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Given its location beside the southern approach to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this small park below the Observatory (see Sydney Observatory) is surprisingly peaceful. It offers great views of the working harbour. Near the bandstand is a memorial to the Australians who served in the South African War (1899–1902).

First established in 1833 as “Sandy Course”, it became known as Royal Randwick in 1992. The racecourse is a lush green surface surrounded by charming old stands. Autumn and Spring Racing Carnivals attract large crowds to watch Australia’s top horses in action.

From Royal Easter Shows to international baseball games and rock concerts, this site has host-ed them all. The Showground features a main arena, a Clydesdale pavilion inspired by the architecture of 18th- and 19th-century English churches, an open-air woodchop stadium and numerous pavilions.

Governor Phillip spent his first night in Sydney Harbour, 22 January 1788, inside South Head (see Camp Cove & South Head). The headland features the red-and-white striped Hornby Lighthouse, so-painted to distinguish it from the Macquarie Lighthouse. It’s a prime vantage spot for viewing the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Seating 21,000 people, the Superdome is the largest indoor entertainment and sporting arena in Australia. One of the major venues for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the venue hosted the basketball finals, artistic gymnastics, trampoline and wheelchair basketball.

Sydney has dozens of beaches and most are very safe for swimming. The harbour beaches are generally calm, good for a relaxing paddle and for children. The ocean beaches are likely to have a rougher swell, perfect for surfing, body-boarding and body-surfing; you can take lessons at Let’s Go Surfing. At ocean beaches, make sure to swim between the flags, in the lifeguard-patrolled area.

This area was granted to the British Army in 1851. In 1870 Rugby Union was first played here. Today, the hallowed turf hosts cricket in the summer, Australian Rules football in the winter, and various sports and concerts in between.

Known to fans of the Sydney Kings basketball team as “the Kingdome”, this is the large home venue for a team who ride a wave of popular local support. The centre also hosts concerts and shows, often presenting some of the biggest names in entertainment.