Whatever it is, no matter where in Australia you’re from, coming to Sydney has a subconscious sense of coming home. But because of this it’s easy to forget it as a destination and just accept it as a stalwart. In collaboration with Qantas, here’s how to see the Emerald City in a new light, and why we’re calling it as the best winter destination for 2016 – whether you’re looking to just soak up the temperate climate on a weekend away or planning for a longer stay.

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Where To Stay

Cheap As Chips: YHA

When all you need is a place to lay your head and store your things while you’re out adventuring, Sydney’s Central YHA has dorm rooms from $35 per night and private rooms from around $106.

Won’t Break The Bank: QT Bondi and QT Sydney

With two excellent locations, one right in the beating heart of the CBD and the other looking out over Bondi beach, these boutique beauties are all fit out in differently themed avant-garde décor. QT Bondi premises is an ode to everything about the world famous beach, while QT Sydney is theatrically themed and takes inspiration from the Deco gothic historic Gowings and State Theatre buildings it’s housed in. Prices start from around $280 per night at QT Bondi and (with QT Sydney setting you back a bit more at $380 a night).

Treat Yourself: The Old Clare Hotel

Recently renovated and centrally located, the beautiful Old Clare stretches across two heritage-listed buildings and has been constructed with obsessive attention to aesthetics, retaining the features of both buildings. It has a roof top pool and bar, high ceilings and plush modern-industrial fit-outs in all the rooms. Rooms start at around $329 a night.

The Abercrombie Room at the Old Clare Hotel (Photo: Facebook)

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What To Pack

Sydneysiders are pretty lucky weather wise – Sydney’s temperate climate sits somewhere between Melbourne’s ‘four-seasons-in-one-day’ inconsistency and Brisbane’s humidity. While your summer wardrobe of thongs, shorts and sunscreen might not be as necessary now the weather’s turned. Though there are some people who still insist on rocking that beach uniform in the depths of winter, the solution is to layer up. Grab a warm jacket and scarf to protect yourself from the city’s sudden bouts of cold – nights can drop as low as five degrees, while days can swing from 10 to around 25 degrees.

But even if it is the dead of winter you’ve definitely got to pack your swimmers. A trip to Sydney without checking out a least one swimming hole will truly be a wasted opportunity.

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Getting Around

Sydney’s Opal cards are a convenient way to travel (with a $10 minimum top up) and it works across all PT systems – including the iconic Sydney ferries and the trip to the airport. Buses and trains are your best bet for most inter-suburb exploring and the TripView app is the best for timetables and planning how to get around, but the Opal app is also pretty good, and lets you check your balance.

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Places To Explore

The City

Sydney’s CBD sure packs a punch. Take a stroll around the Rocks for a quintessential Sydney experience, wander up to George Street to the QVB for a little shopping spree, settle in at Chophouse for a good steak, Madame Nhu for Vietnamese food or Bridge Street Garage for American diner quirk.

The Suburbs

You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to inner city suburbs in Sydney, each unique, each with specific charms. Jog along, cycle or stroll around Manly beach year-round and explore the adjacent Shelley and Freshwater beaches too.

Check out live music in Newtown at The Newtown Social Club, The Vanguard or the tenacious old Enmore Theatre, or further up the road to Marrickville’s Red Rattler or closer to town at Redfern’s The Bearded Tit. Book shopping through Glebe, stand up paddle boarding at Balmoral, a margarita tasting trail through Surry Hills (from The Forresters to El Loco and over to the Cuban-themed Harpoon Harry) or play lawn bowls on a cliff looking over the ocean at Clovelly.

Take A Day Trip

A tidy 70-minute car ride away from Sydney proper, are the beautiful Blue Mountains. The area is known well for dramatic scenery, eucalypt forests, super rewarding bush walks and sweet little villages scattered throughout. You can use your Opal card to reach the area for $12 per person, and our top recommends are the skyway cable car ride, the Echo point views of the Three Sisters rock formation, camping at Ingar campgrounds and a go on the world’s steepest railway, Scenic Railway.

Where’s The Best Coffee?

As hotly contended here as any other serious, coffee drinking major city, we present the following cups-of-joe as the best by general consensus and without further comment:

#1 Ruben Hills (Surry Hills)
#2 The Copper Mill (Alexandria)
#3 Bean Drinking (Crows Nest)
#4 Gumption (CBD)
#6 Campos Coffee (Newtown)
#7 Skittle Lane (CBD)

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And Sydney’s Best Burger Is…

As with coffee you’re bound to get passionate and conflicting reports on the juiciest burgers in town, but there are a few that most enthusiasts will agree on:

#1 Mary’s (Newtown/CBD) – Think juicy meat patties, gorgeous looking buns and fat chips galore. Add some crispy bacon for an extra hit of gluttony.

#2 Ester (Chippendale) – For fancy burgers without the stuffiness, Ester serve up a thick medium-rare patty with house-made pickles, melted cheese in a round bun, served with a side of crisps (not chips).

#3 Belly Bao (Haymarket) – Steamed buns and burgers? You better believe it. These baos are served with charred Angus beef patties, melted cheese, lettuce, onion, picked radish and house-made ‘Baoger’ sauce.

Vegetarian? Try the veggie burger at Chur Burger (Surry Hills). This Middle-Eastern-inspired number features tasty chickpea fritters encased between fresh burger buns, grated beetroot and honey labne. Delish!

The Mid-East-inspired veggie burger at Chur (Photo: Facebook)

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Go Here For A Breathtaking view

Try Observatory Hill on The Rocks for a little fresh air and accompanying Harbour views. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art for an artsy afternoon and hoof it to the rooftop café for a view like no other. The Shangri-La Hotel’s Blu Bar on 36 is also perfect for a little elevated sophistication.

