Hey there, fellow wanderers! We recently spent over a month in Sydney, Australia and loved every second of it. Sydney had always been a dream bucket list destination of ours, but we really worried about how to do it on a budget. Today, we are psyched to tell you that we were able to stay on budget while still doing and seeing pretty much everything we wanted. So, buckle up and get ready to discover how to stretch your Aussie dollars without compromising on the fun!
1. Hunt for Accommodation Deals: Picture this: waking up to the sound of birds singing in the trees lining your street, knowing that the fun of Bondi beach is a short walk away. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, it doesn’t have to break the bank! Shayne and I swear by booking accommodations in advance and keeping an eagle eye out for those sweet deals on platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com. For our first month in Sydney, we snagged a studio apartment on Airbnb for $2500 for 30 days. While this is double what we usually pay for a months’ accommodation, this was a steal compared to almost every other apartment or hotel we looked at in Sydney. It was pretty basic, but suited us just fine. It had a queen size bed, sitting area with a comfortable loveseat, big tv, a washer/drier, a small-ish bathroom with a great shower, and a decent sized kitchen that was nicely equipped. We knew we wanted to be as close to a beach as possible and this place delivered! We were about 1 km from the beach, about a 15 minute walk or a short bus ride to Bondi or Bronte Beach. And about a 25 minute bus ride to Circular Quay. For our last 5 nights, we opted to stay at Ibis Budget Sydney East. It was about $75 a night and because we joined their loyalty program, we enjoyed their free breakfast. This hotel was about a 20 minute walk to Circular Quay and had a bus stop right next door. Staying a bit further from the city center like we did can often save you a bundle and you may actually end up loving your location!
2. Embrace Public Transportation: Forget pricey cabs, rental cars and parking fees—Sydney’s public transportation is not only clean, efficient, and safe, but also budget-friendly. Plus, you get to soak in the sights without stressing about navigation or parking fees. No need to purchase tickets or a travel card, just tap your credit card to hop on and off trains, buses, ferries, and even light rail services. Each ride we took was only about $0.66 USD. We used Google maps to help plan every trip, and it never let us down. It even showed us how far away the next bus, train, ferry, or light rail was, and also showed us how busy they were. We occasionally also used Lime bike rental. Download the app before your trip. There are bikes everywhere and it couldn’t be easier to use. Just scan the QR code on the bike and start pedaling. A 15-20 minute bike ride of a few miles cost about $5.00 USD.
3. Feast Like a Local: Unless it’s included in a hotel stay, we always cook our own breakfast. Most of the time we have veggie omelettes or breakfast burritos with fruit and toast. We love sampling different breads from local bakeries and finding fruit and yummy jams at farmers markets to try.
For lunch, we occasionally ate out, but often we had something simple either at home or picnic style at the beach. An easy salad, sandwich, chicken quesadilla, or leftovers are pretty typical lunch choices wherever we are traveling.
We were able to sign up for meal box delivery through Hello Fresh and ate this 4-5 nights a week, and sometimes even had it for lunch. This saved us so much money! An introductory box with 5 meals for 2 people was about $35.00 USD. We are long time Hellofresh fans and the Australian version did not disappoint. We loved every meal we ordered and enjoyed lots of variety with chicken, sea bass, salmon, vegetarian and beef dishes.
Sydney is a melting pot of cuisines, and trust us, you don’t need to splurge to taste the magic. When we did eat out, we liked to skip the tourist traps at Circular Quay and Darling Harbor, and instead, venture into neighborhoods like Chinatown, Newtown or Surry Hills. These areas are packed with hidden gems serving up mouthwatering meals at wallet-friendly prices. We also discovered some excellent food courts that served up budget-friendly, delicious meals.
4. Freebie Alert: Who says you need to spend a fortune to experience Sydney’s top attractions? We were thrilled to uncover a treasure trove of freebies that kept us entertained for days. From strolling through the lush Royal Botanic Garden to catching free exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Sydney and Australian Museum, there’s no shortage of budget-friendly activities to fill your itinerary.
Our favorite free activity in Sydney was the beach! We spent several days a week at the beach- Bondi, Bronte, Coogee, Manly, Shelly were all wonderful. Bondi even had surfboards available to use for free. And of course, no trip to Sydney is complete without snapping that iconic selfie at the Opera House—totally free of charge!
5. Get Your Nature Fix: Sydney isn’t just skyscrapers and bustling streets; it’s also home to some of Mother Nature’s finest masterpieces. Lace up your hiking boots and tackle the coastal trails of Bondi to Coogee or venture into the Blue Mountains for a day of breathtaking vistas and cascading waterfalls. Trust me, nothing beats the thrill of exploring Sydney’s natural wonders—all without spending a dime.
Well, there you have it, fellow adventurers—our tried and tested tips for exploring Sydney without emptying your wallet. From savvy accommodation choices to indulging in budget-friendly eats, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of your Aussie adventure without breaking the bank. So, pack your bags, grab your travel buddy, and get ready to experience the best of Sydney on a shoestring budget. Happy travels!
