Sydney, Australia

You can fully enjoy Sydney just by visiting all the tourist spots, but if you want to experience the city like a local, try some of these fun things to do:
* Wander down Oxford St, starting at Hyde Park. Notice how the feel of the street changes as you walk - from vibrant gay-friendly stores, to high-end fashion stores.
* Catch a bus to Bondi and check out the neighbourhoods in-between from the bus windows. Once you get to Bondi, sit outside at a cafe and try a flat white. Go for a swim in the natural salt water pool. Then take a stroll along the cliffs to Coogee Beach.
* If you have a car, drive through upscale neighbourhoods to Watson's Bay. Park and check out the view of the ocean from the cliffs. Wander down to the harbour, grab a bench and get some fish and chips. If you're cashed up, hit Doyles for a beer and food outside.
* Take public transport to the Sydney Fish Markets. Wander the markets and check out the fresh fish, then buy a kilo of cooked prawns and some sashimi cut straight from the fish. Wander outside and enjoy on the dock.
* Catch the train to Newtown and wander up and down Kings Rd, checking out the multitude of ethnic restaurants and cafes.
* Get a beer at the Oaks pub in Neutral Bay for some serious Sydney history.
* Go gourmet grocery shopping in the basement of David Jones in the city centre.
* Catch the ferry to Manly and wander around, soaking up the completely different atmosphere of the nothern beaches.
* Stroll down Crown St in Surry Hills and pick a fun restaurant (any one will do!).
* Go on a hunt for Sydney's best coffee. Start in King's Cross. Make sure you sit on an upturned milk crate outside. Like a local.

Deus ex Machina - this is a great cafe in Camperdown, very close to the RPA Hospital. The cafe is part of a really cool store selling reconditioned motorbikes and accessories. I have recently noticed the brand expanding to surf stores, which makes sense as I think one of the owners was a former Mambo founder.

Bondi Beach - the craft markets on Sunday, wandering around the shops and of course the beach and walking up and down the beach esplanade.

Fish Markets - picking up fresh oysters, prawns and fish from the fish markets and cooking up a big seafood BBQ dinner.

Haberfield and Five Dock - picking up Italian groceries in my local Italian neighbourhoods. Cheese from Paesanella, Roman pastries from Pasticceria Tamborino, Pasticceria Papa and Sulfaro, deli goods from the IGA and fruit and vegetables from Frank's.

Rozelle - shopping in Rozelle for natural products at About Life, the Organic Trading Company, picking up Bagels at Bagel House, and getting a haircut at Velvet and Brown.