Heading to the land down under? Check out my list on what to do in Australia!
Have you ever been to Australia? The land down under is definitely a great place to visit. It’s a country I would always love. If you’re planning to come visit, here are some tips on where to go and what to eat!
When in Sydney…
Of course, Bondi Beach is a must! I loved it the last time and I still do. Drake eatery in Bondi Beach is great for lunch. Italian restaurant Sagra is so good too.
Don’t miss the Sydney Opera House. Walk around and walk into the botanical gardens; have a drink at the Opera Bar. We loved The Paddington for dinner but Fred’s next door also looked amazing. hot air balloon melbourne is a breathtaking experience that offers a unique perspective of this vibrant city. Drift gently over the stunning Yarra Valley or the picturesque countryside, as you soak in panoramic views of vineyards, forests, and iconic landmarks like the Melbourne skyline. It’s a serene and memorable way to start your day Down Under.
Yellow is vegetarian and a Degustation winner. It’s worth trying if you have time.
Feed your artistic sould by visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s fun and free. Don’t miss the area called the rocks. Try Bill’s in Surry Hills for brunch. It’s great and an institution.
Go see the view at Shangri-La 36th floor and have a drink in the altitude bar. Manly Beach is great too!
Walk across the Sydney harbor bridge and don’t forget to try Automata Restaurant.
Heading to Byron Bay
Go outside Sydney, and check out Byron Bay- it’s a surfer/backpacker/paleo-gluten free place with organic food and farmers markets.
You can either stay in town or stay outside depending on how you want your trip to be. Since I went with my parents we stayed at The Lord Byron which is new and great and close to everything.
If you want to be right on the beach – Wategoes Beach is the one to go to. There are lots of European travelers in their 20’s. If you want to watch great surfers, this is the place to stay. If you’re into the party scene, stay right on the beach at The Beach Hotel. If not, drive into town and stay at one of the Byron Bay retreats with spa treatments and organic meals.
There’s Uber everywhere so traveling is very convenient, unless you want to drive to the waterfalls then rent a car.
Explore good restaurants around. Byron Fresh is definitely awesome. The Farm is a must visit especially the Three Blue Ducks where everyone loves. Try Sunday Sustainable Bakery for pick up breakfast. The Loft, St. Elmo’s, and Light Years are all good places to eat too.
Byron Bay is famous for Farmers markets, The falls, Wategoes Beach, and the Lighthouse walk.
Visiting Hamilton Island
After Byron Bay, we headed to Hamilton Island.
You can stay at The Intercontinental Hotel or at The Reef View Hotel, where we stayed. It has amazing views of the Reef. It’s a huge hotel and most of the rooms were remodeled. The Peninsula is on the other side of Hamilton Island and looks really great but you would have to drive with golf carts to get to all restaurants. Since my parents are older, I wanted to be close to everything and that’s how I picked the hotels.
Satisfy your cravings at any of their wonderful restaurants. Bommies is a 4-course degustation restaurant at the Yacht Club that is beautiful and elegant. There is also a nice elegant Italian restaurant called Romano’s where they make their own pasta which is really good. At the Marina, there is a pick up Fish and Chips place that is next to a bakery called The Bakery which are both really awesome. Don’t go to Marinara restaurant though, it’s a fine dining with 3 things on the menu and is terribly overpriced.
Take the Whitsunday Cruise to The Great Barrier Reef to scuba dive or if you want, you can even take a helicopter ride to see the reefs.
The Whitsunday Cruise is a 2-hour ride back and forth then you spend 4 hours on the pontoon snorkeling and scuba diving. There is a glass bottom boat where you can see the fish and the corals but scuba diving is still the best. You can also charter your own private boat to do this to avoid the crowds. Just go to the Marina and ask. Or better, ask your concierge.
Some of the things I did not do that you may want to do is visit the Kangaroo Island to see kangaroos. Make sure to see koalas in the Gold Coast too.
During our two weeks in Australia, we landed in Sydney travelled to Byron Bay then headed to Hamilton Island. We went back to Sydney from Hamilton Island for 1 day before returning to LA. Flights to Byron Bay and Hamilton Island can be tricky so plan accordingly. Gold Coast is a must see if you have time!
WHAT TO WEAR
