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From secret gardens to charming laneways, hidden bars and secluded beaches, there’s something exciting about discovering secret Sydney places to visit. And we’ve got the lowdown on some hidden gems that even some Sydneysiders may not know about, while others may be familiar to locals but off the radar for tourists.
At Your Sydney Guide, we’re local Sydney tour guides with a wealth of knowledge of hidden Sydney. We’re like Sydney detectives (without the crime), we like to go off the beaten tourist track and we can take you to all of these Sydney locales on a custom private Sydney day tour.
Sydney is home to a wealth of gardens and green spaces, quiet places in Sydney’s CBD for some respite from the hustle and bustle, with some much less obvious than others.
Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden may not be a secret to most Sydneysiders but it could likely fly under the radar for international visitors, which would be a shame given the stunning perspective of Sydney Harbour it provides in a serene setting. Located on the north side of the harbour in Lavender Bay, there’s fittingly no signage to the free-to-enter garden, which is part of the Lavender Bay Parklands.
The garden holds a poignant backstory – when artist Wendy Whiteley’s husband, the acclaimed artist Brett Whiteley, died in 1992, her grief response was to set about regenerating the detritus-plagued land at the foot of the four-story house they shared. Today it stands as a gift to the city, an artfully formed, beautiful garden of tranquil nooks and crannies, native and exotic plants, winding pathways and colourful birdlife.
So how to find it then? Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge or catch a train to Milsons Point Station or a ferry to Milsons Point or McMahons Point wharves. Walk along the foreshore for five to 15 minutes (depending on where you land), past amusement park, Luna Park and via some stunning harbour views. To find the main entrance, look out for the huge Moreton Bay fig tree outside Wendy’s home with its white tower.
A hidden oasis of inner-city calm in the swish suburb of Paddington, the Paddington Reservoir and Gardens features remnants reminiscent of ancient Roman Baths. Situated on Paddington’s main street, at 251-255 Oxford Street opposite Paddington Town Hall, you could easily walk straight past this sunken garden and in fact, many non-locals may do just that without knowing what lies beneath street level.
The multilevel, heritage-listed green space is the site of the reservoir that provided Sydney’s water supply from 1878 to 1899. It takes its inspiration from the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with restored original reservoir features and the addition of contemporary, sustainable elements and subtropical greenery. Buses from Central Station in the city stop just opposite this unique place to visit in Sydney for free.
Foundation Park in Sydney’s historic district, The Rocks, leans more towards bricks-and-mortar-remains space than green space but is all the more fascinating for it, and a landmark that even some Sydneysiders won’t be aware of. It’s located on the Gloucester Walk behind a row of shops on Playfair Street where you enter between a bright red window and door attached to the reconstructed skeleton of a 19th century terrace house.
Step into the past with this fascinating time capsule of the remains of eight terrace houses built between 1874 and 1880 into a sandstone cliff face. The park offers a unique insight into what it was like to live in the heavily populated Rocks area during the period, with large families inhabiting cramped spaces – rooms no larger than three x three metres. Sculptured furniture replications have been placed inside the foundations to give an idea of the function of each room.
An indoor garden space within an outdoor garden space, The Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden could easily be missed if you’re not aware of it. It’s home to one of the largest living green walls in the southern hemisphere and features seasonal horticultural displays. The current exhibition, Alchemy of a Rainforest, has over 18,000 plants on display with a collection of rare and unusual tropical and subtropical rainforest plants, colourful sculptures by environmental artist Jane Gillings made from repurposed plastic waste, and installations, all of which immerse you in rainforest life. To get to The Calyx, enter via the Morshead Fountain Gate of the Royal Botanic Gardens on the corner of Macquarie Street and Shakespeare Place.
Sure, Bondi and Manly beaches get all the attention (and we do love them), but Sydney has a wealth of secluded beaches and pools that many tourists may not know about, perfect for a refreshing dip with Sydney Harbour or wilderness views.
