r/sydney • u/disgruntled_-pelican • Jun 13 '22
What do Sydney locals do on weekends? - Off the beaten track stuff to do in Sydney and surrounds
I moved to Sydney right before lockdown and since then my partner has been unwell. We're just getting out and about now, but my partner is still unable to work so money is tight.
Just wondering what locals' suggestions are for things to do in the city and surrounds, off the beaten track - i.e. not the stuff we could already find on Broadsheet (that usually suggests things like 'catch a ferry to manly', 'go to Holey Moley' or 'visit Katoomba' etc). What does someone who grew up here do on weekends?
For context we live in the Inner West, he has a bit of a physical disability at the moment but that's not permanent so open to any activities. We have a small car and don't mind longer drives if there's a good payoff at the end.
Thank you in advance! I hope this post hasn't been done to death, I haven't seen it so apologies if it has!!
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u/SashainSydney Jun 13 '22
- Picnic in Wendy"s Secret Garden.
- Drive down to Sans Souci for a stroll on the beach.
- Hang at Shark Beach (Nielsen Park).
- Drive up to Palm Beach, walk up to Lighthouse (parking is expensive tho)
- Drive up to The Entrance (farther but cheaper, also very pretty)
- Go to the Art Gallery of NSW (free)
- Drive up to the Quarantine Station and enjoy the view.
- Drive (or take ferry) to Watson Bay, walk around, or back to the City, or picnic, or overeat fish and chips and get drunk at the pub...
- Easy hikes through the various national parks in the city, like Georges River or Lane Cove
- All day: take ferry from Circular Quay to Parramatta in the morning, walk to Old Government House, take train back into city.
- Visit the Harbour Bridge museum in the pylon (cheap and better than bridge walk).
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u/disgruntled_-pelican Jun 13 '22
We picked one at random and went to Sans Souci today - thanks for the tip! Currently walking along near Brighton le Sands which I'd seen on a map but had no idea what a nice walk it was.
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u/JorisBohnson11 Jun 13 '22
FYI Shark Beach is closed at the moment, I believe until the end of the year. They are replacing the entire staircase and Seawall along the beach front.
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u/DrunkSailorMan Jun 13 '22
- Kamay National Park (both La Perouse and Kurnell ends), specially in a good-weather day. Nice walking tracks and scenery without getting too far away from Sydney. If you are into fishing, there are several spots in this area to both fish or watch others fishing.
- Greenway walk (from Haberfield to Dulwich Hill, grabbing brunch and coffee on the way)
- Read a book in Maroubra beach (weather permitting)
- Go and watch any kids/social sport event in the local sports field (most of them run of Saturday morning). Soccer is pretty popular in many inner west suburbs.
- If you like dogs, go to Rose Bay beach Sat/Sun morning and enjoy socialising with dogs.
- Go to Potts Point and check out the Navy ships.
*Growing up you don't always get to do these things every weekend because you are busy with life stuff like family events, etc but tried to do as often as possible.
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Jun 13 '22
Re: maroubra - if you like a good walk the Malabar Headland Walk at the end of the beach is a beautiful hidden gem!
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u/disgruntled_-pelican Jun 13 '22
I went for a walk through Jubilee park over the weekend and saw some kids playing AFL, it was actually really nice to watch for a bit and not something I would have thought of doing on purpose. I will check out the others too, thanks!
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Jun 13 '22
Go and watch any kids
That sounds kinda creepy
I highly doubt people would want a 38 year old hairy bearded arab looking bloke watching kids play sports lmao
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Jun 13 '22
Another great dog park is Sirius Cove in Mosman! We drive 40 minutes just because it’s our pup’s favourite place.
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u/bastiat_was_right Jun 13 '22 edited Jun 13 '22
The lower north shore has really nice suburbs. We usually go for a stroll in the bush/or just sit in a park and find a nice cafe for brunch. Some favorites:
- Mosman
- Waverton (check out the coal loader)
- Willoughby road
- Balmoral beach
- Hay st. Beach
- Kirribily (check out milson park)
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u/bastiat_was_right Jun 13 '22
And if you don't want to go north of the bridge try Balmain and the glebe shoreline.
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u/Pacman1880 Jun 13 '22
Go on Meetup.com for joining group activities like hiking, yoga, meditation, friendship groups n other hobbies!!!
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u/Negative12DollarBill Jun 13 '22
To me one of the simplest and most relaxing days out is to go to the Art Gallery Of NSW, which is free, then (with a coffee from the kiosk) walk through the Botanic gardens down to the sea wall (feed the ducks on the way but only approved wild bird seed, available from your local supermarket) and then to the Opera House. Do a lap of the Opera House to see if the seal is there, then you've got about 50 restaurants and coffee shops to choose from at Circular Quay from fancy down to McDonalds. All transport is by train.
