When it comes to travel and Australia appears as a possible candidate, there is always someone who says: “be careful, to travel to Australia you need at least two weeks”. And another that says: “if you only spend two days on the round trip flight”. And it is true. A week is a very short time to travel to Australia. But, to be honest, to get to know Australia well you would need to be born several times. And not like that.
Think that Australia is a mammoth destination that has an area of 7,692,024 km2. It is said soon. It is the 6th largest country in extension in the world. It is bigger than the whole of Europe. It is clear that in a week we cannot cover Australia, but what if, to begin with, we concentrate only on one part ?…
Aerial view, Newcastle, Australia.
New South Wales
New South Wales is located in the southeastern part of Australia. It is the most interesting for a trip of these characteristics. For starters, it has magnificent beaches (its coastline is even longer than the West Coast of the United States), tropical forests (which reach the coast at Port Stephens) and the Outback (inland), where I suggest visiting the park without fail. National Worimi. And it’s all less than three hours’ drive from Sydney.
Here’s a quick rundown of the itinerary: a night flight to see the sunrise over Sydney Harbour, then four days in the city of Sydney (two start, two end) and three days exploring the South Wales region. Even, rushing a lot, you could add a short flight (less than an hour) to the beaches of Byron Bay and Lord Howe Island. That said, with a week you can make a great trip and this is what you should not miss for the world.
South Wales region, Australia.
Sydney early days
To make the most of your trip – in this case more than ever – it is advisable to start early in the morning in Sydney Harbour, where you will be able to see the main attractions: the imposing Opera House, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Harbor Bridge , as that are next to each other along the coast. Also sign up for the Circular Quay (I’ll give more details later).
Sydney Harbour, Australia.
The Sydney Opera House is adorned with tempered glass from France (so tempered that it produces no reflections) and houses the largest steel organ in the world (the last organist to play there was from Notre Dame Cathedral ).
High above Sydney Harbor
A good way to get a global view (360º) of the city is to book the Sydney BridgeClimb , visited by more than 3 million people a year. It is more than an experience. It’s brutal, seriously. It is like visiting the city from the sky. The excursions vary in duration: from 2.5 – 3.5 hours and depart from very early in the morning until late in the afternoon. Just arriving on the first day and having the privilege of observing this sunset from above, has no name.
People walking over the Sydney Bridge with the Sydney BridgeClimb ‘tour’.
They usually offer you a baseball hat, but it doesn’t hurt to bring some sneakers, sunglasses and – don’t forget – flash a big smile at the top, since the guide will take some photos of you (eye, the cameras personal are not allowed).
Taronga Zoo
Giraffes at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia.
Kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, wombats, and more than 4,000 animals from 350 other species live together at Taronga Zoo, just a 12-minute ferry ride from the city. Admission includes the Sky Safari and ranger talks and various shows.
At Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach: where to start? It is possibly the most famous beach in all of Australia . You will feel transported to a different city even though it is only ten kilometers from the heart of Sydney.
Bondi beach, Sydney.
There is an activity that you cannot miss: the walk along the coast of Bondi (Coastal Walk). To optimize time and get the most out of this path along the cliff, it is advisable to take a taxi at dawn to the Bronte neighborhood. Keep in mind that the walk takes about 45 minutes between the two cities, so in the morning you arrive in Bondi before the shops open, when the wonderful sunrise happens after the ocean with surfers paddling on the horizon. Unrivaled.
The dunes of Worimi
The Outback is the interior part. The heart. The most desert , arid and inhospitable area of Australia, which covers 75 percent of its territory . A highway, the Stuart Highway, runs through it from north to south. But with little time, the goal now is to explore the remote Australian outback closer to Sydney.
The Worimi Dunes in Australia.
Finally, the views from Mount Tomaree
There is certainly a jungle trekking plan. Not only because you can see echidnas and goanna lizards, but because the views from the top are spectacular. The visibility from Mount Tomaree is so brutal that the military built a fort here during World War II to protect Australia’s east coast.
Interesting events not to be missed
Write down the events that are celebrated each year in this part of Australia. Australia Day is January 26. The Handa Opera House in Sydney Harbor is in March and is held on a floating stage; the Sydney International Art Series is in November-January at the Australian Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. And of course Sydney’s world famous New Year’s Eve celebrations are worth seeing.
New Year’s Eve in Sydney, Australia.
The biggest event of all is Vivid Sydney (May 26-June 17) . Art, commerce and technology intersect throughout the city, where discussions and debates, musical performances and collaborations of all kinds take place.
