Sydney is an expensive place (it costs a lot to even get there), but the great thing about the harbour city is that all the best things to do are free! Sydney is very much an outdoor city and you could easily spend a week here only spending money on food, accommodation and transport. Sydney is blessed with a gorgeous climate and some of the most spectacular beaches and walking trails we've ever seen. But don't worry if you're more of a culture lover, we've got some free options for you too.
Once you've read this list it should be easy to see why our favourite things to do in Sydney are free!
So to save your budget for more items on your bucket list, here's our favourite free things to do in Sydney.
37 Free things to do in Sydney
These are the best free things to do in Sydney:
1- Chilling at one of Sydney's famous beaches....
The world knows Sydney's beaches are gorgeous and you'll no doubt want to check out the most famous of them.
Chilling or swimming at Bondi and Manly are both great ways to spend a day without it costing a cent.
They can get pretty busy, but you'll see why when you see just how beautiful they are.
If like us you prefer your beaches quiet, head there early morning, you'll likely be rewarded with a stunning sunrise too!
However, with hundreds of beaches within Sydney's boundaries, you may want to explore a few more.....
2 - Or explore one of the quieter beaches
Whilst we love Bondi and Manly, our favourite Sydney beaches are not the most popular ones.
Some require a little walking like Burning Palms in Royal National Park or Resolute Beach in Ku-ring-gai.
Whichever you fancy, why not check out some that are off the tourist trail with our guide to the best secret beaches in Sydney.
Read next: A 2 day Sydney Itinerary from a local
3 - Take a dip in one of the ocean pools
The Sydney coastline has a huge number of swimming pools by the sea (ocean baths) that are completely free to use.
If you're freaked out about what could be lurking in the ocean and want to have a dip to cool down, then head to one of these iconic spots.
Try Bronte Baths, Cremorne (great city view you can see a picture in this blog), Curl Curl or our favourite Bilgola (close to Palm Beach and the one on the photo above).
4 - Or one of the incredible natural swimming holes
If you prefer to go wild swimming in a natural swimming hole then Sydney has you well and truly covered. There are so many to choose from, from swimming under waterfalls to emerald green pools backed by dense forest. You want a pool with a rope swing? Sydney has that too.
Some of our favourites are in Royal National Park, just an hour from the city centre (you can find others closer but the further ones are well worth the journey). Check out Winifred Falls and South West Arm Pool, which can be visited on the same day, or the spectacular Karloo Pools which have to be seen to be believed.
5 - Checking out one of Sydney's best spots for sunrise
Sydneysiders are early risers and when you see one of the glorious sunrises you'll understand why.
The sky lights up in the early hours and there are many beautiful places to watch the sunrise from.
We've compiled a list of our favourite sunrise spots for you to check out.
6 - Or if early mornings are not your thing, try sunset
Sunsets are just as beautiful as sunrises in Sydney, so if you prefer not to have such an early wake up call then catching a sunset will be your best bet. As with sunrise there are many spots to choose from. We love the view from Jeffrey Street Wharf, Cremorne Point and many others, but for something a little different, why not head to somewhere you might not have been before?
Lake Parramatta Reserve is a wonderful spot for sunset, and you won’t find hoards of other people there because it’s not a well known place to go for sunset. You can find out how to get to the exact spot in our photo as well as other things to do at Lake Parramatta in this post.
7 - Go for a picnic
Picnic lovers are spoilt for choice when it comes to spectacular locations in Sydney. You could picnic in a new location every day for a year and still have only scratched the surface.
Our top spots include Blue Points Reserve, Sirius Cove, Observatory Hill, Dawes Point and Cremorne Point and you can see our full list of faves here.
Just grab a rug and some food, and maybe a bottle of wine and you have the makings for a perfect day, I mean obviously the food and wine isn’t free but you’ve got to eat, right?!
8 - Do go chasing waterfalls!
There’s always something completely mesmerising about watching the power of a waterfall, and whenever there’s been a good dose of rain, we’ll be out looking for a new waterfall to explore. The waterfalls in Sydney are best when there has been recent rain but many are worth a look regardless.
Some good one to check out are Wattamolla Falls, Curracurrong Falls and Upper Gledhill Falls, there are many more to choose from a little further afield but some incur a park fee.
9 - Check out some incredible Aboriginal Rock Art
We are massive fans of Aboriginal art and never miss the opportunity to find new sites around Sydney. There’s a wealth of amazing stencil art all around Sydney, but our absolute favourite site is the Red Hands Cave in Glenbrook, an hour from the city centre. You have to walk for just over 8km return to get there, but along the way you’ll pass one of the Blue Mountains most popular wild swimming spots as well as some absolutely stunning forest.
