5 Recommendations For Things to do During the Sydney Summer

By: Reese Allen

Throughout my time in Sydney I have been able to experience so many amazing things, from meeting new people, excursions, walks, discovering new beaches, and weekend trips. In this blog post I want to give you my top 5 recommendations for things to do during the Sydney Summer. 

1. Westpac Open Air Cinema 

The Westpac Open Air Cinema is unlike anything you will ever do. The venue is beautiful with 360 degree views of the Sydney harbor and everyone's favorite, the Opera House. You can go enjoy a movie of your choosing on their website with some of the most beautiful views to accompany it. We had a glass of wine and some food at one of the many restaurants / bars. Make sure you book your tickets early in advance so you get to see the movie of your choosing because this popular spot sells out fast! A few quick tips is to get there early to reserve seats (you can put your name tag on your seats and then go walk around the venue and have a drink; you don’t have to stay sitting in the seats). Also make sure you check the dates because the cinema is only open for January and the first half of February so don’t miss your chance to go. 

2. Weekend Markets

You can’t go wrong with any of the markets in Sydney, but I will walk you through two of my favorites. My favorite Saturday market of all time is the Glebe Market. This market has everything you could ever want from vintage clothes, to jewelry, smoothies, street food, and more. The Glebe Market is huge, and you could spend hours looking at all the different vendors. Make sure you don’t skip out on the food (especially the dumplings); they have an amazing selection of all types of food. When it comes to Sunday Markets, my favorite has to be the Bondi markets. The Bondi market has all the best vendors and trinkets. If you're looking for a bikini, you are in the right spot. The best part about this market is you can walk right on over to the beach after! There are a ton of Sydney markets which are a great place to walk around and hopefully not spend all your money. 

3. Opera Bar 

The Opera Bar is a must-do when you are in Sydney. It is a crowded tourist destination, but it is so worth it. Anyway of the week, you are guaranteed to have a great time. Get some of your closest friends and go get an Aperol Spritz (or a few) at this breathtaking outdoor bar. The Opera Bar also has a few great appetizers if you get a little hungry. It’s hard to find a seat, but stand-up and hang out until a table opens up. Take your time at the Opera Bar and enjoy the view of the Sydney Bridge, the city skyline, and the opera house right behind you. Check the website for the days with live music; most summer days the Opera bar has live music so look out for something you are interested in and take the time to sing and dance. 

4. Milk Beach to Shark Beach Walk

The most popular walk in Sydney by far is the Bondi to Coogee walk. That walk is a must-do walk. It is beautiful and has a ton of popular beaches to stop at along the way. However, a less common walk that I think everyone should carve out time for in Sydney is the Milk Beach to Shark Beach Walk. The walk is only half a mile, but I wouldn’t count on getting through it quickly. You are going to want to stop every hundred feet to take photos. The entire walk is beautiful with stunning beaches, a view of the Sydney skyline, and gorgeous homes along the way. Bring your bathing suit and stop at some of the beaches along the way. When we went we hopped around and went to three different beaches on the walk. It is a great way to be active and discover some new beaches! 

5. Surf Camp Australia 

Surf Camp is a long weekend trip to Seven Mile Beach, which is around 2 and a half hours from Sydney. I wasn’t going to put any trips on this list, but Surf Camp had to make the cut because it was the most fun, inexpensive, and easy trip. It was around $260 AUD for two nights of accommodation and all meals included. The instructors were so fun and new a ton about the ocean and surfing. We did three, two-hour long surf sessions which were a blast, and we felt super motivated to keep surfing when we returned to Sydney. Go with a big group of friends and vibe but also expect to meet a ton of new people.

EXPLORE SYDNEY