15 Most Beautiful Lookouts in Sydney

Last updated: May 14, 2024

Explore Sydney’s breathtaking views with our guide to the city’s best lookouts, outlining must-visit locations for panoramic city, Harbour, and ocean views.

With an incredible city skyline, several unique landmarks, and beautiful natural attractions, Sydney has no shortage of scenic lookouts that offer breathtaking views.

Below, we’ll share our top 15 Sydney lookouts that are easy to travel to. Some of these viewing points offer amazing views of the Sydney Harbour and city skyline, while others are great for ocean and coastal views.

1. Broughton St Lookout

Located at the southern end of Bradfield Park in Kirribilli, the Broughton Street Lookout is perhaps the best viewpoint in Sydney to see the city skyline, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge in one view.

The views from this lookout are absolutely stunning, especially on a sunny day with ferries and perhaps even a cruise ship floating past.

Getting to the Broughton St Lookout from the city is easy. You can simply walk across the Harbour Bridge from Circular Quay, catch a ferry to Milsons Point, or jump on a train at Wynyard Station.

Should this lookout be a bit crowded when you’re visiting, walk a few hundred metres to the east (Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve), where you’ll find a few great spots to sit down and enjoy the Harbour views.

2. Manns Point Lookout

Manns Point in Greenwich is a beautiful spot in Sydney Harbour and one of the quietest lookouts close to the city.

You won’t find any tourist buses lining up at Manns Point, and that lack of visitors makes this hidden spot on Sydney’s lower north shore all the more enjoyable.

The views from Manns Point Lookout toward the city skyline and the Harbour are superb, with Cockatoo Island, Berry Island Reserve, and Balls Head Reserve also visible.

There is a small parking area at the end of Prospect St in Greenwich, right next to the lookout. The closest bus stop is approximately 500m away.

3. Hickson Road Reserve

Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks is a fantastic spot to get incredible views of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and Circular Quay.

The reserve is perfectly positioned opposite the Opera House, with all the iconic Sydney landmarks in view.

For a nice city walk, follow the walking path along Hickson Road from Circular Quay, walk underneath the Opera House, and continue to Barangaroo Reserve via Walsh Bay.

4. Fleet Steps in Royal Botanic Garden

There are various locations within the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney where you can get great views of the Harbour and the city skyline.

One of those locations, and perhaps the best location, is the Fleet Steeps in the northeastern section of the Royal Botanic Garden.

To get there from the Opera House, simply follow the walking path along the Harbour’s shoreline, until you get to the other side.

5. Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout

Visiting the Pylon Lookout at the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a wonderful way to enjoy city and Harbour views at a fraction of the cost of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.

The Pylon Lookout also holds a small museum sharing many interesting details about the history behind the bridge and how and why it was built. The entrance is on the pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the bridge. Follow the walkway from the Bridge Stairs in The Rocks, and you will see the entrance at the first pylon.

The Pylon consists of three levels of informational exhibits and a 360-degree lookout platform at the top. The museum part of the Pylon Lookout is well-presented, with lots of information and photos to absorb about the bridge.

6. Blues Point Reserve

Situated right in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Blues Point Reserve has long been one of the most popular Sydney New Year’s Eve vantage points.

The reserve offers panoramic views of the western side of the bridge and the Sydney Opera House, as well as the northern part of the CBD, Dawes Point, and Barangaroo.

A short walking trail at the southern end of the reserve follows the shoreline along the southernmost tip of the McMahons Point peninsula, with even more great Harbour views to enjoy.

Blues Point Reserve has a small car park, but it’s also easy to travel to by public transport. The McMahons Point ferry wharf is just around the corner, and Milsons Point train station is also not too far away.

7. Cahill Walk Lookout

The Cahill Walk is a little-known pedestrian path along the Cahill Expressway, right above Circular Quay train station, with beautiful views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and the Harbour Bridge.

There are three entry points to the Cahill Walk: from the Royal Botanic Garden, via a lift at Circular Quay, and via the iconic Bridge Stairs in The Rocks. The last one is also the access point to the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk.

