Some ideas for a great day
On a trip last September, our itinerary provided a roughly 10-hour layover in Sydney, Australia on our journey from Los Angeles to Christchurch, New Zealand. After the 14-and-a-half-hour flight, we just wanted to enjoy the beautiful late winter day and begin jet lag recovery during the six or seven hours we’d have away from the airport.
We’d spent several days in Sydney on a previous trip, so this day would serve as a refresh of some places we’d seen before.
We picked up our luggage from baggage claim and brought it directly to the convenietly located baggage storage facility in the airport terminal. It was staffed by a helpful, friendly person and was reasonably priced at about $16 USD for the day for both of us.
I love it when airports provide easy access to public transportation, and Sydney has one of the easiest. Free of our luggage, we effortlessly boarded the Airport Train and took it to the Circular Quay Station, a busy transportation hub with additional access to ferry wharves and bus stops.
It’s a central location on the waterfront just north of Sydney’s central business district. There’s a great view of the iconic Sydney Harbor Bridge and walking access to the immediately recognizable Sydney Opera House and the beautiful and expansive Royal Botanic Garden.
Opting to stay on the waterfront, from the train station it’s a pleasant stroll along a very busy pedestrian walkway with many restaurants and shops, taking you right to the Opera House and the Royal Botanic Garden.
We arrived at Circular Quay about 8:30 a.m., and hungry. After walking around for a while and watching the morning ferry activities, our first stop was Bennie’s Bistro for a big, hearty breakfast with mimosas. We discovered that we’d have to wait until 10 a.m. for the mimosas due to local liquor license stipulations, but it was worth the wait, and the breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, mushrooms, and grilled tomato was huge and delicious. We sat outdoors waterside, reveling in the warm, sunny day and the scenery.
We continued the morning by exploring the exterior of the Opera House and appreciating its spectacular architecture…
…and then ambled around the Royal Botanic Garden while enjoying the lush and varied flora and the great views of Sydney Harbor.
For an afternoon activity and continuing the harbor theme, we found Captain Cook Cruises Hop On Hop Off Sydney Harbor Explorer, a harbor sightseeing tour that departs from the ferry wharves across from the train station.
We could have hopped off at several stops and then hopped back on a later ferry, but given our time frame, we stayed on board for the approximately 90-minute excursion and made note of which stops we’d like to revisit next time. Those included Manly for some beach time, Shark Island/Boowambillee for a picnic, and Taronga Zoo.
And the tour also provided stunning alternative views of the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge from the water.
After a refreshment pause at Yogurberry near the train station, we boarded the very crowded train back to Sydney International Airport, retrieved our luggage from storage, and got ready to board our early evening flight to Christchurch, our first stop in New Zealand.
Sydney is an easy city to enjoy for a day on a layover, with many options. Here’s a summary of how we spent our day.
- Take Sydney’s Airport Train to Circular Quay station after storing baggage at the airport.
- Enjoy a leisurely meal or drink along the waterfront.
- Walk to the Sydney Opera House – about a 10-minute walk from the train station.
- Stroll through the adjacent Royal Botanic Garden
- Experience Sydney Harbor from the water on a harbor cruise or ferry
What are some of your favorite activities for a layover day in Sydney?
Gail Gourley Travels 