A tiny, hidden gem in Vaucluse in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney is Milk Beach which sits within the Sydney Harbour National Park and has breathtaking Sydney Harbour views, crystal-clear water, and heritage-listed Strickland House nearby. While it can get pretty busy in summer, other times of the year you should find this to be a tranquil strip of sand to swim at and enjoy the views. Access can be limited so it’s best accessed by public transport, by foot on the Hermitage Foreshore Track (the beach is halfway between Rose Bay and Watsons Bay), and uber or taxi (there’s limited parking).
The secluded Gordons Bay makes for a lovely little stop for a dip while you’re on the scenic Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (itself well worth it), and is located south of Clovelly Beach and north of Coogee Beach. It’s also home to a 600-metre underwater nature trail for scuba divers and snorkellers. Take the boardwalk and stone steps to the north side of the bay to the sandstone headland and have a relaxing sunbathe on the rocky platform hanging over crystal waters.
If you don’t mind heading a little further afield across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the north side, Maccallum Pool on the western side of Cremorne Point is a non-touristy locale to get away from the crowds. The heritage-restored, 1920s two-lane outdoor harbourside pool spans 33 metres and has some amazing views of Sydney Harbour, complete with timber deck for some quality sunbathing and tree cover for shade. Situated on Milson Road, Cremorne, you’ll also find it via the Cremorne Walking track.
And if you have the time, we’d highly recommend visiting Manly (via a ferry from Circular Quay) and a swim away from the crowds at Manly Beach. The cloistered Collins Flat Beach is about a 15-minute walk from Manly wharf and is located between North Head and Little Manly Cove. With beautiful harbour views across to the headlands and calm waters, forests, sandstone cliffs and natural rock pools, the beach has the look of an island. There’s even a waterfall. And you’ll find this beach is more frequented by locals than the tourist throng.
We recommend taking some water, a hat and protective clothing, and slapping on some sunscreen whenever you’re out and about in Sydney, especially during the summer months.
It’s not just Melbourne that can do an atmospheric little laneway; Sydney has its fair share too.
One of the most iconic Sydney secret laneways can easily be missed as you walk through the hustle and bustle of the CBD. Angel Place is tucked away between the Sydney’s main street, George St, and Pitt Street and a five-minute walk on George Street from Wynyard or Martin Place train stations (employ Google Maps to make sure you find it). Once you’re there, look to the sky and you’ll see an array of suspended, mismatched, empty birdcages and the sound of birdsong, perfect for a moment of reflection above the city noise.
It’s an enchanting sight and sound, and yet, sobering once you know the meaning behind the installation titled ‘Forgotten Songs’; a remembrance of 50 bird species gradually forced out of the city by European settlement. While Angel Place may not be a secret to Sydneysiders, most won’t realise that the birdcalls heard change from day to night, from the sound of daytime birds to the sound of the nocturnal. The area is also home to City Recital Hall and premium restaurants and cafes.
The colourfully-painted buildings of Collins Laneway in the harbourside suburb of Rose Bay make you feel like you’ve been transported to small-town Italy. That’s complimented by Alice McAuliffe’s ‘Concrete Carpet’, “inspired by the colourful baroque and high renaissance styles of Italy”, greenery, chic boutiques, and cafes with plenty of al fresco seating to linger on a coffee and a bite to eat. The beautiful thoroughfare was revitalised from drab to delightful in 2023 and is located on New South Head Road between two stores, Made on Earth and Elitra.
Just off Liverpool Street in the inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst is Hayden Lane, a once rubbish-strewn lane given a glow-up by locals, who also funded the project, during Sydney’s COVID-19 lockdown. Over a year, the lane was transformed into a haven of lush native greenery donated by residents, and colourful murals from local artist George Hambov adorn the walls. It now serves as a touch of green serenity for the community and visitors alike.
