Top 10 Things to Do in Sydney in Winter

We can’t lie, our favourite time to visit Sydney has always been in summer when we can enjoy Sydney’s beautiful beaches and spend a lot of time outdoors. Sydney is so pretty in summer. But visiting in winter is not exactly a bad thing, it does have some advantages such as fewer crowds and lower prices. And yes, it also turns out that Sydney has many great things that you can do to pass the time in winter!

Here are our top 10 activities to do in Sydney in the winter months:

1 – Go on a whale watching cruise

From May through to October, thousands of humpback whales migrate north along the New South Wales coast, heading to warmer waters in order to give birth. Along the way, they can be seen frolicking in the waters outside of Sydney Harbour.

The best way to see some of these whales is to take one of the many whales watching cruises that depart from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. Not only you will get to enjoy the beautiful Sydney harbour but you are very likely to see some whales and their calves enjoying themselves in the open water. If you’re lucky you’ll even get to see them breach which is an amazing sight. This is an unforgettable experience and not something you get to see every day!

2 – Take an Opera House tour

The World Heritage-listed Sydney Opera House is the first stop for many visitors to Sydney. You can’t go to Sydney and not see this iconic landmark, right? Not everyone ventures inside but winter is the perfect time to do so. If you think the outside of the Opera House is impressive then you should definitely head inside and check out the interior architecture as well. It’s an iconic building that has really stood the test of time. Tours are conducted daily and cost $37 a head (it’s not a cheap attraction), but you will learn all about the history of this world famous building.

3 – Check out the lights of the Vivid Festival

One of Sydney’s biggest winter events is the Vivid festival. For twenty-three nights starting at the end of May, the Vivid Festival of light, music and ideas brings Sydney back to life. It Illuminates the city with stunning lighting displays projected onto some of the city’s most famous buildings such as the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. What started as a small festival to get Sydney-siders outside in the cold weather has now become one of the most popular festivals in Australia, with over two-million visitors each year. It’s definitely a great reason to visit Sydney in winter!

4 – Go on a coastal walk

Brave the outdoors and go on one of Sydney’s many coastal walks. You may not be able to swim at the beaches but they still look pretty spectacular in winter. Watching the wild sea crashing against the rocks is a stunning sight. If you like watching surfers in action, winter is a great time with some very daring waves! All you need to do is rug up. On a nice sunny day, Sydney’s coastal walks are highly enjoyable. My favourite coastal walks are the South Head Heritage Trail in Watson Bay and the Bondi to Coogee coastal path. Those two are stunning in either summer or winter but in winter you might even see some whales breaching off the coast. If you own some, bring binoculars!

5 – Get a birds-eye view of the city at the Sydney Tower Eye

This one is better on a sunny day but even in winter, Sydney gets a lot of nice days! At 250 meters tall the Sydney Tower is Sydney’s tallest structure and the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The panoramic 360-degree views of the city from the observation deck are exhilarating and well worth checking out. If you’re not scared of heights, sign up for the Skywalk for a forty-five-minute outdoor walk around the top of the tower.

Cost: AU$28 per adult (Observation deck only, Skywalk is extra). If you already know what day and time you’d like to go, book online for a cheaper rate (AU$19.60).

6 – Visit the Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building (also called QVB) is Sydney’s most famous and prestigious shopping centre. Built at the end of the nineteenth-century by architect George McRae, this building is huge and occupies an entire block with over one hundred and eighty designer boutiques, high-end jewellery stores, expensive chocolate shops, cafes and restaurants. If you have the money you could spend hours shopping there. If not it’s worth a visit just to admire the splendid architecture with its dominating centre dome and sublime stained glass windows. My two personal favourites are the Royal Clock and the amazing Great Australian Clock.

7 – Museum hopping

If you happen to venture out on a rainy day then there is no better way to spend the day than to visit one of Sydney’s many museums. Sydney has so many to choose from, whether you are into history, culture, art or science etc. There is something for everyone and all age groups.

Our two recommendations are:

The Australian Museum:

This is the oldest museum in Australia. It houses a massive collection of natural history exhibits, Australian wildlife exhibits and cultural objects from around the world. It is also the home to ten dinosaur skeletons which will keep the kids entertained!

The Museum of Contemporary Art:

This museum offers excellent exhibitions, works of art and some remarkable Opera House and harbour views. And the best part, it’s free to enter!

8 – Check out the huge Paddy’s markets

Visiting Paddy’s Market is an experience in itself! The hundred and fifty years old market has two locations, Haymarket and Flemington. With over a thousand stalls, they will keep you busy for hours. You can find pretty much everything there, from tacky souvenirs, clothes, cosmetics, crafts, mobile phone covers, fresh fruit and vegetables. Make sure you bring some empty bags as you will no doubt fill them up with your many purchases! And since it’s mainly indoors, it’s perfect for a cold or rainy winter day!

9 – Go on a “Twilight Climb” of the Harbour Bridge

Have you always wanted to climb the famous Coathanger? Well, winter is the time to do it. Every weekend in winter (from July to August) there is a twilight climb that includes a live music performance at no extra cost! Not only you will get a brilliant sunset with vibrant shades of pink, purple and red, but you’ll also get some lovely tunes to accompany the view.

Are you worried that winter might be too cold to attempt the bridge climb? I wouldn’t worry; I promise that you’ll warm up quickly while climbing the 1,332 steps to the summit!

10 – Try food from around the world

Sydney is a multicultural city which is packed with culinary delights from around the world. So if like us you like to try different cuisines, Sydney is a great place to do it. Try Yum Cha in Chinatown, Pizza in Haberfield, or Rice Paper Rolls in Cabramatta. Or you can take a Gourmet Safaris tour that will introduce you to some of Sydney’s best suburbs for international cuisine.

So as you can see, you are unlikely going to be bored in Sydney, even in winter. It is a pretty amazing city with so much to offer all year long. In fact, if you visit from the Northern Hemisphere you may find it hard to believe that it’s even winter! The weather remains pretty mild, and even when it’s a little cooler the sun is quite often shining which helps warm you up.

What is your favourite season to visit Sydney in?

Where to stay in Sydney

Here are the top reviewed places to stay on booking.com:

Top reviewed:

• Sydney Darling Harbour Waterfront – Large waterfront apartments in a prime location.
• Apartment Hyde Park – Elizabeth – A beautiful two bedroom apartment in the heart of the city.

Best value: Tiger Hostel Sydney – A recently renovated hostel with capsule beds. Fantastic location in the centre of town.

Best location:

• Darling Harbour Getaway – A stylish and large two bedroom apartment in a fantastic location. Great views of the city skyline.
• Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney – A grand hotel in a great location and with super comfy beds!

If none of those suit you, try using HotelsCombined to search across all of the top accommodation sites. We use it all the time.

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