G’day mate! I finally checked my bucket list to have a two-week holiday, and what better way to spend it than on a road trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast?
The first three days of the road trip was dedicated to explore Sydney, and this was the itinerary:
The full road trip route can be found here.
Day 1
Ogalo City Sydney (Halal)
Fill your tummies with Portugese-style BBQ chicken, burgers and wraps at Ogalo City. There were also fish and vegetarian options. The restaurant is a counter-serve chain and easy to get to as it is located in the city centre and opens till late. Don’t forget to bring your own chili sauce, as ketchup is the standard free condiment here.
Address: b/127 Liverpool St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Hyde Park
Wander through Hyde Park with wonder, as the large city park is surrounded by significant landmarks, and filled with manicured flower beds, trees, and the statues of famous Australians. Hyde Park is usually lively, and is a cool place to take photos, sit and unwind, or just enjoy the sound of the water fountain.
Photo Credit: Ghazi
The Archibald Memorial Fountain was definitely a scene-stealer, with Greek bronze statues designed to highlight water cascading around it.
Hyde Park is also near the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney which closes at 6.30pm. You can also walk down to Sydney Opera House from here like we did.
Address: Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Sydney Opera House
Seeing the Sydney Opera House in person made me understand why it is an iconic performing arts center. Located at the tip of the harbour at the top of a flight of stairs, the sail-like design was definitely eye-catching whether you are on land or on sea. Take a sunset stroll around the Opera House to soak in the beauty and ambience. The pavement was cobbled, but there were plenty of people with wheelchairs and baby strollers.
At night, the area is beautifully lit and vibrant, resembling our Marina Bay waterfront, with a sea-cityscape background.
Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Chinatown Sydney
Chinatown was packed with people and street booths on a Friday night. The night market was full of food and cute little handicrafts, and there were so many bubble tea shops – we couldn’t resist like a moth to the flame. As long as you are brave to face the crowds, go for it.
Address: 82/84 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Darling Square
Darling Square is the perfect place to dine, chill and hang out with friends and family in the evening. There were many open seating areas, and the place felt vibrant and modern, with fairy lights in the evening in the main square. Expect trendy cafes, dining options to boutique shops. The square was easily accessible near Darling Harbour.
There were many laneways to explore, which has many quick bites like Gelato Messina and some delicious looking bakes at Shortstop Coffee & Donuts.
Address: 35 Tumbalong Bvd, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Maker’s Dozen (Halal option available)
In the heart of Darling Square, is this cool circular building known as The Exchange. It hosts a super hip marketplace, the Makers’ Dozen. Was surprised to actually find a Halal-certified restaurant here – Bintang Bro, Indonesian Grill Shack.
We bought the Signature Grilled Chicken with Yellow Rice, prawn skewers, and meatballs. The staff were friendly and food was not too bad at all. There were some Muslim-friendly options like acai, juices, and salad bar too.
Address: Shop 12/1 Little Pier St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Day 2
Sydney Fish Market (Muslim-friendly)
You can take the makcik out of Singapore, but you cannot take the makcik out of the pasar! Sydney Fish Market was the perfect start to our morning for Day 2, and we could see a variety of quality seafood. The staff were cleaning and shucking the oysters in real time.
More than just a fish market, you can also eat the freshest seafood. Ready to eat food like sashimi, seafood platters of bbq octopus, calamari rings, oysters mornay, scallops, battered prawns, fish pieces and seafood sticks were available.
Seafood such as mussels, mud crabs, and Southern Rock lobsters can be cooked with different sauces such as black pepper, garlic butter, salted egg sauce and more. The staff were very helpful, as they assured us that the food is Muslim-friendly, and does not use beer batter and other dubious ingredients. We had a very heavy breakfast and ate by the pier.
There was also a to-go coffee place, Will&Co, which served delicious hot chocolate and some delicious-looking bakes, and also a fruit juice shop.
Address: Corner Pyrmont Bridge Rd &, Bank St, Pyrmont NSW 2009, Australia (Opening hours: 7am – 4pm)
Markets at Glebe
Only opened on Saturdays at Glebe Public School, Markets at Glebe is known for their eclectic mix of stalls, they feature vintage items, handmade jewelry, small collectibles, cameras, local fashion designs, and second-hand treasures. Stalls here were quite hip, with many youths setting up booths. Visitors can enjoy live music, delicious food from various stalls, and a lively atmosphere.
