Sydney Staycation Ideas — Top Romantic Activities for Couples
Looking to carve out time to spend with your significant other? A romantic staycation in the cosmopolitan city of Sydney may be just what you need.
From iconic landmarks, pristine white beaches to fabulous international cuisine, Australia’s largest city provides the perfect setting for romance-seeking couples.
Before you start booking your Sydney local getaway, read our guide for a recommended itinerary for a romantic staycation in Sydney.
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Where to Stay for a Sydney Staycation
Thinking of where you should stay during your Sydney staycation? We would like to offer two suggestions here.
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Prefer the scenic Sydney harbour scene? Consider booking a room at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney. Opt for the cosy set-up of the deluxe room (31sqm) anchored by modern comforts, warm Australian hospitality and a Darling Harbour precinct view. Or upgrade to the Club Suite (68 sqm), where you can view Sydney’s Darling Harbour skyline from your spacious living area.
When it comes to dining, the hotel’s award-winning ABODE Bistro and Bar provides an inviting culinary sanctuary. Offering contemporary Australian cuisine, the restaurant prides itself on using locally grown and sourced Australian produce, combined with its warm and attentive service.
PARKROYAL Parramatta
Nestled in the epicentre of Parramatta's bustling food street and minutes away from the Parramatta River, PARKROYAL Parramatta offers easy access to Sydney in a more laidback location. If you and your partner share a love of great food, an array of alfresco restaurants and bars are mere steps away.
Enjoy the splendid Western Sydney skyline views from the Premier Room (30sqm), or go all out with the PARKROYAL Suite (116 sqm), where you can enjoy Sydney city and parkland views from separate living room areas, plus a relaxing soak in the deep bathtub after a romantic day out.
Dine at one of two popular restaurants at the hotel. The first is the 60s-styled Table 30, which is rated amongst the top dining establishments in Parramatta. It offers international cuisine and seafood buffets on Saturdays, and caters for any dietary requirements.
Looking for refreshing drinks to unwind after a day out? BAR 30 & Bistro is the ideal place to sit back and relax, with everything from cocktails to hot beverages.
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Indulge in a hearty breakfast at TABLE 30 to kickstart your day.
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Rooms and Suites
Live it Up With Club
Live the Suite life with Pan Pacific Hotels Group. Up to 30%* Savings on Club Rooms and Suites.
More DetailsSelected Properties
Rooms and Suites
Easter Egg-scape
An Egg-stra Special Treat Awaits! Up to 25%* Savings On Your Easter Break
More DetailsSelected Properties
Rooms and Suites
Bed and Breakfast
Indulge in a hearty breakfast at TABLE 30 to kickstart your day.
More DetailsPARKROYAL Parramatta
Top Romantic Activities in Sydney for Couples
Whether you are embracing nature, visiting museums, or shopping to your heart’s content, Sydney has everything a couple needs to keep the flames of passion burning.
Take a Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
| Address: | King St Wharf 1, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Departure time: | 5pm |
There is nothing more romantic than enjoying a deluxe sunset dinner cruise along the Sydney Harbour. Admire iconic sights such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Luna Park, and more, as you enjoy a delicious three-course dinner. The best part? You have front row seats to catch the sky shimmering a golden sunset before the city skyline turns to twilight.
Get directions to Departure Point from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions to Departure Point from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Go Under the Sea at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
| Address: | 1-5 Wheat Rd, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Phone number: | +60 1800 199 657 |
| Opening hours: | 10am to 4pm (Monday, Thursday and Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday and Sunday), Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday |
Be mesmerized by enchanting marine life at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. The aquarium is home to over 700 species and more than 13,000 fish and other sea creatures, including dugongs, turtles and penguins. Learn fun facts about the creatures of the deep through an interactive journey as you explore the aquarium.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
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Soak in Spectacular Darling Harbour Views
| Address: | Darling Harbour Ferris Wheel, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Phone number: | +60 1800 199 657 |
| Opening hours: | 12pm to 11pm (Monday to Thursday), 12pm to 12am (Friday), 10am to 12am (Saturday), 10am to 11pm (Sunday) |
Be mesmerized by enchanting marine life at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. The aquarium is home to over 700 species and more than 13,000 fish and other sea creatures, including dugongs, turtles and penguins. Learn fun facts about the creatures of the deep through an interactive journey as you explore the aquarium.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Shop to Your Heart’s Content
Queen Victoria Building
| Address: | 455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 02 9265 6800 |
| Opening hours: | 9am to 6pm (Monday to Saturday), 11am to 5pm (Sunday) |
If there is one place to shop in Sydney, it has to be at the magnificent Queen Victoria Building, home to over 180 of the finest fashion boutiques, jewellery stores and charming cafes and restaurants in the city. Rich in history and architecturally stunning, the heritage-listed building is easily one of the grandest structures in Australia.
While you’re here, do take a closer look at the Great Australian Clock hanging at the building’s centre. It is the largest hanging turret clock in the world, and narrates an account of Australia’s history through 27 detailed paintings and 33 different landscapes.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Feast on Fabulous Catches at Nick’s Seafood Restaurant
Nick’s Seafood Restaurant
| Address: | The Promenade, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 1300 989 989 |
| Opening hours: | 11:30 to 3pm (lunch from Thursday to Sunday), 5:30pm to 10pm (dinner from Thursday to Sunday) |
Make your dinner date extra special with a luxuriant seafood platter for two at Nick’s Seafood Restaurant. The open-air waterfront restaurant overlooking the waters of Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour is known for its seafood baskets and chargrilled steaks. The must-order dish on the menu? Oysters, the perfect aphrodisiac!
