The same question always arises when planning a trip to Australia. Should I go to Sydney or Melbourne? As the two largest cities in Australia and rivals by their own account, they both have amazing sights to offer tourists and both often find themselves on lists of the world’s most liveable cities.
We spent some time in both of these great cities and break down our highlights of our time visiting both.
Sydney Highlights
New Years Eve Celebration
We visited Sydney in late December 2018, as we wanted to be there for the famous New Year’s Eve celebration. Growing up in Canada, Sydney was always the first place we’d see on television ringing in the new year with an impressive fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. We thought it would be really fun to be a part of that. We learned that it wasn’t so simple! New Year’s Eve in Sydney is an elaborate operation that the city prepares well in advance, and thousands of tourists flood into the city specifically for the celebration, just as we did.
Parts of the harbourfront close early in the day, with people arriving first thing in the morning to snag the perfect spot for the evening’s fireworks. Most areas reach capacity by early afternoon with the best locations only available by purchasing tickets well in advance. By the afternoon on December 31, large barricades are put up, preventing anybody from entering the harbourfront area. We naively assumed we could simply walk over and join the massive crowd to see the fireworks. Unfortunately, because of the barricades, we had an obstructed view of the sensational show.
We had booked a fancy New Year’s Eve dinner at The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room, which was luckily located through the first set of barricades.
This allowed us to see a partial view of the fireworks and people-watch as millions of people strolled through the streets after midnight. The energy and atmosphere throughout the city was electric.
Circular Quay
This is the quintessential place that any visitor to Sydney must see. The harbour includes the iconic Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Fort Denison. It is pretty much what one would see on any Sydney postcard. The atmosphere is lively with tourists enjoying the sites.
Taking a ferry in or out of circular quay is another great way to see these landmarks from a different perspective. Also, another popular tourist draw is climbing the Harbour Bridge. 
Unfortunately, we were unable to do so due to timing and the New Year’s Eve celebration setup in the harbour.
Sydney Fish Market
Located near Darling Harbour, the Sydney Fish Market is an operational port for fresh fish, as well as a tourist draw for those looking to buy or dine on seafood. 
Although it is crowded and rather touristy, it is worth strolling through the marketplace, taking in the sights, sounds and smells. There is an abundance of dining options to feast on seafood (including fresh sushi), deli items, wine and baked goods.
Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour is a pedestrian-friendly touristy area containing a number of waterfront restaurants. 
It is a family friendly spot for tourists to visit, with attractions such as the Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum and Sydney Wildlife World. The biggest highlight for us, however, was the free fireworks they put on every Saturday night at 9pm. 
The best vantage point was the bridge, from which we were treated to amazing views of an impressive fireworks display. If planning to see the fireworks, be sure to check here to ensure they are taking place.
Free Walking Tour
A Free Walking Tour is the best way to see many of the main Sydney sights, while learning some history along the way. The three-hour tour starts at Town Hall Square (on George Street, between Sydney Town Hall and St. Andrew’s Cathedral) every day at 10:30am and 2:30pm.
The same company operates in Melbourne as well and provides an awesome tour. If you are unsure of walking tours, read more about “Why Free Walking Tours Are Awesome.”
Sunday Transit Fixed Rate
Although there has been quite a bit of negative press about the state of the Sydney transportation system, we did not have any issues during our time in the city. We especially appreciated the Sunday travel cap, which is like a day pass. This allowed us to use trains, buses, ferries and light rail and pay no more than $2.70 AUD each for the day. The regular cap is $15.80 AUD a day or $63.20 AUD a week. 
The transit uses an OPAL card, which can be purchased at the airport or in town at convenience stores or supermarkets.
TIP: If there are two or more people, travelling from the airport to town might be cheaper in a taxi or Uber, as opposed to the Airport Link train, which is a whopping $18.70AUD/person.
Northern Beaches Region
It is a well known fact that Sydney has great beaches and some of the best ones are north of the main city. Luckily, we have friends living in the area and visited them at Bilgola beach. It was uncrowded, the waves were great and the sand was pristine. What else could we ask for?
Manly Beach
Touted as one of the best beaches in Sydney, Manly beach is popular among surfers and beach-goers alike. Near the beach are many restaurants and bars, as well as the heritage-listed Manly Wharf.
It is a short and scenic 30-minute ferry ride from Manly Wharf to Circular Quay and the views are remarkable.
The ship passes right between the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, offering up-close views of these iconic landmarks. You can pay extra to take a private boat or tour, however, since we were there on a Sunday we took the regular public ferry (included in the daily transit cap of $2.70AUD).
Bronte Baths At Sunrise
One of the best places in Sydney to see a sunrise is at Bronte Baths. This natural saltwater pool sits cliffside and provides a gorgeous vantage point over the ocean. Regrettably, we did not brave the morning’s cold water temperatures like others did for Insta-worthy photos!
