Top Sydney Outdoor Activities

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explore the tropical rain forest around the Illawarra Escaprment on this full-day adventure tour from Sydney. Learn about Australia's flora and fauna, including water dragons, echidnas, wombats, and swamp wallabies. Trek though the rain forest and go canyoning around waterfalls. This tour is suitable for those with a moderate level of fitness.

Experience Blue Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, while supporting literacy among Australia’s Aboriginal youth. Explore the Australian bush with a small group on a train journey from Sydney, and a four-six-hour hike. Trek through Wentworth Falls, down the tallest outdoor staircase in Australia, and into the Jamison valley. Stop for lunch surrounded by waterfalls and treat yourself to something cold at the conservation hut. All proceeds support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Escape the city for a full-day cycling adventure and pedal your way along the soaring sea cliffs, golden beaches and tree-lined promenades of Manly. Hop on your rental bike and set out on a self-guided route, passing landmarks like Manly Corso, Manly Lagoon and Cabbage Tree Bay. Stop along the way to take a dip at Shelly Beach, see the Collins waterfall or admire the scenery of Sydney Harbour National Park.

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.

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.

Wake up early for a kayak tour from Rose Bay with sunrise views of Sydney Harbour. Paddle with a friend on a double sit-on-top kayak and get a good look at landmarks like Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and Shark Island. The kayaks are stable and easy to use, and the tour is suitable for all levels of experience. Paddling instruction and use of equipment are provided.

Nature lovers—this is the tour for you! Swap the hustle and bustle of Sydney for a day exploring the natural beauty outside the city. Avoid spending time stuck in traffic by going on a tour designed to miss peak hour traffic jams. A guided bushwalk is included, so you won’t have to worry about studying a map. See Wentworth Falls, and the Three Sisters rock formation. A highlight is an incredible sunset over the Blue Mountains—the ideal photo opportunity.

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.

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.

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.

Take in panoramic views of top Sydney landmarks as you cruise through Sydney Harbour en route to Taronga Zoo. Your package includes round-trip cruise from Circular Quay to the zoo, and a ride on the Sky Safari Gondola, which whisks you uphill from the boat dock to the main entrance of Taronga Zoo. From the gondola, get an early peek at some of the zoo's inhabitants, such as giraffes, big apes, and native animals like kangaroos and koalas.

Hit all the highlights of Australia's Blue Mountains on this day tour from Sydney. View native Australian animals at Featherdale Wildlife Park, see the famous Three Sisters at Echo Park, then head for Scenic World (all three rides included). Wind up on a river cruise on the Parramatta back to Sydney for drop-off at Circular Quay or Darling Harbour. National Park fees and round-trip transportation from select hotels included.

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.

Experience Sydney from a unique viewpoint: the seat of a helicopter. Soar over sights like the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Olympic Park, the Parramatta River, and the beautiful coastline. Your pilot with narrate throughout the ride, and answer your questions. An ideal trip for travelers who want to fit a lot of sightseeing into a short time, for those seeking a memorable activity, or for a romantic occasion.

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. 

Get orientated in Sydney while exploring the city's most famous landmarks on this guided electric bike tour. In a small group of no more than eight people, see such sites as the Opera House while riding across another landmark, Sydney Harbour Bridge. Don't worry about the city's hills: E-bikes make pedaling uphill a breeze.

Explore the Blue Mountains the easy way on an all-inclusive, full-day tour from Sydney. Receive personalized service from your guide on a small-group tour with a maximum of 16 participants. It’s an action-packed trip with spectacular views, railway and cable car rides, forest walks, wildlife encounters, and more. See much more than touring independently on this thorough tour that appeals to many interests