Things to do for a 7 day trip to Sydney, Australia?

Question

My wife and I are going to be flying from the U.S. to Sydney, AU in June. This will be our first trip to Australia. What suggestions do you have for places to visit and things to see around that area. We only have 7 days and don't really want to hop around all over the continent for such a short trip (ok, maybe 1 hop or 2). Thanks.

Answer 1

use public transport too, its cheaper and more convenient for tourists.

www.cityrail.info for trains

www.sydneybuses.info for buses

www.sydneyferries.info for ferries

Answer 2

Get a hotel or somewhere to stay close to the city centre.  You can easily fill 7 days within the city alone.

1.  Sydney Harbour Bridge - climb the arches or take the pedestrian walk, visit the pylon museum.

2. Sydney Opera House - see a show, take a tour or just wander around the outskirts, still well worth the effort.

3. Visit the Rocks district - visit museums, Art galleries, an Aussie pie shop, the rocks sunday markets (highly recommended), or just soak up the atmosphere.

4. Visit Darling Harbour - visit Sydney Aquarium, Australian Maritime Museum, Chinatown (nearby), Chinese garden, Take the monorail around the city, shop, take in the nightlife scene, visit Sydney wildlife world.

5. Powerhouse museum - visit Australia's best museum about everything and anything and particularly about Australia.  Easily a full day can be spent here.

6. Taronga Zoo - take a ferry from circular quay to Taronga Zoo and see the most unique animals on the face of the earth.

7.  Manly or Bondi beach -  take a ferry to manly (best cheap tour of the harbour you can get) and shop, dive with sharks at the oceanarium, visit the beach itself or take in the surrounding culture.   Take a train  from central to Bondi Beach and check out those who want to see and be seen.   Note: don't take your camera onto either beach, beware of white pointers and while you are  welcome to google, don't ogle.

Day Trips:

Blue Mountains - visit the famous 3 sisters rock formations, echo point, the scenic railway (one of the steepest in the world), scenic skyway, 999 steps, Jenolan Caves,  Zig Zag Railway.

Canberra - visit Parliament house (old and new), Australian War Memorial (highly recommended), National Museum, Questacon science & technology centre,  Canberra Deep space communications centre, Planetarium, Black Mountain.  Many others that will easily fill a day.

Hunter Valley: visit wineries and world heritage wilderness areas.

Answer 3

1.  Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge

2.  Bondi Beach or Manly - but it might be too cold as you're visiting in June.

3.  Taronga Zoo

4 .Canberra for a day (its not too far from Sydney)

5. Hunter Valley for wine tasting and hot air balloon ride.

6. Blue Mountains and Katoomba

7. Shopping at Darling Harbour.  Have some afternoon tea there. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the harbour.