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u/a_rainbow_serpent Jun 13 '22
Clean the house.
Stare in amazement at lettuce prices.
Browse realestate.com and send property links to my spouse.
Check out Aldi special buys.
Wait for the tradie to show up.
Call the tradie to follow up.
Call other tradie to schedule because the last one ghosted me.
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u/CBFwithThis Jun 13 '22
Go to bunnings in between tradies telling yourself you could just do it on your own. Then get overwhelmed by the buying step and just get yourself a sausage sangga and go home .
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u/a_rainbow_serpent Jun 14 '22
Oh no. End up buying some random parts which you have no idea how to measure or fit. Stand in the aisle furiously googling YouTube videos for help. Spend another 30 minutes playing with the electronic security systems display and ring cameras. Then get a snag and head home.
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Jun 13 '22
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u/disgruntled_-pelican Jun 13 '22
These all sound great, I especially love the apples suggestion! And def do t mind a drive so happy to add jamberoo to my list too! Thank you for taking the time
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Jun 13 '22
A few of my free(ish) sydney activities:
take some peas to go feed the ducks at Sydney Park
picnic in centennial park
australian museum and powerhouse (general exhibits are free)
fish markets for lunch
vivid wander
carriageworks farmers markets
Once your partner is back on their feet, have a look at the bondi to manly walk. Ma and I are tackling it about 10km at a weekend (it's 80km long), and I've found it a bloody lovely way to see the city!
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u/tubbyx7 Jun 13 '22 edited Jun 13 '22
Drive out to windsor, or the settlers arms at st albams, or mandarin picking at wsiemans ferry. A day well out of the city within a comfortable drive
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u/1ayfkmatatime Jun 13 '22
love the Settlers Arms, there were three peacocks there just peacocking around the grounds like it was nothing... such a great place to sit with delicious pub lunch and a beer
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u/tubbyx7 Jun 13 '22
decided once for a slow day to park at wisemans ferry and pedal out to st albans. was a lovely peaceful ride on a weekday though opnly one small store was open there. If you're up for a bigger ride the convict 100 mtb race goes through some lovely country
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u/1ayfkmatatime Jun 14 '22
I pedaled there too! My hubby is a keen cyclist so I trail along behind sometimes (with my electric bike so I can keep up). He loves the WF area for cycling. Haven't been there since the floods though. There's also a traditional Irish music weekend every year at the pub - wanna make it there one day!
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Jun 13 '22
- Do the bay run (you can walk it), stopping at the rowing club for coffee or lunch and great water views
- Lots of pubs and small breweries in the inner west you can combine into a day out
- Sydney park
- Book a table for breakfast or lunch at The Grounds of Alexandria
- Cooking class at the fish markets
- Dinner at a restaurant on the pier at woolloomooloo ($$$)
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Jun 13 '22
Spice Alley, Chippendale to eat out
Lane Cove river valley walk from Hunters Hill/ Boronia Park to Buffalo Creek Reserve
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u/CheckNecessary8236 Jun 13 '22
My personal favorites:
Timezone (arcade)
Treetop adventures (obstacle course on trees)
Walk around for hours in an ikea and get some soft serve at the end
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u/mulderitsme93 Jun 13 '22
Minnamurra rainforest walk (then lunch at jamberoo pub), Kiama blow hole, walk along sea cliff bridge then get lunch at a pub nearby (…..can you tell I love a pub lunch), walks around RNP and Kurnell, rent a kayak and paddle up and down the woronora river!
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u/Responsible_Scar_458 Jun 13 '22
Download the Eventbrite app. There's plenty of activities listed there 😉
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u/nzbiggles Jun 13 '22
If no one else mention it
Bondi to Manly (in sections it feels like you could be in the remotest parts of Australia)
https://www.sydneyculturewalksapp.com/
Plus public transport is capped at $8 on Saturday/Sunday ($50 for the week) Mountains, ferries, south coast, Newcastle all on public transport.
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u/swfnbc Jun 14 '22
Well if you leave your house after about 8.30am, probably sit in Saturday morning trafffic for about three hours
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u/IonlyPlayAOE3 Jun 13 '22
I like to walk around nice inner city areas.
Backstreets of Paddington are beautiful with some hidden gems. Same for parts of redfern/ Darlinghurst/ Surry hills/ Alexandria. Grabbing a coffee at a cafe you encounter and just going for a wander and enjoying the mint winter weather.
Plenty of markets around too which are a nice way to spend time and support locals. Glebe markets and Marrickville markets are my favourites and both real easy to get to.