Free view of the Sydney CBD
Where is the best free view of the Sydney Central Business District from within 30 minutes drive of the city?
I'm used to the Brisbane tradition of going up to the top of Mt Coot-tha to look over the city lights and was wondering if there's somewhere similar in Sydney. The edges of the Hornsby Plateau seem likely but I've never been able to find somewhere comparable.
Example view from Mt Coot-tha:
Best Answer
One little known option is Blue Bar on 36, at the Shangri-La hotel, close to Circular Quay. It's on the 36th floor, is pretty smart (but have been in there in smart-casual) and the drink prices are horrendous, but there's nothing stopping you going up for a look. It's free to enter.
(source: Lonely Planet article)
You get a view down on the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and a great view of Sydney Harbour itself.
Another free view that people don't seem to go to - Observatory Hill. You get a really different alternative view of the bridge - so your travel photos are a bit different to the standard Opera-house-from-a-ferry shot, and while nowhere near as high as Bar 36, you are raised on the hill, so have a bit of a good view of Circular Quay and part of the CBD.
(source - my own photo)
The Glenmore Hotel in the Rocks area has a rooftop bar, which is free to get up to, and has a spectacular view of the tourist-y Circular Quay area, with great shots of the Opera House and some of the CBD. Highly recommend for a drink or meal.
(source: Timeout online)
I've been thinking of high-up shots, but if you want just views of the CBD, I can recommend the views from the ferries. Ferries taking you to Cremorne Point, McMahon's Point and around to Balmain East and Darling harbour all have spectacular views of the CBD.
Timeout has a list of the six best ferry trips, and it shows you some of the views
Pictures about "Free view of the Sydney CBD"
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The 5 best vantage points in Sydney- Mrs Macquarie's Chair, the Domain. Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney, New South Wales \xa9 BridgeClimb. ...
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What should you not miss in Sydney?
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The tunnel falls about 55 metres (180 ft) from the northern entrance and about 35 metres (115 ft) from the southern entrance to its deepest point, 25 metres (82 ft) below sea level.What are the boundaries of Sydney CBD?
It extends north to Circular Quay, Bennelong Point and Mrs Macquarie's Chair, east to Woolloomooloo Bay and the eastern boundary of the Domain and Hyde Park, south to Goulburn Street just north of Sydney's Chinatown (Haymarket), and west to cover the Darling Harbour area on the western shore of Cockle Bay.CROSSING SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE : Free tour in Sydney CBD with great view of Sydney Opera House
More answers regarding free view of the Sydney CBD
Answer 2
Other good and free views not yet mentioned include:
- Cremorne Wharf
- Balls Head, Waverton
- Larkin St Lookout, Waverton
- Bradley's Head
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Gabriela Palai, Larry Snickers, Pixabay, Valeriia Miller