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Powerhouse
| Address: | 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 02 9217 0222 |
| Opening hours: | 10am to 5pm (Friday to Wednesday), 6pm to 9pm (Thursday) |
Are you or your significant other a Science enthusiast or an engineering geek? If so, have a blast uncovering science facts and innovative technologies at the Powerhouse. This well-loved contemporary museum showcases how science and technology shaped the world through well-curated collections encompassing design, industry, decorative arts, music and space exploration.
Take a Stroll at a Heritage-listed Lake
Lake Parramatta
| Address: | 28 Bourke Street North Parramatta NSW 2151 Australia |
Escape the bustle of city life by embarking on a hike with your beloved at the sprawling Lake Parramatta reserve. Teeming with lush greenery and verdant wildlife, the nature sanctuary is home to sugar gliders, blue-tongue lizards, sulphur-crested cockatoos, and other Australian fauna.
Need some privacy? Check out its vast heritage-listed man-made reservoir!
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Get Wild and Wet at a WaterPark
Raging Waters Sydney
| Address: | 427 Reservoir Road, Prospect NSW 2148 Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 139697 |
| Opening hours: | 10am to 5pm (Sunday) Closed on Monday to Friday) |
Unleash your inner child at Raging Waters Sydney, the city’s biggest waterpark with over 30 rides, slides and attractions. Take on each other with the park's most thrilling ride—360Rush, where you race side-by-side in a six-storey high 360-degree looping water slide at 60 km/h. If the spills get too much, chill on the sandy shores of the beach close to Australia’s largest wave pool.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Explore the Vastness of the Australian Bushlands
Known for its dramatic scenery of plunging valleys and soaring sandstone ridges, the rugged Blue Mountains offer a picturesque backdrop for a romantic hike. Immerse yourself in nature with a bushwalk, climbing down to the valley floor and then up the rugged cliffs to uncover cascading waterfalls and breathtaking views.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Enjoy a Stirring Live Performance
State Theatre
| Address | 49 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Phone Number |
+61 2 9373 6655 |
Enliven your night with a show at the heritage-listed State Theatre, which features performances every month, ranging from comedy, dance, theatre and live music. Celebrate your night out with pre-show dinner at the nearby Parlour Cucina, a bustling Italian restaurant with friendly service and flavourful dishes.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Hunt for Fresh Australian Produce
Parramatta Farmers Market
| Address: | 181-191 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 02 9806 5315 |
| Opening hours: | 7:30am to 2:30pm (Friday) |
Take a breather from sightseeing with some fresh produce shopping at the Parramatta Farmers Market. From in-season fruit and vegetables, to artisan baked goods and gourmet foods, temptation abounds at every corner. Spend one or two hours meandering around the stalls, sampling the food, and connecting with your beloved over your favourite meats, veggies, and sweets.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Savour Romantic Dining at its Best
Take a break from your activity-filled day by treating your loved one to a night filled with unforgettable dining experiences, great ambience, and heartfelt conversations.
Dine in Glamour at Nick and Nora’s Parramatta
Nick and Nora’s Parramatta
| Address: | Level 26/45 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia |
| Phone number: | +61 02 8646 4930 |
| Opening hours: | 5pm to 23am (Wednesday and Thursday), 4pm to 12am (Friday and Saturday), 3pm to 10pm (Sunday), Closed on Monday and Tuesday |
Be transported to a golden glamorous era in this 1920s-style cocktail and champagne bar. At Nick and Nora’s Parramatta, you can sip on a cocktail as you slurp oysters, briny caviar and a selection of fine cheeses with your better half. Inspired by fictional murder-solving duo Nick and Nora Charles from the novel Thin Man, the restaurant provides a unique dining experience topped by a spectacular view of the Sydney skyline.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Taste Hand-Crafted Coffee at The Coffee Emporium
The Coffee Emporium
| Address: | Shop 2184A, Westfield Parramatta 159-175 Church Street Parramatta, NSW 2150 |
| Phone number: | +61 02 9633 9113 |
| Opening hours: | 7am to 12am (Monday to Friday), 9am to 12am (Saturday and Sunday) |
If you and your partner share a mutual love for coffee, consider a trip to The Coffee Emporium. Choose from a curated selection of coffee beans skillfully roasted to produce the perfect cup of espresso-based coffee. Pair it with a breakfast dish like Eggs Benedict, and it’ll be a match made in heaven.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
A Romantic Dinner at Bennelong
Bennelong
| Address | Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia |
| Phone Number |
+61 2 9240 8000 |
| Opening Hours |
5:30pm to 8:45pm (Wednesday to Saturday), 12pm to :15pm (Saturday), 12pm to 3:30pm (Sunday), Closed on Monday and Tuesday |
Set in the iconic Sydney Opera House, Bennelong makes a stunning venue for a special occasion. Oozing with romantic ambience and a menu with sumptuous Australian food and wine, it is the perfect backdrop for a night of delightful dining and bonding.
Get directions from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Get directions from PARKROYAL Parramatta
Need more recommendations for your romantic Sydney staycation? Read more about what to do in Sydney, or get in touch with our team at PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney and PARKROYAL Parramatta. We look forward to hosting you soon.
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