suddenly felt much quieter. There were beautiful views back across the water towards the Opera House, little waterfront parks and a completely different perspective of the city I’d spent the morning wandering around.
And, most importantly… I found the arch.
I’d been looking for one of those beautiful views of the Opera House perfectly framed beneath the Harbour Bridge, and after a little wandering around the waterfront, there it was.
Sometimes travelling with me really is just an elaborate hunt for a photograph I’ve decided exists somewhere. Mission accomplished.
The Rocks
Back across the harbour, The Rocks shows a completely different side of Sydney.
This is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, and I love the contrast between its narrow streets, old sandstone buildings and historic pubs and the modern skyline surrounding it.
Yes, it’s touristy. You’ll find souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and weekend markets, and it can certainly get busy. But wander away from the busiest streets and there are still beautiful little corners everywhere.
Old stairways, sandstone terraces, hidden laneways and glimpses of the Harbour Bridge appearing between buildings, it is another part of Sydney where I could happily wander around with a camera for hours.
Where Old Meets New
One of the things I love most about Sydney is the way the old and new sit side by side.
Historic sandstone buildings reflected in enormous glass skyscrapers. Tiny old pubs surrounded by modern office towers. Heritage façades incorporated into completely new buildings.
Some cities lose a little of their character as they modernise, but Sydney seems to have kept so much of its history visible. And from a photography point of view, I absolutely love it.
Sometimes the most interesting photo isn’t one of Sydney’s famous landmarks at all. It’s simply looking up and seeing two completely different eras of the city sharing the same frame.
Barangaroo
And then there was Barangaroo, the Sydney I didn’t know. Eight years is apparently long enough for an entirely new part of the city to appear!
Barangaroo was either still under construction during my last visit or simply hadn’t registered on my radar, but this time I absolutely loved it. The waterfront walk is beautiful, lined with restaurants and bars, and the modern architecture somehow works.
I’m not always a fan of shiny new developments, especially when they feel like they could belong to any city in the world, but Barangaroo didn’t feel that way to me.
Instead, it felt like a new extension of Sydney, still completely connected to the harbour that makes the city so special.
It’s a gorgeous place for an afternoon wander, and even better around sunset when you can find somewhere for a drink, watch the light change over the water and wonder how Sydney managed to squeeze yet another photogenic neighbourhood into the mix.
The Royal Botanic Garden
Right beside the city centre, the Royal Botanic Garden feels like a little escape from everything around it.
I walked through early in the morning when it was peaceful and quiet, and within minutes I’d gone from skyscrapers and busy streets to enormous trees, lush gardens and harbour views.
And that’s Sydney all over, really. You can be surrounded by city one minute and looking across green gardens towards the Opera House and sparkling harbour the next.
It’s free to visit, beautiful to wander through and one of my favourite ways to approach the harbour rather than simply arriving straight into the chaos of Circular Quay.
Manly
Everyone talks about Bondi. And don’t get me wrong, I love Bondi too. But Manly has always been my favourite.
Partly because I think the journey is half the fun. Why sit in traffic when you can take a ferry across one of the most beautiful harbours in the world?
The ferry ride from Circular Quay is spectacular, and arriving in Manly somehow feels like you’ve left the city completely behind. The beach itself is gorgeous, and although it’s certainly no secret, I’ve always found it a little more relaxed than Bondi.
From Manly, we wandered along the coast towards Shelly Beach and up to the headland lookout. Visiting in winter also means keeping an eye on the ocean, you never know when a whale might appear offshore.
And on this visit we discovered another new addition: Felons Brewing Co. A cold drink with those harbour views? Sydney, you’re making this far too easy.
As the Lights Come On
We almost missed sunset thanks to Simon’s work, the inconvenience of having a job really does interfere with my photography plans.
But Sydney doesn’t exactly become ugly once the sun disappears. Watching the lights come on around the harbour gives the city a completely different feel. The Opera House glows against the dark water, the Harbour Bridge lights up and the skyscrapers behind Circular Quay turn into a wall of sparkling windows.
Day or night, Sydney really doesn’t have a bad side.
Still One of My Favourite Cities
So, after eight years away, had my feelings about Sydney changed? Yes. I think I might love it even more.
Maybe it’s because I wasn’t rushing around ticking off sights this time. Maybe I’ve developed an even greater appreciation for simply wandering, photographing and noticing the details of a city. Or maybe Sydney really is just that beautiful.
Probably a bit of all three. I rediscovered places I’d loved before and found completely new ones. I crossed the Harbour Bridge on foot for the first time, finally found my perfect Opera House arch photo, discovered Milsons Point and Barangaroo, returned to Manly and spent an obscene amount of time photographing buildings, harbour views and the Opera House from every conceivable angle.
Eight years was far too long. Sydney is still spectacular. Still ridiculously photogenic. Still one of those rare cities where beaches, history, architecture, nature and city life all seem to fit together effortlessly.
And still, without question, one of my favourite cities in the world.
Hopefully I won’t leave it another eight years before I come back. ❤️📸
Where to Stay in Sydney
Sydney isn’t exactly known for bargain accommodation, but there are options for different budgets.
Where we stayed – Rydges Australia Square: We stayed at Rydges Australia Square and found the location fantastic. Right in the CBD, it’s within easy walking distance of Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and the Botanic Gardens, with Wynyard Station just a few minutes away. The rooms are modern and comfortable, making it a great mid-range base for exploring Sydney.
For a splurge – Park Hyatt Sydney: If you’re going all out, it’s hard to beat the Park Hyatt’s location right on Sydney Harbour beneath the Harbour Bridge. Book an Opera View room and you can wake up to uninterrupted views of the Opera House and harbour from your own balcony. It comes with a serious price tag, but for one of Sydney’s ultimate bucket-list stays, that view is pretty hard to beat.
For less – YHA Sydney Harbour: Travelling on a tighter budget? YHA Sydney Harbour has both dorms and private ensuite rooms in an incredible location in The Rocks. The real bonus is the rooftop, with panoramic views over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge — views you’d normally expect to pay considerably more for in Sydney!
Leave a reply