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
As one of the city’s most scenic walking paths, the coastal walk was a highlight during our time in Sydney. The entire walk from Bondi beach to Coogee beach is about 6km in distance. We completed a shorter walk from Bronte beach to Bondi beach, which was about 2.5km one way. The scenery was fantastic, with beautiful views of the ocean and giant sandstone cliffs!
The walk also helped us gain a better understanding of the Aussie beach culture. We watched surfers both young and old riding some morning waves before work, exercisers completing their daily routines, dog-walkers starting their day, other tourists like us taking in the scenery and early beach-goers carefully selecting their location on the perfectly groomed sand to sunbathe. There are lots of cafés and restaurants along the coastal walk, with majority of them located close to Bondi beach. We stopped for breakfast and did some shopping in the stores at Bondi Junction.
Melbourne Highlights
Interesting Architecture
One of the first things that we were drawn to in Melbourne was its diverse, eclectic and contrasting architecture. On one hand, there are awe-inspiring Victorian-era buildings lining the streets (most were constructed when Melbourne was one of the British empire’s wealthiest states during the gold rush of the mid-1800s).
On the other hand, the city centre is home to massive skyscrapers and newly constructed artistic buildings. This dichotomy of building styles creates an interesting skyline and contributes to the city’s unique vibe.
It Is Cheaper Than Sydney
The cost of living in Melbourne is marginally less expensive than Sydney – about 10% officially, but we noticed restaurants and grocery stores were about 30% cheaper. Although it is certainly not cheap by any stretch, your dollar will take you farther in Melbourne than its east coast rival.
Laneway Coffee Scene
Throughout the Melbourne CBD (Central Business District), there are numerous small alleys that once were service laneways for horses and carts in the 1800s. They are now home to many trendy cafés, shops, restaurants and bars.
There is something fun about finding a “hidden café” in a graffiti covered alleyway! Not only that, Melbournians are serious about their coffee. You’d be hard pressed to find a bad cup of coffee in any of these mega hipster cafés!
Queen Victoria Market
Occupying two city blocks, the Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere. It was officially opened in 1878 and still operates today. It is open five mornings per week for produce and specialty shopping.
During the summer months, a Wednesday night market operates, offering loads of street food, food trucks, live music and shopping. We checked out the night market and it was a lot of fun.
Fitzroy Rooftop Bars
Melbourne is known for its rooftop bars and the bohemian/hipster neighbourhood of Fitzroy is where to find a lot of them!
We particularly enjoyed having a drink at the Imperial Hotel, as it offered a great happy hour special and spectacular views over the city.
Brighton Beach
Although Sydney is known for having the nicest beaches, Melbourne has a few nice spots as well. Brighton Beach is best known for its 82 colourful (and photogenic) bathing boxes lining the beach. They were built over 100 years ago as changing rooms for women. Now, they are used mostly for storage and sun shelter.
All the boxes are owned by local residents and often stay in the same family for generations. They are rarely on the market to purchase and when they are, the prices are steep. For example, in April 2018 a bathing box sold for an astounding $337,000!
St. Kilda
St. Kilda is a suburb of Melbourne, which can be reached easily by tram. The beach is a favourite spot for Melbournians to relax, due to its close proximity to the city. It is also a place to watch a penguin colony every night at dusk!
The town has a lot of cafés, restaurants and shops, as well as an amusement park (Luna Park). We really enjoyed the beach at St. Kilda and thought it would be nice to stay in this chill neighbourhood for a few days.
Free Tram Zone
Riding the tram in the CBD (Central Business District) and Docklands is free of charge! This was very useful for us, as our hotel was located in the Docklands. To ride outside the free tram zone, a myki card is required.
National Gallery of Victoria
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the National Gallery of Victoria. Admission is free to see the permanent collection of local and international art.
State Library
The State Library is Australia’s oldest library and an impressive building to visit. The architecture of the domed reading room is a magnificent sight to see. There are also free tours of the library, as well as two permanent exhibitions to check out.
Parma at Universal
Chicken parmigiana (or ‘parma’ for short) is a staple pub food in Australia. Universal Restaurant in Fitzroy always has a lineup of people waiting for parma.
Their portions are enormous, the price is more than reasonable and the food is delicious!
Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road begins a short 1 hour from Melbourne. The scenic drive should be part of every visitor’s itinerary while in Australia! Check out post “The Great Ocean Road in Two Days: Our Self Drive Itinerary” for more information.
So Which City Is Better?
Choosing a favourite between Sydney and Melbourne is exceptionally hard to do! It’s like debating Gretzky/Lemieux, Jordan/Lebron or Batman/Superman. All have valid arguments to put one above the other. Either way, both Sydney and Melbourne have so much to offer and should both be experienced. If you can only visit one, hopefully our highlights listed above will help you choose which city suits your travel needs.
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