Planning your Sydney #FIBAWWC adventure
When planning your #FIBAWWC adventure, seek out some sunshine and good times in Australia's Harbour City.
Spotlight on Sydney
Get to know the vibrant host city of FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 – Sydney. The city has adventures around every corner, with its sparkling harbour, the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear ocean pools, diverse national parks and wildlife, as well as a fascinating colonial and Aboriginal history. After you’ve watched all the action of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, keep the playtime going as you explore the best of Sydney.
See the city’s icons from up high by climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 250 metres above the city streets in the Sydney Tower Eye, or from the air with a seaplane flight over this stunning natural wonder. Explore the sparkling harbour by camping out on an island, heading out on the water by yacht, kayak or jet boat or take a trip on a Sydney ferry.
Sydney’s beaches are world famous and ducking under the waves is a must. Manly offers epic surf and incredible snorkelling – grab your fins and explore the quiet protected cove of Shelly Beach, where you can spot schools of fish, harmless wobbegong sharks and – if you’re lucky – hawksbill turtles.
Book a surf lesson at Bondi, or admire the waves from afar on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, which trails along clifftops, sandy beaches and stunning turquoise bays. There are also several national parks and reserves right on the city’s doorstep. Just a 15-minute drive from Sydney Olympic Park in Western Sydney, Lake Parramatta Reserve offers more than 70 hectares of natural bushland and a glistening lake; hire a rowboat or kayak and launch out onto the lake’s glassy waters or go for a leisurely bush bash along one of the three walking tracks.
Connect with the city’s Indigenous history on an Aboriginal tour around the harbour or explore First Nations artwork at the Art Gallery of NSW. Creativity is also on show at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and there are always live music and theatre events to discover in venues across the city, including the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Find even more to love
All the excitement of watching the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is sure to work up your appetite. Luckily, Sydney is one of the world’s greatest food cities, with Australia’s famous café culture on show alongside award-winning restaurants and fresh produce markets.
You can find cuisine from every corner of the globe thanks to the city’s diverse multicultural population. Sydney's inner-city neighbourhoods are the best way to experience this diversity; make time to explore as many as you can. Stop off in Chinatown for legendary Asian restaurants and food markets; Newtown for vegan eats and a range of Middle Eastern, European and other cuisines; Marrickville for Vietnamese street food; Surry Hills for classic Aussie brunch; and Bondi for surfside cafes and primo Italian restaurants.
There’s plenty to see on the northern side of the harbour, too. Catch the ferry to Taronga Zoo and meet a variety of Australian native animals and exotic creatures from around the world, with opportunities to greet a koala or feed a penguin. Perched in leafy Mosman looking out over the water, these animals have some of the best views in the world!
Home to the largest collection of Australian native animals in the world, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park allows you to meet koalas, hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, and come face-to-face with native reptiles.
If the World Cup has inspired your active side, spend a few thrilling days exploring the action-packed suburbs surrounding Sydney Olympic Park in Western Sydney. Here you can find whitewater rafting, jet boating, wakeboarding, race car driving and more to get your adrenaline pumping.
Extend your stay in regional NSW
Extend your New South Wales adventure beyond the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, and discover once-in-a-lifetime adventures throughout regional NSW, from whale watching to wine tasting, sand surfing to rock climbing and more.
Just a 90-minute drive from Sydney, the dramatic cliffs of the Blue Mountains have plenty to offer outdoor lovers, as well as those looking for a little bit of pampering in a sumptuous spa or retreat.
Two hours from Sydney, the Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine growing region; visit cellar doors and float above the vineyards on a hot air balloon. Head toward the coast to spot dolphins and whales in the wild at Port Stephens, or explore the flourishing dining scene and famed beaches of Newcastle.
Further up on the scenic North Coast, Byron Bay’s mountainous hinterland coincides with a coastline of spectacular beaches. Check out these flourishing communities on the Legendary Pacific Coast touring route.
Just south from Sydney, cruise the coast along the Grand Pacific Drive: taste the wines of Shoalhaven; spend lazy days on the pristine beaches throughout Jervis Bay; and explore the locavore food scene in Ulladulla, Milton, Tilba and more.
Further south, the beautiful Sapphire Coast offers oyster tours; marine adventures with seals and dolphins; and epic hikes in untouched wilderness. Or head to the river; the Riverina region is home to the Murrumbidgee River and its waterways, winding its way through an amazing array of food trails, natural wonders and charming towns.
And for an outback adventure with a difference, Broken Hill combines red desert sands and glittering night skies with a passionate art scene, strong Indigenous culture and fabulous drag performances.
Check out Visit NSW to explore things to do when you’re here.
Tag us on your socials during your adventures! @visitnsw