5 Amazing Cultural Tours to take in Sydney

One of the world’s finest English-style Gothic cathedrals, St Mary’s is well worth a visit on a free day in Sydney. Following a devastating fire in 1865, Archbishop Polding commissioned architect William Wilkinson Wardell to design a new cathedral. Constructed of dressed Sydney sandstone, Wardell’s building is grand in every way. The biggest place of worship for the Catholic faith in the city, St Mary’s stretches 107 metres (351 feet) in length and 75 metres (246 feet) in height, thanks to the spires built in 2000. It’s also home to a beautiful crypt with a stunning terrazzo floor. Even the most secular among us will feel an emotional reaction to this building, which will be of interest to anyone with a love of history or architecture. Following the 10.30am Mass on Sundays, St Mary’s Cathedral offers a free guided tour; for a small fee, guided group tours are available during the weekdays.

If good, sustainable and organic produce is your thing, then you’ll be in your element at Orange Grove Market. The weekly market takes place in the outdoor space of Orange Grove Public School in Lilyfield, Sydney, offering the area’s best meats, eggs and cheese, plus quality fruits and vegetables. As well as stocking up on all the best ingredients, you might leave this market with something new for your house or yourself, as the stallholders have recently started including independent jewellery brands and art prints. If you begin to feel a little peckish during your visit, the market also has vendors selling a range of street food and ready-to-eat items, including fresh oysters and vegan options.

For an exclusive Cultural Attractions of Australia experience, a Taste of Opera – A Private Opera Recital gives you a singer and pianist recital that can be combined with an Opera House tour and dinner. (POA.) Or for a behind-the-scenes peek, the Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour takes guests behind the closed doors of one of the busiest performing art centres of the world. Venture backstage to rehearsal spaces and into the orchestra pit before enjoying breakfast in the exclusive domain of performers and crew in the Green Room.

Newtown, a suburb in Sydney’s Inner West, was once seen as a scruffy student area, but it has now become a vibrant hub for the city’s artists and designers, as well as many trendy cafes and bars. The street-art scene around Newtown is famous not only in Australia but all around the world. With pieces from artists such as Ox King and Alex Lehours on every corner, you can easily lose a few hours exploring the neighbourhood’s streets. Start on King Street, with A Rising Tide by Phibs and Ox King, before working your way around the area.

The sculptures in Redfern Park aren’t just for admiring – children can climb and play with them. Fiona Foley’s art playground took inspiration from the natural landscape around its location to create art that evokes the imagination and encourages play. Geared towards children under the age of seven, the park features stainless-steel-and-bronze lotus flowers that spray kids with water, playhouses and bouncers that are inspired by seed pods and a red climbing frame that spells out the Aboriginal word for “creator”.

Sydney is full of experiences but if you’re travelling all the way to Australia you’ll want to see as much of the country as possible. From stunning coastlines to remarkable native traditions, the sheer vastness of Australia is best taken in on one of these highly recommended multi-day trips.