Top Sydney Outdoor Activities

Blast off from Circular Quay on a jet boat ride that provides a super-fun 30-minute adrenaline-fueled ride along with a new perspective on Sydney's most iconic waterside sights. Your expert captain slows down to give you a close up look at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and other landmarks, then before zooming off again. Hang on as your jet boat executes 270-degree spins, power slides and other breathtaking maneuvers at high speed. Tours depart throughout the day, every hour.

Cycling around Sydney is the perfect way to sightsee in this gorgeous harborside city. Join your expert guide for a fun and fascinating look at up to 30 top sights, including the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, along with many others. As you pedal around the city, learn about the history, culture and favorite local spots on your choice of four cycling routes. Choose from various tour durations depending on your schedule.

Experience Sydney Harbour in a unique way: during a 30-minute wild ride on 'Thunder', a jet boat capable of slides, twists, wave riding, and fishtails. Enjoy some sightseeing between tricks with views of Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, Rose Bay and other famous Harbour landmarks.

Get your thrills with this immersive virtual reality experience. Assemble your group (up to 12 players can be hosted at one time), get outfitted with the latest VR gear, and embark on a time-traveling mission to keep humanity from vanishing. With your trusted companions, jump from the future to ancient Egypt to medieval times—and save the world during this fun and affordable VR adventure.

Experience the thrill of tandem skydiving with a professional instructor over North Wollongong Beach beach, located just south of Sydney. Safely attached to your skydiving instructor, jump at 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). Feel the adrenaline rush of a 60-second free fall at speeds of up to 120 mph (193 kph) before the parachute opens and you glide down to earth. This small-group experience limits the numbers to eight people, ensuring customized attention from your instructor. Round-trip transportation from Sydney CBD to the drop zone is included.

Join your choice of a morning or afternoon excursion to Manly to snorkel in the clear calm waters of Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. Just a short hop from Sydney, see some of Australia's diverse marine life on this guided snorkeling tour. Your expert guide leads your small group of beginning and experienced snorkelers into the water from the beach. With group numbers limited to 10 participants, enjoy customized attention from your guide. Also, take a short guided walk on the headlands for fantastic views of the Northern Beaches.

Experience a close encounter with humpback whales without having to leave the city on this thrilling 2-hour speedboat tour from Sydney. Hop on-board the city’s fastest commercial ship and blast off across Sydney Harbour, past iconic landmarks like Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Leave the city behind and speed out into the Pacific Ocean, where you’ll have chance to spot majestic whales swimming and playing in their natural environment.

Learn the art of surfing with a lesson from a qualified instructor at the world-famous Bondi Beach, just a short hop from central Sydney. Get an informative and fun surfing lesson with your expert instructor, who shows you the basics, including getting up on the board, reading the surf and catching waves. If you want advanced instruction, private lessons accommodate all levels of expertise. Add a great workout and some waterside excitement to your vacation with a private or small-group surfing lesson in the heart of Australia’s surf culture.

Located on shoreline of Sydney Harbour, Sydney Taronga Zoo is home to thousands of fascinating animals, including Australian natives such as the koala, kangaroo, and platypus. With your admission ticket, you gain entrance to the zoo along with the Sky Safari cable car, which gives you the chance to look down into the animal enclosures and enjoy sweeping views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the city skyline. Check the schedule for daily keeper presentations, or book an animal encounter or guided tour (own expense) for a more in-depth experience.

See Australia's most famous native animals in their natural habitat on a full-day tour from Sydney. In a comfortable 4WD, explore the Southern Highlands with a naturalist guide to look for koalas, kangaroos, platypus, emus, wombats and other critters in the wild. Your small-group tour includes refreshments and dinner in a classic pub, and you stay out after dark in order to view nocturnal animals in action. With numbers limited to 11 people, enjoy a more customized experience.

Escape the tourist trail as you paddle your way around Sydney’s Middle Harbour on this 3-hour self-guided tour. After picking up your rental kayaks and mastering some basic techniques, set off on an independent adventure, getting close to wildlife in the Garigal National Park or exploring some of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches. With all equipment and full instruction included, this kayak rental is ideal for all skill levels, including first-timers looking for an adventure.

Enjoy a whale-watching cruise that begins with a breakfast or barbecue lunch onboard the boat while in the calm waters of Sydney Harbour.  After breakfast or lunch, your boat glides past Sydney Head into the Pacific Ocean in search of the humpback and southern right whales that migrate along this coast from May to November. Keep an eye out for whales and dolphins as you learn about them from your naturalist guide, who provides fascinating commentary about Australian marine life during your tour.

Enjoy an in-depth experience of Sydney Taronga Zoo on a guided tour with a zoo guide who introduces you to Australian native animals including koalas and kangaroos. Go behind the scenes with the zoo guide to meet the zoo’s hand-raised native animals and have your photo taken with some furry friends. Learn more than you could on your own and gain access to areas that are normally off-limits to the public. This small-group tour is limited to six people and includes admission tickets to Taronga Zoo including Sky Safari.

