8 Beautiful Hidden Gems in Sydney to Add on Your Bucket list
While we wait eagerly for the world globla crisis to be better, we can utilise this time to plan a checklist of places to visit within Australia. We have complied 8 beautiful hidden gems in Sydney to add onto your post-COVID travel bucket list:
- Wendy’s Secret Garden
- Barangaroo
- Angel Walk
- Chippendale
- Grounds of Alexandria
- Watsons bay
- Bare Island
- Spring in Sydney: Jacaranda
1. Wendy’s Secret Garden
The secret hidden location that provides a picturesque view of the Harbour Bridge is out! A quiet alternative to the bustling streets around Sydney Harbour, Wendy’s Secret Garden is where you can unwind and surround yourself with the majestic beauty of nature. If you’re looking to beat the crowd and still have the perfect photo opportunity of the iconic bridge, here’s the place!
After embracing the flora and fauna of Wendy’s Secret Garden, do check out Lavender Bay Jetty! The entry for both of these places are totally free!
#CTSGTIP: Travel all day on Sundays on trains, buses, ferries and light rail using your Opal Card for $A2.80 on Sunday!
2. Barangaroo
Barangaroo is a must visit area to soak up the ambience of Sydney. The Bangaroo House is a dining precinct that surrounds itself among Sydney’s skyline which offers ranges of food from casual eats to fine dining. Alternatively, have a picnic at Barangaroo Reserve, where you can bask in the sun and feel truly relaxed when you feel the sea-breeze blowing through your hair.
Barangaroo consists of an endless mouth-watering line-up of restaurants, cafes and bars that have something for everyone. The Bourke Street Bakery, Devon Café and Belles Hot Chicken are popular among visitors, so prepare your stomachs when you're there!
3. Angel Walk
At Angel Walk, you’ll find a display of the most mesmerizing art installation of hanging empty birdcages above you as you stroll through the alleyway. The artwork symbolizes birds that used to soar over Sydney but have entered extinction due to urbanization in the city. As you stand beneath the cages for that picture perfect shot, you may notice the beautiful chirping of birds being played which makes you appreciate birds for its intrinsic value. Angel Walk is a hidden gem that adds a unique touch to the modern city and is definitely worth visiting.
4. Chippendale
The inner city of Chippendale usually gets overlooked in favour of the city centre of Sydney and the sandy beaches of Bondi Beach. But the restoration of this place has made Chippendale, one of the spots to visit when you’re in Sydney. Chippendale houses the iconic green building, One Central Park, which once grabbed the award for the world’s best tall building in 2014.
Indulge yourself with a variety of Asian cuisines at Spice Valley or grab something light at the popular bakery shop, Brickfields. Sip on what’s locally known as the best campus coffee at Twelve Squares or witness the treasures of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Collection. Chippendale offers everything for everyone!
5. Grounds of Alexandria
If you’re looking to revive your dying social media feed with hipster photos, you will need to place Grounds of Alexandria on your list to visit. Other than enjoying the delicious aesthetically served food, and finding great pleasure in snapping pictures of them before taking a bite, this inner-city haven is also known for its perfect mixture of boho and hipster café and luscious garden of heirloom vegetables, fragrant herbs, fruit-bearing trees, and beautiful baby’s breath. Take a stroll around the grounds and you’ll find every corner picture-worthy. Do expect a crowd here before noon, so it’s best to get there early to ensure you’re not getting your pictures photobombed.
6. Watsons Bay
Hop on a short ferry ride from Sydney and visit Watsons Bay, best known as the oldest fishing village in Australia. Watsons bay makes a great day trip for travellers looking for a getaway from the city. If you’re a seafood lover, add this place to your list when you’re visiting Sydney. Fresh fish, lobsters, prawns and more seafood can be found easily at the restaurants that Watsons Bay offers. Take in the sunset at Camp Cove Beach before dinner or shake off the sand and visit Hornby Lighthouse, where you might stand a chance in witnessing some whales embracing the gentle waters surrounding Watsons Bay.
7. Bare Island
Referred to as a ‘small bare island’ in Captain Cook’s journal, this notation for the island continued to eventually become its name. A fort was built on this island in 1885 to protect the area from foreign invasion and is still completely intact today. You might recall this historic site as it is featured in an action scene in the popular Hollywood film, Mission: Impossible 2!
There is also some action happening underwater, as Bare Island is known for being a popular spot for scuba diving. If you haven’t planned anything special and would like to cool off from the sun, spend time here at Bare Islands!
8. Spring in Sydney: Jacaranda
It is no doubt that Australia provides an abundance of natural beauty. If you’re visiting Sydney in late October to November - you are in for a real treat as Jacaranda season is in full swing. The blossoms and beauties of the Jacaranda sub-tropical tree, native to South America, can also be seen here turning the streets of Sydney purple! It gets better when the blossoms fall and lays a carpet of purple to the cities and parks around Sydney.
We know you want to show it off to your friends in a social media post, and we got you covered. You can take a stroll along Circular Quay and The Rocks in Sydney City to adore them and at the Royal Botanic Gardens or Wendy’s Secret Garden you can get a bonus of the Harbour Bridge in your shot. Venture up north to McDougall Street or the inner city at University of Sydney, to avoid the crowd and still witness the streets being covered with canopies of Jacaranda trees. Just be aware of oncoming traffic here!
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