There are few cities on earth as perfect for Instagram as Sydney and probably less still that are surrounded by so many gorgeous national parks. We love nothing more than to find the perfect Instagram spots in front of one of Sydney's many world famous views.
After six years of living in Sydney, we've compiled our favourite spots to get the perfect photo. Here's our guide to the most Instagrammable spots in Sydney.
Tips for getting great photos in Sydney
Trying to get great photos in Australia can be tricky, here are a few tips for getting the perfect shot:
Go early or late. The Australian sun is BRUTAL and it has ruined hundreds of well-planned out photos. It’s unlike anywhere else in the world, so if you want to get a really nice and soft photo, try to go at sunrise or sunset.
Some of these spots get very busy. Sadly, most instagrammable spots in Sydney are world famous and can get very, very busy. This is another reason to try to go early if you can.
However, you can also find space. The great thing about Sydney is that there are so many great and rarely known spots too, particularly on the north shore. Whilst Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is busy, there’s so much space in the area, that you should be able to get a photo without another person in it.
Leave the drone at home. Unless you are planning on going to the beach, Sydney is pretty much a no drone zone. The harbour has helicopters and private flights continually flying over it, and the city is too close to the airport to fly.
The 25 most Instagrammable places in Sydney
1. Opera Bar
Lets start with one of the most iconic spots in the whole of Sydney - the Sydney Opera House! This is a must for any visitor and in our opinion, the best photo spot is from the Opera Bar.
It’s on the shore, just before the Opera House and if you go early you will have this place all to yourself! However, it gets busy from a little after sunrise until late at night.
2. Larkin Street Lookout, Balls Head
We're a little biased about Balls Head as this is a short stroll from where we live. It's more of a locals spot, so it offers a great view over the city that you will probably have all to yourself. Great at any time of day, or at night to catch those city lights.
The easiest way to get here is by catching a train on the North Shore Line to Waverton, then walking for 10 minutes through the pretty reserve. If you’re looking for a longer walk, the trail from Balls Head to Lavender Bay has several more gorgeous photo spots.
3. Lincoln’s Rock, Blue Mountains
Hands down our favourite edge of the world spot in the mountains. This is not just one of the best lookouts in the Blue Mountains, it’s one of the best photospots in the whole Sydney region.
Still those jelly legs and get ready to pose. It’s also an epic sunset spot.
To get there, head to Wentworth Falls. Lincoln Rock is then down a dirt track called Little Switzerland Road.
4 . Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Botanic Garden
A short stroll from Circular Quay, the view from Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the Royal Botanic Garden is guaranteed to bring in the likes. There are several great vantage points around this area, you can get a shot where the bridge and Opera House are framed by trees, or you can get a shot on the rocks like the one below.
It’s another great sunset spot but you will have to share it with the crowds!
5. Jeffrey St Wharf, Kirribilli
If you only have time for one sunset in Sydney, we'd strongly recommend it be here.
We’ve lived here for four years now and this view still takes your breath away every time.
Bonus if you come after the rains and get that famous reflection in the puddle.
It's very easy to get to either by walking over the Harbour Bridge, a short ferry ride from Circular Quay or the North Shore Line train.
It’s a place we always take visitors and is particularly beautiful at sunset.
6. Cremorne Point
Just a 10 minute ferry ride from Circular Quay takes you to the beautiful suburb of Cremorne.
Million dollar views are just a few steps away from the wharf. It's a great place to bring a picnic and watch the sunset. It’s also the start of one of our favourite short walks in Sydney, the Cremorne Point Loop.
7. The bridge in Cremorne
A little slice of jungle paradise in the city, this wooden bridge in Cremorne offers a photo unlike anywhere else in Sydney!
It’s on the short and easy Cremorne Point Walk and is well worth checking out, especially in the golden light of the late afternoon.
8. America Bay
America Bay is one of those places that doesn’t sound real: a lookout over a river, from the top of a waterfall that faces where the sun will set on the horizon!
It’s a beautiful spot, and makes for a great photo. It’s one of our favourite sunset spots in Sydney and well worth the 1km walk (each way) to get to.
America Bay is in Ku-ring-gai National Park, which is an hour’s drive north of the city centre. You have to pay a $12 fee to enter, and then do a 1km each way walk to the lookout (this one requires a little effort, but it is well worth it!).
9. Observatory Hill
Observatory Hill has been a local’s favourite for decades, and when you see the view you’ll know why! It’s a spot so good it’s where many people choose to get engaged.
It’s at its best at sunset, which you can see from the viewpoint. However, the main view everyone wants is of the Harbour Bridge as it looms in front of you from the grassy hill.
10. Eagle Head Rock, Royal National Park
This spot requires a little work to get to, but it’s so worth it! Eagle Head Rock in Royal National Park is only accessible by taking one of three hiking trails. The best option is to take the stunning 4km (each way) walk from Wattamolla. It’s not all about the end destination either, the walk itself is incredible. If you’d prefer to walk from Garie Beach, we have you covered in this post.
If you go just after it has rained, you’ll see three waterfalls cascading into the sea as well! If you don’t mind walking back partially in the dark then visiting at sunset makes the whole scene even more beautiful.
11. The Foreshore Walk in the Botanic Garden
There are so many great views from the Botanic Garden, but looking back from the Foreshore Walk to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge is one of our favourites.
At the western entrance (just by the Opera House) you can get the unique composition of the bridge acting like a halo around the Opera House. Again, it’s great at sunset for soft golden light.
