10 unique & unusual things to do in Sydney

Vibrant, bustling, and chock-full of impressive things to do, Sydney / Warrane is world-famous for its iconic landmarks, like the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Bondi Beach. These must-see attractions draw millions of visitors annually but behind the well-trodden and well-known lies a wealth of underexplored, unusual and unique experiences waiting to be discovered.

With decades of experience helping road trippers see the best of Sydney and beyond, we’ve created a handy guide to our favourite unique and unusual things to do in Sydney. Perfect for inclusion on your Star RV motorhome getaway, be it a weekend escape, week-long vacation or epic road trip!

Why should you visit the less popular attractions?

Exploring Sydney’s less well-known attractions has many benefits:

• Discover hidden gems: When you explore the unique and unconventional across a destination like Sydney, you not only see more than the average visitor but tap deeper into the city’s heritage and secrets.
• Escape the crowds: Sydney’s famous landmarks are iconic for a reason and seeing them is worth dealing with crowds. However, we recommend interspersing places like the Rocks and Royal Botanic Gardens with this guide’s lesser-known attractions for a more peaceful Sydney visit.
• Support local communities: Sydney’s quirky museums, small tour companies, and mom-and-pop eateries are usually managed by local business owners. When you get off the beaten track, you support the communities you visit, making your trip more impactful and enriching.
• Authentic experiences: Including hidden gems on your New South Wales road trip itinerary gives you a deeper understanding of the local culture and lifestyle. It’s often missed by those sticking to only the major tourist spots.

Star RV's Top 10 unusual things to do in Sydney

Are you ready to see what else Sydney has to offer?

1. Escape to Cockatoo Island

Once a convict penal establishment and naval shipyard, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cockatoo Island / Wareamah offers a fascinating blend of historical tours, unique accommodation, and scenic beauty. Explore the heritage buildings on a self-guided tour, or if you’re game, time your visit to catch a chilling nighttime Ghost or Dark Past guided tour.

Besides the ferry cost to reach Cockatoo Island (and any tour costs), visiting Cockatoo Island is free. Pack a picnic or eat at one of the island’s two cafés.

Time: 2-4 hours

Parking: Reach Cockatoo Island from Circular Quay or Balmain ferry terminals; leave your RV at your campground and take public transport rather than rely on finding street parking.

2. Admire Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden

For a great alternative to the well-known Chinese Garden of Friendship, visit the tranquil oasis of Wendy’s Secret Garden. Created by cultural icon and artist-cum-gardener Wendy Whiteley after the death of her artist husband, her garden – with its spectacular harbour views - is an idyllic untouristy escape for locals and visitors alike. As it’s just over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, combine a visit with a bridge walk or fun times at Luna Park.

Wendy’s Secret Garden is not called a secret for nothing; you won’t find any signage to say you’re in the right place! Inside the Lavender Bay Parklands, find the small entry path to access the garden’s native plants, quirky artefacts, and charming shaded nooks.

Time: 1-2 hours

Parking: Limited street parking; park further out and take public transport to the garden.

3. Enjoy the seclusion of Flat Rock Beach

A secluded beach in Sydney, surely not? It’s hard to imagine if you’ve been to Bondi, Manly or Coogee Beaches, but it does exist. Follow a short bush track to reach the empty stretch of white-sand sand at Flat Rock Beach.

Found in Garigal National Park, drive 40 minutes north to Killarney Drive in Killarney Heights, then hike 20 minutes to reach the beach. Swim, sunbathe, or set up a picnic from your motorhome fridge under the trees.

Garigal National Park is also home to hundreds of significant Aboriginal sites, including the impressive carvings at Bantry Bay. Access them via the Engravings Site Loop.

Time: 1-2 hours

Parking: Free

4. Explore Badu Mangrove Forest

Did you know there are mangroves within Sydney Olympic Park? While it may not be top of many Sydney to-do travel lists, the Badu Mangroves connect you to over 200 native bird species in a peaceful setting. One that’s unexpected in a city as go-go-go as Sydney!

Over 65 hectares between Homebush Bay and Bicentennial Park, discover this rich ecosystem on the award-winning Badu Mangroves Boardwalk. It was designed for minimal impact and maximum viewing. The Badu Mangroves is actually one of six areas within Olympic Park to bird watch.

While you’re visiting, add Brickpit Ring Walk to your itinerary. This elevated circular walkway affords insights into (and protects) endangered green and golden bell frogs.

Time: 1-3 hours

Parking: Plenty of paid parking available; pre-book in peak season.

5. Feel pretty in pink in Burwood

While 2023 may have been the Year of the Barbie Movie, the bubblegum pink vibes haven’t had to stop, thanks to the out-there and over-stimulating Burwood Chinatown Million Life arcade. Win gaming consoles, make-up, and, of course, a life-size teddy, as you play the city’s first pink claw machine in an oh-so-pink store.

After you’ve scored your bounty, stop by the mall’s hawker-style stalls for tasty Asian feasts and a buzzing atmosphere.

Time: 1-3 hours

Parking: Paid street parking as Burwood's car parks have unsuitable height restrictions for motorhomes.

6. Adventure in Bundeena & the Royal National Park

An hour south of Sydney, Bundeena is the picturesque village you didn’t know you needed to visit. Alongside wide golden-sand beaches, a vibrant local art scene, and quaint cafés, Bundeena is the gateway to the world’s second-oldest national park, Royal National Park.

