After a day of exploring Sydney, I had the incredible opportunity to admire the Sydney Opera House from every angle—morning, noon, and evening—and it was absolutely breathtaking! Now, let me share with you how to follow this amazing route, hehe.
General route: Hyde Park → St. Mary’s Cathedral → Art Gallery of New South Wales → Royal Botanic Garden (including Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair) → Circular Quay → Sydney Opera House → Ferry to Luna Park → Lavender Street → Luna Park Cruise Terminal → Observatory → Dinner
The hotel I recommend is Meriton Mascot or a similar one (the location is fantastic, very close to the light rail station).
1️⃣ p1: Start your journey at Hyde Park around 10:30 AM. At this time, the park is bustling with people reading books and walking their dogs on the lush lawns. If you can’t spot the famous fountain, just use your map to navigate to the cathedral; the fountain is right across from it.
2️⃣ p2: When you visit St.
Mary’s Cathedral, note that photography with cameras is not allowed. The tour is brief, but the interior is exquisitely decorated and well worth a visit.
3️⃣ p3: Next, make your way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The gallery has both a new and an old wing.
Van Gogh’s masterpieces are displayed in the new wing, while other renowned original artworks are housed in the old wing. For more detailed touring strategies, you can refer to other travel posts.
4️⃣ p4p5: Head over to the Royal Botanic Garden, which has an entrance near the new wing of the gallery, making it very convenient.
However, if you want to get to the shore for a perfect view of the Sydney Opera House, it’s a bit of a walk. Morning photos might be a bit backlit, so keep that in mind. Further inside, you’ll find Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a historic landmark. Going down the stairs to the seaside will give you a clearer, less crowded view for a perfect photo with the Opera House.
⭐ By the time you finish the above, it should be around 1 PM, though you might move faster. During my visit, part of the Royal Botanic Garden was closed, so we had to take a detour, which added some extra time to our journey.
5️⃣ p6: Circular Quay is renowned for its stunning beauty, and you won’t have to go out of your way to capture some fantastic shots. If you’re staying at the same hotel as I did, you’ll find yourself passing by this picturesque station frequently.
6️⃣ p7: A short walk further will bring you to the iconic Sydney Opera House. You can find a spot along the shore to snap some photos. If you move a bit farther, you might notice that the seating options become limited, and the area can get quite crowded. For a more comfortable experience, you may need to pay for a seat closer to the action.
7️⃣ p8p9: Return to Circular Quay and hop on the ferry from Wharf 5 to Luna Park. The journey offers breathtaking views of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. It’s best to go when the weather is calm; even a slight breeze can make it chilly. When you disembark, you’ll actually be in North Sydney, where the adventure continues.
8️⃣ p10: Make your way to Lavender Street, a favorite spot for capturing memorable photos. (Before this, I explored a few other locations recommended on Xiaohongshu, but they didn’t quite live up to the hype, so I won’t include them here.)
9️⃣ p11: After snapping your photos at p10, turn left and head down the stairs to the harbor. Here, you’ll find a fleet of boats docked, providing a perfect backdrop for photos of the Harbour Bridge. Once you’ve captured your shots, you can take a leisurely stroll along the harbor back to Luna Park.
This walk sounds amazing! I especially love the idea of seeing the Opera House at different times of the day—it must be magical. I’ll definitely try it next time I’m in Sydney!