Ten Outdoor Activities You Can Do Without Leaving Sydney

Everyone needs a little Tarzan time. But, between work and YouTube and cocktails, it's not always easy to find. The good news is that, in Sydney, there are plenty of ways to experience the great outdoors — without leaving the city limits. You can swing through trees while catching glimpses of Sydney Harbour, jetpack like James Bond over human-made lakes and skydive with a roof over your head. So, next time you get to feeing antsy, but can't skip the big smoke, let this list be your guide to outdoorsy fun.

TIPTOE THROUGH THE TREETOPS AT THE ZOO

Opened in April this year, Taronga Zoo's Wild Ropes gives you 90 minutes of treetop time with loads of city panoramas. In between scrambling up aerial rock walls, tiptoeing over bridges and hanging out on a hoverboard, see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from dizzying new angles. There are four courses to master — two for nervous types and two for people whose brains are missing their fear centres. Conquer them all and you'll have dominated a total of 40 obstacles. Wild Ropes is open from 9.30am-3.30pm seven days a week, 364 days a year. Tickets start at $35, which buys you two courses' worth of fun. Online bookings are essential.

Jasmine Crittenden.

CASUALLY JETPACK ACROSS A LAKE

If you're a James Bond freak, then you've probably been dreaming about this since 1965, when Sean Connery jet packed to safety from two furious gunmen in Thunderball. Now, you can get your 007 on at Penrith Lakes, with Jetpack Adventures. Powered by water, you'll launch three storeys into the air and then steer yourself using your hands or your feet. It's very, very surreal and very, very fun. As far as transport modes go, you have a choice of a Bond-style jet pack (a backpack fitted with a 5-point safety harness) or an Astro Boy-inspired jet board. Newbies can get started with a $99 teaser pack, which gives you a 30-minute experience, including in-water training. Make your booking over here.

GO ROCKCLIMBING IN THE INNER WEST

Sydney Indoor Climbing Centre, found in St Peters, is Australia's biggest indoor climbing joint. There are 3700 square metres of walls on which to test your mettle. Among them, you'll find more than 300 routes (up to 25 metres long), 145 top ropes, over 60 lead lines, 90 boulder problems, a slack line and caves. Beginners get one free lesson and are also invited to join a five-session course, which runs on Monday and Wednesday evenings. If you're keen to refine your skills, then go for a one-on-one class. For climbing only, pay as you go for casual, unlimited single sessions or invest in a membership.

iFly.

GO SKYDIVING WITH A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD

Try skydiving while indoors, without a parachute — and without fear of a gruesome death — at iFly Downunder, Penrith. It's an enormous, vertical glass tunnel, beneath which there's a mighty wind generator. All you have to do is lean through the door, stretch out your arms and let the breeze carry you upwards, while your mates stand around, laughing at your inability to control your face. If you've never flown before, then you'll get a one-hour intro session, which includes training and jumpsuit fitting. Become a frequent iFlyer to score future discounts and to learn clever tricks, like formation, free fly and freestyle sky diving.

RIDE THROUGH 416 HECTARES OF SYDNEY GARDENS

The Royal Botanic Gardens are impossible to miss, but fewer Sydneysiders are familiar with the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan. Found a 40-minute drive southwest of the CBD — just outside of Campbelltown — it's home to 416 hectares of nature, including numerous beautiful gardens (one being devoted to 950 wattle species) and a world-class mountain bike track. Pedal your way along 13 kilometres of scenery, catering to competent, intermediate and advanced riders. If paved, shared paths are more your thing, then stick to the 20 kilometres of them outside the MTB section.

Centennial Parklands.

RIDE A HORSE IN THE MIDDLE OF CENTENNIAL PARK

There are few cities in the world where you can go horse riding within a few kilometres of the CBD, but Sydney is one of them. Centennial Park's Equestrian Centre gives you loads of options. Surprise your squeeze with a romantic ride, which is a guided, one-hour circuit at dawn or dusk, or a ride to lunch, which is exactly what it sounds like. Alternatively, upskill with lessons or courses at one of the centre's riding schools. Riders of all levels of experience are welcome. If your first ride has you hankering for more, then find some more horse riding options near Sydney over here.

GO WHITEWATER RAFTING IN PENRITH

Even if you've never so much as seen a rapid, you can have a crack at whitewater rafting at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Built for the 2000 Olympic Games, the venue is the only human-built whitewater course in the Southern Hemisphere. The only requisites to climbing aboard are fitness and confidence in the swimming department (yep, there's a high chance of capsizing in all that bubble and froth). Two ways of travelling are available — with a guide and up to eight crew members or without a guide and up to four crew members. Either way, each ride gets you 90 minutes of excitement. You can book via phone or in person.

TEAM UP AT INDOOR PAINTBALL IN TURRELLA

Paintball sites can be a whole day trip away from Sydney, but there's one place that's just a short train from the CBD — and it's indoors. At Diehard Paintball, you go to war across two levels connected by bridges, runways and platforms. This epic space, littered with wrecked cars, piles of used tires, wheelie bins, post boxes and paint-splattered drums, looks like a scene out of Mad Max. And, because it's indoors, you can play at any time of day or night, in any kind of weather. You'll find it in Turrella, which is near Rosedale and about 15 minutes' train ride from the city. Groups of all sizes are looked after and pricing starts at $50 per person, which buys you 200 paintballs over two hours.

Adam J.W.C.

GO KAYAKING IN ROSE BAY

Rose Bay is an easy, ten-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay. From the wharf, stroll west along the coast for about 500 metres to reach Rose Bay Aquatic Hire, which sets up in Tingira Memorial Park from 8.30am-1pm Wednesday-Friday and from 7am-5pm on weekends. A single kayak will set you back $25/hour, while doubles are $40. If you're a novice paddler, then stick to the coast, heading northeast towards Vaucluse or west towards Point Piper. If you're feeling confident, then set out across the Harbour for Shark Island. To land, you'll need a National Park entry ticket, which is doable for seven bucks by calling (02) 9253 0888. There are another nine tip-top kayaking spots near Sydney in this dedicated feature.

SCUBA DIVE WITH SHARKS IN MANLY

There's no cage involved here, folks. It's just you and the sharks, up close. To try out this underwater adventure, make tracks to Manly's Sea Life Sanctuary. You don't need any diving experience — you'll get a quick lesson on the day before plunging into the aquarium. The sharks are of the grey nurse type, which means they eat only fish — not people — and they're highly endangered along Australia's East Coast. You'll also get to meet Port Jackson sharks, wobbegong sharks, sea turtles and enormous sting rays. Book online in advance to save a few bucks.

So you have time to actually get out of the city? Try one of these 200 outdoor activities we've rounded up for you.