Outdoor lovers will enjoy Bundeena’s fun-filled activities. Rent a kayak or paddleboard, go fishing, or hike one of Royal National Park’s 80+ hiking trails, including to the geological formation known as Wedding Cake Rock. A fun hiking trail from Bundeena is the 8-kilometre Bundeena Drive to Little Marley beach trek where you’ll pass fresh-water pools, babbling creeks, and enjoy panoramic coastal views.

If you’re an art lover, time your visit with the first Sunday of the month to visit the 15+ art studios on the Bundeena and Maianbar Art Trail.

Time: Half to full day

Parking: Ample free outdoor parking around Bundeena and the park.

7. Discover Bare Island Fort

More islet than island, Bare Island is in the La Perouse area of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, a 25-minute drive from central Sydney. Fear of a Russian invasion in the 1880s saw highfalutin Brits commandeer Bare Island Fort’s build.

To discover the fort’s history - and how this tiny islet is synonymous with scandal and intrigue - join a 45-minute guided tour. The expansive Botany Bay views are exceptional. It’s also fun to match the location to some of Mission Impossible 2’s action scenes, filmed in 2000.

Also in the park, walk the 7-kilometre Cape Banks walking track from Congwong Beach, or watch for whales on the 4-kilometre Henry Head trail from June to October. Bring a snorkel to explore the rich underwater world around the fort. Qualified divers, book a Bare Island scuba dive; it’s Sydney’s most popular dive site.

Time: 2-4 hours

Parking: Free outdoor parking available near the island’s entrance.

8. Follow Sydney’s outdoor art trails

Across Sydney, there are pockets of outdoor art to inspire and spark discussion. The Sydney Sculpture Walk is a self-guided trail from The Domain to Martin Place, taking in 10 commissioned artworks for the 2000 Olympics.

For grittier art, head to Newtown in Sydney’s Inner West where colourful murals and graffiti capture attention between the neighbourhood’s eclectic boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and bars.

Over the Harbour Bridge, the leisurely 3-hour self-guided North Sydney Public Art Trail includes cultural attractions, architectural sites of interest, and sculptures, like the contemporary A Rotunda for Reflective Encounters, which looks out to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

If you’re visiting Bare Island Fort (above), look for the three bronze sculptures created by Aboriginal artists, on the Burrawang Walk.

Time: Varies

Parking: Varies, dependent on the art site.

9. Deep dive into Sydney’s darker side

For a city so full of life, Sydney has a surprising number of ways to connect to death, too. There’s Mortuary Station, a purpose-built Victorian railway that once took funeral remains to Rookwood Cemetery. Then there’s Gore Hill Cemetery on the North Shore. As Sydney’s oldest resting place, exploring the cemetery connects you to New South Wales’ earliest European inhabitants. If you’ve a sensitive stomach, skip the Museum of Human Disease and the impressive taxidermy section at the Australian Museum, including the extinct thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger).

To explore the city and solve a crime concurrently, book a Death on the Rocks interactive murder mystery tour along central Sydney’s streets. Follow your sleuthing with a visit to grim evidence and exhibitions at the Justice and Police Museum.

Time: Varies

Parking: Paid street parking, though it’s advised to take public transport to any Sydney CBD sites.

10. Dine at Sydney’s out-there eateries

Sydney is no stranger to fabulous dining experiences. From the city’s cheap eats to its fine dining establishments, there’s quality food for every budget and taste. There are also some more unusual places to dine.

Like Spice World in Chinatown, where robots serve Chinese hot pot meals, your wagyu beef is wrapped around a Barbie like a gown, and cutesy teddy bear butter sculptures flavour your dishes.

For a wood-fired pizza with a difference, enjoy the sizzling atmosphere and slices at the Pizza Bros on the roof of Erskineville’s iconic Imperial Hotel. Brothers Joey and Marty have built a stellar reputation for their chewy leopard pizza dough, flavourful toppings, and obvious love of pizza (ask to see their matching tattoos). Combine with one of the Imperial’s fun nightly events.

To dine with a difference, drive 45 minutes north to Sydney Oyster Farm. After a short boat tour to the oyster farm, you’ll meet one of the Sheridan family farmers, and enjoy freshly harvested oysters at an in-water table.

Time: 1-3 hours

Parking: Paid parking in Chinatown and Erskineville; free at the oyster farm.

Start your motorhome adventure today

Exploring Sydney’s unique and unusual attractions offers a more enriching and multi-dimensional alternative to the usual tourist hotspots. These lesser-known attractions offer equally memorable experiences and showcase more of Sydney’s charms.

For the ultimate in flexibility and freedom, discover Sydney in a motorhome. Whether you choose a campground in the Sydney Hills or Lane Cove, pick a base like Bonnie Vale Campground in Royal National Park, or stay in a campground near Garigal National Park, you’ll add even more variety and local flavour to your visit. Along with all the home comforts and safety a motorhome affords, like comfy beds, a compact kitchen, plus toilet and shower!

Are you ready to discover Sydney's best-kept secrets? Secure your Sydney motorhome hire from Star RV and embark on an unforgettable adventure beyond the norm. Our Sydney motorhome hire branch is only minutes from Sydney International Airport ensuring you’re on the road in record time.

Call 1800 875 018 or click BOOK NOW to secure your vehicle today.