Looking Up at the Sydney Harbour Marriott at Circular Quay from Sydney Opera House
Have you ever considered running in a city you’ve never visited before simply for the fun of it? Did you consider that running would give you an overall view of the city you’re in so you can determine later where you might go? An avid runner and marathoner, my husband likes to take leisurely runs in new cities and record his run in pictures. On our recent trip to sydney, he decided to go for a quick run and was kind enough to share his thoughts on his run through this part of Sydney. The following is what I could coax out of him for the blog:
Celebrity Solstice docked in Sydney
When I started the run my initial goal was to just tour the surrounding region (to help with later wandering during the day) and to get up close to the Sydney Opera House.
I loved that Sydney was yet another runner-friendly city. The sidewalks towards the Sydney Opera House were wide and there were runners and walkers out for a morning run like myself.
The scenery was unparalleled with the beautiful Sydney skyline and Harbour as my viewWalkway as you approach the Sydney Opera HouseI had no issues stopping to take pictures along the way because of the wide open spaceSydney Opera HouseApproaching the Sydney Opera House
The facility features a modern expressionist design, with a series of large precast concrete “shells,” each composed of sections of a sphere of 75.2 metres (246 ft 8.6 in) radius, forming the roofs of the structure, set on a monumental podium.
The sun peaks in through the clouds to form an amazing sunriseAnother great view of the Celebrity SolsticeSydney Opera House from the north sideSydney Opera House from the north sideTarpeian Precinct Lawn – Royal Botanic Garden SydneyStaircase leading to Sydney Opera House after leaving the Botanic GardenAfter getting around the Sydney Opera House, I though why not run halfway across the bridge?Luna Park Sydney with its 3-ft smiling faceHarbour City FerriesIt was easy to run along the water and to navigate a path to the Sydney Harbour BridgeTo go from the seaport region to the bridge you need to climb multiple flights of stairs that made me feel like Mario from the video game.Then I got greedy and decided to cross the bridge and run back. Climbing the stairs may have been hard, but it was ultimately worth the work once I saw the view.View from Sydney Harbour Bridge looking down toward the port and the Celebrity SolsticeThe bridge path itself is wide and the number of runners was inspiring. I decided to not take pictures of runners to avoid looking like a weirdo.Looking from the bridge toward the Celebrity SolsticeRunning on Sydney Harbour Bridge
The entire city was very runner friendly with good signage and wide sidewalks. It was the type of run where you forget to look down because you can’t help but look around at the amazing sites.
Sydney Opera House as seen from Sydney Harbour BridgeThe bridge has fencing in place to prevent “jumpers” but there are gaps that allow for pictures to be taken with a camera.
There was traffic on the bridge, but definitely not a traffic jam. Sydney is definitely a walking city and both walkers and runners were mindful and considerate of others, which was refreshing as this is not always the case.
Another great view of Sydney Opera House from Sydney Harbour BridgeApproaching the far end of the bridge
The view of Sydney was impressive with the sunrise in the backgroundThe traffic on the smaller side roads was limited and I felt completely safe during my entire run.Once I ran down the steps from the bridge, I took a quick picture and made my way back over the bridge and back to Circular Quay
At the end of my run as I was approaching the area by the ship, I noticed this large frame set up with actors behind it. It was apparently a living scene of the Last Supper as a promotion for the The Bible on DVD.
Running route in Sydney
Overall, I found the portion of the city I explored to be safe, easy to navigate, and very runner friendly in terms of space and road conditions. The quality of the run was such that I could see that Sydney is a runner friendly city and I could definitely see myself running here again. Sydney offered the most scenery and one of the best runs I’ve had out of all of the cities I’ve visited.
6 thoughts on “Running in Sydney | A Running Pictorial”
Excellent post, can’t wait to experience for myself.
Combining a love of travel and running is the best.
When you run in a new city you also notice small cafe’s or areas you may not have otherwise seen. Great way to keep fit while traveling and look at what all you saw. The pictures are beautiful.
Thanks Daidri! I totally agree with you — it’s easy to get stuck in the tourist run and on main streets, but finding the little nooks and crannies of the city or country that the locals use makes for a more authentic experience. Glad you like the pics, too!
I loved that Sydney was yet another runner-friendly city. The sidewalks towards the Sydney Opera House were wide and there were runners and walkers out for a morning run like myself.
The facility features a modern expressionist design, with a series of large precast concrete “shells,” each composed of sections of a sphere of 75.2 metres (246 ft 8.6 in) radius, forming the roofs of the structure, set on a monumental podium.
The entire city was very runner friendly with good signage and wide sidewalks. It was the type of run where you forget to look down because you can’t help but look around at the amazing sites.
There was traffic on the bridge, but definitely not a traffic jam. Sydney is definitely a walking city and both walkers and runners were mindful and considerate of others, which was refreshing as this is not always the case.
At the end of my run as I was approaching the area by the ship, I noticed this large frame set up with actors behind it. It was apparently a living scene of the Last Supper as a promotion for the The Bible on DVD.
Excellent post, can’t wait to experience for myself.
Combining a love of travel and running is the best.
When you run in a new city you also notice small cafe’s or areas you may not have otherwise seen. Great way to keep fit while traveling and look at what all you saw. The pictures are beautiful.
Thanks Daidri! I totally agree with you — it’s easy to get stuck in the tourist run and on main streets, but finding the little nooks and crannies of the city or country that the locals use makes for a more authentic experience. Glad you like the pics, too!