The Sydney CBD can get mad busy. Like, having to walk so close to other people that you thank your lucky stars you actually showered that morning. But there’s a place that we’ve discovered where you can unwind while staying right in the city.
The Chinese Garden of Friendship sits as a little oasis right in Darling Harbour, and next door to Chinatown. Complete with waterfalls, bamboo forests, koi ponds, temples, and a traditional tea house, this place is the most relaxing we’ve ever found in the city.
When you step through the garden’s doors, you can actually feel the change of pace. 
Everything here is a little bit slower, and a lot less busy. Some of the first thing you’ll see are small bonsai tree displays and a huge Dragon Wall. These are just a sample of what you’ll discover walking through these gardens.
Having the perfect afternoon in the Chinese Garden of Friendship has only one essential ingredient: taking your time. Strolling through the paths is best done slowly; it’s the perfect place for quiet conversation or self reflection. Sometimes we forget to slow down and let ourselves just appreciate what’s around us, but the atmosphere in this garden makes it all too easy.
It’s hard to say exactly which route you should take through the garden. It doesn’t really matter where you go first, as long as you see it all. The garden’s construction is based off of yin and yang — the dark and the light — so as you walk through, there’s always a contrast in what you’ll see next. Some of our favorite stops are the bamboo path, the waterfalls (because duh), and the moon gate (the large circular gate through a concrete wall). There’s also awesome photos to be taken at all of these locations.
After you stroll through the garden (make sure you hit all of the paths– grab a map at the beginning if you’re a little directionally challenged like us), make your way to the traditional teahouse. They have a great little space with small tables and a menu of teas and small snacks. Having a cup in the teahouse really completes your experience in the garden.
After you feel you’ve had your fill of tranquility, you can head over to Chinatown to findsome cheap(ish) food for your dinner. This is honestly one of our favorite ways to spend a cheap afternoon in the city. You leave feeling like you’ve let out a big exhale, and there’s not much better than escaping the Sydney chaos on a Sunday afternoon.
The Broken Compass 