It’s not a difficult walk and the reward when you get to the cave is huge. It’s covered in red, orange and white hand prints which date back over 1600 years. They are protected by a fence but you can still see them really well. You can read all about the cave and the walk to get there in this blog.
10 - Snorkel at Shelley Beach or Gordons Bay
Depending on if you would prefer to visit the Bondi or Manly Beach area you can choose either Shelley Beach (near Manly) or Gordons Bay (near Bondi) for some of the easiest and best snorkelling in Sydney.
Swim straight from the beach in both locations and look out for wrasse, grouper, rays and maybe even a shark (one of the type that won't eat you for breakfast!).
If you opt for Shelley Beach there are also a few free bbq’s on the beach for after your snorkel!
Read next: Places to stay in Sydney - all the best neighbourhoods and accommodation
11 - Marvel at the iconic Eagle Head Rock
Eagle Head Rock in Royal National Park is one of the most iconic rock formations in Sydney. There are several different hiking trails you can take to get there but, the most spectacular, is the one from Wattamolla, which we detail in this post. If you’d rather walk from Garie Beach, we have that covered too.
Eagle Head Rock is a popular spot and does see a lot of visitors on the weekend but the area around it is vast and you can always find a quiet place to sit and admire it from. If you want to walk out onto the rock, just be really careful, you don’t need to go anywhere near the tip of the rock to get a cool edge of the world style photo.
Free Sydney City Sights
Whilst most of the major sights do cost, there are plenty which you can see for free. There are parks, museums and even a walking tour which you can do for free!
12 - Exploring the Royal Botanic Garden
The Royal Botanic Garden is a stunning collection of native plants and trees and wraps its way around the harbour.
It is in a stunning location next to the Opera House and the views are terrific.
There are several paths to meander along, watching out for the many kookaburras and cockatoos. We love walking along the coastal pathway and stopping at Mrs Macquarie's chair for sunset. Best of all, it's completely free!
13 - Or check out one of the secret gardens!
If you prefer your gardens quiet and tucked away then you need to head to one of Sydney’s secret gardens. Our favourites are Wendy Whiteley’s in McMahons Point and Lex and Ruby Graham Garden at Cremorne Point. Most locals have heard of Wendy Whiteleys but few have heard of Lex and Ruby Graham.
Both are gorgeous, Wendy’s for a picnic and Lex and Ruby’s for truly tropical vibes. We have lots more details on the Lex and Ruby Graham garden on our blog on the Cremorne Point Walk.
Both are accessible by public transport.
14 - The Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art sits in the heart of Circular Quay and houses fixed exhibitions of traditional art as well as temporary exhibitions and modern art (exhibitions usually incur a charge).
Not being lovers of the modern art, we tend to spend more time in the Aboriginal art sections, but you may also like some of the weird and wonderful pieces on show!
It also has an amazing cafe on the rooftop overlooking the harbour, which of course isn't free but for the price of a cup of coffee you get a million dollar view.
It's one of our favourite cheap things to do in Sydney. The Art Gallery of NSW is also free and has a fabulous collection of indigenous art.
15 - The Rocks Discovery Museum
I’m not sure why but it took us years to visit the Rocks Museum when it’s actually one of the best in Sydney! The museum is housed in a gorgeous old sandstone building from the 1800’s. It’s a great introduction to Sydney’s history, both Aboriginal and colonial. It’s a small museum but there are several interesting exhibits and also some really informative videos.
It’s a great place to visit when you first arrive in the city. If you’ve got even the slightest interest in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, definitely watch the video about its creation.
16 - Explore the CBD with the free walking tour
Sydney has a free walking tour that takes you to the major sights in the city with an explanation of their history.
It's a good way to get your bearings, learn a bit of history and understand more about Sydney when you first get there (although you can do this just as easily yourself!).
It is free, but a tip or donation at the end is probably a good idea. You can find out how to do them with either of the tours below:
17 - Take a stroll through Hyde Park
While it isn't quite as good as its British counterpart, Hyde Park is a pleasant place to take a stroll in the afternoon.
This leafy park in the heart of the city runs alongside St Mary's Cathedral in the north to the Anzac Memorial in the south by some pretty tree lined paths.
The cathedral is also a great free thing to do in Sydney.
There are also pretty lawns to chill on if you've had enough of walking!
