City on a Plate

How to squeeze the most out of 24 hours in Sydney

Nadine Tuback has put together a fun one-day itinerary that'll help you take in some of the city's most spectacular views

10 December 2017 - 00:00 By Nadine Tuback

8AM: BEACH BREAKFAST
Any of the cafés on Bronte Road just in front of Bronte Beach offer an excellent brekkie. To eat like a local, go for a smashed avocado on toast or banana bread with a flat white (Sydneysiders are obsessed with good coffee). Pick a table on the pavement for a front-row seat to all the action.
9AM: WALK WITH A VIEW
The cliffside path winding from Bronte to Bondi Beach is 2.5km of sheer magnificence - you may even spot a whale, depending on the time of year. For the most part it is pretty easy but there are a few steep staircases.10AM: EXPLORE BONDI
Cool off after your walk with a dip off one of the world's most famous beaches. Make sure you swim "between the flags", which is also the name of a beachwear shop, where you can stock up on Bondi-inspired gifts for the folks back home.
Take some time to hang out in the area: it has a great atmosphere. Walk the beach promenade and check out the graffiti wall, then make your way to the main road for a mid-morning treat.
For ice cream, Anita on Campbell Parade is relatively new yet already an institution, or head up Hall Street to Gelato Messina. For coffee, a snack and some cool, Gertrude & Alice café bookstore is the spot.2PM: HANG OUT IN THE CITY
The atmosphere in the CBD is fantastic. You could spend a whole day just in the area around the quay. The Botanical Gardens are next to the Opera House and on the bridge side is The Rocks, a historical neighbourhood with charming pubs, shops, an open-air market, the Museum of Contemporary Art (free entry) and upscale restaurants.
4PM: GO SHOPPING
You can find anything in the CBD - from cheap to costly, chain stores to luxury brands, and from global names to local designers. The pedestrian Pitt Street Mall is in the centre of the city, with shopping arcades, a Westfield mall and department stores to explore. And it's just a short walk to the iconic Queen Victoria Building with its historical facade and modern interior, also filled with restaurants and shops.6PM: FUN WITH A VIEW
End the day at Darling Harbour. You may even want to head there a little earlier to catch some of the attractions (Madame Tussauds, Aquarium, Wild Life Zoo, Maritime Museum) before they close by 6pm.
After dark, it has twinkling harbour and city views for a vibey night out at the restaurants and bars. My dinner suggestion would be Betty's Burgers, finished off with one of their famous Concretes (custard ice-cream).10PM: DRINKS WITH A VIEW
End the day in a rooftop bar overlooking the harbour, lit up by the surrounding lights of the CBD. The Glenmore Hotel in The Rocks was there before the bridge even and straddles history and modernity so brilliantly, it is the perfect place for evening drinks surrounded by locals having a great time...

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