If you are working on a cruise ship, you have the opportunity to make requests for changing ships during your contracts. That is what I did. I decided to go back to my first and favourite ship ever, where I have spent countless contracts and wanted to see new places. I was so happy when the office approved it, and I could start planning my latest adventures. The ship’s itinerary was outstanding—Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hawaii and at the end, Alaska. I couldn’t ask for a better ship.

I had two days between my sign off and sign on. I had already some exciting things to see and do on my bucket list that I couldn’t do with a short break while I was working. Hiking on the Blue Mountains was a dream, or to see the sunset from the land in Sydney was magical.

How did I manage everything? Here you will read my short story about how two spend two days in Sydney. I know this is not enough to see everything. Not even one or two weeks would be enough. But even for these two days, I was so grateful.

I signed off the boat at half-past ten on the morning of December 7th. I chose the bus designated for the crew to get to the hotel by 9:45 a.m., but it was not the best idea. There was a traffic jam, and the driver didn’t take me to my hotel, who was in a hurry. So as soon as I got there, I quickly checked in, put down my luggage, called a taxi, otherwise I couldn’t get to the airport by 11 a.m. So I was a little bit late, but by 11:30 a.m. I was already in the skies sitting in a helicopter, making my dreams come true.

*Disclosure: This post contains a few affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.*

Table of Contents

How to spend two days in Sydney, Australia

Sydney HeliTour

There are several flights a day, and there are various packages to choose from. The flight depends on what you want to see. Some options from the sights:

Coogee, Bondi and Manly beaches
Opera House
Harbour Bridge
Blue Mountains

The shortest flight can be 20 minutes and the longest up to 6 hours. Private packages include lunch, wine region, zoo, kayaking, horseback riding, or even the Blue Mountains. You can see the sunset from a helicopter or even Sydney by night. The cheapest flight starts at 220 AUD (a 20-minute journey), and the most expensive starts at 1350 AUD (lunch with wine).

The view was outstanding, and the weather was perfect. It was a little wind only. The city of Sydney is always enchanting. The ship also terminates in the best location (between Harbor Bridge and the Opera House). Wonderful environment. And to see it from another angle, it is just stealing my heart over and over again.

You can find more information on their website: www.sydneyhelitours.com.au

How to spend two days in Sydney, Australia

After the flight, I returned to the hotel and did the final check-in. The room, which was more like an apartment, looked perfect. Clean and modern. I was satisfied with everything. It’s true that I only spent two nights here, but I wanted it at ease. (On the ship, there’s always a lot of the hustle and bustle. It’s often good to hide from the world.) There was a bigger store in the area where I was finally able to do regular shopping. I made sandwiches for the next trip and set off again. So here is the next adventure:

Palm Beach

It is located 45 km from Sydney, which is approx. an hour and a half by public transport from the centre. It can be reached by the L90 bus, which departs from Wynyard Station.

Barrenjoey Headland is a small peninsula with fabulous views. The lighthouse offers views of the Pacific Ocean and the Hawkesbury River. Reaching the lookout takes a half-hour walk on a more accessible or more challenging (stepped) route. The lighthouse was built in 1881. Every Sunday, it opens its doors to the tourists so that everybody can enter with a guide.

I was there on a Friday and it was closed. Instead, I sat down on a vast stone and admired the view from there. It was an incredible feeling that I didn’t have to rush. I just enjoyed the moment and the sunshine. I turned it off entirely and recharged myself.

On the way back, I no longer had a direct bus to Sydney. I should have transferred from the L90 bus to the 199 bus in Manly. Along the way, I decided to go to Manly’s last stop to take a walk around town, watch the sunset (it has become an everyday program lately), and finally take a ferry back to Sydney. Along the shore, I could feel the wind, but I just stood there with my hot chocolate in my hand and watched the sea glistening in the sunset. I can’t get enough of this view.

In the evening, as I returned to downtown, I looked at the city glorious in the Christmas lights. It was Friday night. They flooded the main street with tourists and young people. I felt like I had seen a lot of Sydney, but not yet. Around 11 in the evening, I was already in the hotel, and after five hours of sleeping, I was ready for a new day. I planned a full-day tour hiking one of the most beautiful mountains close to Sydney.

Blue Mountains

At 7 in the morning, I was already waiting at the train station to Katoomba. It takes approx. two hours to get there. As soon as I saw the first ranges of the mountains, the dream was already out of my eyes.

I booked a ticket for the ‘Blue Mountains Explorer Bus’ online the night before. There are several options to choose from—bus ticket only 49 AUD, bus ticket and ‘Scenic World’ together 95 AUD. So like this, I could skip the line get straight to the most spectacular places. It would be best if you took the first bus, which leaves at 9:15 a.m. This way, you can avoid the crowd. The bus has 29 stops, goes one way and leaves every half an hour. You can get down and back anywhere, as many times as you want.

After exploring some hiking trails, I decided to neglect the bus and explore the area on foot. Along the way, I saw plenty of waterfalls and lookout points. I tried to get to as many places as possible. The tour is not the easiest everywhere, and there are more complex parts. But the scenery makes us forget the tiredness. Sunscreen and water are essential for this hike. Along the way, signs indicate places to visit, along with distance and time. I also tracked where I was on a map. I can highly recommend an app called maps.me to everyone. It works without the internet and can also find hiking trails.

Must things to see in the Blue Mountains:

Scenic World
Echo Point
The Three Sisters
Honeymoon Bridge (you will found it by the Three Sisters)
Leura waterfall
Pool of siloam (down the valley with a small lake)

Lot of things to see. You can also do 2-3 day tours here. I had only one day here. I had my bucket list, and as always, I saw even more than what I wanted. But, of course, I don’t mind that. I also ended this day with my favourite hot chocolate with marshmallows.

You can find more information about the Blue Mountains on the website: www.explorerbus.com.au

Find your perfect stay in Sydney

Booking.com

Overall

So this is how I spent my two days in Sydney. I didn’t spend too much time in the hotel at all. I hope you enjoyed this little trip of mine. If you are planning to visit Sydney, I think the Blue Mountains are a must-see place.

When working on a cruise ship, sometimes you don’t have enough time to see the most spectacular places. You have only half a day off or just a couple of hours of break to do something. So when the weather was perfect, I got off the boat to discover the closest areas. I had my favourite coffee shops and places to spend my free time. It was perfect and memorable. I’m so grateful for these moments.

Have you ever been to Australia? If yes, what is your favourite place there? If not, is it on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!