( CNN ) -- The arrival of autumn in Australia will be a welcome relief for international visitors emerging from a bleak winter in the northern hemisphere . There 's no mistaking the city of Sydney -- fine weather means you may struggle to see a cloud in the sky . Peak season may be winding up but with temperatures off their sticky summer highs it 's a great time to sample one of the country 's most recognizable cities . While few international visitors are likely to find themselves stranded in Sydney for 24 hours ( if only ! ) , here 's our fast-track tour for travelers short on time . See the sun come up over Sydney Harbour . At this time of year , the sun rises at around 6:30am , an hour after the first ferries leave the wharf , so there 's plenty of activity on the water . Early risers can waste no time in immersing themselves in Sydney 's cultural highlights . At 7:00am , the Sydney Opera House hosts tours for just eight people to backstage areas normally off-limits to theatre-goers . At $ 100 per person , the two-hour tour is not a budget option but it does include breakfast . Be warned , the tour includes 300 steps . If you 're not exhausted by the machinations of the Opera House , cool off with a relaxing dip . A recent spate of shark attacks may have put you off Sydney 's beaches , but there are plenty of outdoor pools that offer both sun and seawater . For serious laps , try the North Sydney Olympic Pool ( next to the Sydney Harbour Bridge ) or for a lazier affair have a massage at Wylies Bath in Coogee . Image gallery : 24 hours in Sydney » . Once in Coogee you can admire the Australian coastline by following it all the way back to Sydney 's famous Bondi Beach . Most people start in Bondi but there 's no reason why you ca n't do it in reverse . The two-hour walk takes you past bays and beaches and through the dramatic Waverley Cemetery where you can reflect on life while breathing in the views . The path ends at the Bondi Icebergs surf club where you can grab a cold fizzy beer at the bar or stay for lunch at the Bistro . The hungry seagulls and pelicans at the Sydney Fish Market make lunch there a more interesting affair . Select your meal from the huge variety of seafood inside the market , grab a bottle of wine and an outdoor table and prepare to guard your chips . There is no shortage of up-market alternatives when it comes to dining out in Sydney . For one of the best try Tetsuya 's in Kent Street . It was opened by Japanese-born Tetsuya Wakuda in 1989 and was lauded in a recent review as `` magical dining . '' It 's only open for lunch on Saturdays and you 'd be advised to book well in advance for dinner . A cheaper option would be any of the BYO ( bring your own ) restaurants dotted around the city . Most restaurants allow you to bring your own bottle of wine , but they will charge you corkage . Still , it 's cheaper than the mark-ups on bottles at licensed premises . Until May 24 , visitors can drop into the Art Gallery of New South Wales to see the finalists and the winner of this year 's Archibald Prize , Australia 's leading portraiture contest . Shoppers can pick up a souvenir close by in one of Sydney 's oldest and most beautiful shopping centers , the Queen Victoria Building . The building opened in 1898 , underwent major refurbishment in the 1980s and is now not only a great example of Victorian architecture but a stunning place to grab a quick coffee . ( Note : The builders are back but the building remains open . The new improvements are scheduled to finish in July 2009 . ) In the evening , take a twilight cruise of Sydney Harbour aboard a yacht . Sunsail invites everyone for a `` fun blast '' around the harbor every Wednesday evening from 5:30pm to 8:30pm . The yacht leaves from the Boat House in Lavender Bay , a short hop from the city on the north side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge . Two new festivals have been added to a busy calendar in Sydney this year . In June , Vivid Sydney promises to turn the city into `` a living canvas of music and light . '' And on October 25 , 20,000 people will have the opportunity to have `` Breakfast on the Bridge '' ( yes , the Sydney Harbour Bridge ) as part of the month-long Crave Sydney festival . Check the NSW Master Events Calendar for more . In the evening , join the pretty young things at The Ivy in George Street , or take the lift to the fourth floor of the Hilton Hotel where you 'll find the Zeta Bar . The Loft on King Street Wharf is also popular , but it has a strict dress code so do n't turn up looking like a traveler or you wo n't get in . And finally , there 's no better place to end the night than in one of Sydney 's karaoke bars . Some allow you to bring your own drinks . Check out the private booths at Karaoke World on Elizabeth Street where you can warble without shame until the early hours .
Start the day in Sydney with a backstage tour of the famous Opera House . Catch shark scares by swimming in one of the city 's many outdoor pools . Eat fish and chips with the seagulls and pelicans at the Sydney Fish Market . End the day in one of the city 's many bars : some allow you to drink .