There's more to Sydney than the Opera House

Sydney is a popular destination for Kiwis, but what is there to do when you've ticked off the obvious tourist spots, like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

The answer, as we discovered, is lots.

The city has many tours on offer; we picked two and jammed them into one day. 

Each of the tours showcased different sides of Sydney.

One concentrated on Sydney's past, while the other showcased how the city is ever changing. 

The Barangaroo cultural tour took us to a new reserve built near the CBD.

We learnt about plant life and how it was used hundreds of years ago by the local aboriginal people.

Across town, the Culture Scouts tour took us through the fast-changing face of Chippendale and Redfern.

We started at The Old Clare Hotel, which is situated in the old brewing area of Chippendale - in fact it was the head office for a major brewery.

The hotel has been restored, but has embraced many of the building's original features, including the original men's bathroom.

Just up the road we visited a popular spot for outdoor dining in Spice Alley. It has become one of Sydney's hidden gems. It offers six hawker-style eateries, there's something for everyone, but it can get busy.

If art galleries are your thing, you'll love the streets of Surrey Hills area. We ventured into a few of them, and learned that the owners of the galleries are more than happy to run you through what they have on display.

We then headed to Redfern. A suburb that has a well-documented history, and to this day it's obvious the gentrification of the area is a sensitive topic for those who call it home, and is worth seeing before the change is complete.

Two sides of Sydney. Both beautiful, and both worth checking out.

Newshub travelled to Sydney courtesy of Qantas who fly from Auckland to Sydney five times a day, and Destination NSW.