10 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE AFTERNOON IN SYDNEY

LEARN MORE ABOUT 10 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE AFTERNOON IN SYDNEY AND DISCOVER CITIES OF SYDNEY N AUSTRALIA

10 BEST ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE AFTERNOON IN SYDNEY

OVERVIEW

One of the most well-liked cities in Australia to travel to and explore is Sydney. From unwinding on Bondi Beach to spending the day exploring Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, there is so much to do and see. What about at night, though?

You’ll be pleased to discover there are unique and exciting things to do after dark involving adventure, culture, fun, relaxation and entertainment all over the city. So start with these 20 things to do in Sydney at night to whet your appetite for one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

1- CLIMB THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

sydney harbour bridge at night — Admire the Sydney Harbour Bridge at night.

Built-in 1923, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

It spans the width of the Sydney Harbour and has fantastic city views and the Sydney Opera House.

Bridge Climb Sydney offers adventurers the chance to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and depending on the time of year, it’s possible to do this at night, where you’ll get 360-degree views of the city lights.

One of the most exciting times to do a night climb of the bridge is during the Sydney Vivid festival, as many large-scale light exhibits are visible from the top.

Bridge Climb Sydney is at 3 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW. If you’re not keen on heights, try this Sydney Harbour Bridge guided bike ride.

2- DINNER AND A SHOW AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

sydney opera house things to do at night Sydney — One of the top things to do at night in Sydney is to admire a view of the Opera House.

Another of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, the Sydney Opera House, has been operating since it opened in 1973.

It hosts around 40 performing arts events weekly, including musicals, operas, ballets, concerts, dance performances, and theatre shows.

You can book in to see a night-time show and pair that with dinner at the award-winning onsite restaurant, Bennelong.

Housed inside one of the Opera House’s sails, the restaurant is named in memory of a historic Indigenous Australian man, Bennelong, who was of the Wongal People.

The talented chefs create seasonal menus specifically designed to showcase the best of Australian produce.

3- GO TO THE SYDNEY OBSERVATORY

Sydney Australia at night Observatory Hill — Watching the moon behind the pergola at Observatory Hill is one thing to do in Sydney at night for free.

The Sydney Observatory is over 150 years old and sits upon Miller’s Point, with some parts of the grounds having spectacular views of the Sydney skyline.

The Observatory offers a 90-minute night-time tour that includes looking through their high-powered telescopes at the stars, Moon, a nebula and, depending on the conditions, other planets.

You’ll also get to visit the planetarium to hear more about outer space.

It’s a great chance to learn about the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere sky, including the Southern Cross, which features on the Australian flag and in the Australian national anthem.

The Sydney Observatory is at 1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point NSW 2000.

4- EXPLORE THE CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET

what to do in sydney at night chinese noodles — One of the best things to do in Sydney at night is to sample the city’s variety of Asian cuisine.

Australia is multicultural, with many of its citizens being first- or second-generation immigrants.

This diverse mix of cultures has led to many significant events, restaurants and markets. For example, the Sydney Chinatown Night Market is a multicultural market popular with locals and tourists.

On Friday nights, the market hosts over 50 stalls run by people with Asian heritage or celebrate Asian culture.

The food stalls are grouped in “Little Eat Street” and sell a range of Asian dishes, including sushi, yum cha, takoyaki, teppanyaki and pho.

The Chinatown Night Market is every Friday (4 pm to 11 pm) at Dixon Street, Sydney.

5- SEE BADU GILI LIGHT UP THE OPERA HOUSE

Sydney at night aboriginal man throwin spear projected on the Sydney Opera House — Sydney Opera House in moving colours of patterns, shapes and lines during the Vivid Sydney, which is an amazing event to see in Sydney at night. Displayed here are yellow black and orange stripes and an aboriginal hunter with a spear.

‘Badu gilli’ translates to ‘water light’ and are words from the language of the Gadigal people, the traditional custodians of the land at Bennelong Point, where the Sydney Opera House is.

Badu Gilli: Wonder Women is an art show created in collaboration with the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which celebrates the work of six female First Nations artists.

Their work and stories are projected onto the Sydney Opera House sails every night at 9 pm, 9.30 pm and 10 pm.

It’s free to watch and an excellent way to end the night after having dinner at one of the area’s many restaurants.

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6- STAY THE NIGHT AT COCKATOO ISLAND

Cockatoo Island is upriver from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and is a fabulous UNESCO World Heritage site on the harbour to spend the night in Sydney.

European settlers initially used the island to house convicts who reoffended in the colonies before turning convict labour into a shipyard.

Today the island is open to tourists, with many historic sites being preserved.

While you can explore the island yourself, there are some exciting night tours, including the Dark Past Tour (all ages) and the Ghost Tour (18+).

If you want to stay overnight, you can choose to go for an inclusive glamping experience or stay in one of the available apartments, some of which date back to the early 1900s.

Cockatoo Island is a short trip by ferry from Circular Quay or Barangaroo.

7- HAVE FUN AT LUNA PARK SYDNEY

luna park sydney at night Luna Park — If you’re visiting with the family, one of the most fun things to do in Sydney at night is to go to Luna Park.

Luna Park Sydney is a historic amusement park on the banks of Lavender Bar near the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It was originally built in 1935 when Coney Island-style theme parks grew popular.

Known for its iconic entryway, Luna Park is filled with thrilling rides, sideshow games and dining establishments.

It also has a Coney Island section dedicated to old-fashioned amusement park attractions.

Depending on the night, it can be open as late as 9 pm, making it a fantastic place to drop in if you’re looking for something fun to do that doesn’t need a booking.

Luna Park is at 1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point NSW, 2061.

8- GHOST TOUR AT Q STATION

From the early 1830s until 1984, any ships arriving into Sydney believed to have a contagious disease aboard were stopped at Manly, north of the Sydney CBD.

Everyone aboard was offloaded and placed in mandatory quarantine at the Q Station.

Today you can visit the Q Station and go on one of their night-time ghost tours, including the Ghostly Encounters tour and Paranormal Investigation tour.

Before your tour starts, you could have dinner at the Boilerhouse Kitchen & Bar or Views Restaurant, and if you’re up for a ghostly adventure, stay the night in one of the heritage-style rooms.

Q Station is at 1 North Head Scenic Drive, Manly, NSW.

9- WANDER AROUND CIRCULAR QUAY

sydney city at night Circular Quay — Catch a ferry at Circular Quay for views of Sydney Harbour at night.

Circular Quay is a bustling transportation hub between the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

You can stroll along the water’s edge, taking in views of these iconic landmarks and Luna Park and the Sydney skyline.

Book a table or drink at Cafe Sydney, Opera Bar or Hyde Hacienda for a fantastic view.

If fine dining is your preference, Circular Quay is home to Australia’s most celebrated restaurants, including Bennelong, Quay and Aria.

10- GO TO AN OUTDOOR CINEMA

Summer in Sydney is characterised by hot days and balmy nights.

Rather than sitting inside an air-conditioned movie theatre, you can spend a night enjoying the latest flicks at an outdoor cinema.

There are lots of outdoor cinemas around the city to choose from.

At Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park and Sunset Cinema on the North Sydney Oval, you can rent a bean bag or bring a chair or picnic blanket to sit on.

For a more premium experience, the Westpac Open Air Cinema overlooks the Sydney Harbour and has a restaurant and bar alongside the grandstand seats.

For something completely different, the Mov’in Boat cinema in Darling Harbour allows some viewers the chance to sit in a waterside cabana or bob in a rowboat while watching the film.