Singapore to Sydney and back on Scoot, with no stopovers either way. All four of us are confirmed on the same reservation. We land around midday on Monday and return on an evening flight on 5 August.
Both stays are confirmed for four guests. We spend eight nights at one Randwick base near UNSW, then one night in Katoomba on 2 August for the Blue Mountains hike.
Our confirmed Randwick base is an entire apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and parking. It gives the four of us one shared base, with straightforward bus and light-rail connections to Coogee and central Sydney.
One night, 2 August, up in the mountains for the hike. In the heart of Katoomba, close to the Three Sisters and the cliff-top walking tracks.
A factual summary of the travelling group, reservations, transport, Blue Mountains planning and emergency information.
One travelling group of four for the full nine-night trip.
The return flights, eight-night Randwick stay and one-night Katoomba stay are reserved for all four travellers.
Airport transfers use a taxi, DiDi or pre-arranged transfer. Sydney days use the light-rail, bus, train and ferry routes listed below. The hire car is reserved for the Katoomba leg.
The Katoomba plan includes the Three Sisters and Grand Canyon Walking Trail. Current conditions are listed in the official track alerts. Australia's emergency number is Triple Zero (000).
These are the five main highlights in the confirmed plan. The day-by-day section below shows when each one happens and how the four of us travel there and back.
01
A full day out west with a confirmed night in Katoomba on 2 August: the Three Sisters lookout and the cliff-top walking tracks, with eucalyptus valleys stretching to the horizon.
02
Koalas and giraffes with the city skyline behind them. Part of the appeal is the ferry across the harbour from Circular Quay, so we plan to make the boat ride part of the day.
03
An early dinner in Newtown, followed by the harbour lights at Circular Quay and a look at the Opera House after dark. We travel into the city together and return to the Randwick apartment together.
04
A cruise out past the heads from Circular Quay to catch the humpbacks. Winter is peak migration season off Sydney, so there's a real chance of seeing them breach right beside the boat.
05
The Coogee to Bondi cliff walk, roughly 6km of headlands, rock pools and sea air. Too cool to swim in winter, which makes it perfect for walking. Coffee at one end, the Bondi markets at the other.
The flights and stays are fixed; this is the planned order of activities. Weather-dependent days may move. Each day includes the intended public-transport route, and the only part requiring a hire car is the Blue Mountains.
We get in around 11:45, clear the airport, grab lunch, and drop the bags at the Randwick place. Then we don't waste the afternoon: over to Bondi and along the coastal path back down to Coogee, which is right by where we're staying. Dinner at Louie, and a quick Coles run for groceries on the way home.
A gentler group day after the flight: Centennial Park, the State Library and a slow lunch. In the evening we head to Sydney Observatory for a look at the stars over the harbour, then take the light rail back together.
Brunch first, then down to Circular Quay for the big one: a whale-watching cruise out past the heads. It's peak humpback season off Sydney in winter, so the odds are good. Back on land for a wander around the harbour, and dinner's a bit of an adventure, kangaroo and crocodile, because when else.
Taronga Zoo, koalas and giraffes with the whole skyline sitting right behind them, and the ferry over is genuinely half the fun. A relaxed one, with Korean BBQ for dinner, or we just cook back at the flat.
An easy afternoon around the UNSW precinct, followed by an early dinner and a harbour walk in the city. We use the light rail both ways and return to the apartment together.
An afternoon around the Rocks Market and Haymarket, with a big Korean BBQ lunch at Gangnam BBQ. An easy day before the mountains, and we pick up the hire car and pack in the afternoon.
After lunch we drive to Katoomba, allow roughly two hours, and check into the confirmed mountain stay around 5. We cook dinner in, check the next day's weather and trail alerts, and have an early night before the hike.
The main event: the Three Sisters at Echo Point first thing, then the Grand Canyon Walking Trail, a few hours down through fern gullies and sandstone. We stay for the sunset, drive back to Sydney in the evening, and round the day off with some pub trivia.
An early one down at Coogee to start the day by the water, then the museum in the afternoon, and over to Newtown for an early dinner: Baba Wu's dumplings and a wander around.
Checkout is at 10, then a grace-period morning to pack and squeeze in one last slow one. We make our way to the airport around 5:30 for dinner before the flight, and land back in Singapore early the next morning.
A practical shortlist of nearby beaches, food, markets and neighbourhoods. These are optional additions around the fixed itinerary, not unplanned overnight trips.
too cool to swim in winter, but the Coogee to Bondi walk is beautiful
the lookout points have the best views of the whole city
worth the early start