Off-beat Things to Do in Sydney

Tired of going to the same spots in Sydney over and over? Worry not, for Sydney is never out of places to explore. Of course the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are probably the most visited attractions in the city. But what about the places that are less talked about? Want to go somewhere dodging the tourist crowd ? Here are some of the off-beat ways to explore Sydney.

Revisit History at Cockatoo Island and maybe some ghosts from the past

A small piece of Australian history lies within Cockatoo Island. You can get there either by catching a public ferry or through a private boat. A former prison and a shipyard, some of the buildings from the island’s past are still standing. With its history of convict transportation, forced labour and its maritime history, Cockatoo island is definitely worth a visit. If you are brave enough to get spooky, there is an adults-only paranormal tour that happens every night called the Ghostyard.

Liven things up with a boat rental in Sydney

If you’ve run out of things to do on land, head for the waters. If you’re good at handling boats, maybe you can just drive around the harbour or visit Fort Denison or pack a picnic to Shark Island. Perhaps, you’re looking at a themed party or your favourite book club meeting away from the land. Instead of choosing the usual spot, liven things up with a boat charter in Sydney. Break away from the mundanity of the city and give yourself a well-deserved break from all the clamour of the urban sprawl.

Head to Newtown’s beloved bookstore

Fall in love with reading all over again with a visit to the largest second-hand book shop of Australia. With a collection of over two million books, the Gould’s has been selling books since 1989. What started out as a literary hub for the left-wing individuals of the Sydney University, Gould’s now houses every kind of second-hand book you could ever imagine–from biographies to medical journals; it even has a good collection of second-hand vinyl records. So even if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you might end up walking home with some unexpected treasures.

Get a slice of Japan in Purikura Photoland

Experience retro Japan tucked away in Haymarket, located in the upper level of Capitol Square. This place has many claw machines, gachapon machines and arcade games. But the biggest show-stealer is the purikura machines. Being made in Japan, each machine has its own aesthetic effects that can render an individual’s anime avatar. You can also add digital stickers, writing etc. to the photos. Once you’ve added all the glitter and speech bubbles, the photos are printed and you can cut them up and share them amongst your pals. Next time when you’re in Haymarket, step back in time and experience retro Japan.

Listen to the forgotten bird sounds

A discrete alleyway in Sydney’s CBD has one of the city’s strangest art installations: a mass of empty bird cages hanging overhead with birdsongs playing all day amidst the roar of the city. Tucked away between George Street and Pitt Street, Angel Place is an alleyway where the art installation ‘Forgotten Sounds’ stands as a reminder of all the birds that were displaced by modernity. It has around 120 empty birdcages accompanied by sound recordings of the bird species of Sydney that are either extinct or are under threat by urban development. Next time you’re in the CBD, unplug yourself from the city buzz and allow yourself time to reflect beneath these birdcages.

There is more to Sydney than where the crowds go. Head to Haymarket near Darling Harbour to see one of the largest Chinatowns in the world or maybe walk through the alleyways or head into some pretty cafes. Don’t just follow the crowd, instead take the less-travelled paths. Who knows, maybe you’d be surprised at the things you didn’t notice before.