It’s all about good times by the water in these buzzy suburbs, tucked just inside the inner harbour to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney’s newest harbourside precinct, Barangaroo, is known for its glittering skyscrapers, stylish restaurants and leafy parkland. Formerly an industrial area and shipping terminal, the huge redevelopment began in 2012 and was completed in 2023. Barangaroo occupies the northeastern edge of the bay with the landmark 75-floor Crown Tower (the tallest skyscraper in Sydney) in the middle.
Walk along the wide waterfront promenade to enjoy the sparkling harbour views, then head into the winding Streets of Barangaroo to discover cafes, shops and small bars.
Just next door, Darling Harbour also began life as a working port before it was transformed into an entertainment and dining precinct for the Australian Bicentennial in 1988. It’s still one of the city’s best places for fun, with an aquarium and zoo, museums, shopping, and endless places to eat and drink. There’s always something happening in Darling Harbour, from major festivals to nightly fireworks and kids’ yoga in the park.
How To Get There
Catch the train to Wynyard, where it’s just a short walk through an underground tunnel to Barangaroo. You can also catch a ferry from Circular Quay. For Darling Harbour, the closest train station is Town Hall. The light rail runs from Central Station with a number of stops in Darling Harbour.
Top 5 Things to do
- Explore beautiful Barangaroo Reserve, home to 75,000 native trees and shrubs, as well as outdoor artworks and Indigenous displays. Grab some lunch for a picnic with a harbour view, then cool off with a swim at Marrinawi Cove. barangaroo.com
- Have breakfast with a koala, come eye-to-eye with a crocodile, cruise through a colony of penguins and meet Pig the dugong at the excellent WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. wildlifesydney.com.au; visitsealife.com/sydney
- Take a selfie with your favourite celebrity at Madame Tussauds wax museum, the only one of its kind in Australia. madametussauds.com/sydney
- Pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir or treat yourself to a piece of Sydney fashion at one of the stylish boutiques tucked away in the laneways of Barangaroo. thestreetsofbarangaroo.com/shop
- Escape the noise of the city in the tranquil Chinese Garden of Friendship. Inspired by the philosophy of feng shui, the garden fuses elements of water, stone, plants and architecture. darlingharbour.com
Top 6 Places to eat & drink
- Oncore by Clare Smyth. Fine dining and spectacular views at Crown from a three-star Michelin chef. crownsydney.com.au
- Hello Auntie. Cool and quirky Vietnamese food with Asian-inspired cocktails. hello-auntie.com.au
- Anason. Modern Turkish cuisine in an Instagram-worthy setting on the waterfront. anason.com.au
- Nick’s Seafood Restaurant. Fresh Australian seafood including fish, lobster, oysters, prawns and crab. nicksgroup.com.au
- Cockle Bay Yacht Club. Laid back, family-friendly spot for food and drinks in the sun. darlingharbour.com
- Cirrus. Indoor and outdoor seating, plus an innovative seafood-driven menu. bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/cirrus