For something a little more scenic, strap on your runners and hit the Fairfax walk track at North Head over Manly way. The Fairfax walk is an easy loop that offers scenic views of Sydney Harbour in its entirety – from the top you’ll overlook the gorgeous blue waters synonymous with #Sydneylife and maybe even spot a few migratory whales across the bay. It’s a stunner, that’s for sure.

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Take A Hike

Sydney has a diverse range of stunning outdoor location. This is a place where friends meet to do things like ‘go for a walk’ – and the choices for those walks are many. Arguably the most famous is the Bondi to Coogee pilgrimage, which is so popular you tend to encounter human traffic jams if you chance it on a Sunday, but popular for spectacular reason: it’s a cliff walk through some of Sydney’s most beautiful beaches: Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly etc.

Enjoy the coastal and incredible Harbour views via the Bradley’s Head to Chowder Bay Walk, there’s also Balmoral and nearby Chinaman’s beach, plusthe Manly to Spit Bridge Scenic Walk to check out too.

The figure eight pools at the Royal National Park are the current darlings of Instgram, with the trek out to the headland they reside becoming more and more popular, but for the truly adventurous the overnight trek from Bundeena to Otford is the ultimate Sydney walk.

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Parks and Rec

The aforementioned Royal National Park is an easy drive out of the bright lights of Sydney Harbour, but once you enter this mammoth national park you’ll feel like you’ve hit the nature jackpot. Natural swimming holes abound, as do a bunch of native flora and fauna. There’s dozens of entry points, and an abundance of walks, hikes and strolls to take depending on your fitness level. Cameras are a must – this place is Instagram heaven.

For something a little closer to the CBD, try the Royal Botanic Gardens Centennial Park and the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Get off the beaten track a little and give the Wendy Whiteley Garden in Lavender Bay a go, or the luscious Paddington Reservoir Gardens for some innercity tranquillity.

Where To Shop For Bargains

Sydney has a totally wonderful collection of weekend markets, especially when it comes to clothes. From locally made designs to trunks full of fairly priced vintage wares, the best can usually be found at the Glebe or Paddington markets on Saturdays, or the eclectic Picnic Markets in Surry Hills’ Prince Alfred Park, the third Sunday of the month.

For food and atmosphere, try the beachfront Bondi markets on Sundays or the Rocks Foodies Market held every Friday.

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Locals Go Here For Breakfast

The Sydney institution of Bills’ ricotta hotcakes is usually the first breakfast box to tick for any visitor (for good reason – they are delicious), but there are many of other amazing eateries for you to soak up some winter including:

#1 Porch and Parlour, Bondi
Order: Breaky bowl

#2 Ruby’s Diner, Waverley
Order: The five-grain porridge

#3 St Jude, Redfern
Order: The baked eggs

#4 Three Blue Ducks, Bronte
Order: Scrambled eggs with black sausage (trust us!)

#5 Kepos Street Kitchen, Waterloo
Order: Kepos benedict – smoked salmon, green tahini, poached eggs, steamed leek, milk bread

The green breaky bowl at Porch and Parlour (Photo: Facebook)

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The Best Small Bars

The popularity of the small bar scene in Sydney has turned up some real doozies:

#1 Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst
Why: intimate booths, excellent cocktails, 3am close

#2 Frankie’s Pizza, CBD
Why: hidden rooms behind hidden rooms, grungy old-Sydney bandroom, late nights

#3 Love, Tilly Devine, Darlinghurst
Why: great wine, good looking bar, excellent staff

#4 Button Bar, Surry Hills
Why: it’s a pirate bar

#5 The Wanderer, Redfern
Why: hefty Tex-Mex platters and plenty of craft beers on tap

#6 Small Bar, Crows Nest
Why: laneway and courtyard seating with a warm atmosphere

#7 Earl’s Juke Joint, Newtown
Why: great music, saloon feel

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Worth the Hype

Gelato Messina is where gelato dreams come true. Hop over towards your nearest haunt (there’s hubs on every side of the city) and take your pick of flavours from Messina’s permanent flavour list and their iconic weekly specials. With flavours like poached figs in Marsala, dulce de leche, coconut & lychee and apple pie on the menu, there’s something for everyone. You won’t be disappointed.

Also Manly Ferry is most definitely worth the astounding praise it gets citywide. While some Sydneysiders are lucky enough to call this pleasant cruise their daily commute, taking the ferry from Circular Quay towards Manly Cove is as pleasant for your eyes as it is for your soul.

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What’s On This Winter

Sydney is abuzz with activity this winter, so there’s never been a better time to don your woollies and get out there. Earn some serious cultural points at Vivid Sydney which runs until June 18. See nerve-igniting live music, ace lighting displays, public ideas workshops and so much more across the city for an eclectic celebration of light, music and ideas.

Bondi’s Winter Magic Festival will be bringing a swag of cool activities to Australia’s most famous beach including an incredible beachside ice rink right on the shores of Bondi. This sparkling winter festival will also see special night talks at Sydney Museum, a guided tour of the night sky at the Planetarium and even thrilling camel rides across Bondi beach.

And even if you’re not into sport, the State of Origin is one of the city’s great spectacles. The 80,000-capacity ANZ Stadium will play host to the final game of the best-of-three series between NSW and QLD on July 13, and the atmosphere will be electric given how fierce this rivalry is. Just make sure you barrack for the Blues and you’ll fit right in.

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If all this sounds pretty cool (get it?), Qantas flights to Sydney are on sale now until June 9. Click here for more information.