5 Free Things To Do In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin

Travelled by Brucini on 2 March 2009 | 9 Comments

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5 Free Things To Do In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin
5 Free Things To Do In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin

If you’re a backpacker on a limited budget, cities can be the most expensive places to visit. Accommodation and food generally cost more here. There are also more attractions available to tempt you to pay and see.

Often, however, the best things to do in Australian cities are free. All you need is some leg work and know where to go. Check out these free options in the most popular cities for backpackers in Australia.

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House

Sydney

  1. Sydney Opera House - walk around this icon and take a zillion photos from every angle.
  2. Sydney Harbour Bridge - Forget the BridgeClimb, take the pedestrian walkway over the bridge for great city and harbour views.
  3. Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) & Art Gallery of New South Wales - you can walk between the two, both have regular events as well as exhibitions.
  4. Bondi Beach - enjoy a celebration of Aussie beach culture
  5. Feeling energetic? Stroll along the Bondi to Coogee Walk - the walk starts from either the southern end of Bondi Beach or the northern end of Coogee Beach.

Image Courtesy of Freelargephotos.com © Copyright 2009 Roy Tennant

Melbourne

Flinders St Train Station, Melbourne

Flinders St Train Station, Melbourne

  1. Take the City Circle Tram or the Tourist Bus that stops at major attractions around town Federation Square is the main public gathering point in the heart of town.
  2. Check out the Ian Potter Centre National Gallery of Victoria and Australian Centre of the Moving Image here.
  3. Walk from the city via the Yarra River to the immense Royal Botanic Gardens
  4. Visit any one of Melbourne’s many markets such as Queen Victoria or Camberwell Markets.
  5. Take in the St Kilda markets on on the Esplanade on Sundays or the seaside atmosphere any day of the week.

Image Courtesy of Freelargephotos.com © Copyright 2009 Roy Tennant


Small Cove, Cairns

Small Cove, Cairns

Cairns

  1. The Lagoon - swim, lie in the sun or perve here. Take your choice.
  2. Dinner at the backpacker-friendly Woolshed with free nightly entertainment.
  3. Walk the white sands of Ellis Beach
  4. Start your morning at Chapter One - not so much free but a great morning Cafe to read a newspaper at.
  5. Grab a drink and chill on The Esplanade and watch the sun set over one of the worlds most spectacular locations.

Image Courtesy of Virtualoceania.net

Brisbane City

Brisbane City

Brisbane

  1. Walk along edge of the Brisbane River
  2. Hang out in Queen St Mall
  3. Brisbane Botanic Gardens are worth a peek
  4. Walk along Southbank - you can go for a swim here
  5. Go to Fortitude Valley entertainment district and people watch

Image Courtesy of Virtualoceania.net

Darwin

Darwin at Sunset

Darwin at Sunset

  1. Wild Fish Feeding at Doctors Gully is pretty unique
  2. Walk to Mindil Beach for sunset and enjoy the Night Market (seasonal)
  3. Visit Aboriginal Art Galleries in the CBD and get a taste of culture
  4. Walk through Bicentennial Park on the Esplanade with views over Darwin Harbour
  5. Beat the heat in the excellent Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory

Image Courtesy of pleasetakemeto.com

Your Turn:

These lists are a starting point for discovering each city. Tell us where you went for free in these cities…

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Comments

  • backpackers sydney says:

    Sydney is cool place.
    Thanks for providing information about Sydney city.I liked it very much.
    Keep sharing such important posts.

    3 years ago

  • sydney backpackers says:

    Excellent tips.Really useful stuff .Never had an idea about this.Keep it up

    3 years ago

  • jim@hostels Sydney says:

    this one is great. wonderful. great pics as well.

    3 years ago

  • backpackers sydney says:

    this is great to read this. wonderful .thanks for sharing such things.

    3 years ago

  • matthew8487 says:

    Thanks for sharing such a great post. Melbourne has lot to offer to traveller making it the ideally liveable places on earth.Don't miss Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Museum, IMAX theatres, Hochgurtel Fountain. The statuette of Queen Victoria and the widely featured floral clock is a must visit in Victoria Gardens. For more details refer http://www.journeyidea.com/multifarious-melbour...

    3 years ago

  • Sheena Matthews says:

    Darwin Spend a day at the water park- Free entry easy to get to from the CBD via public bus system. A great day to do nothing take a sausage for the BBQ, water playground and swimming pools, lots of shade to relax under while you are not playing. New hydro slides are opening in April 09.

    3 years ago

  • Dan Roberts says:

    That's cos it is so deadly quite in Adelaide in the CBD!!

    3 years ago

  • Bruce Thurlow says:

    Cheers Chris. There will be another post coming out reflecting free things to do in Hobart, Adelaide, Canberra, Alice Springs and Perth in the future. They are all great places to visit.

    3 years ago

  • Chris Rae says:

    The city is not on the list, but when I last went to Adelaide there was always absolutely amazing chalk art being created on the pavements in the CBD during the weekends.

    3 years ago

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