-LRB- CNN Traveller -RRB- -- 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 -LRB- 421-429 Sussex Street -RRB- 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 -LRB- known as the QVB -RRB- 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 -LRB- www.idrb.com -RRB- . After lunch , do the Bondi-to-Coogee coastal walk , which traces three bays -- Clovelly , Tamarama and Gordon 's -LRB- a great snorkeling spot -RRB- -- 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 -LRB- www.massagebythesea.com.au . From $ 25 -RRB- . 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 -LRB- 100 Market Street , $ 24.50 -RRB- , climb the Harbor Bridge -LRB- www.bridgeclimb.com , from $ 179 -RRB- , or charter a helicopter -LRB- www.sydneyhelicopters.com.au , from $ 180 -RRB- . If you want to see it from the ` ground ' , charter a yacht and join the harbor 's fray -LRB- www.eastsail.com.au , from $ 625 -RRB- . 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 -LRB- $ 32 -RRB- ; the bucket-sized portions of fries a snip at AUS$ 7 -LRB- $ 6.50 -RRB- . 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 . -LRB- www.sydneyoperahouse.com -RRB- . If that is not your scene , it is still worth taking a tour of the iconic building -- the last one is at 5pm , though -LRB- $ 32 -RRB- . 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 -LRB- 355 Crown Street , Surry Hills -RRB- . For a taste of modern Australian , take a taxi to The Bathers ' Pavilion , a seafood restaurant in the western suburb of Balmoral -LRB- 4 The Esplanade , Balmoral Beach -RRB- . Finally , Tetsuya 's -- with its famed $ 195 10-course degustation menu -- is ranked by Restaurant magazine as the fourth best restaurant in the world -LRB- 529 Kent Street , Sydney -RRB- . 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 -LRB- 3 Lime Street , Kings Street Wharf , Sydney -RRB- , Arthouse Hotel in the CBD -LRB- 275 Pitt Street , Sydney -RRB- , Ruby Rabbit in city 's clubbing district -LRB- 231 Oxford Street , Darlinghurst -RRB- and The Tilbury in one of Sydney 's smartest suburbs -LRB- 12 Nicholson Street , Woolloomooloo -RRB- are all good choices . And if you are at the latter , finish off your night with a pie at Harry 's Cafe de Wheels -LRB- Cowper Wharf Road -RRB- -- another Sydney institution . CLICK HERE to subscribe to CNN Traveller COPYRIGHT © 2008 INK PUBLISHING AND CABLE NEWS NETWORK , LP , LLLP , A TIME WARNER COMPANY . 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