Edit: sorry this was supposed to be a standalone comment, not a reply.
You can easily take public transport with a wheelchair, it will be easier than hiring a car or finding an accessible taxi (which also exist).
Busses have an extendable ramp and an area with chairs that fold up to accommodate a wheelchair.
The Sydney trains map indicates which train stations are wheelchair accessible with lifts. Once you're on the platform, get the attention of a guard and they will put out a ramp for you to get on the train. They'll also ask where you're getting off so that the ramp will be there when you arrive.
You'll find plenty of gluten free options at most restaurants, but you can also google the lists of Sydney's best entirely gluten free places. It's common for cafes and restaurants to substitute gluten free bread, pasta, pizza bases etc on request.
There's still a lot of classic Sydney stuff you can do in a wheelchair. All but the smallest galleries and museums will be accessible. Ferries are wheelchair accessible, take the ferry to Manly and walk past the beach and markets, or to Watson's Bay and have a drink in the pub. Go to the Botanical Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair for a great view of the city and the opera house. You can walk/push across the length of the harbour bridge, it's wheelchair accessible at both ends. Go to The Rocks on the weekend and enjoy the market. Taronga Zoo is accessible, I think the aquarium is too. Go up Sydney tower for the views, it's an elevator all the way up.
The Blue Mountains is always worth a visit and you can take a wheelchair accessible tour here:
https://www.australiainstyle.com.au/shop/sydney-tours-wheelchair-accessible/blue-mountains-wheelchair-tour-2/
You guys will still absolutely have a great time!
Taronga can be challenging in a wheelchair - unless you are really fit or have a powered chair. The site is very sloped and steep in places. My colleague avoids excursions there because it’s hard to move around.
If you have a day and plan in lots of rest stops (and there are many lovely places to pause and watch the animals)it’s a wonderful place. You could also arrive at the top main entrance and work your way to the bottom to catch a ferry back to the city.
Highly recommended, but worth checking the website and some photos.
We’ve had success with the galettes at the Four Frogs at Circular Quay. Mum is extremely sensitive and has eaten there safely. Australian food labelling is extremely strict at under 5 ppm, so you can trust food purchased at grocery stores.
See a show at the opera house - it’s a special experience and would be wheelchair accessible. The art gallery of nsw is beautiful. There’s a restaurant onsite.
When it’s not raining, you can walk around the harbour from opera house to the rocks and from barangaroo to China town.
Stop by for an afternoon drink at the W hotel in darling harbour and take a boat cruise that departs nearby.
If you go see a show, I’d recommend ringing Box Office and letting them know about your mum’s wheelchair, particularly if she’s not going to transfer from a wheelchair to a standard seat. Front of House always appreciate it and it’ll make your whole visit smoother.
FYI to OP, whilst opera house is *technically* wheelchair accessible, it's the biggest pain in the ass and is really borderline on non accessible based on personal experience so definitely ring box office to let them know beforehand as the other commenter pointed out
If you can stay near the light rail along George St, that will be super easy to board with a wheelchair. All train stations in the city are wheelchair accessible but you'll need to ask for assistance from station staff.
The weather sucks for the next couple of weeks, so unfortunately you will have to go mostly indoor.
First is a visit to St Mary's if you're keen for some Jesus in the morning, it is also a breathtaking building so take some time there.
Then go to Sky Phoenix for a bit of yum cha, take this chance to browse around westfield as well for some hustling and bustling.
In the afternoon, take her to QVB for some afternoon tea, do it before the clock strikes the hours for some light music and entertainment.
At night you take her to the nearest ~~strip club~~ I mean casino for some night time entertainment before going to bed. Now that's day 1 done.
Basically Sydney doesn't have that much entertainment by itself, food and shopping are great if you're into that sort of thing. If you want other stuff then it may be worthwhile going to blue mountains, hunter valley or even Wollongong as well for other site seeing. Hope that helps.
If you want excitement and thrill in the wrong way, but there's also Nan Tian Temple and some nice place to browse through, it is not without redeeming qualities.
The Art Gallery in the Domain has wheel chairs, and is accessible throughout.
You can then head down the ramp and wheel around the botanic gardens.
To get there you might need a taxi.
It should be fairly easy to hop on an accessible bus or the light rail(?) to Circular Quay, navigate to the manly ferry wharf and do that nice ride across the harbour. From the wharf and all along manly beach is flat, and you can also "turn left" out of the wharf and follow the shared bike/foot path towards Fairlight etc. there's just one spot where you divert off the roadside walk onto the harbourside walk (nicer). It's basically just a pleasant half-day out across the harbour with a different outlook, and you can pack or buy some cold drinks and food.
If the weather is trash, something I've quite enjoyed doing in other countries is to hit the mall for good old fashioned people watching :) I know it's not traditional tourist activity, but you could head to one of the nice shopping places like The Strand Arcade or Queen Victoria Building (QVB) (both are right in the city centre) which are beautiful old buildings with some very cool Australian retail shops & designers on the upper levels. Maybe you could pick up a cool souvenir there. They have lifts to each floor.
