Want to experience the real Sydney? Then this is a must read!
Millions of people visit Sydney each year for its pristine beaches, beautiful city and fantastic landmarks. When you think of Sydney, the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach are normally the first things you would think of. But there is a lot more to Sydney then these common tourist attractions, with some of the best national parks, hidden beaches, treks, diving spots found anyway in the world.
What I’m about to share with you is some inside information, that most locals don’t even know about.
Sydney’s best National Parks + Treks
The Manly Scenic Walkway: This walk has been established across both national park and local council reserves to form one of the world’s great harbourside walks. With stunning views on offer throughout, the track covers 8km from the Spit Bridge to Manly around the harbour’s northern foreshores.
Bradleys Head: The walking track around Bradleys Head provides an ideal opportunity to view the majority Sydney icons such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Fort Denison while on a gentle stroll in a natural bushland setting.
Blue Mountains National Park: Walk through World Heritage landscape that has become famous for its lookouts, waterfalls and sandstone cliffs. With over 140km of walking tracks for all grades, its a great day out for the whole family. See the Three Sisters at Echo Point or explore the historic Mt Werong
and Ruby Creek area.
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park: Offers a rich variety of things to see and do in a natural setting adjacent to Sydney’s northern suburbs. If your heading that way make sure you do the Sphinx walking track to Bobbin Head where you can reward yourself with a beautiful lunch at the marina or drive to West Head and take the 2km Resolute Track down to Resolute Beach.
Hidden Beaches
1. Resolute Beach, West Head – Though its a 2km trek down a steep hill, the rewards are more than worth it once you arrive at this beautiful beach. During the walk, you’ll take in spectacular views of Pittwater, Palm Beach
and Barrenjoey, and if you look hard enough, you’ll also discover Aboriginal carvings.
2. Camp Cove, Watsons Bay – Lined with mansions along the foreshore, this beautiful hidden beach is quite commonly visited by multi-million dolalr boats who anchor just off the shore. This is a fantastic beach for swimming and one of the leading spots for scuba-diving.
3. Shelly Beach, Manly – A short stroll along Manly’s promenade, Shelly Beach is one of Sydney’s best aquatic reserves. Perfect for snorkelling and picnics.
4. Milk Beach, Vaucluse – Is a calm, sandy cove hidden behind Strickland House. It’s a short, steep walk down the driveway and across the lawn, but beachgoers will be rewarded with beautiful views across the water of the city,
the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
5. Echo Beach – Situated at Echo Point Park, it contains seven Aboriginal sites, a children’s playground, barbecue and picnic area. Also popular for fishing and paddling.
Secret kayak Beach – Store Beach, Manly
Secret Surf Beach – Bungan Beach
Secret Posh Beach – Lady Martins Beach, Point Piper
Secret Picnic Beach – Little Sirius Cove, Mosman
Secret Nude Beach – Lady Bay, Watsons Bay
Sydney’s Best Restaurants
Sydney is renowned for having some of the finest restaurants in the world.
Below is a list of 7 of the best:
Bilson’s: Unashamedly French with a contemporary, even light-hearted, twist to serene food in calm surroundings. The food speaks for itself, carpaccio of pink snapper with caviars, salad of black figs and fresh Perigueux truffles. Perfect raspberry soufflé and French, Swiss and Australian cheeses are a
fitting finale to a dining experience in which the emphasis is always on subtlety, complexity and virtuosity.
Claude’s: Also servings modern French cuisine, dinner at Claude’s is one of the finer things in life. The chef offers signature dishes comprising of sublime smoke-salmon consommé, the pulse-raising snow eggs with caviar and
Aylesbury duck with press sauce.
Est: Is an oasis of excellence within the hyperactive maze of the Establishment Hotel. Whilst taking in the elegant surroundings, the chef performs his culinary alchemy on the finest ingredients, producing such wonders as the kingfish sashimi with salmon caviar or Moreton Bay Bug on ocean trout boudin.
Marque: Offering tantalising meals that has made Marque famous over the years.Including amuse bouche – a sublime chaud-froid of egg – which might befollowed by a creamy boudin noir with samphire topped with a single silver anchovy.
Pier: In the glass-encased finger of wharf jutting into Rose Bay, Greg Doyle serves arguably the country’s best seafood. The keynotes being restraint and delicacy, with the dishes being so fresh you’d swear that they had been caught to order. While you’re there it’s a must to try award winning pastry chef Katrina Kanetani’s desserts!
Quay: With its stunning sweep of the Opera House, Bridge and harbour views, this is one of Sydney’s finest settings. Equally impressive is the dynamic, dramatic and deeply intelligent food, including poached quail breasts, suckling pig and a sensational millefeuille.
