Pre-Cruise Stay in Sydney: Where to Stay, What to Eat, Things to Do

Sydney Harbour dinner cruise:

You’ll see the harbor as your cruise ship sails away, but a dinner cruise on the harbor is a lovely way to get your bearings while savoring fine dining, drinks, and views.

Sydney Harbour guided kayaking tour:

Choose from champagne breakfast, morning tea, or sunrise kayak and coffee options with your tour departing from North Sydney. To get there, you can take the train or walk across the bridge.

BridgeClimb Sydney:

Choose from sunrise, sunset, daytime, or after-dark options for your journey to the summit of this iconic bridge, 134 meters above the water—led by experienced guides with a full complement of safety features.

Learn about local history with an Indigenous guide:

Choose one or more of the many excellent options for learning about Australia’s indigenous cultures. Take the Rocks Dreaming Aboriginal Heritage Tour in the historic city center or take a Tribal Warrior Cruise on Sydney Harbour. Tour Taronga Zoo, the Royal Botanic Garden, or the Barangaroo Reserve waterfront park with an Indigenous guide. Take in a performance by the Bangarra Dance Theater Indigenous dance company at Sydney Opera House.

Cockatoo Island:

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this island in Sydney Harbour was once used for shipbuilding and housed convicts indentured into this work. Take the public ferry to the island and learn about Australia’s history as a penal colony through an island highlights tour, a shipyard tales tour, or a prison tour.

Taronga Zoo:

View animals from around the world, with a special focus on Australian species—plus sweeping views of Sydney Harbour—at this zoo focused on conservation and education. For an even more immersive experience, stay overnight at the eco-lodge on the zoo grounds (where animals might wander outside your window) or try the “Roar and Snore” safari-style overnight experience (which includes tent accommodations and a night safari inside the zoo).

Bondi to Coogee coastal walk:

This iconic walk will take you just over an hour from point to point—but plan extra time for photo stops and side quests along the way. On a morning walk along this well-maintained coastal boardwalk, you’ll pass houses with stunning ocean views and see locals out for a surf before heading to work. You’ll see native plants and weathered rock formations with indigenous carvings that speak to the area’s history—as does an expansive cemetery stretching up the hillside. You’d be hard pressed to find another walk that serves up such a diverse range of environments in the space of 5 km. (Be sure to wear sun protection, even if it’s cloudy; this walk has almost no shade, and the sun reflecting off the ocean increases your exposure.)

Walk to Hornby Lighthouse:

Walking in the other direction from Bondi, you can reach Hornby Lighthouse in just under two hours. This walk takes you through residential neighborhoods, past homes and schools—but still rewards you at the end with views of Sydney Harbour National Park across the water. Check out the smaller Macquarie Lighthouse (the first and longest-serving in Australia) on the way to the majestic Hornby Lighthouse, set atop towering cliffs overlooking Watsons Bay.

Manly to Spit Bridge coastal walk:

Beaches, lighthouses, rock carvings, and harbor views are also features on this walk, which spans 10 km in each direction (an ideal way to spend a day if you’re staying in Manly, north of the city center and adjacent to Sydney Harbour National Park). When your stay here concludes, you can simply take the ferry to Circular Quay to board your cruise ship.

Luke’s Table at the Sydney Harbour Bridge:

If you’re not feeling up to getting in a harness and braving the elements, this restaurant perched 87 meters above the water serves up spectacular views along with a three-course meal featuring local ingredients. Enjoy welcome champagne and canapes before getting to know your fellow guests at a communal-style small group dinner (maximum 20).

Sydney Opera House:

Come here for a show or just to see the famous building up close, but don’t discount the dining options on site. Seafood is the main event at the Opera Bar that hugs the waterline outside. Midden by Mark Olive (also located outside the opera house, on the Western boardwalk) serves up a produce-centric menu featuring native Australian ingredients. House Canteen (outside under a tent) offers an Asian-influenced lunch and dinner menu. Get a closer look at the building’s legendary design with a reservation at Bennelong, a restaurant inside the opera house with a focus on fine Australian food and wine.

Quay:

This restaurant, located near the Rocks in the heart of historic Sydney, is a local institution for a reason. Unbeatable harbor views will draw in diners regardless, but the award-winning establishment is also popular with locals. The seven-course tasting menu takes diners on a journey that uses variations in flavor and texture for dramatic flourishes.

Gateway Sydney:

For a low-priced option near Circular Quay, visit this food court with 30-plus restaurants, cafes, and bars—everything from crepes and wings to Korean, Vietnamese, and Lebanese.

Maybe Sammy:

Every drink is a special occasion at this chic bar near the Rocks, where mixology incorporates theatrical flair alongside masterfully crafted cocktails.

Hickson House:

Located in a restored warehouse underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this working distillery offers tours, and tastings as well as drinks featuring the house-made gin, whiskey, and small-batch liquors. The bar menu features ingredients designed to complement the cocktails.

Fortune of War:

Visit Sydney’s oldest pub (continuously licensed since 1828) near the Rocks for hearty meals, cold beer, and live music.

Bondi Icebergs Club:

Top-shelf liquor and the finest food are on the menu at this local favorite, but the real star is the views of Bondi Beach and the ocean pool below the restaurant’s panoramic windows. (Make sure to reserve well in advance.)

The Grumpy Baker:

Stop here on your walk from Bondi to Hornby Lighthouse for breakfast fare including artisan sourdough sandwiches, French-style pastries, and local specialty meat pies—plus the excellent coffee characteristic of Australia.

Morning Glory:

This seaside spot awaits you at the end of the Bondi-Coogee coastal walk. Expect breakfast classics, upleveled with the freshest and most flavorful ingredients—plus fantastic coffee and fresh-squeezed juices.

Fishmongers:

This down-to-earth dining establishment in Manly serves up a very solid fish and chips at an affordable price. (For more upscale seafood nearby, check out Garfish or the Herring Room.)