Melbourne or Sydney: Which is Better For Your Next Australian Holiday?

If it’s sun, sea and surf you’re after, then there is a clear winner here. Sydney’s Bondi Beach could be one of the best known beaches in the world, let alone Australia. A stone’s throw from the city (about four miles from the centre), you could easily spend a day in this chilled out neighbourhood. Bondi Beach is one of the most popular places to learn to surf and a helluva IG brag to boot! But if surfing isn’t your thing, I’d recommend taking a dip in the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool. It’s an outdoor public pool, built into a rocky outcrop on the shoreline. Very cool, in both senses of the word.

Melbourne doesn’t have the same beach culture as its counterpart to the north, but if a beach day is what you have in mind, you won’t be disappointed (it is Australia after all). St Kilda Beach is the most popular shore-side hangout in Melbourne, offering more than just sea and sand. Its thriving food scene offers a slew of excellent eateries, while its proximity to Melbourne’s famed Luna Park amusement park gives you plenty of variety. The waters are usually calm so paddleboarding is a great choice here. It's also possible to surf in (near) Melbourne - Brighton Beach is a good spot - but if you're in Australia to learn how to ride waves, save it for Sydney.

Results: Not a bad effort Melbourne (despite Melbourne weather being slightly less favourable), but this one is an easy win for Sydney.

So what does the World's Most Liveable City have to say when it comes to neighbourhoods? Well, during my visits I’ve fallen in love with so many of them that this round could be a little biased. Melbourne’s northern neighbourhoods, such as Fitzroy, Brunswick and Collingwood, are eclectic and artsy. By day, coffee houses and independent shops are buzzing. Then, after dark, the sounds of DJ sets and live music permeate from pubs and trendy rooftop bars. There’s the laid-back beachy suburb of St Kilda, alfresco dining on Lygon Street where you’ll find Melbourne’s “Little Italy” and, of course, the city’s iconic Laneways. These are the backstreets of Melbourne CBD (Central Business District), and you have to visit! Cosy cafes, sensational street art, irresistible eateries… plus there’s an AC/DC Lane, named after the band themselves. Also, fun fact: of the 18 Australian Rules Football teams in the national league, literally half of them hail from Melbourne neighbourhoods.

To find Sydney’s creative character, you need to travel out of the city centre to its suburbs, such as Surry Hills - a mecca for vintage fashion - and Darlinghurst, which hosts the annual Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, one of the city’s biggest parties. Also worth a visit is trendy Potts Point, the harbourside hotspot for all things upmarket. Most Sydney visitors tend to stick to the centre exploring neighbourhoods such as The Rocks and Circular Quay, where converted warehouses and historic architecture provide a flavour of old Sydney. Or head for Darling Harbour - the beautiful waterfront shopping and dining area with fabulous restaurants and regular street performers (I saw a fire juggler that told jokes while hurling burning batons into the air). Plus, an honourable mention goes to Sydney Harbour Bridge which, though not a neighbourhood, draws crowds seeking the most famous view in Australia. You can even climb it as part of a tour, if that's your thing.

Result: Melbourne is packed with hidden gems and bursting with character while Sydney has some serious star factor. This round is tied.

This one comes down to whether you want to see Aussie wildlife in its natural habitat or enjoy the variety offered by no fewer than four zoos. Day trips from Melbourne can reward you with epic endemic wildlife memories. To the east, Phillip Island, home to an outrageously cute little penguin colony. These teeny seabirds make a daily ‘parade’ across the beach at dusk as they head home and you can book a front row seat to watch! You might spot inquisitive wallabies and bandicoots too. To the west of Melbourne, follow the Great Ocean Road along the Otway Coast and keep an eye on the trees as you go as they tend to be inhabited by snoozing koalas. There’s a lot of them around this area so you’d be very unlucky not to see them. What’s more, between June and October Southern right whales can be spotted off the shore.

Head out of central Sydney and you could spot wallabies, kangaroos, and other native wildlife. However, there’s no guarantee you’ll see them. Fortunately, for those who like the assurance of certainty, Sydney boasts four zoos where visitors can view plenty of endemic species, as well as animals from much further afield. Taronga Zoo Sydney is the city’s most famous zoo and one of best known in Australia, housing over 5,000 animals and enjoying a superb harbourside location.

Result: You can never ‘guarantee’ you’ll see wild animals (even in Australia), but the Otway Coast and Phillip Island are as close to a guarantee as you can get. This round goes to Melbourne.

Wine tourism is huge in Australia, and for good reason: the Aussies are exceptional at grape-growing. Hunter Valley, three hours north of Sydney, is the oldest wine region in Australia and probably the best known too. Crisp, citrusy and chilled to perfection, its world-famous Semillon is sublime on a warm, sunny day as you gaze out over the grape vines. But, Hunter Valley is no one trick pony, its Shiraz is another showstopper. Once renowned for big and boisterous flavours, Hunter Valley Shiraz production has matured and now offers gloriously complex medium-bodied wines.

Meanwhile, just under an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is king of cool-climate wines. The jewel in the crown: a balanced Chardonnay with floral and citrus notes, that’s made its way onto the shelves of many a UK supermarket. But don’t overlook the sparkling wines of this region, nor the tangy, cherry notes of its Pinot Noir.

Result: This comes down to personal taste. It’s a tie. Although, if time is a factor for you, it’s worth remembering Melbourne puts a glass in your hand a couple of hours faster.

When it comes to natural attractions on the doorstep, both cities do it by the numbers. The 12 Apostles are dramatic rock formations rising from the Southern Ocean, located about four-and-a-half-hour's drive from Melbourne along Australia’s south coast. Meanwhile, the famous Three Sisters peaks are in the Blue Mountains, just a 90-minute drive or a two-hour train ride from Sydney. The Blue Mountains are great if hiking is your thing, with scenic walking trails for every ability. Be sure to make your way to Echo Point, it’s the best spot to view the Three Sisters.

If you prefer a road trip with plenty of stops, Melbourne’s Great Ocean Road won’t let you down. This epic road trip (Melbourne to the 12 Apostles and back) is the most famous in Australia. It’s recommended as a three-day itinerary, but I did it in a day. This did feel like a lot of driving but it’s such a gorgeous coastal route, with tons of koalas and wallabies and the 12 Apostles to round it all off. If you can take at least one overnight stay, I’d recommend it.

Result: The Great Ocean Road might tip favour to Melbourne but not all visitors have the time to commit. Tied.

Beaches - Sorry Melbourne, Sydney walks it when it comes to beaches.

Neighbourhoods - Melbourne has more character but Sydney has the star factor.

Wildlife - Sydney has famous zoos, but come on, Melbourne has little penguins!

Wine tasting - Wine tours in Australia are all pretty great, this round is down to personal taste.

Epic outdoors - For natural attractions, both Sydney and Melbourne come out fighting.

So, Melbourne vs Sydney, the winner is… a split decision. Both Australian cities offer quite different experiences and tourist attractions. My advice? Visit both and decide for yourself. If you can’t do that, here’s the most reductive piece of travel advice I can give you: if you want to see icons of Australia - visit Sydney. If you want to soak up Australia culture - go to Melbourne.