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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.

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.

There are dedicated cycle tracks in Centennial Park and in streets throughout Sydney. For a real cycling adventure, take a tour of the foreshore and ride across the Harbour Bridge, or mountain bike down the lovely Blue Mountains with Boomerang Bicycle Tours.

Centennial Park has a show-jumping area and a dedicated equestrian track that runs the 3.6 km (2.2 miles) around the park. Escorted park rides and lessons in dressage and jumping are available from Centennial and Moore Park Stables.

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.

Sydney may be a bustling city, but the peace and quiet of the bush is just a short train ride away. There are 24 national parks in and around Sydney (see Parks & Gardens), and all offer excellent bushwalks of varying experience levels. Take a guided tour with the NPWS and learn all about native animals and bush foods.

The idyllic environs of the Hawkesbury River make it one of the most popular locations for watersports. Try waterskiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding or barefooting with a lesson at Sydney Waterski and Wakeboard; they cater to all levels of experience. Pickups from train stations or the CBD can be easily arranged.

Dawn balloon flights over the Sydney region are a great experience, tranquil yet exhilarating, with lovely views of the sprawling city and the hazy Blue Mountains. Weather permitting, Balloon Aloft offers daily flights from Camden, followed by a barbecue and champagne breakfast. Ballooning might not be appropriate for those scared of heights.

Charter a skippered yacht and relax as you sail around the harbour, or navigate yourself and up to seven friends in a 6.1-m (20-ft) cruiser. Hiring a 20-footer includes a fishing license and costs $330 for 4 hours or $595 for 8 hours.

It may be every Aussie grandma’s pastime, but it has also been recently undergoing a surge in popularity, thanks main-ly to the patronage of certain Sydney celebrities and a bunch of trendy kids. Try the original and the best, Sunday arvo bowls at Paddington Bowling Club.