Best things to do in Sydney at night | Activities after Dark
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Sydney is not only a city that offers you tons of daily activities but it is also a night paradise. There are tones to places to go and lots of things to do in Sydney at night. The city never sleeps and whether you are on a solo trip or are travelling with your family, you will never run out of activities to jump-in in Sydney at night. So, here we have curated some of the most interesting night-time activities that you can undertake during your stay in Sydney.
Things to do before the dawn in Sydney
Royal Botanic Garden & Mrs Macquarie chair
One of the best things to do in Sydney at night is heading towards the Royal Botanic Garden & Mrs Macquarie’s chair. This place offers one of the most cherished spots to enjoy the open air and a serene ambience. Stay here till the twilight to witness the scandalously beautiful sunset. Mrs Macquarie chair is a popular iconic Sydney landmark and is known for being one of the best vantage points to enjoy the sights of Sydney Harbour, which gets bathed in mesmerising sun rays during the sunset hours.
Opening hours: 24 hours (Although the Royal Botanic Garden closes at sunset, you would need to get around the park to Mrs Macquarie chair)
Entry fee: Free
Penguins in Manly
Manly is a place to spot (endangered) fairy penguins every dawn between July and February. The penguins nest at the Wharf and visiting this place an hour before sunset can offer you the scope to spot them. So, you can pack your meal and come here early evening to get the sight of these cute creatures. However, do not forget to turn off the flash during photography.
Opening hours: 09:30 am – 05:00 pm
Reaching here: Manly Ferries from Wharf 3 Circular Quay
Walk on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Walking to the Sydney Harbour Bridge could be one of the finest things to do in Sydney at night. You can spend time exploring the harbour and foreshore. You would not need to spend anything to walk around and get soaked into the lights. Visit here during the sunset and go for a sailboat, ferry, or cruise ship to get an entirely mesmerising feeling.
Join a pub trivia
Start your dawn in Sydney in a pub. What more? If you think you are smart enough you can join Sydney’s pub trivia nights. Use all your weird and wonderful knowledge as your arsenal to participate in quizzes to win cash and glory. Some of the best pub trivia nights in Sydney is held at
- The Alcott- Monday- 7 pm
- The Little Guy- Monday- 7 pm
- The Bellevue- Monday- 7 pm
- The Taphouse- Monday- 7.30 pm
Dinner venues in Sydney at Night
China town markets
Among the top things to do in Sydney at night is having dinner at Chinatown markets. Grab your friends and head towards this food paradise to enjoy some lips-making Chinese dishes every Friday. This place is an important landmark as here you will find a wide range of street foods, stalls operated by students, and a display of Asian art and heritage. At the Chinatown Markets, you can hit Little Eat Street to try cuisines from Hong Kong to Hanoi. Do not forget to try the sumptuous yum cha, teppanyaki, sushi, and pho.
Market hours: 4 pm – 11 pm
Address: Dixon Street, Sydney
Dinner cruise
Another memorable thing to do in Sydney at night is having a spectacular dining experience at any of the Sydney dinner cruises. Some of the best Sydney diner cruise options to choose from include:
- Showboat Dinner Cruise:
- Boarding at- 7 pm; Departure Location- King Street Wharf- 5; Price- Adult: $165/ Child (2- 13 years): $90
- Glass Boat Dining Cruise:
- Boarding at 7 pm; Departure Location- King Street Wharf- 5; Price- Adult: $165
- Tall Ship Twilight Dinner Cruise:
- Boarding at- 4.45 pm; Departure location- Campbell’s Cove Jetty, The Rocks; Price- Adult- $109/ Child (4- 14 years)- $55
Book a table at Mr Wong
If you are searching for some sumptuous Cantonese dinner, you can head towards Mr Wong at Establishment Hotel. Spread over two- levels of establishment, here you can choose your favourite dish among 80 dishes. Enjoy your dinner under dim light and some moody jazz.
Opening hours: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Cuisine: Cantonese
Address: 3 Bridge Lane, Sydney
Things to do in Sydney at night after dinner
Sydney night shopping
Going for some late night shopping could be among the best things to do in Sydney at night. Although the store hours may vary, you can gear up for some profound shopping experience from 9. 30 am till 7 pm (every day except Thursday) and 9 pm on Thursdays. Some of the major shopping centres to go to for night-time shopping include:
- The Queen Victoria Building
- Harbourside
- The Strand Arcade
- David Jones, etc.
Visit Sydney Observatory
One of the best things to do in Sydney at night is exploring the night sky at Sydney Observatory. Undertake a night tour of the observatory to look through a telescope and find the Moon, stars, and planets. You can also visit the planetarium and dome, which is a part of the night tour, especially if you are planning to visit this place with kids.
Opening hours: 10 am to 5 pm (last entry 4 pm)/ Night-time: 8.30 pm or 9 pm (as per the availability)
Tickets: Free entry during the day (Pre-registration is needed)
Guided tours: Adult- $10; Child- $8
Night entry: Adult- $40; Child- $34
Address: 1003 Upper Fort St Millers Point NSW
Photography at Barangaroo reserve at night
If you are a photography enthusiast, you can surely head towards the Barangaroo reserve at night. From there you can get spectacular views of Sydney Harbour and Bridge, the rugged sandstone of Barangaroo Reserve, and so on. You can also click some amazing snaps of sunrise and sunset at the Barangaroo ferry wharf.
Book a helicopter night flight
Just imagine how surreal the city of Sydney would look at night from far above? Now you can enjoy this view through an exclusive 25-minutes helicopter night ride. The helicopter ride could be one of the best things to do in Sydney at night.
Duration: 25- 30 minutes
Tickets: Approx. AU$ 400/ person
