Car Hire Sydney Airport

Unbeknownst to most, when picturing Sydney, is that it’s never lost its connection to nature—and is actually right by downtown’s doorstep. The city is surrounded by national parks, sandstone cliffs and untouched wilderness for everyone to enjoy.

You can start off your adventure with Royal National Park, known for its indigenous rock art, rugged cliffs and windswept beaches. If you choose to spend enough time here, you’ll have lots of opportunities for fishing, whale watching, barbecues, bushwalks and bird watching. Established in 1879, making it the world’s second-oldest national park, “The Royal” is teeming to the brim with heritage attractions.

Another national park you can visit is Sydney Harbour National Park – Middle Head; as one of Sydney Harbour’s seven headlands, the lookout point from this location lets visitors enjoy spectacular vistas of the great Pacific, with the north and south heads framing the horizon.

For something more inland, Lane Cove National Park welcomes tourists with the tranquil Lane Cove River. Visitors can enjoy a quiet picnic or barbecue among the flat, grassy areas on either bank. There are also children’s play equipment and biking tracks along the length of the waterway.

If you’re looking for a more structured experience, you can book a slot with the Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises. This hourly ferry service employs the oldest commuter ferry in Australia still in operation—the MV Curranulla. Visitors can also choose to hop aboard the MV Tom Thumb III and enjoy a 3-hour cruise along the unspoilt Hacking River. The cruises serve morning tea while giving full commentaries on the historical and aboriginal sites along the way.

Other ships on the fleet let participants enjoy champagne breakfasts, dinner cruises, live music, swim-and-dine experiences and other charters for that immersive experience.

With more than a hundred distinct beaches lining Sydney’s coast, the city adopted a unique blend of laid-back beach vibes and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Sydney has become synonymous with water activities, from sandy walks and beachside eats to swimming, surfing, snorkelling, and other water sports.

Perhaps, the most famous of all the surfing beaches is Bondi Beach, situated less than an hour from the city’s centre. Out here, you blend among the visitors enjoying the serious waves at the southern end and the day-trippers soaking up the vibes in one of the numerous bars and cafes in the area. Moving further south can take you to Maroubra, where you can join the surfers, swimmers and families flocking to the area.

Then, we have the Northern Beaches, stretching from Palm Beach to Manly and offer the area’s top surfing spots. Visit Manly in March, and you can witness the Sydney Surf Pro, where the best in the world competes for the top spot.

If you’re just starting off surfing, you can use your Sydney car rental to get premier lessons from Let’s Go Surfing, Manly Surf School, Manly Surf Guide, Cronulla Surfing Academy or The Body Board Academy, just to name a few.

For more relaxed and family-friendly beaches, you can opt to take your loved ones to one of the Harbour Beaches. The lovely Parsley Bay Reserve opens up before your eyes after you walk through a grassy park, and you’ll notice the footbridge overhead with its bushwalkers. This small pocket is perfect for families, with its kiosks, playgrounds and public toilets.

On the other side of the bridge, settling on Balmoral Beach gives you unprecedented views of Sydney Harbour National Park. You’ll enjoy several dining options here, including Bathers Pavilion and The Boathouse, among other cafes in the area. For smaller crowds, you can pay a visit to Chinamans Beach and enjoy a laid-back picnic on the Rosherville Reserve.

Of course, for the authentic adventures only locals would mostly know, Sydney has a few “secret” beaches waiting for you to discover. Walking along the Hermitage Foreshore Track, beginning in Nielsen Park, will wind down to the Strickland House and to the small, sandy oasis that is Milk Beach. Taking this trail also gives you fantastic views of Shark Island and the iconic Harbour Bridge.

And not too far from the CBD, Redleaf Beach gives off a harbour setting with majestic views of Darling Point and the rest of the city. Over here, you’ll find the Murray Rose Pool, perfect if you’re looking for calm ocean swimming.

A quick half-hour drive from Manly will take you to Turimetta Beach; just make sure to time it right since the small stretch of sand only appears during low tide.

Whether you explore Sydney’s north, south or east, you’re in for a world of adventure regarding beaches and waterside attractions. Just make sure to follow all the safety precautions and listen to the local lifeguards’ instructions. Check out Beachsafe for the latest safety updates.

If you want to get up close and personal with Australian wildlife, Sydney is never short on aquariums, zoos and wildlife parks—you can even pat a snake or dive amongst sharks if you’re feeling up to it.

If you take a boat ride from Circular Quay across Sydney Harbour, you’ll end up close to Taronga Zoo, which is home to more than 350 species of animals. Their attendance includes elephants, tigers, and giraffes, and they hold daily seal and bird shows.

If you travel to Western Sydney, you can pay a visit to the Sydney Zoo, where you can get up close safari-style in open-air exhibits. Experience walking amongst zebras and lions across their African boardwalk. They also feature a nocturnal display to see what reptiles are up to when night sets in.

Another place you can visit is the Wild Life Sydney Zoo which lets visitors get up close and personal to pat snakes and view crocs from pop-up windows. Walk among emus, roos and koalas with behind-the-scenes tours.