Enjoy sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and beyond during a scenic helicopter flight over Sydney. Take to the skies for a quick flight that provides stunning panoramic views of Sydney’s eastern coastline including Coogee Beach, Bondi Beach, Manly Cove, Sydney’s spectacular Harbor and city skyline, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Sydney Opera House. Learn about the city’s history from your knowledgeable pilot as you fly along the coast of the Pacific Ocean before your pilot whirs over Sydney Head marking the harbor’s entrance.

Enjoy an insider’s view of Taronga Zoo, a top attraction located on scenic Sydney Harbour. A zoo keeper gives you exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the animals and other amazing experiences that you won't get with regular admission. This small-group tour has a limit of eight participants, ensuring that you receive a personalized 2-hour experience with ample time to mingle with the kangaroos, take photos with koalas and wombats, and have close encounters with a variety of other Australian wildlife. 

Take to the waves at one of Sydney’s top surf spots with a surf class at the beautiful Maroubra Beach. Choose from a 2-hour group lesson with a maximum of 6 people and master the basics, or opt for a 1-hour private lesson and hone your skills with one-to-one tuition. Whichever option you choose, your expert instructors will have you standing up and catching waves in no time.

Come & explore the unspoilt wilderness on Sydney's northern doorstep, just 45 minutes from the CBD - The mighty Lower Hawkesbury. See shipwrecks and waterfalls, hear the Indigenous heritage and settlers’ history – all from our stable and stylish double sit-on top kayaks. The perfect way to experience this incredible Country. Paddle past the towering sandstone cliffs, and pull in to untouched beaches for a tea or a coffee. Take a short hike to a clifftop lookout with breathtaking views over the meeting of the 3 great waterways: Berowra, Marramarra, and the Hawkesbury. All food and equipment provided, no experience required. Tea, coffee, and snacks also provided. Kayaking is easy and fun for everyone, we welcome all ages, just bring a sense of adventure! Come by train: A scenic one hour ride from Central, with trains leaving each way every hour. Or drive a car 45 minutes north from the CBD to Deerubbun Reserve boat ramp. Pick ups also available if you're staying on the river.

Enjoy a visit to the Blue Mountains while in Sydney. Your full-day tour of the World Heritage-listed park visits highlights including the Three Sisters, Wentworth Falls, and Jamison Valley. En route, stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park, and have your photo taken with cuddly koalas. Travel with a small group, providing a more intimate experience.

Cruise the ocean waters off of Sydney to look for humpback and southern right whales as they migrate between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef from May to November. Your whale-watching experience starts out of Sydney Harbour and heads to the open ocean on a custom-built catamaran with large viewing windows and spacious decks that provide excellent sightlines. Often, dolphins, sea birds and other marine animals make an appearance during the nearly 2.5-hour whale-watching tour.

Kayak the waters of the Pittwater estuary north of Sydney with an instructor-guide and in the safety of a small group on this tour. Board a 2-person kayak and paddle the bays, cliffs, and mangroves of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Scotland Island, and Salvation Creek. Then, break for a walk, picnic, and optional swim before kayaking back. Upgrade to add return transfers from central Sydney. All equipment included.

Spend a day in a golf lover’s paradise and visit your choice of Sydney’s most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs. Start the day with a chauffeured ride to the club in a Porsche, get ready with exclusive Callaway golf-wear, and hop on board your motorized cart. Admire Pacific Ocean views as you spend the day on the golf course and relax with lunch or a cold drink (own expense) in the luxurious surroundings when your game is through.

Central Sydney is known for its charming laneways and sidestreets. This travel game lets visitors explore these streets while solving puzzles and riddles with an online app, the perfect activity for families or friends looking for exciting and playful things to do while learning about Sydney’s attractions.

Create a special experience in Sydney with a seaplane tour that includes a gourmet three-course lunch at Cottage Point Inn. The charming waterside restaurant boasts a spectacular location: Cowan Creek in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. Enjoy views of lushly forested waterways before your seaplane gently lands near the restaurant’s dock. Take time to savor a gourmet 3-course lunch and soak in the scenery. Wrap up with a scenic flight that provides an excellent perspective on the iconic sights of Sydney Harbour before landing at Rose Bay.

Escape the city for an action-packed tour of the Blue Mountains, including round-trip coach transport from Sydney. Pay a visit to the Sydney Olympic Park;observe kangaroos and koalas at the Featherdale Wildlife Park; and see landmarks like the Three Sisters, Boars Head Rock and Wentworth Falls. After lunch at a local restaurant (own expense), ride the skyrail at Scenic World (extra cost), then enjoy a scenic cruise down the Parramatta River to Sydney Harbour. This small-group tour is limited to 21 people and includes hotel pick-up.