1. "The Beach" at Barangaroo
"The Beach" is 1.1 million recycled white plastic balls that you can jump, swim, and dive into! We were lucky and came during the annual Sydney Festival (it lasts all of January). Every year this festival is held with lots of food, performances, concerts, art, and exhibits. "The Beach" was the big, free exhibit that year, so sadly it will not return, but go during the Sydney Festival and see what extravaganza they have this year!
Part of the Sydney festival, an 80's concert was going on. ⇩
2. The Royal Botanical Garden
This garden is the oldest in the country and its humongous (66 acres!) and has over 5,000 kinds of plants! The garden is alongside the water and also has great view of the Opera House, and a short walk there also.
3. Museum of Contemporary Art
If you're an art person, or someone who just wants an insta worthy pic, check this museum out! It's downtown near all the sights so why not? Most of the exhibits are free.
4. Luna Park
Luna Park is a vibrant theme park, downtown right next to the water. It has been open since 1935 and is based off the Luna Park in New York. This place is free to enter but expensive for standard rides, games, and food. ($51 online for a day pass) And the park is small, you can walk through it in 5 minutes. I would suggest just taking a stroll through the park, stick to your state fair back home!
5. Sydney Zoo
The zoo is downtown, right by the harbor, like mostly all the attractions in Sydney. I felt like going to the zoo in Australia was a must because of their exotic animals, but if you can, do it in the outback instead. The zoo is small and overpriced (the cheapest tickets are $33). The only kangaroo I saw was sleeping, boring! Thankfully, the koalas were out and feasting on leafs (they are only awake 1-2 hours during the whole day)! There is also a small butterfly atrium right when you walk into the zoo, that was another small saving grace to me. But overall, I wish I could have seen all these animals in the outback instead.
6. Opera House
Finally, we have the famous Sydney Opera House. To me, the Opera House is better from afar than up close. I didn't have any desire to go inside to tour it or try to book opera tickets because operas are boring, right?