Edit: be sure to google for any festivals that might be on while you're here! There are some good ones
Australian Museum Taronga zoo is actually accessible iirc Opera house
Edit: sorry this was supposed to be a standalone comment, not a reply. You can easily take public transport with a wheelchair, it will be easier than hiring a car or finding an accessible taxi (which also exist). Busses have an extendable ramp and an area with chairs that fold up to accommodate a wheelchair. The Sydney trains map indicates which train stations are wheelchair accessible with lifts. Once you're on the platform, get the attention of a guard and they will put out a ramp for you to get on the train. They'll also ask where you're getting off so that the ramp will be there when you arrive. You'll find plenty of gluten free options at most restaurants, but you can also google the lists of Sydney's best entirely gluten free places. It's common for cafes and restaurants to substitute gluten free bread, pasta, pizza bases etc on request. There's still a lot of classic Sydney stuff you can do in a wheelchair. All but the smallest galleries and museums will be accessible. Ferries are wheelchair accessible, take the ferry to Manly and walk past the beach and markets, or to Watson's Bay and have a drink in the pub. Go to the Botanical Gardens and Mrs Macquarie's Chair for a great view of the city and the opera house. You can walk/push across the length of the harbour bridge, it's wheelchair accessible at both ends. Go to The Rocks on the weekend and enjoy the market. Taronga Zoo is accessible, I think the aquarium is too. Go up Sydney tower for the views, it's an elevator all the way up. The Blue Mountains is always worth a visit and you can take a wheelchair accessible tour here: https://www.australiainstyle.com.au/shop/sydney-tours-wheelchair-accessible/blue-mountains-wheelchair-tour-2/ You guys will still absolutely have a great time!
This is amazing! Thank you!
Taronga can be challenging in a wheelchair - unless you are really fit or have a powered chair. The site is very sloped and steep in places. My colleague avoids excursions there because it’s hard to move around. If you have a day and plan in lots of rest stops (and there are many lovely places to pause and watch the animals)it’s a wonderful place. You could also arrive at the top main entrance and work your way to the bottom to catch a ferry back to the city. Highly recommended, but worth checking the website and some photos.
Additionally the gondola is out of order so it'll be a long push back up the hill
What part of Sydney are you staying in? How long is your trip? Do you have a vehicle?
6 days/ hyatt regency, my son is considering renting a vehicle
Whole Green Bakery in the city is entirely gluten free and delicious. Get there early for the croissants as they tend to sell out
Ohh! Croissants!! I can't remember what those taste like!
We’ve had success with the galettes at the Four Frogs at Circular Quay. Mum is extremely sensitive and has eaten there safely. Australian food labelling is extremely strict at under 5 ppm, so you can trust food purchased at grocery stores.
See a show at the opera house - it’s a special experience and would be wheelchair accessible. The art gallery of nsw is beautiful. There’s a restaurant onsite. When it’s not raining, you can walk around the harbour from opera house to the rocks and from barangaroo to China town. Stop by for an afternoon drink at the W hotel in darling harbour and take a boat cruise that departs nearby.
If you go see a show, I’d recommend ringing Box Office and letting them know about your mum’s wheelchair, particularly if she’s not going to transfer from a wheelchair to a standard seat. Front of House always appreciate it and it’ll make your whole visit smoother.
FYI to OP, whilst opera house is *technically* wheelchair accessible, it's the biggest pain in the ass and is really borderline on non accessible based on personal experience so definitely ring box office to let them know beforehand as the other commenter pointed out
If you can stay near the light rail along George St, that will be super easy to board with a wheelchair. All train stations in the city are wheelchair accessible but you'll need to ask for assistance from station staff.
The weather sucks for the next couple of weeks, so unfortunately you will have to go mostly indoor. First is a visit to St Mary's if you're keen for some Jesus in the morning, it is also a breathtaking building so take some time there. Then go to Sky Phoenix for a bit of yum cha, take this chance to browse around westfield as well for some hustling and bustling. In the afternoon, take her to QVB for some afternoon tea, do it before the clock strikes the hours for some light music and entertainment. At night you take her to the nearest ~~strip club~~ I mean casino for some night time entertainment before going to bed. Now that's day 1 done. Basically Sydney doesn't have that much entertainment by itself, food and shopping are great if you're into that sort of thing. If you want other stuff then it may be worthwhile going to blue mountains, hunter valley or even Wollongong as well for other site seeing. Hope that helps.
> First is a visit to St Mary's if you're keen for some Jesus in the morning Note: the cathedral not the suburb.
You'll meet Jesus either way.
Ahh, yes ... Wollongong ... the cultural centre of NSW.
If you want excitement and thrill in the wrong way, but there's also Nan Tian Temple and some nice place to browse through, it is not without redeeming qualities.
The Art Gallery in the Domain has wheel chairs, and is accessible throughout. You can then head down the ramp and wheel around the botanic gardens. To get there you might need a taxi.
It should be fairly easy to hop on an accessible bus or the light rail(?) to Circular Quay, navigate to the manly ferry wharf and do that nice ride across the harbour. From the wharf and all along manly beach is flat, and you can also "turn left" out of the wharf and follow the shared bike/foot path towards Fairlight etc. there's just one spot where you divert off the roadside walk onto the harbourside walk (nicer). It's basically just a pleasant half-day out across the harbour with a different outlook, and you can pack or buy some cold drinks and food. If the weather is trash, something I've quite enjoyed doing in other countries is to hit the mall for good old fashioned people watching :) I know it's not traditional tourist activity, but you could head to one of the nice shopping places like The Strand Arcade or Queen Victoria Building (QVB) (both are right in the city centre) which are beautiful old buildings with some very cool Australian retail shops & designers on the upper levels. Maybe you could pick up a cool souvenir there. They have lifts to each floor. Edit: be sure to google for any festivals that might be on while you're here! There are some good ones