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    We Curated 100 Essential Things That Everyone Should Do In Sydney Before They Die

    Whether you're a Sydney local or fly-in visitor, make it your mission to tick off as many of these items from your bucket list as you can.

    Julia Willing
    by Julia Willing

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Go cliff-jumping at Wattamolla Beach and soak in the natural wonders of the Royal National Park.

    2. Grab a burger from Out of the Blue in Clovelly and eat it by the beach.

    3. Wake up early and do the Bondi to Coogee coastal track — one of the best walking trails in the world.

    4. Drive to the Northern Beaches and hike up to the Palm Beach lighthouse, for the most exceptional views across Pittwater.

    5. Take in the whimsy and magic of The Grounds of Alexandria.

    6. Enjoy a sunset picnic at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park with organic wine and cheese from P&V.

    7. Take your tastebuds on a sumptuous adventure at Spice Alley — home to Asian hawker-style eateries under a ceiling of glowing lanterns.

    8. Climb the Harbour Bridge and take in the best views of the Sydney CBD and Opera House.

    9. Or, if heights aren't really your thing, just walk across the Bridge, from The Rocks to Milsons Point.

    10. Soak in the sun and take in the vistas at Observatory Hill.

    11. Treat yourself to a symphonic delight with a show at the Sydney Opera House.

    12. And when it's done, just take a moment to marvel at the beauty of this architectural masterpiece.

    13. Walk down May Lane in Newtown and stand in awe at the work of some of Sydney's best graffiti artists.

    14. Fill your belly with El Jannah's legendary Lebanese-style chicken, at any of their ~spicy~ locations across the West.

    15. Take a bottle of wine and your bestie and picnic down by Lavender Bay.

    16. Say cheers with an Aperol Spritz from the balcony of The Glenmore in The Rocks.

    17. Bathe in the stunning, coastal sights over at Little Bay, in the South East.

    18. Then soak in the ~aesthetic rays~ of sunset down by Milk Beach, in Vaucluse.

    19. Get out of the city and hike the Wentworth Falls, for the best views over the Blue Mountains.

    20. Spend your Saturday hunting for vintage treasures at Glebe Markets.

    21. Play a round of golf at one of the most scenic courses in the world — North Bondi headland.

    22. Grab brekky, lunch, coffee and a sweet lil' snicky snack at Addison Road Markets.

    23. Wander through the light-filled halls of the MCA and admire the best of Australia's modern art.

    24. Spend a winter's evening eating your way through a food safari at the Carriageworks Night Markets.

    25. Hop aboard a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and take in all the incredible seaside sights.

    26. And while you're in Manly, walk through the Corso from the harbour side to the legendary Manly Beach.

    27. Visit Manly's little brother, Shelly Beach, for a swim, a snorkel and a hot coffee.

    28. Learn to surf on Sydney's most iconic shores — Bondi Beach.

    29. Take in the most exceptional light show, Vivid, during its May-June timings.

    30. Jump off the pier at Red Leaf Beach, in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

    31. Order breakfast by the sea at The Boathouse in Balmoral.

    32. See a performance of the Bangarra Dance Company.

    33. Kayak under the Harbour Bridge, preferably at sunset.

    34. Eat your way through the laneways of Barangaroo — from Hong Kong delights at Old Town, to overloaded buns at Ume Burger.

    35. Walk through fields of flowers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in the CBD.

    36. Get your daily dose of exercise and sight-seeing in one, with the Bayside Run in Drummoyne.

    37. Make the most of cherry blossom season with a walk through the Auburn Botanic Gardens.

    38. Chow down on dumplings, noodles and braised eggplant at Chinese Noodle House (fondly known by locals as "Grapes On The Roof") in Chinatown.

    39. Nosh on sticky ribs and wash it down with a cocktail at NOLA Smokehouse in Barangaroo.

    40. Combine morning-drinking with the best B&E rolls at Dead Ringer's bottomless brunch in Surry Hills.

    41. Sample the very best seafood in the city at the Sydney Fish Markets.

    42. Swim laps at Icebergs on Bondi Beach.

    43. Head to Circa Espresso for a mouth-watering Turkish brunch — but get in early, because there's always a line.

    44. Munch on a delectable range of Asian-fusion treats at the Night Noodle Markets in Hyde Park.

    45. Get your mouth around the best pies in Sydney (don't @ me on this) at Upper Crust Pies in Collaroy.

    46. Go paddle boarding on the harbour at Rose Bay.

    47. Get elbow-deep in yum cha at Sydney's iconic Golden Century restaurant on Sussex Street.

    48. Get down and dirty with a burger, chips, fried chicken and a cocktail at Mary's.

    49. Tantalise your tastebuds with a world of different flavours at Sydney's famous gelatissimo, Messina.

    50. Hire a boat to take out on Pittwater and enjoy some fine wine, good company and the best seaside sights of the Northern Beaches.

    51. Wave to a humpback aboard one of the many whale watching ships that tour Sydney harbour.

    52. Order high tea at the Tea Room in the Queen Victoria Building.

    53. Take a ferry out to Cockatoo Island and tour the grounds, stay overnight in heritage accommodation or just sit by the waterfront cafés and enjoy panoramic harbour views.

