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Take the ferry to Manly

Consider ditching the rental car for a little while and catching the Manly ferry from Circular Quay. . This will provide great views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Manly offers a completely different slice of Sydney life. You can walk through the Manly 'Corso' to the ocean beach. Explore historic North Head with breathtaking Sydney Harbour views.

Manly is not the only destination reached by ferry, Circular Quay is the starting point for many picturesque boat trips. Balmain and Darling Harbour are inner suburbs best reached by boat. Can't decide? See all the highlights with a boat tour.

Sleep with the animals at Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo can be reached by ferry or road. It's a fun destination at any time, but for something extra special try the 'Roar and Snore' overnight accommodation package. This includes a gourmet buffet dinner followed by a two-hour nighttime zoo safari and then an overnight stay in a safari-style tent. The morning provides a continental breakfast and behind the scenes tours before the zoo opens.

Drive to the Blue Mountains

With the freedom of a rental car, there are many fabulous regions of New South Wales that you can discover from Sydney. Many are an easy day trip away in your rental vehicle, such as the Blue Mountains and Katoomba. It's inland from Sydney itself, and Katoomba is the prime destination around the Blue Mountains National Park, just a 90-minute drive from the city. True to their name, you'll see that the distant mountains do indeed seem to be shrouded in a blue haze.

Imbibe in the Hunter Valley

Gourmets will love Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. The Hunter Region is famous for its wines and is a 90-minute drive north of Sydney. If you're up for a longer trip, Canberra, the capital of Australia, is also within driving distance, just three hours away.

Sutherland Shire

Sutherland Shire is a great destination if you've hired a car. 'The Shire' as it's known is just 25 kilometres south of the CBD and only 20 minutes from Sydney Airport. It delivers on every promise you've heard about Sydney: rich bushland, glorious beaches and beautiful waterways. There are plenty of experiences to be had and many of them - such as the Bundeena & Maianbar Art Trail every 1st Sunday of the month or a guided tour of ANSTO, Australia's only nuclear facility - are absolutely free of charge.