New Year's Eve and a river cruise around Sydney Harbor were my first experiences in Australia. You can watch the fireworks throughout the bay at this event, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The entire city participates, and you will meet people from all over the world. You don't have to worry about which one to choose, just don't wait until the last minute.
A gorgeous view of the diamond city skyline under the bridge as night falls
It's that one photo you have to take since you won't be back for at least a year. The fact that I had arrived the day before made me so happy to have gotten on the cruise. You should know that this trip is more than 15 hours long if you are flying from the US. I would suggest finding a flight that breaks up the trip, but that's just my opinion. During long flights, I tend to get restless and need to stretch. It's not uncommon for me to get up and move around every three to four hours, even though I tend to sit in the aisle.
Due to its proximity to the central train station, I stayed in Sydney's Haymarket. Since this station makes everything so accessible, I figured it would make my life much easier. As a result, I found it very convenient to navigate my entire trip from here. When it comes to finding anything, I never have a problem using Google maps or asking the locals. There are many restaurants and bars in this neighborhood, so you are certain to find what you're looking for.
This is a scene from a wave pool. It is definitely something I wish we had in the US. Swimming becomes more accessible to everyone, especially if the waves are rough. Beaches here are usually have free admission and concession stands nearby. Because chairs and towels are not provided, make sure you bring your own.
The cliff you see in the picture is just north of Bondi Beach, and Waverly cemetery is behind me.
There is always time to visit tourist attractions such as the Sydney Opera house and promenade, but I would skip the tour and just go on your own. You can stop at a coffee shop, take a few pictures, listen to some live music, and then go about your day. In my opinion, any tour that lasts more than 4-5 hours is a waste of time. Getting a quick glimpse of the city will give you the opportunity to explore more on your own later.
This is just a taste of the ethnic food Sydney has to offer. I am vegan and had no problem finding suitable things to eat all over town. Newtown was a really nice neighborhood for me. The vibe was hipster "Williamsburg Brooklyn before the suits took over". It seemed like a collection of artists and bohemian types, a must visit for sure.
No shortage of trips to the ice cream parlors, I definitely over indulged but everything was so good, and its hard to resist a late nightcap.
I had a vegan burger and it was delicious. For me, fast food is a "sometimes" treat. Vegan burgers have always been my vice and are at the top of my list! It was not difficult to find vegan food here, and some places stayed open late to accommodate those late-night cravings.
If you want to get dressed up and a little fancy, many of the Four and Five Star hotels in Sydney have high tea. This hotel even had a vegan option, I just had to call ahead to make the reservation.
Go to the Whitsunday Islands if you have a weekend or at least three days! It will be worth it, I promise. There is a beach there called Whitehaven Beach, which is usually listed among the top ten beaches in the world.
This area is a preserved national park, so you can't stay here and you even have to use eco-toilet facilities. Getting here involves a few overpriced ferries, but just do it for a day to see heaven.
Gotta wear your wetsuit to protect yourself from Stingers
A Kangaroo grabbing some lunch at my hotel
My trip to Australia was amazing and definitely the vacation of a lifetime. I traveled alone and I felt completely safe, even walking alone through the city at night.