Tetsuya’s: Saving the best for last, this Japanese restaurant is arguably the best in the world. You’ll be made to feel like a star as you work your way through their famed 12 course degustation menu. It’s an endlessly impressive and inventive show that will make you want to applaud and yell “bravo!”
If you plan to dine at one of these restaurants then I recommend that you book before you leave.
For more information on the hidden treasures of Sydney then I recommend checking out the blog pages at www.edocket.com.au
Travel Australia Coast to Coast: Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth
To really see Australia, try and make time to see the east coast and the west coast.
From the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Sydney to the laid back surf culture of the Gold Coast and the natural beauty of Perth in Western Australia, each state offers its own unique glimpse of this huge island continent.
Sydney: the city for all seasons
From famous Bondi Beach to the tranquil Blue Mountains, to glittering Sydney Harbour and the thriving city centre, Sydney has it all.
Transport: getting there and getting around:
You can fly direct to Sydney from major international airports. There are 40 airlines servicing Sydney airport including all the major carriers such as Qantas, Virgin and British Airways.
Sydney has a well established rail and bus system which can take you all over the city and out to regional areas and interstate. The road system is modern and easy to navigate and car hire is available at reasonable rates.
Climate: Sydney weather and seasonal variations
Sydney enjoys mild weather all year round. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. It’s the perfect escape from a cold northern hemisphere winter!
Spring is from September to November. Summer is from December to February. Autumn is from March to May. Winter is from June to August. , so it can provide a great escape from a cold winter!
Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Booking accommodation is easy with a huge range available. Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of hotels in Sydney.
Events: there’s always something on in Sydney
• Variety Club Annual Road Bash starts from Garden Island on August 5 2007 on its way to the Northern Territory
• Priscilla the Queen of the Desert – the iconic Australian Musical is on at the Lyric Theatre Star City Darling Harbour
• Sydney Opera House has started its Winter Season – for details of what is on visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com
• For the family, El Caballo Blanco is on at the Horseworld Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights – it is a show with amazingly trained choreographed horses
Gold coast: surf, sand, fun and excitement
If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with the family or an action-packed adventure with friends, a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast is a must.
It is just 80kms south of the major city of Brisbane which has an international airport with flights from around the world daily. You can also fly direct from other Australian cities on the domestic routes to the Gold Coast airport. Taxis, car hire, trains and buses are readily available.
From the miles of sparking beaches and nearby tropical rainforests to the famous high rise city skyline and the incredible choice of major theme parks – Dreamworld, Movieworld, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and more – the Gold Coast is Australia’s playground.
Not forgetting the world famous Gold Coast Indy 300, where for 4 days and 4 nights in October the streets around Southport are transformed into a high speed car racing track.
Gold Coast hotels and accommodation are available in a huge Array of styles and budgets to suit everyone and the weather is sunny almost 300 days a year with temperature highs above 20°C all year round. See you there!
Perth: Australia at its best
A major city buzzing with attractions surrounded by incredible beaches and outback wilderness, Perth truly is the best of both worlds. It’s on the far western side of Australia and is well worth the trip.
Perth’s International airport is the gateway to the vast West Coast of Australia, encompassing one third of the entire continent. Shuttle buses, hire cars and taxis operate regularly between Perth and Fremantle town centres and the airports. Tour buses are also available to guide you around all the popular sites and attractions. You can choose from a wide range of Perth hotels and accommodation options to match your budget.
Explore the secluded surf beaches running for miles up and down the west coast, relax at over 60 wineries in the Margaret River region just a few hours away, or escape on to the water and spot the Monkey Mia dolphins, go whale watching, snorkel over Ningaloo reef or visit the incredible Pinnacles.
Summer temperatures average between 29°C and 32°C during the day, perfect for a dip or surf, and winter temperatures average 18°C during the day, ideal for a long lunch with the sun on your back.
Sydney Hotels: Wonderful Platform
Australia’s oldest city and the economic powerhouse, Sydney is the capital city and allures thousands of tourists from all across the globe. Natural attractions, stunning skyscrapers, fabulous shopping, palatable restaurants and friendly folk, all these are the hallmarks of the city. Sydney is blessed with an ever-ready energy. Fantastic combination of old and new defines the unique characteristics of the Sydney. The cultural heritages in form of Opera Houses give you feeling of bond with the city. The active nightlife attracts everyone who passes by the restaurants and bars area. And to enjoy all such attractions, you can stay in any of the Sydney hotels which are available in wide range throughout the cities.
Some of the best spots where you can spend quality time in, while in Sydney are:
Aboriginal Rock Engravings
Take a short walk towards north from Bondi Beach and you will come across some fabulous Aboriginal rock carving that interests everyone. There are a lot of other interesting features associated with these rocks which will impress you.
Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Pool
If you love water, get in the Sydney’s best pool that exist next to the harbor and serves as a magnetic destination. However, if you only like splashing more than swimming, you must keep to your lane only.
Anzac War Memorial
This is a fantastic moving monument and fascinates everyone. The centre stage is on the ground floor. You will find an eternal flame burning nearby. A museum is also there to pay a visit.
Argyle Cut
The canal like roadway connects Sydney Cove and Millers Point on the other side of Peninsula. Many tourists love to spend time strolling around in the area whose cut sandstone frames the scenic greenery in dramatic fashion.
Argyle Place
Argyle Place has a sacred appeal which is embodied in the Garrison Church of the region. The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and the Hero of Waterloo Hotel located here are two of the finest Hotels Sydney Australia can boast of.
Art Gallery of NSW
This art gallery has an excellent display of 19th and 20th century Australian art. One can also have a glimpse of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art and surprisingly Asian art as well. The gallery has arrangements in place to provide for free guided tours.
The beauty of this magnificent harbor city has to be seen to be believed. Many travelers have really been amazed at the sightseeing offers that the city has been endowed with. The awesome scenery which the travelers can expect to find is quite evident when the travelers are touching down at the airport. It is best advised that first time visitors to the city take it easy to enjoy the sights and fun attractions of the city. The Circular Quay is a good starting point for many with the sails of the Opera House sparkling to the right and the arch of the Sydney Harbor Bridge to the left. The evenings are party time at Sydney in the hotels and restaurants with some world class cuisine on offer for the tourists.
Australia: More than kangaroos and great beaches – Part 10
August 28, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
Sydney has more to offer travellers than the Opera House and Bondi Beach. Just one hour south of the city is the Royal National Park. One of the oldest National Parks in the world and home to dramatic cliffs, peaceful rivers and acres of bush waiting to be explored. Black cockatoos fly overhead, white cockatoos gather in the tree tops, rose cockatoos [we call them Galahs in Australia], congregate below. A birdwatchers paradise, all kinds of lorikeets watch out for free offers of food and lyrebirds haunt the more isolated regions of the park. You probably won’t find a koala, but the lucky individual might get to see a wombat or echidna, and more than likely will see the tell-tale sign of deer.
Kurnell, just north of the Royal National Park, is the birthplace of modern Australia: the landing place of Lieutenant James Cook. Nearby, in the Botany National Park, is an excellent viewing point for whale and ship watching.
Cronulla with its golden sands and pounding surf also offers protected inlets and entry into Port Hacking; safe haven for boats and other watercraft, and a natural area for experiencing our wonderful native birds and sea creatures. A simple trip out into its waters can catch you a fish or the experience of a lifetime as a whale breeches or dolphins come in to follow the local ferry service from Cronulla to Bundeena.
If you’re coming to Sydney, planning a trip to Australia, don’t forget to look a little further afield than the usual tourist jaunts. I promise you, a great adventure awaits!
Experience Australia East to West Coast: Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth
Sydney offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle, the Gold Coast is surfers paradise and Perth has a modern city surrounded by natural countryside. As you travel from east to west, experience the unique feeling of each state.
Sydney: the stunning city on water
Sydney has so much to offer from the breathtaking Blue Mountains to popular hang out Bondi Beach. Sydney city centre is cosmopolitan and has many attractions including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. This is one of the most attractive cities in the world.
Transport: how to get there and around:
There are direct flights to Sydney from many international destinations. Sydney airport is serviced by 40 airlines including British Airways, Qantas and Virgin.
Once in the city you can enjoy getting around on the easy to navigate bus and rail system. If you prefer to drive, it is cost effective to hire a car, the roads are clearly signed.
Weather: the seasons of Sydney
The climate in Sydney is mild throughout the year. The seasons are: Summer December to February, Autumn March to May, Winter June to August and Spring March to May.
The seasons are opposite to the northern hemisphere making Sydney a great get away from the cold weather.
Accommodation: : Luxury to budget stays
The internet can offer some of the best information on the cost, range and location of Sydney accommodation.
Attractions & Events: best attractions in Sydney
• The Annual Road Bash from the Variety Club starts on the 5 August 2007 from Garden Island.
• Lyric Theatre at Darling Harbour is showing the iconic Musical Priscilla the Queen of the Desert
• Winter season begins at The Sydney Opera House see www.sydneyoperahouse.com for more information.
• For equestrian lovers, there is an amazing show at the Horseworld Stadium every weekend called El Caballo Blanco, with choreographed horses.
Gold coast: laidback surfers paradise
The Gold Coast welcomes visitors looking for a relaxing family holiday and groups of friends looking for more action and adventure.
