Sydney fun under $100

Looking for things to do in Sydney under $100? This page collects zoo and aquarium tickets, harbour cruises, city lookouts, tours and indoor attractions you can book online, from Taronga Zoo to the Sydney Opera House. Prices move with the date and ticket type, so check the product page.

Zoos and aquariums at Mosman and Darling Harbour

Taronga Zoo Sydney general admission gets you into a zoo on the harbour at Mosman, with views across Sydney Cove to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The African Savannah has giraffes, lions, zebras and tigers, koalas and kangaroos have their own exhibits, plus keeper presentations.

In Darling Harbour, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo is home to the Aussie Big 5 (koala, kangaroo, platypus, crocodile and wombat) across 10 wildlife zones and a Daintree Rainforest walkthrough. Also on Wheat Road, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium has the Penguin Expedition boat ride past King and Gentoo penguins, Shark Valley and Dugong Island. More tickets sit in the Sydney zoos and aquariums category.

Combining Darling Harbour attractions

The Sydney Attractions Pass for 2 attractions lets you pick two from WILD LIFE Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower Eye or Madame Tussauds, with 30 days to use the second after your first visit.

The Sydney Tower Eye observation deck sits 250 metres above the street, with 360-degree views of up to 80 km that reach as far as the Blue Mountains.

Sydney Harbour cruises and boat rides

The Sydney Harbour Cruise is the straightforward pick: 90 minutes with live commentary, a morning or afternoon sailing and a run past the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Botanic Gardens. The Tall Ship Afternoon Discovery Cruise leaves Campbell's Cove in The Rocks on an authentic tall ship, where you can help the crew set the sails.

At dusk, the Sydney Harbour Sunset Catamaran Cruise takes no more than 30 people on a 10.5 metre catamaran for an hour, with a grazing platter and the option to bring your own alcohol. The Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Ride is the loud one: 30 minutes from Circular Quay, with 270 degree spins and power-brake stops past the Opera House, Fort Denison and Taronga Zoo.

The Sydney Harbour Aboriginal Cultural Cruise runs for two hours on the Mari Nawi, a big canoe, with stories from Aboriginal hosts and a stop on Me-Mel (Goat Island) for a dance and music performance. From May to November, the whale watching cruise from Circular Quay reaches open ocean in about 20 minutes to look for humpbacks. More boats are in the Sydney Harbour cruises category.

Opera House tour and a Blue Mountains day out

The Sydney Opera House guided tour takes an hour inside the theatres and foyers of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed building Jørn Utzon designed, and includes an immersive digital experience.

For a day away from the harbour, the Blue Mountains Scenic World Pass covers the Skyway, Scenic Railway, Cableway and Walkway at Katoomba in a circuit of just over an hour.

Indoor options for a wet day

The Sydney Museum of Illusions on George Street has over 60 illusions, including the Tilted Room and Vortex Tunnel. On Kent Street, the Sydney Virtual Reality Escape Room runs 60-minute missions for teams of 2 to 6 using hand-tracked headsets. The Sydney rainy day activities category has more.

Frequently asked questions

What can you do in Sydney for under $100?

The Sydney under $100 page lists zoo and aquarium entry, harbour cruises, the Sydney Opera House guided tour, Sydney Tower Eye, Madame Tussauds and the Blue Mountains Scenic World Pass, with the final ticket price depending on the date and ticket type.

Can you combine Sydney attractions on one ticket?

Yes. The Sydney Attractions Pass for 2 attractions covers two of WILD LIFE Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower Eye and Madame Tussauds, with 30 days to visit the second.

What can you do in Sydney when it rains?

Indoor options here include SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the Sydney Opera House guided tour, the Sydney Museum of Illusions and the Sydney Virtual Reality Escape Room.

When can you go whale watching in Sydney?

The Sydney whale watching cruise from Circular Quay operates from May to November.

Local tip: Keep WILD LIFE, SEA LIFE and Madame Tussauds for one Darling Harbour day, and give Circular Quay the jet boat and whale watching.

Have a browse of Sydney fun under $100, pick a zoo day, a harbour sunset or a lookout, and book it online. All good days are waiting.