Bram de Vries
The long way round Sydney — coastlines, ferries and the streets between
Based in Balmain, Sydney.
Bram moved from Utrecht to Sydney a decade ago and still travels the city the slow way, mostly on foot and by ferry. He writes about the Bondi-to-Coogee walk in shoulder season, the working-harbour history behind Balmain and Barangaroo, and how to spend a rainy Sydney day that isn't the Opera House.
Latest stories
Sydney's Northern Beaches Coast Walk: Manly to Bilgola, Beach by Beach
Four walks run between Manly and Palm Beach. Each asks a different amount of your day, and the trip north does not always repay the morning.
Sydney New Year's Eve 2026/27: Fireworks Schedule and Where to Watch
Two shows, seven firing points and a city that decides your night by 10 a.m. The Botanic Garden lawns are free; a superyacht berth is $2,450.
What earns your time at Darling Harbour in November 2026
Which Darling Harbour tickets are worth $39, which sights cost nothing, and how to plan a November 2026 day around the queues.
A Day on Sydney Harbour, Wharf by Wharf
What the ferries, the free lookouts, the climb and the islands cost, and when they open.
Wetlands and Wildlife at Sydney Olympic Park in October
October is the one month when the Brickpit frogs are calling and the migratory shorebirds are landing, which makes it the month to walk the quiet half of Sydney Olympic Park properly.
Where to Watch Sydney's Flying Foxes Leave at Dusk
Sydney has tens of thousands of grey-headed flying-foxes roosting in its parks and backyards, and watching them stream out at last light costs nothing, as long as you pick the right camp on the right night.
Sydney's Circular Quay in September and Which Bus Tours Pay Off
A straight reckoning of the hop-on hop-off ticket, the day coaches that leave from the Alfred Street kerb, and the free hours in between, written for a cool, bright September at Sydney Cove.
The Spit to Manly: Sydney's Most Glorious Coastal Walk That Ends in a Beer
Ten kilometres of harbour, bush, secluded beaches and 40,000-year-old rock carvings — with a cold pint at Manly Wharf as the reward for finishing.
Salt and Ritual: Sydney's Ocean Pools and the Swimmers Who Meet the Sea at Dawn
A measured, honest guide to Sydney's tidal ocean pools — which ones earn the early alarm, which suit groups, and the one with a door policy you need to know before you go.
Harbour at Dawn: A Local's Guide to Sydney's Water Playground
The honest, ferry-first way to work Sydney Harbour in 2026 — which crossings, climbs, cruises and waterfront bars actually earn the trip, and which suit groups over couples.
The Best Whale Watching Cruises in Sydney
A measured, honest run through Sydney's whale-watching fleet in 2026 — which boats earn the fare, which suit groups, and which to skip if you value your stomach.
Every story is signed and dated, and follows our editorial standards.