12. North Head, Manly
This is a great view looking back over the city from the Northern Beaches and another great sunset spot.
Wander along the short Fairfax track to try out some different angles.
Take the Manly ferry from Circular Quay and then walk or catch a short bus ride to the head.
13. Palm Beach
Take a stroll up the short lighthouse track to reach this incredible view of both bays at Palm Beach.
It’s also a great spot to whale watch in season.
It's also worth stopping by at The Boathouse for some breakfast while you're here, it’s one of our favourite things to do in Palm Beach.
Palm Beach is about an hour from Sydney CBD and can be reached on the bus but if you take a car you can visit some other gorgeous beaches along the way. Try Newport and Whale beach.
14. Bondi Beach
The famous Bondi Beach is perfect for Instagram, especially from above.
Whether you can get in a helicopter (stand by rates from $99), or by drone, this beautiful beach is one of the most photogenic in Sydney.
You can easily see why it is so popular. It’s also the start of one of Sydney’s best coastal walks which has lots of amazing photography spots along the way.
15. Curl Curl Beach
The Northern Beaches are stunning, and one of our favourites for photography is Curl Curl.
Make sure you go at sunrise for optimum results.
At the northern end of the beach is a rocky outcrop which frames photos nicely and when you get a sky like this there's no better place to be!
16. North Curl Curl Rockpool
Curl Curl is a favourite with travel drone photographers, as the ocean pool here has a huge boulder in the middle.
It's set at the bottom of a large cliff and is only accessible by a small footpath from the top of the cliff.
Add in a wild coast line and you get a pretty cool photography spot.
17. Mona Vale Rockpool
Mona Vale is a pretty special rockpool as it was built on a rocky patch that stretches out far from the beach.
At high tide, all the rocks are underwater and you see a pool that looks far out at sea!
From above, it's a beautiful pool and definitely worthy of Instagram.
Read next: The best hotels in Sydney by neighbourhood
18. The Harbour Bridge from the North Shore
The Harbour Bridge is stunning from all areas, but our favourite is the North Shore.
You can choose either Luna Park (sunrise) or Kiribilli (sunset) and both will give a great view with the sun either rising or setting behind this icon.
19. The Opera House from the Overseas Passenger Terminal during Vivid
Vivid is one of the best times to visit Sydney and the projections on the famous Opera House have become Instagram favourites.
We've been to three Vivid Festivals and loved every single one of them.
The best view is from the path in front of the Overseas Passenger Terminal. From here you'll get a view of the Opera House straight on.
20. Iceberg's, Bondi Beach
There are so many great spots in Bondi, but the view from Iceberg's is our favourite. It's probably the most famous swimming pool in Australia.
If you can make it when the surf is high it's even more impressive and is particularly photogenic at sunrise.
The best way to get here is a 20 minute bus ride from the CBD.
It's just one of our many favourite beaches in NSW and it's well worth getting out of Sydney and exploring them all if you can.
Icebergs is also the start of the Bondi to Coogee walk, one of the best walking trails in Sydney.
21. Balmoral Beach
Balmoral beach is stunning from the ground, but looks even better from above.
The Balmoral Baths (a shark protected swimming area) looks amazing from the air, and provides a great frame for the beach and deep blue water. It’s also the end of the gorgeous Taronga to Balmoral Beach walk if you want to see some of the best views of Sydney Harbour.
22. Dudley Page Reserve, Dover Heights
Sydney picnic spots don't get much better than Dudley Page Reserve in Dover Heights.
This elevated part of the Eastern Suburbs offers a fantastic panoramic view of Sydney. So get pack up the cooler and head here for sunset!
Dover Heights is very close to Vaucluse, Watson's Bay and Bondi Beach.
The best way is to drive (there's free street parking) or to get a bus from the neighbouring suburbs.
23. Pulpit Rock, Blue Mountains
This viewpoint definitely has the wow factor.
Probably best to wear a bright colour to really have the photo pop (lesson learned after we took this shot).
Pulpit Rock offers panoramic views of the mountains and if you go early it's likely that there'll be no one else there.
We love walking to Pulpit Rock from Govetts Leap (6km return) but you can also head straight to the car park where it's only about a five minute walk to get there. This is a good sunrise spot.
24. The Grand Canyon Loop Track, Blue Mountains
One of our favourite walking tracks in the mountains, especially when you combine with other tracks to make a full day walk.
These steps can be seen early on in the track, there are a few staircases in the same area but these stand out as they have a real fairy glen type feel.
The trail starts at Evans Lookout which is a short distance from Blackheath. You can read our full trail guide with lots more photography spots here.
A little further afield....
25. Kanangra Walls, Kanangra-Boyd National Park
This one is technically in Kanangra-Boyd national park, not the Blue Mountains but it's not too far and if you have the time you won't regret it.
The lookout point 10 minutes walk from the car park is pretty fabulous but if you follow the Plateau walking trail you will quickly come to this spot, which is arguably the most instagrammable of the lot!
Warning - the road to Kanangra Walls is a 30km dirt track. It's not too bad, but best to have some clearance as there's quite a few pot holes.
Our Camera Gear
Our brand of choice for camera gear has been Canon for many years and we love their L-Series lenses. Whilst they are heavier than some other brands, the image results are worth the additional weight. Here’s an honest guide to the pros and cons of the kit we use.
We’ve also used a few drones in our time (check out our guide to which drone to buy here) but currently own a DJI Mavic Pro.
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Know any great spots that we haven't covered? Let us know in the comments, we are always looking for new places to take shots.
