Everything you need to know about the WHV in Sydney

Unsurprisingly, daily life in this city is an adventure! Sydney has a multitude of parks, historic monuments, unique suburbs and world-famous beaches to explore. Tick off some bucket list experiences, such as climbing the Harbour Bridge or meeting Australian wildlife at Taronga Zoo.

Sport

Most Australians love the outdoors and keeping fit. This is certainly true in Sydney; all year round, you will find plenty of places to run, swim, surf, do yoga, play football, etc. The city has many parks and green spaces for people to exercise, including Hyde Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Centennial Park.

Whether it’s swimming in the famous Icebergs pool or taking surf lessons at the Let’s Go Surfing school, Sydney is the place to be for water sports. Sydney is, of course, full of beaches. Confident surfers can head to the city’s southern beaches, such as Maroubra and Cronulla, to surf in the big waves. Swimmers can enjoy the city’s free pools.

If you prefer walking or jogging, the Bondi to Coogee coastal trail is worth completing, as are the walks along the promenades at Manly and Palm Beach. City2Surf is the world’s largest running race in terms of participants, with over 80,000 runners each year. The race starts in Hyde Park and ends at Bondi Beach.

Culture

Theatre

Sydney’s main cultural activity is the world-renowned Opera House, where you can choose from thousands of shows per year that range from classic opera to ballets and musical concerts. If you’re travelling on a budget, you can still walk around the building for free.

Aside from the Opera House, the State Theatre and the Sydney Theatre Company are Sydney’s other important cultural venues. The latter has produced artists such as Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving.

If you’re interested in musical theatre, catch a show at the Capitol Theatre or the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Outside of the CBD, you will find the King Street Theatre in Newtown and the Belvoir St Theatre in Surry Hills.

Art

Sydney has several museums and art galleries, including:

• The Art Gallery of New South Wales (classical art)
• The Museum of Contemporary Art of Australia (modern art)
• The Powerhouse Museum (science museum)
• The Museum of Sydney (history museum)

During your time in Sydney, make sure you check out a gallery that houses Aboriginal artwork.

Festivals

Sydney has numerous live events and festivals throughout the year, including the world famous New Year fireworks. Some of its best known festivals include Vivid (light festival), Electric Gardens (music festival) and Sydney Film Festival. For the full list of events, visit the City of Sydney website.

Nightlife

The best areas for nightlife are in the downtown core. You will find lots of restaurants, bars and clubs in Darling Harbour, but the area remains touristy. If you want something more “local” and alternative, go to Surry Hills and Newtown, where you will have a wider choice of bars, including live music. Kings Cross is famous for its nightclubs if you don’t mind getting down and dirty.

Some popular places for going out in the Rocks district and in the heart of the CBD include:

• The Ivy: a Sydney institution, near Wynyard station. This venue has several levels: a restaurant, lounge bar, club and rooftop pool bar.
• The Establishment: a more sophisticated bar that is a classic in Sydney.
• The Argyle: a popular club in the Rocks district.
• Oxford Art Factory: a good place to catch live music in Darlinghurst.
• Enmore Theatre: another option for live music, located in Newtown.

You will need your passport to enter bars and nightclubs in Australia. You should also note it is forbidden to drink alcohol on the street or in public places (parks, beaches, on trains, etc.).