Free Walks in Sydney
Australia is all about the outdoors and one of the best way to explore Sydney is on foot. There are hundreds of beautiful walks in the city and close by. Even if you're not a passionate hiker there are some walks you really have to do to see some of Sydney's highlights.
Here are a few of our favourites:
18 - The Bondi to Coogee Walk
The 5.5km Bondi to Coogee walk is a stunner. We've done this trail many times and my parents now demand this is the first thing they do when arriving in Sydney!
Starting in Bondi and finishing in Coogee, this incredible walk takes you over the cliffs to several beautiful beaches, each with their own unique lookout to the sea.
Even if you're not a regular walker, this is a must-do on your Sydney trip.
19 - Walk over the Harbour Bridge
If you don't want to pay over $200 USD to climb up the bridge, you can walk over it for free!
Alongside the road is a protected walkway that is completely free and really easy to do. The bridge offers some great views of the harbour and is a fun way to get to the North Shore!
To get to the footpath, walk up to Cumberland Street in the Rocks and find the stairs. We’ve got a whole guide on the walk and the best time of day to do it in this post.
Read next: Best beaches in New South Wales
20 - Spit Bridge to Manly to Walk
One of the best harbourside walks is the Spit Bridge to Manly Walk. Starting at Spit Bridge, the trail takes you through pretty bushland, past lots of stunning secluded beaches and up to the top of the cliffs, giving great views across the harbour.
The walk is just under 10km long, but isn't too strenuous (there are some ups and downs, but it isn't too steep).
You can access both ends of the trail by public transport. Here are all our insider tips for the trail.
21 - Walk sections of the Coast Track at Royal National Park
The coast track in Royal National Park is another stunning walk.
Whilst the entire track is just over 26km long, you can split this up into smaller sections to create more leisurely day walks.
Our favourite Coast Track walks are:
Bundeena to Jibbon Head Circuit - Click here for instructions
Wattamolla to Eagle Head Rock - Click here for instructions
Garrawarra Farm to Figure of 8 Pools Walk - Click here for instructions
Wattamolla to Little Marley Beach Walk - Click here for instructions
Find an epic viewpoint/photography spot
Checking out the hundreds of epic viewpoints in Sydney was one of our favourite things to do on a weekend. There are so many different places to take in this incredible city that you could spend years getting around them all. The great thing is that we've condensed it down to our favourite 8; all of which are public and completely free.
22 - North Head: Manly
Taking a stroll around the national park at the North Head in Manly is a beautiful way to spend a few hours.
There are plenty of amazing views, but our favourite is the one from the cliffs looking back towards the city, especially at sunset.
Read more: The best time to visit Sydney
23 - Balls Head Reserve: Waverton
Our favourite "off the beaten track" viewpoint is at Balls Head Reserve.
This lookout is a local favourite and offers great views of the city, including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
You can also combine this with a small walk around a forested area which has some aboriginal engravings in the rocks near the Coal Loader, or even onto the stunning Lavender Bay.
24 - The South Head: Watsons Bay
If you're on the southern side of the harbour, a walk around the South Head at Watsons Bay is another great free thing to do.
It's a short stroll that will take you to the top of the cliffs and offers great views back to the harbour and out to sea from the heritage lighthouse.
If you get lucky, you may even see a whale (May to October)! Here are all the details on the the walk.
For other ideas on what to do in the area, we’ve got a full guide to Watsons Bay.
25 - Barrenjoey Lighthouse: Palm Beach
The views from Barrenjoey Lighthouse have a real wow factor about them and walking up here is one of our favourite things to do in Palm Beach.
After walking up from Palm Beach (approx 15 minutes), you'll feel like you're a million miles away from Sydney and the city.
From the top you can see both beaches and the lush forest of Ku-ring-gai National Park. We’ve written a full guide to the walk and how to find a couple of great secret spots along the way!
This spot was just one of our top instagrammable spots in Sydney.
26 - Diamond Bay: Near Bondi
Diamond Bay was a spot that we only came across relatively recently.
Near Bondi and Vaucluse is a little cliff edge which offers epic views out to the Tasman Sea.
You can watch the brave fishermen clamber down the precarious steps to the water.
It also looks very picturesque, making it a great spot for a photo! :)
Read next: Best things to do in the Blue Mountains
27 - SS Ayrfield: Home Bush
The SS Ayrfield is a photographer's favourite.
You wouldn't expect a huge rusting ship just a stone's throw away from the Olympic Stadium, but right by the housing estate you'll see this incredible sight!
It's made even more photogenic by the trees growing out of it.
