Trip review of Sydney: The quay to the city

This trip was completed in June 2023.

Visitors to Sydney on the cusp of winter will be treated with comfortably mild temperatures of about 18°C daily. This year also marks the return of Sydney’s annual art, music and ideas festival called Vivid Sydney, after pausing a few years due to the pandemic. One can expect to be greeted with art and light installations that come to life at night across the city, adding that extra touch to your city walks.

Below are our reviews of notable parts of our trip.

Accommodation: PARKROYAL Darling Harbour

Rating 8.0/10

While tucked in a quiet corner away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney’s central business district, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour's central location still placed it in close proximity to popular tourist attractions such as the Pyrmont Bridge and SEA LIFE Aquarium. Just across the street to its left is the well-maintained Tumbalong Park and to its right are numerous restaurants dotted along Darling Harbour.

Interiors of the hotel were modern, elegant and well-kept having completed a round of refurbishment in 2013. The room was spacious, with all basic features well-executed, completed with amenities by homegrown skincare brand, Appelles.

Rates are about A$280/night including daily breakfast. During our stay, we were also able to enjoy the Vivid water fountain performance at Darling Harbour from our hotel room window. Transportation options are aplenty with the Town Hall lighr rail station just up a sloped street and Circular Quay just a short ferry ride away.

Dining: Bills

Rating 7.5/10

Bills is a popular brunch hangout for locals in the heart of the Surry Hills neighbourhood, known for offering comforting breakfast staples and modern Australian cuisine all-day. We visited during lunch time to a relatively crowded restaurant just shy of full capacity, but service was effective and friendly nonetheless.

An item on the menu not to be missed is the ricotta hotcakes served with banana and honey butter, a breakfast classic done well with fluffy hotcakes and sweet, caramelized banana slices. Another interesting selection is the XO Mushroom Fried Rice, a savoury dish infused with Asian flavours.

Dining: A.P. Bakery

Rating 7.8/10

Just a stone’s throw away from Bills would be Paramount Coffee Project, another popular café in Sydney. On the rooftop of the same establishment, you would find A.P. Bakery, coined an “all-star” bakery as it is founded by the teams behind well-known cafes Ester, Shwarmama and of course, Paramount Coffee Project.

An open-air bakery that overlooks the Surry Hills district, A.P. Bakery serves up freshly baked classic butter croissants and pain au chocolats as well as more unique creations such as macadamia honey and thyme croissant and smokey eggplant and pork flatbread. Coffee is also available at the bakery.

Dining: The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room

Rating 8.0/10

We were lucky to pen in The Morrison for dinner on a Wednesday evening, which coincided with Oyster Hour, where freshly shucked oysters were on half-off from 6pm to 7pm. Apart from oysters, their main dishes of Black Angus Sirloin and Ora King Salmon were also very palatable. Tables were swiftly filled as Oyster Hour began, so we recommend coming in slightly before the hour to secure your seats.

The space also exudes a brasserie vibe while the dining area teemed with New York-style bustle. Further in, there is also a mezzanine area where the fancifully decked-out washrooms are also located. Definitely worth a visit especially during weekdays joined by the office after-work crowd.

Activity: Sydney Fish Market

Rating 7.5/10

Despite visiting post-auction hours, the hubbub of Sydney Fish Market remains palpable. Before officially entering the compound, you would have caught whiffs of saltiness in the air. Shops touting a wide selection of fresh glistening fishes and crustaceans line up the aisles and we think prices are typically cheaper than what we will get at restaurants.

With freshness almost guaranteed, seafood lovers would be spoilt for choice. Options of having your seafood purchases done your way are also available and you can immediately enjoy your meal within the modest seating in the market.

One point to note is that the location of the fish market is slightly away from the main tourist area of Sydney. Hence, it may be more convenient to pair it with a visit to the Convention Centre area or The Star casino which are in the vicinity.

Activity: Scenic World at Blue Mountains

Rating 7.3/10

For a respite from the vibrant city center, you could consider visiting Blue Mountains to experience another side of Sydney. A 2-hour train ride from Sydney’s Central Station and a quick 15 mins bus ride from Katoomba station would take you to the entrance of Scenic World.

Get the Unlimited Discovery Pass which grants you unlimited access to the rides in Scenic World, bringing you to various trails and viewpoints, such as the famous Three Sisters, where astounding views of nature await.

A highlight of the visit was Scenic Railway, the world’s steepest passenger railway and in our opinion, a gravity-defying ride at 52 degrees incline. Be sure to hold on tight to your personal belongings (and yourself, for that matter) to prevent them from falling towards your fellow passengers in the seat in front.

Lastly, back in Sydney city, we think that it is customary to take one of the local ferry services to have a good view of the cityscape from another perspective out at sea. The ferry ride will open up to a view of the Sydney Opera House under the imposing Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is definitely an efficient and affordable way to soak in the waterfront view!