Bought quite a few items from here that I use quite often and also snacked on a Kurtos almond bread. I remember there were some steep hills in that neighbourhood, so do take the public bus.
Address: Derby Place, Glebe Point Rd, Glebe NSW 2037, Australia
Yellowmumdee Regional Park & The Three Sisters Lookout
We met up with our acquaintances who drove us to see the Three Sisters! They picked us up from Schofields and it still took a few hours drive to reach the Three Sisters. Along the way, we took a break at Yellowmumdee regional park, which was a beautiful viewpoint to multiple creeks and lakes.
The Three Sisters is a stunning rock formation located in the Blue Mountains. There were quite a few spots to appreciate the view at various points of the cliffs. The lush natural greenery valley was definitely a humbling view. We also spotted the Blue Mountains Scenic Railway nearby, which is a cable car at such a crazy height.
There were plenty of parking located at both locations. It was great to get some fresh air, and the sunset drive back was beautiful.
Address: Cliff Dr, Katoomba NSW 2780, Australia
Lemak Manis Cafe (Halal)
This place is located in a neighbourhood, and it was super dark with few street lamps, so you would definitely your own transport to reach here. But the vibe in the restaurant was warm and cosy, with heaters in the outdoor seating area.
They serve Malaysian cuisine like nasi kandar, nasi lemak, and more. We could not resist buying satay, prata, nasi kerabu, mee hoon soup, and good old teh.
Address: 68 Byron Rd, Guildford NSW 2161, Australia
El Sweetie Granville (Halal)
El Sweetie is a Lebanese sweets and pastry shop which was a great space to hangout late at night. It is a favourite hangout for the community as they serve high-quality baklava, kunafe, fruit custard tarts, and other delightful treats serves on big trays.
Just note that it can taste a little sweet. There are also other cafe food and drinks and ice cream.
Address: 73/75 South St, Granville NSW 2142, Australia
Day 3
Hyper Karting & VR
Hyper Karting was definitely much more goated than a usual go-kart experience. Located entirely on one carpark floor, it features Australia’s longest indoor track with cutting-edge electric karts, a race track, and a free-roam arcade and virtual reality arena.
There is a leaderboard that tracks your timing each round and the electric karts accelerates and increase speed as you drive, so you definitely need to be able to maneuver well. You can even drift if you know how to!
It was cool to see the timed improvement as we drove more laps. We booked off-peak hours slots two days prior. Each slot allows you to race for 15 minutes in a group, but it gave us a full body ache for two days.
The public toilets were on ground level of the carpark. There was some audience space along the track, and also a small section for toddlers to be entertained as the adults have the race of their lives.
Address: Level 5 The Entertainment Quarter Car Park, 207 Park Rd S, Moore Park NSW 2021, Australia
Bondi Markets (Halal & Muslim-friendly)
The Bondi Markets was such a lively and friendly vibe, which reminded me of Chiang Mai‘s Jing Jai Market. (Do note parking here is always full, so we parked at a nearby mall instead.) The market is located in a school, and the dogs were all patiently waiting for their owners at the entrance.
As you walk the grounds, you will see artistic items, fashion, swimwear, and jewelry booths. There were also some household and flower shops. As you walk further into the school courtyard, you will find coffee, food and drinks accompanied by live music, and free seating areas.
We got some halal pitas, gluten-free sugar donuts, and French banana strawberry crepes. The guy at the crepes store asked if we were Muslims because we asked if there was any pork in their ingredients and then assured us that their products are Muslim-friendly.
Address: Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026, Australia
Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach & Bondi Icebergs Pool
Just a short walk away from Bondi Markets, you could pass by the Bondi Pavilion, a seaside landmark featuring a gallery, studios, restaurants, cafes, shops, changing rooms and toilets, as you head towards Bondi Beach.
Bondi Beach is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most famous beaches and many were surfing and playing in the water or hanging out by the beachside roads. The sand was actually clean and soft, and the waves were strong. The temperature was cool even with the bright sun shining overhead as you dip your feet in the sea.