To get to the Gold Coast, the nearest international airport is Brisbane which is 80kms to the north, this airport has daily international flights from around the world. If you are travelling within Australia there is a domestic airport at the Gold Coast itself. From here you can hop on a train, bus taxi or hire a car.
Known as Australia’s playground the Gold Coast has more to offer than stunning beaches. The tropical rainforests nearby offers an alternative view of the area as well as the city skyline. Not forgetting the action packed days that can be spent visiting the theme parks including Wet ‘N’ Wild, Dreamworld, Steve Irwin’s Zoo, Sea World and more.
For sports fans, you shouldn’t miss the Gold Coast Indy which takes over the city streets for 4 days during October.
Hotels in Gold Coast vary in style and price, there is always plenty available to chose from for all tastes. With guaranteed sunshine 300 days a year, you can’t afford not to visit.
Perth: the west at its best
Perth has the best of both worlds – the city is centre is a hive of activity and attractions, with beaches and countryside all around. Perth centre has rivers and parks which make the city and attractive place to visit.
The whole West Coast of Australia is served by Perth’s International Airport. Domestic flights are recommended from the east to west coast due to the vast distance between the 2 sides of this continent. The airport and city can be navigated by shuttle bus, taxi and hire car. The reliable train system can also take you to nearby cities like Fremantle. If you would like a guided tour, there are plenty of Tour Buses to show the attractions of the area. Hotels in Perth cater for the luxury high end visitor as well as the low budget backpacker.
The region offers miles of surfing coastline and secluded beaches to explore. The water provides more attractions with regular sightings of Dolphins and Whales and some fabulous reef snorkelling. If you are partial to a drop of wine, you must take a trip to the Margaret River region with over 60 wineries.
The mild climate makes Perth an attractive destination all year round. During the summer the temperature is 29 to 32 Celsius, great for the beach and surf. The winter is around 18 Celsius suitable for an outdoor BBQ.
Sydney Restaurants, Cafes and Cocktail Bars for Every Mood
April 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Restaurants
Australian cities offer a wealth of great eating and drinking options, with everything from sophisticated five-star restaurants to casual modern cafes and intimate, funky bars.
Sydney is the nation’s look-good, feel-good metropolis (sometimes nicknamed Emerald City). Fast-paced, deal-driven and traffic-laden by day, it’s a sparkling, balmy playground at night. Both The Economist and Monocle acknowledged its warm, mostly relaxed and cosmopolitan ambience by ranking it among their Top 10 ‘liveable cities’.
Once you’ve taken in the spectacular harbour and the ocean beaches, head further inland to enjoy the places where daily living gets done. The most interesting spots are scattered around the city, not grouped together in tidy formation, so be adventurous.
From the sometimes grungy but vibrant inner-west to the immaculately groomed avenues of the harbourside eastern suburbs, Sydney’s neighbourhoods are anything but homogenous. To find the best the city has to offer think in-between; seek out unexpected places tucked into the hidden folds between the waterways and the clogged arterial roads.
If you get the balance right, it should feel like one big weekend, all week long.
Here are some of the best eating and drinking treasures in this bustling, buzzy, sundrenched place:
For a splurge, a major occasion dinner or to wow visitors, you can’t go past Icebergs Dining Room & Bar at Bondi Beach. As globe-trotting NeoNeighbourhood Chief Experience Officer Verity Byth puts it, “There is simply nowhere else with this view, atmosphere, food, wine and service all at once, all the time.” In a word: Extraordinary.
For a cool night out with friends, the first stop should be Madame Fling Flong in Newtown. A glamorous little upstairs nook, it’s a bit tongue-in-cheek ’80s, with sexy red everywhere except for the funky mix of vintage chairs. Staff are attentive and the atmosphere encourages lounging, with cocktail in hand.
To find out why Sydney chefs and their fusion dishes are such a force on the world stage, head for Universal in the nightlife precinct of Darlinghurst. Culinary wiz Christine Manfield puts flavours together in a way that will surprise you. “Get your palate ready for a ride through all the sensations that characterise Asian cuisine, done in a way you’ve never known them before,” says Byth.
To get a feel for Sydney’s laidback café lifestyle, visit Fifi Foveaux’s, in the lively and diverse neighbourhood Surry Hills. It’s become a local institution by getting right what so many others seem to get wrong. It has great coffee, service that’s sassy in a good way, and quality eating, whatever time of the day.
For a casual but excellent dinner out with friends, make a beeline for Sean’s Panaroma, at iconic Bondi Beach. The decor is informal and both staff and customers are relaxed, but there’s nothing but the best ingredients, beautifully prepared, on the plate. No wonder you need to book.
For more great experiences in Sydney and other Australian and international cities, visit www.neoneighbourhood.com. There’s food, shopping (fashion, home, pantry, books and music), hotels, galleries and concert venues and much more.
