I’m going to be in Sydney with a few co-workers in August this year. It’s a work trip but we’ll have 2 or 3 days to explore. We’ll be seeing a few pubs, casino’s and will be at the Gaming Show for 1 day. Dinners and hotel will all be arranged by the company.
What are the “must do” things we should do while we are there? Opera House? Zoo? Is there cool beach town to go to for an afternoon?
Throw some ideas my way….
Whilst Bondi is the famous beach, with fame comes heavy tourist usage. That said, there’s a good walk between Watson’s bay and Bondi beach (and indeed in either direction from both. I quite liked Manly beach, and you could catch a ferry there. Coogee also worth considering. Taking a ferry trip or two is very much recommended.
The Rocks tended to be a little touristy, but it’s an important historical area. Emu pizza was an experience!
Normally I’d recommend the botanical gardens (e.g. the one in Melbourne is lovely), but Sydney’s, whilst a convenient walk past the opera house, was rather underwhelming.
Taronga zoo used to do a night opening (more of a dusk opening really) which makes for a different experience. Personally I’ve grown less comfortable with the whole concept of zoos, but that’s a personal judgement and these things are never black and white.
The harbour bridge is another popular attraction. Cheap to walk up the pylons, pricier to strap in and walk the itself.
I haven’t been there for two decades, but climbing the bridge and a Mozart opera at the Opera House remain my two favorite things I experienced there.
A day trip to the Blue Mountains is a wonderful way to spend a day. A lot to see. Three Sisters rock formation (kind of like a green Grand Canyon), Jamieson Valley, Mount Solitary, Ruined Castle, Katoomba Falls and the Burraborang Valley. You must ride the Scenic cableway. It is the world’s steepest perpendicular railway. Stop for lunch in Katoomba or a similar small township.
Good stuff-thanks-
yes it is rather steep 
I recall feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the angle
Some really good suggestions here. Brings back memories of our time in Sydney.
Another option would be a day trip to Palm Beach - either drive or seaplane. Jonah’s is a good lunch spot.
LOL. We went up there with some locals and walking along the beach I got a remarkable sense of deja-vu, despite never having been there before only to then embarrassingly realise that I recognised it from the soap opera ‘Home and Away’.
I also spent a couple of days at the next beach south (Avalon). What had been described as ‘heaven on earth’ in the rough guide, turned out to be an especially grubby backpacker place, where by an admin cockup I escaped a stay in the foul/dingy/musty ‘Dingo room’, instead sharing a room with the resident drug dealer (seemingly mostly cannabis, with some cocaine as well). The most amusing part was waking up one night, realising a bag of cannabis leaves had fallen onto my bed, and my head had been resting on this impromptu ‘pillow’.
We were there for a few days in January, we had a great few days and think Sydney is a fun place to spend some time.
The ferry across to Manley was a great for a view of the harbour, and Manley itself is in many opinions better than Bondi.
The Botanical Gardens are also great for a few hours in the sun and you can walk round to the Opera House from there.
Other great walks include from the Lord Nelson and Observatory Park down to Barangaroo and around to Darling Harbour.
I’m there for a few days in august as well so following for some nuggets
I’ll note to the OP that august is their winter (u probably knew that already). But a tour like Blue Mountain is fantastic normally (I went once in Aussie spring). You need to be aware it might be cloudy and rainy and u won’t see anything (we’ve had friends experience this in Aussie winter times).
Similarly. Beaches are great. I’m not sure about weather but certainly will take my daughter to check it out as well. Just not expecting hot sunny days all the time.
There are a few popular walks in Sydney with coastal views
Manly to spit beach
Bondi to Coogee
Northern beaches
Our fav probably is Bondi to Coogee. Start in Bondi and end with cocktails at Coogee pavilion.
Some of the restaurants to look into (my knowledge of 5 years old)
Mr Wong - we really used to liked it a lot
Chiswick
North Bondi Fish
Rockpool
Chin Chin
Catalina
Mud crab at one of the many fish market vendors
Sokyo
People have covered most, but here are a few more options…
If you have lunches available, Doyles on the Beach at Watsons Bay is always good, stupidly expensive for essentially fish and chips but a great view and vibe and food is usually pretty good. Lots of beautiful people about. (https://www.doyles.com.au/). Then you can jump on a Ferry to Manly. Check out the beach and promenade and some bars etc. Plenty along there.
For a bit more upmarket lunch there is Catalinas at Rose Bay on the water as well. (https://catalinarosebay.com.au/) or stay in Circular Quay and go to Cafe Sydney (Home | Cafe Sydney) and then some afternoon beers at the Opera Bar. https://www.operabar.com.au/
Darling Harbour is a bit of a mess at the moment, as they are pulling down the old Harbouside to revamp it all up. So not much there at the moment, although the Cockle Bay Wharf side (city side) is still going strong but the outlook is not very nice with all the construction stuff happening. Probably better heading to Barangaroo, checking out a few bars and stuff Dine, then walking it off with a stroll through Barangaroo Park and around back to the Opera house. Barangaroo » Barangaroo Reserve
Blue Mountains is probably too far, if you only have a couple of days as it would eat a whole day up.
Yes, Doyles is at least very good fish & chips, to go along with the elevated price. One aspect I did enjoy getting a takeaway, was them serving fish gougons, which makes it easier to eat at the start of one of those walks.