And next to this zoo is Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, where you can have loads of fun scuba diving with sharks, watching Gentoo and King penguins, Pig the dugong and other reef wildlife.

A quick drive out to the Blue Mountains will take you to Featherdale Wildlife Park—one of the few places where you can get really up close with a Koala. And if you’re looking for something more exotic, you can visit south of Sydney’s Symbio Wildlife Park or the Australian Reptile Park up north

Because of its multicultural heritage, Sydney enjoys a thriving arts scene, which can be seen through numerous galleries, theatres, public displays and annual events—including ancient Aboriginal sites right in the capital.

From independent exhibits to major galleries, all the way to pop-up exhibitions here are our recommendations for soaking up some visual magnificence during your stay in Sydney, which you can visit with your cheap car hire Sydney Airport.

Overlooking the Opera House is the Museum of Contemporary Art. This innovative space showcases works of both home-grown and international artists alike and also holds educational programs and a rooftop café with a breathtaking view of the water.

The Art Gallery of NSW houses works of international and local talents, including a permanent installation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. They’re also the host of several annual art events, including the Wynne, Sulman and Archibald prizes.

If you head over to Chippendale, you can visit the White Rabbit Gallery, where you can gaze at brilliant collections of contemporary Chinese art. And over on to Redfern, the Carriageworks showcases multi-medium arts reflective of urban Sydney culture. There’s also the Brett Whitely Studio which celebrates the artist’s best-kept work and secrets, including his private collection of photos, sketches, music collection and other personal memorabilia.

If you choose to explore the banks of the Georges River, you can stop over at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, which holds six distinct galleries of exhibitions and events—admission is free. Heading over to the fringes of the Greater Sydney area, the Campbelltown Arts Centre welcomes more than 70,000 guests per year. Aside from visual art spaces, the gallery also showcases workshops, a performance studio, an outdoor amphitheatre and the renowned Arts Centre Café.

If you’re visiting during the month of July, time your trip right to take part in NAIDOC week’s National Indigenous Art Fair, which puts the spotlight on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works and various dance and music performances. There’s also this very unique spot, The Artery Contemporary Aboriginal Art Gallery, which houses collections from remote communities. Visit them in Darlinghurst or visit their website for ethical and affordable Aboriginal works.

Sydney is also home to several of Outdoor Cinemas, such as the Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Park, the Sunset Cinema at North Sydney, the Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown and the Westpac OpenAir in the CBD.

And what are arts and culture scenes without a trip to the museum—Sydney is overflowing with them. There’s the Museum in The Rocks, the Museum of Sydney, the Justice and Police Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Powerhouse Museum, the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Hyde Park Barracks Museum and the Sydney Jewish Museum, just to name a few.

Arguably, the best part of any trip is savouring the local flavours—and most will agree that Sydney is Australia’s flavour capital. Because of a highly diverse, multicultural heritage and access to fresh seafood and produce, the city is teeming with gastronomic experiences on every corner.

Restaurants will come in an endless list when choosing where to dine in Sydney. To make it easier for you, we’ve curated our top picks to help narrow down your choices regarding where to go with your cheap car rental Sydney.

Chef Peter Gilmore’s Quay is one of the most celebrated restaurants in the country. The nature-inspired menu is built upon close collaboration with local fisherfolk, farmers, produce makers and artisans. Underneath the smallest sail of the Opera House sits Bennelong, another restaurant with Chef Gilmore at the helm.

If you’re feeling some seasonal Japanese flavours enhanced with French culinary techniques, Tetsuya’s will amaze you with a constantly evolving menu. Speaking of French, this next restaurant hidden below the ground in the CBD is Restaurant Hubert. This French restaurant sets the mood with its dimly lit, low ceilings, red leather booths, tattered grand piano and a menu of classic dishes.

For fine dining with a spectacular ocean view, Pilu at Freshwater will fill your fancy. Let chef Giovanni Pilu’s menu spoil your senses with him personally presenting each course while you relax in his Hamptons-inspired beach house.

And if you’re looking for a good brew to start your day or to bask in the afternoon ambience, the coffee shops around the area will spoil you for choice.

The Artificer and the Icebergs Terrace will be in Surry Hills and Bondi. In the Inner West, you can visit Black Star Pastry or The Grounds of Alexandria. You can head to the café on the rooftop of the Contemporary Art Museum, The Boathouse Palm Beach or the Bathers’ Pavilion for cafes with a view of the water.

And if tea is your cup of tea, you can sit back and relax at The Tea Room QVB, Strangers’ Restaurant at Parliament House or the Estate Vaucluse House.

Hit all these stops with a hire car from Alpha and enjoy your holiday without worries. Let our Price Match Guarantee, Roadside Assistance and Liability Reduction options leave you with nothing but peace of mind. Book your Sydney hire car today! Whether you need a car for one day, a weekly trip, or a monthly business meeting, you can trust us for long-term, short-term and medium-term transportation solutions every time.