Australia Pacific

In our 5 Shops series, we’ll point you in the direction of our favorite independent stores across some of the world’s best cities. From food markets to bookshops, vintage and homegrown design, we’ve found a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can pick up one-of-a-kind pieces. Sydney is a must-see stop on […]

I’m an Adelaide-based travel writer and photographer, capturing adventures across Australia – although, shamefully, I hadn’t visited Sydney since the pandemic lockdowns. So when an invitation arrived to go to the harbor city to launch the latest Smarttravelly Australia guidebook series (for which I’d helped pen the South Australia chapter), I took it as a

Sydney is not the easiest city to get around, but its public transport network is reliable, reasonably priced and way more convenient than driving. But by far, the best way to enjoy getting around Sydney is by taking a ferry or water taxi whenever possible. Sydney’s transport network is as complex as its road system,

Sydneysiders, like most Australians, are pretty friendly people – they genuinely want travelers to have a good time and take fond memories home with them. That said, this is arguably Australia’s biggest, busiest and most cosmopolitan city so you need to be prepared. Ideally you’ll visit for at least three to four days, depending on

There’s no getting around it – travel is expensive, and with kids along for the ride, the price can quickly skyrocket out of control. In Sydney though, there are plenty of fantastic, kid-friendly things to do that are entirely free. With an irrepressible love of the outdoors and the natural world, Sydney is a great

If you find Sydney’s ocean surf a little intimidating or if you just want to soothe your jetlag with a few slow laps, take advantage of the city’s famous ocean pools. There are 40 seawater pools up and down the coast, most of which are free. Here are a few of our favorites. Editor’s note:

Sure, a Christmas winter wonderland is magical, but have you thought about spending the festive season in Australia? From coast to coast, Christmas down under means summer sun, lazy days beachside and, yes, shrimp on the barbie. Whether you’re taking in the magical Christmas lights of Sydney’s CBD, enjoying some culture in Brisbane or heading

Australia may be the world’s flattest continent, but it is packed with enough vertical topography to occupy any climber for many lifetimes. Most famous are the Grampians and Mt Arapiles, though there is no shortage of other world-class crags. Sydneysiders luxuriate in their famous bay, but the city is bounded to the west by the

Wild, raw, brutally beautiful: trails in Australia that are ripe for bushwalking and running range from undulating, deceptively tough coastal routes to precipitous and remote highland adventures that demand self-sufficiency. The variety of terrain for bushwalking and trail running is incredible across Australia © David Freund 157042 / Getty Images Bushwalking Americans hike, the English

The devastating bushfires burning so much of Australia are heart-wrenching reminders of the power of nature and the impact of a changing climate on vulnerable ecosystems. Emergency services have been fighting the fires for months © Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images If you have a trip booked, should you continue with your trip in the