A laneway hidden gem for food could easily be passed by for the unaware; Spice Alley in Chippendale, an inner-city suburb just five minutes from Sydney’s CBD. It’s an open-air hawker-style alley with a delicious melting pot of Asian food available, from Singaporean to Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese, in a colourful setting (note that it is cashless). Just before you get to the Old Clare Pub (opposite the University of Technology, Sydney) on George St (past Central Station), you’ll find Kensington St; walk down past a row of restaurants and look for the sign to Spice Alley off to your left. For more eating options, see our post on Sydney’s best restaurants and food precincts.
Sydney has so many great bars you could fill a cocktail menu the size of a phone book. But some are less apparent than their showy counterparts; part of the fun is discovering them (some will be better found, at least initially, sober).
The Library Bar at the State Library of NSW (on Macquarie Street), is one many Sydneysiders won’t even have heard of. Better still, this watering hole at Australia’s oldest library and in one of Sydney’s oldest buildings, is on the rooftop and sports some stunning views of the city, harbour, and Royal Botanic Garden. Perfect for a sunset tipple, the bar champions drinks and food sourced from New South Wales (Sydney’s home state) suppliers. Head to the side of the library on Shakespeare Place and grab a lift to the bar. Open Wednesday-Saturday with entertainment via a grand piano.
Is it a vintage butcher shop? Don’t let the exterior fool you, for inside is a cocktail bar called Earl’s Juke Joint with New Orleans vibes. Located at 407 King Street in the hip inner-western suburb of Newtown (a regular stop on our private Sydney day tours), it’s named after the late Earl Palmer, a New Orleans drummer and rock ‘n’ roll pioneer. A rotating roster of Southern US-inspired cocktails are a speciality but there’s also plenty of beer on the menu, including Australian and New Zealand craft beer, and natural wines.
Over in Manly, on Sydney’s northern beaches, it’s as if we’re back in the prohibition era. The Cove Deli is a petite, bodega-style deli in a backstreet of Manly (17/19 Central Ave), set back from the Corso, but is actually much more. Inside is a 1920s refrigerator door. Open it and you’re transported down a spiral staircase to The Cumberland, an underground speakeasy with candlelit New York vibes and Spanish-inspired snacks. It’s an uber stylish space of antique brass (including vintage beer taps), leather banquettes, reclaimed timber and brickwork laid by convicts (the original ones, not current-day crims). There are even quirky toilets to check out. The bar specialises in whiskies (there’s over 250 to choose from), there are cocktails inspired by Sydney locales using local ingredients, natural wines, and craft beers. Stop by for an atmospheric tipple while you visit Manly.
The clue is in the name. Door Knock (70 Pitt Street in the CBD), requires you knock on a door with a brass pineapple to access the underground cocktail and wine bar inspired by Euro-centric flavours and decked out in a Parisian style. As any secret drinking den should be, it’s not exactly easy to find. You’ll need to find a fire door next to a sandwich shop on Pitt St, then walk a long corridor to said Door Knock door.
If it looks like a seamstress’s shop and sounds like a seamstress’s shop, surely it’s a seamstress’s shop? But Stich (61 York St) is all a stitch up. Once inside, head down the grand staircase to find a bar with a bit of a pirate-ship-interior-feel where you can enjoy a cocktail out of a peach can (let’s hope the edges are smooth), whisky and bourbon, the Americana-inspired food menu, and the sounds of iconic Louisiana strummers.
Out of all the hidden bars on and around Clarence St, the Caribbean-themed The Lobo (1/209 Clarence St) is one of the originals. Fittingly, it’s not easily apparent, but keep an ear out for the Cuban beats that will lead you to a shabby chic set of doors and down a stylish curved staircase into a colourful rum bar in both sight and sound. This is one lively joint with cocktails literally on fire, and takes its name from Cuba’s last sugar baron, Julio Lobo. Here you’ll find a wide selection of 300 bottles of rum from the likes of Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Martinique and Panama, and tasting plates inspired by the foods of Cuba and Central and South America. It’s not a huge space, so reservations are recommended for this one.
So, there you have it, Sydney secrets no more. Visit our luxury travel blog for more Sydney tips and Sydney Private Tours page for information on our custom tours.
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