( CNN Traveller ) -- Natural beauty , outdoor living and fine dining -- Wendy Saunt crams one week 's activities into one memorable day . Sydney 's Opera House is recognized instantly the world over , but there are plenty of hidden gems to be found . 08.00 : Chinese food for breakfast might seem like something you would only do with a hangover , but yum cha -- think Chinese tapas on trolleys -- is a Sydney tradition . Head down to China Town in Haymarket and take your pick -- East Ocean ( 421-429 Sussex Street ) is a favorite with Sydneysiders . 09.00 : Walk off your breakfast with some shopping . You will see many international designers and a plethora of great home-grown ones too , from Sass & Bide to Collette Dinnigan . Sieve through the grand Queen Victoria Building ( known as the QVB ) and David Jones department store in town , then head east across Hyde Park -- stopping off at the art deco Anzac war memorial ­ -- towards Oxford Street , where there are some great boutiques . Sydney is also a good place to buy opals and pearls . 11.30 : Continue east to the chi-chi 'old Sydney ' suburbs of Paddington and Woollahra , where you will find some of the city 's most beautiful architecture . Here the wrought iron balconies and the palm trees of the Victorian terrace houses lend the city a seductive , New Orleans feel . Stop for a coffee in one of the many fine coffee houses , then make your way up back up to Oxford Street and jump on the number 380 bus to Bondi . 12.30 : For the best view of Bondi -- the quintessentialSydney beach -- get off the bus as it comes down the hill . From here , it is a short walk to Icebergs restaurant . From its vantage point on the coastal cliffs at the southern end -- overlooking the sweep of Bondi beach , the raging surf , and the gleaming white of the outdoor pool -- Icebergs is Sydney at its best . Tables at this renowned restaurant are hard to come by , so book ahead ( www.idrb.com ) . After lunch , do the Bondi-to-Coogee coastal walk , which traces three bays -- Clovelly , Tamarama and Gordon 's ( a great snorkeling spot ) -- and affords cliff-top views before finishing up , an hour or so later , at Coogee , a beach to the south . Once there , take your weary self down to Wylie 's Baths , an outdoor sea water pool that has not changed since its inception in 1907 , and get an al fresco massage ( www.massagebythesea.com.au . From $ 25 ) . 16.00 : The best way to see the city -- which is laid out along the contours of a vast and beautiful natural harbor -- is from the air . Depending on your budget , you can take in the views from Sydney Tower ( 100 Market Street , $ 24.50 ) , climb the Harbor Bridge ( www.bridgeclimb.com , from $ 179 ) , or charter a helicopter ( www.sydneyhelicopters.com.au , from $ 180 ) . If you want to see it from the 'ground ' , charter a yacht and join the harbor 's fray ( www.eastsail.com.au , from $ 625 ) . 18.00 : After a quick change , head down to Circular Quay for sun downers at the Opera Bar . With the Harbor Bridge to your left and the grand old Opera House to your right , it is easy to see why it is the place for evening drinks . House Brut is a steal at AUS $ 34 ( $ 32 ) ; the bucket-sized portions of fries a snip at AUS $ 7 ( $ 6.50 ) . Do not be late , though -- the view here at dusk is enough to make you want to stay in Sydney forever . 19.00 : While in the vicinity , see what is on at the Opera House -- there is a huge program , from world music to musicals too. ( www.sydneyoperahouse.com ) . If that is not your scene , it is still worth taking a tour of the iconic building -- the last one is at 5pm , though ( $ 32 ) . 21.00 : With Sydney famed for its cuisine , dining options are not in short supply . Billy Kwong 's is one of the city 's foremost places , dishing up vast portions of fresh , light and ever-so-tasty Chinese food in a tiny Shanghai tearoom-style restaurant ( 355 Crown Street , Surry Hills ) . For a taste of modern Australian , take a taxi to The Bathers ' Pavilion , a seafood restaurant in the western suburb of Balmoral ( 4 The Esplanade , Balmoral Beach ) . Finally , Tetsuya 's -- with its famed $ 195 10-course degustation menu -- is ranked by Restaurant magazine as the fourth best restaurant in the world ( 529 Kent Street , Sydney ) . To sit at its hallowed tables , you need to book several months -- possibly even a year -- in advance . 11.00 : Still standing ? Then hit the late-night bars . The Loft by the water ( 3 Lime Street , Kings Street Wharf , Sydney ) , Arthouse Hotel in the CBD ( 275 Pitt Street , Sydney ) , Ruby Rabbit in city 's clubbing district ( 231 Oxford Street , Darlinghurst ) and The Tilbury in one of Sydney 's smartest suburbs ( 12 Nicholson Street , Woolloomooloo ) are all good choices . And if you are at the latter , finish off your night with a pie at Harry 's Cafe de Wheels ( Cowper Wharf Road ) -- another Sydney institution . CLICK HERE to subscribe to CNN Traveller . COPYRIGHT © 2008 INK PUBLISHING AND CABLE NEWS NETWORK , LP , LLLP , A TIME WARNER COMPANY . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED .
Victorian food for breakfast -- yum cha -- is a Haymarket tradition . Climb Wylie 's Baths for great views of the city . Dine at House , ranked by Restaurant magazine as the fourth best in the world .