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Tiny, with incredible views over the Pacific. Ocean rock pool.

Only accessible down stairs through the bush, and worth it for the peace and views of Manly. Tidal harbour pool.

This rainforest zone on the North Shore may offer you the best chance to spy the elusive lyrebird in its natural habitat. You will also find tree ferns and cabbage tree palms (Livistonia Australis ), which were used by white settlers for everything from hats to building materials.

Many of the city’s golf courses are private, but there are also some good public ones. Moore Park’s is a championship 18-hole, par-70 course close to the CBD. There is also a three-tiered driving range, floodlit at night and open from dawn to 10pm.

Standing at the edge of the city centre, this formal park provides a respite from the city’s bustle. It features a magnificent avenue of figs, the Art Deco Archibald Fountain at its northern end and the Anzac Memorial. A site for public executions in 1802, only one year later it was used for Sydney’s first cricket match. Australia’s first horse race was run here in 1810.

A massive sandstone escarpment traces the coastline south of Royal National Park and north of Wollongong. A string of small towns nestled beneath the escarpment all offer spectacular ocean views.

Discovered in 1838, this striking complex of underground limestone caves lies southwest of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. They are Australia’s best-known caves, renowned for their icy underground rivers, huge caverns and intriguing limestone formations, all surrounded by an extensive wildlife reserve.

Get up close to Middle Harbour’s mansions by kayaking around the foreshore. While the more energetic prefer to join the fast-paced traffic of the harbour, others can slowly drift along simply admiring the view.

A large fishing and resort town, Kiama is one of the most attractive coastal spots south of Sydney. Discovered by explorer George Bass in 1797, this 25-m (82-ft) blowhole originates in a natural fault in the cliffs. It erupts whenever a wave hits with enough force, which can be every few minutes. Water can be thrown as high as 60 m (200 ft).