Once in a Lifetime Experiences you MUST do in Sydney!
Sydney is an absolutely beautiful city! There are so many affordable things to do in the city. If you're looking for those "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences for your visit, here are some amazing splurges for the BEST views in Sydney!
Sea Plane over the Harbour
Soar over Sydney with a scenic sea plane over the Harbour! Sydney Sea Planes has been taking tourists for scenic trips over the harbour since 2005. They currently operate 5 planes and take a 15- 30 minute scenic flight starting at their home base, Rose Bay, all the way to the Northern Beaches like Palm Beach and back down to visit the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It's a beautiful way to see the entire coastline of Sydney from above!
Click here to book your Sea Plane experience with Klook Travel!
Price: For a 15 minute flight, it's AUD 220 per adult. For a 30 minute flight, it's AUD 280 per adult.
What you need: There is no dress code for this experience. Make sure to bring your camera for beautiful pictures of the Sydney Coastline!
How to get there:
Ferry: It's easy to reach Rose Bay by ferry from the Circular Quay Wharf. The ferry ride is about 30 minutes long. After, it's less than a 5 minute walk to the Rose Bay Terminal. For a ferry timetable, click here.
Bus: 5 minutes walking from New South Head Rd opposite Elanora St
By Car: There are a lot of options for free parking near Rose Bay. The parking spots go quickly, so make sure to arrive early to scout out a park. Most free parking is for 2 hours.
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Sydney and is known world wide. It is actually possible to climb this bridge with the BridgeClimb Sydney. Since 1998, BridgeClimb Sydney has been offering the ultimate tourist experience by climbing the bridge and over 4 million people have taken part of this experience! Bridge climbs are offered during dawn, day, twilight, and dusk.
We chose the twilight experience and it was just beautiful to watch the sun set over the city and watch the lights come on! We went in January, so it was still quite warm, but BridgeClimb Sydney offers climbs year round (weather pending!!!). The guide that takes you on the climb is super informative on the history of the Bridge and Sydney and will share facts along the way!
BridgeClimb Sydney offers everything you need for your bridge climb. Just come prepared with tennis shoes or comfortable shoes that you would wear for a walk. They require all climbers to wear the BridgeClimb Sydney jumpsuit, so make sure to have a tank top and some shorts that you can wear underneath. BridgeClimb Sydney does offer lockers for free for you to put your bags and spare clothes while you are on your climb.
You are also not allowed to bring any camera along the bridge climb. At the summit of the bridge, there is a camera that the guide can take pictures of you from. After the experience, you have the opportunity to purchase these pictures. I do have to say, our photos turned out incredible and we still cherish them!
The whole experience can take up to 3.5 hours, so make sure that you eat and drink plenty of water before. Also, if you are taking one of the later tours, make sure to not drink any alcohol the day of your climb! They do breath test you for your safety on the climb.
BridgeClimb Sydney takes the health of their climbers very seriously and have a strict protocol for who is allowed to climb. If you think you might be hesitant to climb, click here to take a list of their full requirements.
To book your bridge climb experience, click here!
Price: Depending on the time of day that you book, price can range from AUD 268 per adult.
What you need: a pair of closed toed shoes and sunglasses for a dawn, day, or twilight booking. You won't be allowed to bring anything else with you including your phone or camera.
How to get here:
BridgeClimb Sydney is located in the rocks just under the base of the bridge. You can easily catch a ferry or train to Circular Quay. Walk along George Street until you reach the corner of Argyle Street. You'll see the chocolate shop, Guylian. Walk along this street until you see the Argyle staircase on the left side of the street (right next to the Sake restaurant. If you've walked under the archway bridge, you've gone too far. Take this staircase all the way to top to reach Cumberland street (right next to the Glenmore Hotel). Take a left and you'll see the entrance to Bridge Climb Sydney on the opposite side of the street underneath the bridge.
It's also possible to drive to the rocks and park at the metered parking at Cumberland street, but there is a time limit of 2 hours.
Luxury Yacht
There's nothing more luxurious than cruising on a yacht along the harbour! We've done this only once and it was epic! With a group of friends, we were able to split the cost of the yacht.
Klook does offer a yacht experience that includes Australian sparkling wine and a cheese and fruit platter. You are able to share the experience with up to 6 friends. The boat will take you along the harbour for approximately 2 hours from 6-8 PM.
To book your luxury yacht experience with Klook, click here!
Price: It's AUD 799 but can be split with up to 6 friends on the same boat.
What you need: Just bring yourself, friends, and a camera!
How to get there:
The meet up point is at the Convention Jetty at Darling Harbour. This is just across the water from the Cockle Bay Wharf.
By Train: Take the train to Town Hall and walk towards Darling Square. From Darling Square, head towards the water and go left towards the Sofitel and Novotel Hotels. The Wharf is just here. The official address is: Convention Jetty, Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
By ferry: You can take the ferry to Pyrmont Bay Wharf and walk towards the Convention Jetty. It's a 6 minute walk. Click here for the timetable of ferries at Pyrmont Bay Wharf.
Helicopter ride
One of the best ways to see the Harbour is by Helicopter! Enjoy a panoramic view of Sydney through a 2 minute scenic tour by helicopter! Transportation is included from your hotel in Sydney to the Sydney HeliTours location (very close to the Sydney Airport).
Once you arrive, there's a brief safety video and instruction, then you're assigned to a helicopter! No matter where you sit in the helicopter, there isn't a bad view! You'll fly over the CDB of Sydney towards Watson's bay then over Manly beach and back to the Harbour for those iconic Sydney views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Then, you'll fly over the Eastern Beaches like Bondi, Bronte, and Coogee. It really is a surreal experience.
After the flight, there is transportation offered to take you back into the city!
To book your Sydney Helicopter Flight with Klook, click here!
Price: AUD 187 per person. Included is transfer from your hotel in the CDB to the Sydney Airport and back.
What you need: Just bring yourself and a camera! Photo opportunities are available with the helicopter before your flight.
How to get there:
If you're located near the CDB, there are arrangements to meet at a hotel for pick up to the Sydney Airport for your flight.
If you prefer to drive, there is parking available at the Sydney HeliTours office. The address is: 472 Ross Smith Ave, Mascot (Kingsford Smith Airport)
And that's it! Our list of luxury experiences offered in Sydney for the best views of the harbour! Although each experience offers a different perspective of the harbour, they're all so unique! If you've done one of these experiences, which one was your favorite? If not, which one would you do!
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