    54. Get up close and personal with a huge array of wildlife at the world-famous Taronga Zoo.

    55. Climb down the stairs and enter a whiskey-lover's dream at the Baxter Inn in Sydney's CBD — voted #3 on the list of World's 50 Best Bars.

    56. Take the scenic route to Manly by walking the coastal track from Spit Bridge.

    57. Indulge your every vegan dream with a slice of plant-based pizza at Gigi Pizzeria in Newtown.

    58. Visit Australia’s most highly-awarded distillery, Archie Rose, and sample exceptional gins, vodkas, whiskies and rums.

    59. Get your hands on the best sweet treats in the city at Black Star Pastry — including the legendary watermelon & rose cake.

    60. Catch a game of AFL, cricket, rugby, soccer or NRL at one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious public sporting stadiums — the SCG.

    61. Take a pub crawl through Marrickville, from Grifter to Wildflower and beyond.

    62. Grab a picnic blanket, a basket of goodies and your BFFs and catch a film under the stars at the Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park.

    63. Have a good old fashion barbie down by the sea at Bronte Beach in the East.

    64. Then when you're full, head to the Bronte ocean pool for a little sun-worshipping and swimming.

    65. Enjoy bubbles, oysters and an alfresco marketplace feel at The Newport — with good grub, live entertainment and giant-sized games like Jenga, bowling and ping pong.

    66. Embrace your inner child and spend the day at Sydney's most iconic and heritage-listed amusement park, Luna Park.

    67. Get your scare on with a ghost tour and overnight stay at the Quarantine Station in Manly.

    68. Order sundowners and nibbles on the rooftop of the Coogee Pavilion, before heading downstairs for a giant-sized game of scrabble.

    69. Over winter, go ice-skating by the seaside at the pop-up Bondi Ice Rink.

    70. Drag & Dine at the iconic jewel and heart of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Inner West, The Imperial Hotel.

    71. Head to Chatkazz in Harris Park for downright delicious vegetarian Indian street food.

    72. Shop some of the best Aussie designers at Westfield Pitt Street Mall — from Zimmermann to Dion Lee, Camilla & Marc and more.

    73. Head to Pancakes On The Rocks and eat your weight in fluffy, decadent, delicious pancakes with every topping you could dream up.

    74. Sunbathe at the city's most ~Instagrammable~ hot spot — Maccallum Pool in Cremorne Point.

    75. Take in a Newtown Jets Game at Henson Park.

    76. Escape the big smog for the day and go fruit-picking at Canoelands Orchard, only an hour out of the CBD.

    77. Or head to Laughtondale and visit the Watkins Family Farm to pick juicy mandarins with your nearest and dearest.

    78. Get front row seats to the NYE fireworks, live entertainment from amazing acts and a seemingly endless cocktail menu, at Opera Bar on Circular Quay.

    79. Make a point of getting out to Parramatta Lanes festival during its run and indulge in over 50 food stalls and pop-up bars, as well as an incredible program of live music acts.

    80. Rent a kayak or standup paddle board from the Audley Boatshed in the Royal National Park and discover the tranquility of the Hacking River.

    81. Grab a burger and boozy milkshake from Eat Burger in Cronulla and enjoy it on the green hill overlooking the beach.

    82. Visit Scotland Island in the middle of Pittwater and spend the day jumping off wharves and taking in the natural splendour.

    83. Go waterskiing on the Hawkesbury River.

    84. Get lost taking in art, sculptures and a helluva lot of culture at The Art Gallery of New South Wales.

    85. Wander beneath a canopy of bright purple jacaranda flowers in Kirribilli.

    86. Order a cappuccino and waffles from Celcius Coffee Co. on the Commuter Wharf at Kirribilli.

    87. Watch grand slam champions go head-to-head with a tennis match at the ATP Cup.

    88. Satisfy your inner Saddle Club desires with a day of horse riding at the Sydney Trail Riding Centre, in Richmond.

    89. Hike from Sphinx Memorial to Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

    90. Check out one of the world's most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale.

    91. Sample fried roti, camel burgers, aromatic biryanis and jalebi fresh out of the fryer at Lakemba’s Ramadan Nights Market during May.

    92. Explore Chinatown’s vibrant night-life, starting with the In Between Two Worlds artwork on Kimber Lane.

    93. Amble through the Graffiti Tunnel at Sydney University, running between the Holme Building and Manning House.

    94. Check out an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colour at the Botanic Garden's floral display, Pollination at The Calyx.

    95. Visit the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park and pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

    96. Check out the coastal exhibition, Sculptures By The Sea — staged on the spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk.

    97. Catch a world-class comedy show or live music gig at the Enmore Theatre, in the Inner West.

    98. Take a dip in one of Sydney's oldest and most beautiful ocean tidal pools, the Wiley's Baths in Coogee.

    99. Order an incredible array of Israeli-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Shuk in North Bondi, Elizabeth Bay or Chatswood.

    100. And finally, sit back with sweeping harbour views, modern Australian cuisine and raise a toast to this spectacular city at Cafe Sydney.