Ferry to Darling Harbor

Number 1 on the list is taking the ferry to Manly. You might be thinking that this is a little lame to be number one, but in all honesty it is cheap, the crossing allows you to see the city in all its glory and you arrive at the doorstep to the pacific - it doesn't get much better. You take the Manly ferry from Circular Quay and on the way out (and back), catch fantastic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. In 30 minutes you will be at the Manly ferry terminal and it is just a short walk down Manly Corso to one of Sydney's most beautiful ocean beaches.

Open Air Cinema. A bit more expensive and harder to get into that some other outdoor cinema experiences, the open air cinema near Mrs Macquarie's chair in the Royal Botanical Gardens, this is a summer must. A couple of tips, book well in advance and arrive early. The Open Air Cinema is popular, but with awesome views of the Sydney City skyline, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House all in the background, the movie tends to play second fiddle. There is parking, but we recommend catching a cab or walking to avoid the stress.

Coming in at 3 is the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens, for handily 3 reasons...1. Situation, the Royal Botanic Gardens is a beautiful park right on the Sydney Harbour foreshore, easily accessible from the city centre and right next door to the Sydney Opera House. 2. Bring a sandwich or buy one at the kiosk and sit peacefully under a tree watching the boats and reveling in the cool breeze. This is a fantastic retreat from the summer heat and you will find tourists and office worker alike spending a couple of hours away from the hussle and bussle of Sydney City 3. It is FREE! This is a must place to visit.

Visit the Rocks. The Rocks is the birthplace of Sydney and Australia's first European settlement. Now the Rocks not only has beautiful historic architecture, but boutique shopping including some of Sydney's finest arts and crafts, and some fantastic dining experiences. Visit the Rocks Market held every Saturday and Sunday for your souvenirs and then have lunch while gazing out on the Sydney Opera House.

Finally, visit Bondi Beach. This is probably Sydney's most famous surf beach. Take a walk along the promenade to experience the laid-back lifestyle, have fish and chips for lunch or better still take the time to visit some of the other stunning beaches in the area - follow the boardwalk to Tamarama, Bronte and Coogie and experience the stunning views along the way. Don't forget the sunscreen.