The Best Outdoor Activities In And Around Sydney

A coastal metropolis made up of many beachside neighbourhoods and green spaces, Sydney is full of attractions that can be enjoyed al fresco. Discover the best outdoor activities to seek out in the Emerald City.

With beautiful outdoor spaces and a subtropical climate, Sydney is the type of city where you will want to spend most of your time outdoors. Luckily, this city has an abundance of outdoor attractions that are free to explore and easy to access.

From hiking, swimming and surfing between Bondi, Bronte and Manly Beach, to more gentle activities like picnicking and outdoor shopping at the city’s many charming markets, here are some al fresco activities to get involved with on a day out in Sydney.

1. Royal Botanical Gardens

Botanical Garden

In the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District, the Royal Botanical Gardens are a 30-acre (12-hectare) oasis of greenery. If you have an interest in science, plants and horticulture, this is a perfect day out. The gardens are also home to the oldest scientific institution in Australia, as well as many interesting species of plants, insects and animals. Frequent events are held here, with tickets available to book online. If you’re just looking to spend a day relaxing in the sun however, the Botanical Gardens are surrounded by The Domain, which has beautiful parklands for sports and days in the sunshine, as well as for meeting up for picnics with friends and family.

3. Hike From Coogee to Bondi

Hiking Trail

Among the most stunning of Sydney’s coastline hikes, the walk between Coogee and Bondi is around six-kilometres (3.7-miles) long and takes approximately an hour and a half to complete. This gentle hike has everything you would expect from this part of Australia, with beaches, parks, cliffs, bays and rock pools to explore en route. Make sure to stop off at Bronte Bay for a paddle in the ocean and to take advantage of its picnic shelters, play areas, kiosks and toilets. If you want to take it easy during this walk, you can make a whole day of it, with bars and cafes along the route to drop in for a mid-afternoon snack or cold beverage.

4. Glebe Markets

Market

A hub for handmade and unique pieces, Glebe Market is one of Sydney’s best destinations for one-of-a-kind pieces. A nice element of this market is the stallholders’ close knit community, creating a communal vibe to each weekend’s event. Glebe Market specialises in vintage items and you will find various stalls that only trade pieces from a certain decade. Once you’ve had a wander around the clothes and bric-a-brac and worked up an appetite, look around the food stalls, which sell everything from Argentinian street food to vegan cupcakes.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.