Check out the Bondi Icebergs POOL too if you have time. We eventually did not head there because the beach was a longer stretch than we expected.
Address: Bondi Beach NSW 2026, Australia
Hornby Lighthouse
The drive at Watsons Bay to the Hornby Lighthouse was so beautiful that I wished I was able to wake up to it every day. Many were having picnics by the grass patch in town and its beaches which faced the sea. Parking was a challenge though.
Another challenge was the walking trek to actually reach the lighthouse. We had to cut across a beach (that had very strong winds so the sand keeps flying around) to climb steps up to a trail, followed by a short hike up some rocky path, followed by some small nude beaches, and steps up and down to reach the lighthouse.
Not gonna lie, the sparkling blue waters was much more attractive than the red and white striped functioning lighthouse that was first constructed in 1858. You can also spot the migration of whales there too.
Photo Credit (right): Ghazi
Address: S Head Heritage Trail, Watsons Bay NSW 2030, Australia
Shalom Indonesian Restaurant (Halal)
The restaurant is small and cosy, but the food serving here was huge. I would personally recommend to share the meal with another pax. Their menu is super thick, and there is a regular flow of customers who are mostly Asians, so that may be an indication of good food.
The restaurant serves authentic Indonesian dishes such as chicken satay, lamb curry, yellow rice with fried chicken and more. Water is free flow. A Nasi gudeg set, Gurame bakar set, Nasi goreng isi ketam, Cumi goreng tepung costed a total of S$75.
Address: shop 3-4/299 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Luna Park Sydney
Luna Park Sydney is an amusement park located at Milsons Point, right on Sydney Harbour. It has a mix of classic and modern rides and game booths. Entry is free, but you have to purchase tickets for the rides and booths. We walked over to from Milsons Point train station, and walked past what looked like a business district to get there.
Luna Park closes at 6pm, and we reached 10 minutes before closing time so we roamed inside quickly to see the things it had to offer before leaving with a group photo as a souvenir.
Address: 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point NSW 2061, Australia
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an iconic steel arch bridge connecting Sydney’s city and the North Shore. Visitors can walk or cycle across it, and adventurous souls can even climb to its summit for a panoramic experience.
For us, we drove across it to mark the start of the road trip!
Address: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney NSW, Australia
Getting Around in Sydney
| Bus | Train | Ferry | Car |
| Buses have varied waiting times which can be quite long. But overall, the ride is comfortable, and especially useful since some suburbs are uphill. We saw a sexist incident which was quite scary and went on for 15 minutes, but luckily nothing bad happened. | The staff at the train station made it a cool experience. We tapped our cards at Station A and the staff will ask about your destination when they spotted our wheelchair. They will then notify platform staff at Station B. Once you arrive, the Station B staff member will assist you with a ramp to alight. We took the train to Schofields and spotted a beautiful mosque! The cool part about the train is the double decker which you can adjust the seats to face back or front. | We took a ferry ride from Sydney Harbour to Circular Quay, which took about five minutes, with the Sydney Opera House and Luna Park beautifully lighted up at night. You can either sit indoors or outdoors on the ferry. | The roads were easy to get around, but there were some specific lanes in the city center that you have to follow. Parking was also narrow and expensive and there were quite a number of tolls in Sydney. |
[Accommodation] Park Regis City Centre
The hotel was strategically located in the city centre, so we rarely drove and instead, walked or took public transport to get around the city. There was a bus stop right outside.
The room was cosy enough for three people. They adjusted the room to fit three single beds, so there was little space to walk around the room. The lift was very old school and tiny too, but there was a rooftop decorated seats, benches, and plants. You could see the city landscape lighted up at night and enjoy the night breeze.
The laundry room opens from 7am to 10pm. A load of washing was AU$4, and dryer was AU$1 for 7 minutes. Only coins were accepted. Parking is charged at a daily rate of AU$49.
Address: 27 Park St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
There is definitely a lot more things to discover about Sydney, but the trip has allowed us to explore comfortably at our own pace, and still soak in the vibrant city culture!
Uminsummer 
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