There is so much to do in Sydney, hopefully you have more than a few days to explore. Mel’s personal favourite things to do would be:

• Take a long walk from the W hotel to the Botanical Gardens. If you fancy a long lunch, you can end your walk with a meal at Botanic House. Fancy restaurant upstairs bookable or causal cafeteria below. The best way is to follow the water all the way around darling harbour, under the bridge, and to Botanical gardens.

• Have a few drinks at the Rocks [check out the Lord Nelson for a causal colonial beer or Hotel Paradiso for a fancy rooftop cocktail].  If those fail, you can never go wrong with a trip to the nearby Hero, with live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

• Do the Bondi to Coogee walk: walk along the coastline from Bondi to Coogee. It is a 30min bus ride from the city (Elizabeth street, bus number 333) to Bondi to begin the journey. Stop by the Coogee Pavillion for some drinks and bevies once you get there. Or if you’re feeling fancy, you could grab lunch at the iconic Bondi Icebergs once you finished the round trip!

• Take a ferry to Manly! Manly is a great beach town with lots of restaurants [my favourite Hugos, Sake, or Queen Chow on the Wharf- you’ll need to book!] and Breweries [can’t miss the Four Pines]. But the journey itself is also a memorable one and will let you take in the sights of the coast and city [including a pretty spectacular trip next to the Bridge and Opera House]. Grab one of the ferries from Circular Quay direct to Manly, which takes 30 mins.

• Take a trip to the Fish Markets! The Fish Markets are a 20-25min walk away from the hotel and have fabulously fresh seafood. Avoid the weekends if you can. There is also a fabulous walk from the Fish Markets around the Glebe Foreshore.

• Visit Taronga Zoo! This is a fabulous zoo with a view of the harbour bridge and the opera house. Best (and most beautiful) way to get there is via ferry from Circular Quay (12 min trip). See a link to the discount codes below.

• Sydney also has fabulous restaurants and bars in the CBD (and elsewhere):

  • Check out Baxters Inn, a prohibition style whiskey bar (I had my first date with my husband here!).

  • Palazzo Salato is one of the most popular new restaurants- you’ll need to book, or you can try out it’s older sister restaurant [also one of my faves], Ragazzi.

  • Two other local favourites would be: China doll on Woolloomooloo wharf [a really fabulous setting] and Ester in Chippendale. Oh, and of course Café Paci in Newtown. All need bookings.

  • Surry Hills is also a fabulous suburb for restaurants and bars. I love the Four Pillars Gin Distillery, upstairs on the balcony at the Clock, or dinner at Ito.

• Use this link to book for discounted rates on select attractions below:

  • SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

  • WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

  • Madame Tussaud's Sydney

  • Sydney Tower Eye