SYDNEY: BEACHES, HARBOUR & CITY SIGHTS

From the squalor of its convict past, Sydney has grown to be an eclectic mix of grand mansions, showy glamour, groovy pubs, boutique fashion, all set within the jewel that is Sydney Harbour - its numerous bays and beaches a magnet for Sydneysiders and visitors alike.

Language Notes

Italian and Spanish AMSS tours take place in the morning and include the option of a Lunch Cruise (without Southern Secrets’ guide). This 2-hour cruise offers spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House whilst enjoying a tasty lunch buffet (drinks not included). French and German PMSS tours take place after lunch (no optional cruise).

Departure Point

You will be picked up and dropped back to your CBD hotel location.

Overview

Sit back and relax as we drive you through the CBD towards Sydney’s elite eastern suburbs. Enjoy world famous sights on the way: Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. While we drive, listen to the rich history of Australia’s oldest European settlement—from rough convict outpost to bustling modern metropolis.

Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs

Marvel at the grand mansions in Vaucluse with their stunning views of the harbour and the Tasman Sea. See Vaucluse House, which began as a stone cottage built in 1805. Today it survives as one of Sydney’s only 19th century harbourside estates. Discover Australia’s oldest fishing village, Watsons Bay. Despite having been absorbed into the city spread, this place retains the charm of yesteryear.

Bondi Beach

Follow the bay to South Head with its spectacular water views. Drive past Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia’s first lighthouse built in 1818, and then on to Bondi Beach— a mecca for surfers and beach bodies. The world famous beach is perfect for travel snaps or selfies at any time of the year. While at Bondi, you have the chance to look at some significant Aboriginal rock art, depicting whales, fish, sea turtles and perhaps the first account of a shark attack!

Learn about the importance of Bondi to the Traditional Owners, the Bidjigal and Gadigal clans of the Eora Nation. Before European settlement, this was an important camp site, with abundant nearby fresh water and plenty of marine foods easily collected from the shoreline.

Paddington

After the grandeur of the eastern suburbs, the groovy suburb of Paddington will charm you. Affectionately known as ‘Paddo’, this place has it all: leafy streets, art galleries, trendy boutiques and vamped-up pubs. Once a workingclass neighbourhood, Paddo began gentrifying in the 1960s as buyers carefully restored the beautiful Victorian terraces. Keep an eye out for elaborate cast-iron lacework.

Tour End

From here you can choose to take a harbour cruise (at your own expense), or stay in Paddo for some retail therapy. Or we can drop you off at your CBD accommodation.