28 - Stanwell Tops
The view from Stanwell Tops is one of the best along the South Coast.
From this viewpoint you can see out to the Sea Cliff Bridge and onto Wollongong.
If you go at the right time, you may also see some hang gliders taking off from this point.
Read next: The best walks near Sydney
29 - Taking in the Harbour Bridge and Opera House from one of our favourite viewpoints
If you want something closer to the CBD, then there are several great viewpoints to take in the iconic Harbour Bridge.
We've created our favourite spots to view the bridge from which you can check out in this blog and here are our favourite Opera House viewpoints.
30 - One of the many viewpoints in the stunning Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains is one of our favourite spots in the whole of Australia, and those who don't fancy a walk can still easily get to many of the incredible viewpoints.
Others may require a little effort, but are well worth the walks.
We always loved to spend a couple of hours watching the sun rise or set at a variety of different lookouts.
If you only have time for one, make sure you go to the epic Lincoln Rock in Wentworth Falls (the picture above).
You can check out our other favourites in our post on the best viewpoints in the Blue Mountains.
See wild animals
You don't have to go far from Sydney to see some of Australia's iconic animals. Whilst animals such as Koalas and Platypus may require travelling, you can see more common animals such as kangaroos, whales and colourful birds pretty close to Sydney.
31 - Go searching for wild kangaroos
Whilst you won't see them hopping down George St in Sydney, there are plenty of spots to go and find wild kangaroos around Sydney.
Seeing them in their natural environment is an amazing experience and you'll always remember the first time you see a wild roo.
You can pay to see them in a zoo, but you can do that in hundreds of places in the world!
The easiest place that is close to the city is the National Botanic Gardens in Camden, but you can also check out one of the many places on our list.
32 - Whale watch from the cliffs
Arguably this is THE best thing to do in Sydney, and the great thing is that it can be done completely free!
We were blown away after seeing whales from the cliffs at Bondi on our second day in Sydney and we've seen whales pass by the coast many times since.
If you're in Sydney between May and October, you will have a decent chance of seeing a whale.
At Cape Solander Lookout at Botany Bay, there's a lookout point where there are spotters who detail how many have been seen each day.
Here's some of our other favourite tried and tested spots to whale watch in Sydney.
33 - Visit the huge Flying Fox colony
Bats might get a bad rap sometimes but it’s so undeserved and we love them! Sydney has a ginormous fruit bat colony and the best place to see them is at Centennial Parklands.
You can see them roosting in the trees around the Lachlan Wetlands during the day - watch out if getting under the trees or you may get, how to put it delicately, sprayed on! - but the real spectacle comes in the evening, around dusk, when they all fly out to look for food! They fill the sky and it’s an spectacle not to be missed if you’re a wildlife lover!
34 - Spot some of Sydney's beautiful birds
If you've always wanted to see Australian Parrots and other exotic looking birds, then Sydney is a pretty easy place to find them. The best places to see a variety of birds is the Royal Botanic Garden, but here's some other great spots:
Cockatoos: Cabbage Tree Bay in Manly (click here for the location)
Kookaburras: We always saw them in the park by Balmoral (click here for the location)
Pelicans: Watson's Bay Wharf (click here for the location)
Rainbow Lorikeets: Centennial Park (click here for the location)
As it is the middle of the winter, the lights start in the early evening and you'll want a coat (it isn't freezing, but Sydney can have a chill once the sun goes down in the winter). The only downside is that Vivid is incredibly popular, so rooms may dry up and rates may go up unless you book well in advance.
36 - Sculptures By The Sea
If you want a spin to your coastal walk, then head to Bondi in between mid October and November for Sculptures By The Sea.
During these weeks, you'll find all kinds of weird and wonderful sculptures exhibited on the coastal path between Bondi and Tamarama Beach.
A lot are sea themed, others are weird and quirky statements about modern life.
It is completely free, but it can get quite busy. We'd recommend going in the early morning, preferably on a week day, to avoid too many people. You can start the walk on the path that starts on this link.
37 - Mardi Gras
Sydney's Mardis Gras is one of the most famous in the world.
This huge parade happens during March and closes Oxford Street bringing fun, colour and a huge party to the streets of Sydney!
There are plenty of after parties and a really upbeat atmosphere all over the city.
It's a big institution in Sydney with companies and even political parties having floats and sections of the parade to support the LGBTQ community in Sydney.
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Are you planning a trip to Sydney? Have you done an epic free activity in Sydney we haven't listed? Let us know in the comments below!
