One Australian city rules them all. At least, when it comes to loved-up couples.
Oh Paris, city of love. City of romance. City of cheesy proposals. Well, it can move over, because there’s an Australian city in town and it’s the third most popular place in the world when it comes to dream proposal destinations.
The Bucket List Company analysed social media data to curate a list of the top destinations to pop the question. While Bali remains in top spot for yet another year, and London came in at number two, seaside Sydney took out third place (with an honourable mention to Byron Bay scraping in at number 10).
Imagine dropping to one knee with the world-famous Opera House or Harbour Bridge in the background (because many other couples did). Or planning a sunrise moment on Bondi Beach. Perhaps a special candlelit dinner with harbour views?
Keen for some romantic inspiration (whether there’s a proposal involved or not)? Here are some of our top picks around the city.
1. Sydney Opera House
I don’t think one can live in Sydney and not have seen a proposal on the steps of the Sydney Opera House . Often, I have seen this done by passers-by, seemingly stopping for a look during their early morning or sunset walks. And who can blame them? A world icon, surrounded by beautiful harbour views, plus the changing colour of the sky? It’s the stuff that rom-coms are made of.
Imagine kicking it up a notch, however, and including not only a show but also a meal at the famous Bennelong restaurant housed inside the Opera House. The decor here is truly beautiful, while views of Circular Quay form the backdrop. Of course, for a different view of the Opera House, jump on a ferry and propose to your loved one on the water.
2. Quay Restaurant
Australian Traveller Co-founder, Quentin Long, recommends Quay Restaurant (just make sure there won’t be any cruise ships in port ruining the view), where he popped the question to his wife years ago.
“It was her birthday the next day. I waited until dessert and asked if she wanted her birthday present," he explained. “I gave her a photo album – it had pictures of her and us and notes from me about how much I loved her. Then the last photo was asking her to marry me."
“The thing is, while she was reading, I started crying. She didn’t look up, or say anything, and just went back to the start to read it again. Then she started crying and finally looked up to see me crying. She asked, ‘Are you sure?’ and I said something like, ‘Well your dad said it was alright.'"
“Meanwhile, the restaurant staff were all confused by this silly crying couple, and eventually, the matre de came over to ask if everything was okay with our desserts. When we explained we’d just gotten engaged, he seemed relieved and said usually proposals happen at the start of the meal, then sent us over champagne."
3. Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
Another classic Sydney icon that remains one of the most popular proposal sites in the city. You can walk across the bridge at pedestrian level, but for a truly memorable moment with on the the best views of the harbour, join a Bridge Climb experience, they’ve hosted over 5000 proposals (and counting).
Book one of their romance packages and let all the details be taken care of for you (including keeping the ring safe, and not dropped into the ocean below).
4. Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden
My best friend was proposed to after a very romantic picnic in this secret Sydney garden, which is possibly one of the most romantic places in the entire city – especially if your future spouse is a fan of the arts.
This small, romantic oasis is actually privately owned, but open to the public. Wendy (and her renowned artist husband, Brett Whiteley) lived in this spot in Lavender Bay for two decades. After Brett passed away, Wendy started tidying up the garden in front of their home as a way to cope with the grief. The result is a unique garden setting, driven by “aesthetics, colour, form, beauty and whimsy", and stunning views out to the Harbour Bridge.
It also remains a quiet pocket of the city, as not many people know about it, even now.
5. The Royal Botanic Garden
Flowers are a universal symbol of romance, so it makes sense that the Royal Botanic Garden has also been the site of more than one proposal (and many couples taking wedding or engagement photos), including that of two good friends of mine.
A popular picnic spot just around the corner from the Opera House, and so large it’s easy to find a place to yourself even on a busy day, let the scent of the jacarandas fill the air as you share Champagne and start the rest of your lives together. Settle in amongst the wildflowers, or set up for a Harbour Bridge view.
Heck, you could even hold an intimate wedding here after you secure a ‘yes’, with several venues available for hire within the grounds.
6. Callan Park Conservation Area & Buildings
A hidden gem of Sydney, heritage-listed Callan Park is a 60-hectare site in Lilyfield (Sydney’s Inner West) with not only beautiful heritage buildings, lush rolling lawns, remnant bushland and even evidence of Indigenous shell middens and engravings of the Wangal people. But it also houses some picturesque secret beaches.
It’s these beaches that create the perfect backdrop for a proposal, though take a word of warning from Australian Traveller Co-founder Nigel Herbert and avoid burying the ring.
“I buried the ring as treasure at a hidden beach in Callan Park. I meant to have a romantic picnic with my (now) wife and our son, then they’d build a sandcastle and find the ring. All went well until they started digging in the wrong place and promptly gave up digging before they found the ring."
“Not to mention a few dog walkers came by and their dogs were digging dangerously close to where the ring was. All in all quite stressful."
Find more romantic inspiration in our list of favourite Sydney restaurants and best beaches.
