Sydney for challengers

Yes, you have to wear an unflattering grey jumpsuit. But if climbing the tallest single-span steel arch bridge in the world is a should-do for visiting celebrities (Nicole Kidman, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Timberlake have all opted in for the BridgeClimb), then it’s an absolute can’t-miss for everyone else. The climbs involve quick-changing into that official BridgeClimb gear. After a quick practice session, climbers attach themselves to the Bridge with a belt and slider clip, which hooks onto a wire to keep you safe as you move among the beams. A radio headset allows you to hear your guide’s voice over the wind and traffic noise. There are stops along the way so the guide can offer fascinating insights into the bridge’s construction. 

You can't help but feel like James Bond when you climb into the compact helicopter that is set to ferry you up over the Sydney CBD. The cabin of the helicopter is mostly glass so every seat gets excellent views, and it's amazing how quickly they can get you from the airport to the tops of the skyscrapers in the city. You'll hover over Darling Harbour before hooking out towards Goat Island to make a majestic run at the Harbour Bridge. A loop around the harbour takes in Kirribilli House, Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head, Rose Bay, Woolloomooloo, and Fort Denison. From here you'll head out towards the heads before taking a sharp right to track the Sydney coastline down from Vaucluse to the famous golden sands of Bondi and Maroubra before heading back into Botany Bay to make a whisper soft landing back at the base. 

Take a tandem skydive with Skydive the Beach to get the best view of Sydney and the Pacific Ocean imaginable. The drop zone is about an hour south of Sydney CBD, and they supply a return bus transfer that's free of charge during the week. This crew takes divers to the highest altitude of any skydiving co – up to 14,000 feet – directly over North Wollongong beach. For an insane 60 seconds it's heart-in-mouth, adrenaline-pumping free fall at over 200 km/hr, before floating under canopy for 5-7 minutes, as you take in spectacular views of Wollongong and south Sydney beaches.

Diving with the sharks at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium is an exhilarating, cage-free scuba diving experience. Though the grey nurse sharks range from one to three metres long in the tank, they’re placid creatures and do very little other than give you a curious side eye as they swim by (they prefer to chomp on bony fish and squid rather than tough, wetsuit covered humans). The biggest benefit of diving with them at the aquarium, rather than in the open ocean, is the guarantee of seeing so many sharks in one spot. 

During your visit, you're going to want to experience the sports that get Sydneysiders cheering madly for their teams. Allianz Stadium is the home of NRL (National Rugby League) team the Roosters. Sydney Cricket Ground is where Donald Bradman scored the world record of 452 not out in 1930. And ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park hosts some of the biggest games of rugby union, rugby league, soccer, cricket and Australian rules football.