Image credit: courtesy of Hyde Park House

If there’s one season where Sydney truly shines, it’s summer. Surrounded by a sprawling harbour, with beaches on the north, south and east, the city comes alive during the year’s warmer months. Whether immersing yourself in nature is your preferred way to spend those blissful few days between Christmas and New Year, or you fancy yourself more of a culture connoisseur, preferring to peruse exhibitions and galleries across the city, keeping yourself occupied during a summer in Sydney couldn’t be easier. 

It helps too that there’s no shortage of events hosted by both the City of Sydney and a number of other organisations helping to showcase Sydney and the creative people who live within it in all their glory. From ticketed events to those with free entry, the summer holiday period sees Sydney rise to the occasion, offering activities for the whole family from the day school wraps up right until they’re back next year.

Although there’s plenty on offer at Sydney’s museums and galleries over summer, there’s equally as much fun to be had simply exploring the city. Sydney’s beaches are some of the best in the country—and there’s more to the story than just Bondi—while the national park walking trails from the north to south offer up the chance to immerse yourself in the city’s natural beauty. For foodies, Sydney has no shortage of stunning spots that offer up tasty bites and spectacular views in equal measure, while summer markets make for a laid-back weekend activity. 

If the thought of keeping little ones (and yourself) occupied over summer is already starting to ring alarm bells, fear not. We’ve rounded up some of the best ways to keep yourself entertained in the harbour city this summer. We promise you’ll never be bored.

Image credit: Gareth Carr. Global Warming, by Nikita Zigura. Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2022. 

Visit Sculptures by the Sea in Bondi 

A fixture of the Sydney (almost) summer calendar, Sculptures by the Sea is a celebration of local talent and stunning views from the Bondi shoreline. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Sculptures by the Sea is the world’s largest free-to-the-public art exhibition, welcoming locals and visitors alike to walk the 2 kilometre-long track from Bondi to Tamarama and admire the creativity of Australian artists. 

Sculptures by the Sea is running in Bondi from October 20 to November 6, 2023. For more information, visit sculpturesbythesea.com

Image credit: courtesy of Sydney Festival

Explore Sydney Festival 

Returning again for its third year under the leadership of festival director Olivia Ansell, Sydney Festival is back with what we can only imagine will be a jam-packed roster of cultural events for young and old. Spanning art, live music, and cultural events, Sydney Festival champions the city’s rich tapestry of creatives, offering a month-long schedule of exhibitions, shows and activities that supports Sydney’s vibrant art and cultural scene. 

Sydney Festival will be running from January 5 to 28, 2024. For more information visit sydneyfestival.org.au

Image credit: Salty Dingo

Catch the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race

Whether you’re into sailing or not, there’s something undeniably exciting about watching 100-odd yachts vying for pole position on the starting line, before, in an impressive display of strategy and technique, taking off on a three to four day pursuit of the top spot. Though the boats take off near Nielson Park on Sydney’s Eastern suburbs, there are plenty of spots along Sydney’s foreshore that offer prime views of the yachts as they take off. Pack a picnic and settle in for a Boxing Day to remember. 

The Rolex Sydney Hobart yacht race commences on December 26, 2023. For more information visit rolexsydneyhobart.com

Image credit: Instagram.com/westpacopenair

See a movie at the Westpac Open Air Cinema

Summer is the perfect time for a lazy afternoon movie, but it’s an even better time for a lazy afternoon movie at the world’s most spectacular cinema. Westpac’s Open Air cinema—an icon of Sydney’s skyline come summer—presents the latest films against the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, with the Royal Botanic Gardens serving as the theatre. All the icons in one place.

The Westpac Open Air Cinema runs for all of January and February, 2024. For more information visit westpacopenair.com.au

Image credit: courtesy of The Palisade

Have a drink at one of Sydney’s rooftop bars

There’s no shortage of views and rooftop bars to enjoy them from in Sydney, so it would be remiss not to take advantage when summer rolls around. Make the most of the extra couple of daylight hours with an afternoon tipple on the deck of one of Sydney’s many superbly located haunts, from those overlooking the city skyline to the lucky ones with water views. Be sure to consult our list of Sydney’s best rooftop bars before you head out.

