House sitting in Sydney – Discover Sydney on a budget

Circular Quay & The Rocks

Sydney's skyline is iconic, and rightfully so. Fortunately for budget travellers or house sitters, most of the sights around Circular Quay and The Rocks can be explored on foot completely free of charge.

A good starting point is the Royal Botanic Garden which is free to access and features both native and exotic plant life. While there, be sure to visit Mrs Macquarie's Point for a postcard-worthy view of the bay.

Just west of the gardens you'll find the famous Sydney Opera House. Admiring the view from the outside may be enough to satisfy many, but if you have your heart set on attending a performance, be sure to inquire about discounted tickets which are available for children, full time students, pensioners.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, which sits opposite the opera house, is possible to cross by foot for maximum opportunity to enjoy the harbour views. Alternatively, explore the historic rocks neighborhood where the Rocks Discovery Museum and Sydney Observatory are both free to enter and well worth a visit.

While in the neighborhood, check out the Rocks Free Walking Tour (imfree.com.au) which delves into the sometimes shady, but always fascinating past of Australia's first European settlement.

If you tire of walking you can switch to your Opal Card to gain access to the city's public transport system. This is a vast network which includes buses, ferries and trains. If you don’t have an Opal card, other forms of contactless payment are permitted, and since you'll never pay more than $16.10 AUD on a weekday or $50.00 AUD in a week, the Sydney transit system really is a bargain.

Sydney Beaches and Ocean Pools

Sydney boasts some of Australia's best known city beaches and at the top of that list is Bondi. Just a stone's throw from the Central Business District (CBD) and with consistently good surf on offer,

Bondi Beach is a favourite for both tourists and locals. It rivals Bell’s Beach in Torquay for the title of best beach in Australia.

While there you can also explore the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk or simply check out a few of the neighborhood's hip bars and cafes.

Meanwhile, to the north of town you'll find Manly Beach. A trip to Manly will require a 30 minute ferry ride, making it a perfect day trip. Pack a picnic lunch or try one of the dozens of restaurants close by.

If you're nervous about sharks or big swell, or if you're travelling with young children, you may prefer a sheltered ocean pool such as Bondi's Icebergs. In total there are 40 ocean pools spanning Sydney's coastline, most of which are free to use, so take your pick and endeavour to try out a few!

Museums and more

A day of poor weather is a perfect opportunity to spend a day (or two) enjoying the spectacular museums Sydney has to offer.

The Art Gallery of NSW features a range of Australian artists, in addition to frequent special exhibitions from around the world. Entry is free and so are the guided tours which are available in a number of languages. A visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney Harbour is also free.

The Australian National Maritime Museum is fun for all ages and covers all subjects from Australia's naval history to its surf culture. Entry and tours are also free, but you may want to consider paying for a ticket ($30 AUD) which will grant you access aboard some of the naval vessels.

If you prefer sea creatures over sea vessels, check out the Sydney Sea Life Aquarium for sharks, penguins, turtles and more. Pay for single entry or purchase an Ultimate Sydney Pass ($99 AUD) which will allow you to also visit a number of other attractions including the Wild Life Sydney Zoo and the Sydney Tower Eye.

Whether you're cruising through town on a weekend adventure, house sitting in New South Wales, or hoping to stay long enough to put down roots, Sydney has plenty of things to do that won't blow your budget!