There is a perception that you need to spend money to enjoy a day in Sydney. The reality is that it's simply not true. If you know where you go, you can have a fun day out in the harbour city, and it won't cost you a cent. With school holidays just around the corner, you’ll want to remember these ideas!
Walk across the Harbour Bridge.
Soak up the glorious views and sunshine with a leisurely walk across Sydney's iconic bridge. If you're feeling extra energetic you can enjoy a stroll around Lavender Bay and through Luna Park.
Explore the Royal Botanic Gardens.
More walking, with 30 hectares of tropical plants, green lawns, and wildlife to enjoy. Enjoy a picnic or lose yourself in a great book in the shade of one of the old trees. Make sure you take in the city views from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, and take a guided tour of Government House.
Discover Darling Harbour.
There's plenty of free stuff here, so forget the Harbourside shops have get out amongst it. Kids will love the colorful playground and the street performers. And don’t forget the National Maritime Museum!
Museums and more museums!
The National Maritime Museum isn't the only one offering free admission. Learn about the planets, environment, and dinosaurs at the Australian Museum, see great paintings and sculptures at the Art Gallery of NSW, and learn more about Sydney's history at The Rocks Discovery Museum.
Go shopping.
Admittedly, if you want to buy anything, you'll have to spend a bit of cash. But Broadway shopping centre makes it a little easier to swallow with three hours free parking. Who said there was no free parking in the city? If you plan to see a movie at Hoyts, you’ll get an extra hour's parking for nix.
Get busy at Sydney Olympic Park.
There's always plenty of free stuff to enjoy here, so make sure you get out there to experience it. Walk through the wetlands, take a bike ride around the cycle track, or relax with a picnic in the parklands.
See the Sydney model at Customs House.
You'll feel like Godzilla as you walk through the ground floor of Customs House. A 1:5000 scale model of the Sydney central business district is nestled underneath the glass floor.
Sun, surf, and sand. It's a little cold to take a dip right now, but Sydney’s beaches are fantastic fun places to spend a day out.
Soak up Sydney's sounds.
Pubs all around the city offer free music most nights. Some bars charge a small fee to see the bands, but if you look hard enough you're bound to catch a free show. Of course, you will need to buy your own drinks!
See St Mary's Cathedral.
Admire this architectural wonder for free. You can pop in for a visit or to pray any day, but if you want to learn more make sure you visit on a Sunday. The cathedral offers free tours every Sunday at noon.