Image credit: Zan Wimberley. An installation from Primavera 2023: Young Australian Artists, Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Consider yourself cultured courtesy of Primavera 2023: Young Australian Artists

Fancy yourself a patron of the arts? A visit to Circular Quay’s Museum of Contemporary Art is a must, then, to experience Primavera, an exhibition celebrating emerging Australian artists aged 35 and under. In its 11th year, Primavera gives young artists a platform to showcase their work in the early stages of their career, shining a spotlight on the talented creatives soon to be at the forefront of Australia’s art scene.

Primavera: Young Australian Artists is open now until February 4, 2024. For more information, visit mca.com.au

Image credit: Zan Wimberley. Plumage of Paradise, lent by Renè Rivas, from Absolutely Queer, Powerhouse 2023. 

Catch Absolutely Queer at the Powerhouse Museum before it closes

As Sydney World Pride draws to a close, there’s only a couple of months left to experience the exhibitions curated to celebrate Australia’s vibrant landscape of queer creatives. Absolutely Queer at Ultimo’s Powerhouse Museum showcases the talent at the forefront of Australia’s queer communities, who, with their installations, are provoking thought, challenging preconceptions and rewriting narratives. 

Absolutely Queer is open until December 31 at the Powerhouse Museum. For more information visit powerhouse.com.au

Image credit: Jiwon Kim

Have lunch with a view

Over the summer period, eating is basically a pastime, so it’s only right to enjoy a lunch with views that rival the food. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to choose from in the harbour city, from those so close to the water you could almost dip your toes in, to the venues high in the sky with city views. We’ve also done most of the research for you, so be sure to check out our guides to Sydney’s best casual and new restaurants. 

Image credit: courtesy of City of Sydney

Immerse yourself in the Sydney Lunar Festival 

The Lunar Festival returns to Sydney next January to usher in the New Year, and it brings with it a roster of events for the whole family to immerse themselves in. From public art installations to food markets and dragon boat races, from February 10 to 25, Sydney will be ushering in the Year of the Dragon with enthusiasm.

The Sydney Lunar Festival will run from February 10 to 25. For more information, visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Image credit: courtesy of the Royal Botanic Garden

Challenge yourself at the Royal Botanic Garden scavenger hunt 

Love a riddle and/or a scavenger hunt? Until December 31, you can do it all in one place. The Royal Botanic Garden scavenger hunt, where teams of up to four get to embark on a cryptic riddle-led hunt through the gardens, gives anyone who love a challenge the chance to discover the park’s hidden spots and secret views against the striking (and rather distracting) backdrop of Sydney Harbour. 

The Royal Botanic Garden scavenger hunt is running until December 31. For more information, visit whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Image credit: courtesy of City of Sydney

Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks harbourside 

There are few firework displays as renowned—both nationally and globally—as Sydney’s New Year’s Eve spectacular. Though the Harbour Bridge is obviously the jewel in the Sydney firework display’s crown, there’s a number of spots fireworks get released from around the harbour and over 40 vantage points to watch from. Though beware the crowds—if you really want prime position, it pays to play the long game. 

For more information on Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, visit sydneynewyearseve.com

Image credit: courtesy of the Art Gallery of NSW. Dominant curve by Vasily Kandinsky  (1936). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

Visit the Kandinsky exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW

Whether art is your forte or not, chances are you’re familiar with the work of Vasily Kandinsky, one of the most influential and recognisable Modernist artists in history. From November 4, art fiends can take a deep dive into the life and work of Kandinsky with an in-depth display of some of his best and most renowned pieces. 

Kandinsky opens November 4, 2023 at the Art Gallery of NSW. For more information, visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au

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