The Cahill Expressway Lookout is a purpose-built viewing platform that forms part of the Cahill Walk. The views of Circular Quay and the surrounding landmarks are truly spectacular from this lookout.

8. Observatory Hill Lookout

The lookout in Observatory Hill Park in Millers Point offers sweeping views of Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It is also home to Observatory Hill, a heritage-listed meteorological station, astronomical observatory and science museum that is well worth a visit.

Observatory Hill Park is a must-see tourist attraction for any visitor coming to Sydney, and can easily be included in a day out exploring nearby Barangaroo Reserve and The Rocks.

9. Illoura Reserve

Illoura Reserve is a beautiful stretch of parkland located along the shoreline of Balmain East, facing Barangaroo, Barangaroo Reserve, and the Harbour Bridge.

The views from this reserve, with a lovely walking path, are a bit different from other lookouts on this list in that it faces the new office towers of Barangaroo.

This reserve is located right next to the Balmain East ferry wharf and is only a short ferry ride away from Barangaroo and Circular Quay.

10. Berrys Bay Lookout

Situated on the Waverton Peninsula, as part of Carradah Park, the purpose-built Berrys Bay Lookout offers scenic views of Berrys Bay, the Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline.

The views from this lookout are superb, and the park itself is also an exciting destination. Carradah Park was once an industrial site and is now a magnificent harbourside public open space.

Street parking is available at the park, with various walking tracks and viewing points to enjoy in the area. Carradah Park and Balls Head Reserve are neighbours, and we recommended visiting both locations in one outing.

11. Cremorne Point

Cremorne Point is a leafy harbourside suburb and peninsula on Sydney’s lower north shore, located only 6 km from the Sydney CBD.

For the best views, head to the western shoreline of the peninsula, from where you can get an excellent overview of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline.

Cremorne Point has a ferry wharf and is only a 10-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay. For the best experience, do the Cremorne Point circuit walk, an easy walking trail through great scenery.

12. Georges Head Lookout

The Georges Head Lookout Lawn leads to a popular lookout point at Georges Heights that offers fantastic views of Sydney Harbour, with North Head and South Head right in front and the city skyline in the west.

Georges Heights offers excellent views and is home to historic Sydney military relics such as tunnels, battlements, and cannons. With more than 150 years of military history, Georges Head is well worth a visit.

This lookout is very easily accessible by car, but perhaps the best way to get there is via the scenic Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach walking track.

13. Dobroyd Head Lookout

Dobroyd Head in Balgowlah Heights is home to various lookout points that offer great views of Middle Harbour, North and South Head, and the ocean.

One of those lookouts is the Arabanoo Lookout, but the views from this lookout are quite a bit obstructed by trees.

For better views, do a section of the Spit to Manly walking track at Dobroyd Head, and you’ll see a couple of lookouts where the views are amazing.

Dobroyd Head is easy to travel to by car, with ample parking available at Tania Park along Dobroyd Scenic Drive. Public transport also works, with various bus stops nearby. Even better, do the walk from the Spit Bridge to Manly for a fantastic day out.

14. Burragula Lookout

The Burragula Lookout along the Fairfax Walk is a spectacular viewpoint located on Manly’s North Head. The lookout is accessible via an easy 1 km paved walking track, which includes two other lookout points.

This lookout is a popular spot to watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, offering views across the entire Harbour from a distance.

When visiting the Burragula Lookout, it’s a good idea to also explore the North Head Sanctuary, which has an interesting history as a quarantine station and a military site.

15. West Head Lookout

The West Head Lookout in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers fantastic views of Pittwater, Broken Bay, Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach, and the Central Coast.

The lookout is also the starting point of several bushwalking trails that take in beautiful secluded beaches, such as Resolute Beach and West Head Beach.

The West Head Lookout is located at the end of West Head Rd, with ample parking available. It’s within the National Park boundaries with a $12 per vehicle per day entry fee.