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Depends how you wake up - hungover or feeling fresh. Either walk or run from Bronte to Bondi north. Grab breakfast at brown sugar and after showering etc ... head to Tamarama beach (if you cannot bodysurf well stay on the beach and play beach volleyball - it can get pretty rough in there).
After an afternoon here, stop by icebergs in Bondi on your way back home for a drink. Make your way down to the botanic gardens to watch the sunset with a picnic dinner. Finally, grab a few mates and get into your car and head up to palm or whale beach for the night. Relax there the whole next day doing whatever you please...
guide books??? google these places...
I lived in Sydney for 6 months and Bécasse is divine. There's nothing flashy or garish about Bécasse but it will stand out as one of the most memorable dining experiences you'll ever have. The muted, elegant decor is the perfect complement to the superbly created dishes. The decadent degustation menu is seven courses of heaven.
48 Albion St
Surry Hills
There are plenty of museums in Sydney - some good, some decidedly average. The Museum of Sydney ($7) tells the story of the city from 1788 to the present, and although small is extremely interesting. Also worth a look is the nearby Hyde Park Barracks Museum ($7), built by convicts in 1818, which shows the history of the fledgling community through the people who were housed there - convicts, immigrants and soldiers. Finally the Powerhouse Museum ($10) is a fun and massive collection devoted to science, transport and technology - where you could spend hours. Kids will love it.
On the downside is the Australian Museum (£10). Despite having been there three times, I've always felt let down at the size and content. For such a huge building, there really is precious little on display apart from the ubiquitous animal bones and minerals. If you can make it over to Canberra, the National Museum of Australia there is far, far better.
MoS - cnr Phillip/Bridge Sts, city centre
HPBM - Queens Square, Macquarie St, city centre
Powerhouse - Harris St, Ultimo (Central station)
Australian Museum - College St, Hyde Park
Vlados is simply Australia's best 'meat' dining experience and has been for the past 20+ years. Nowhere else in Australia is the emphasis on meat, meat and not much else. Starters are meat with a mixed grill entree followed by a main course of meat... the steak you choose yourself from the many on display. It's cooked the way you want it and comes with chips (if you want them).
Dessert? Strawberries and icecream or pancakes. The whole thing is aimed at getting the discerning diner simply the best meat meal.
61 Bridge rd
Richmond Vic
Tel: 94285833
Almost as good as swimming in Sydney Harbour and definitely no sharks. Take a dip in the Domain 50-metre swimming pool, with the Harbour on one side and the Botanic Gardens on the other. If you want to see Sydney's finest preening before heading off to work then turn up at 7am and prepare to learn how swimming can make you REALLY fit.
The Domain is set into the Botanic Gardens at the Woolloomooloo end.
Very good cocktails. The bars on Brunswick Street remind me of being in Hoxton, but without the attitude and fashion victims.
304 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy.
Licensed, definitely stylish, and with superb food, this restaurant boasts a great view of Perth's yachting harbour. Friendly staff add the final touch to make the dining experience into a memorable treat.
3 Hackett Drive Crawley Perth, WA 6009 Phone 08 9423 5000
Google map: tinyurl.com/ktk9zn
Generous servings and moderately priced, this superb Japanese restaurant specialises in ramen/noodle soup dishes and has an extensive herbal tea menu too. Two courses for $A25 or less.
Federation Square, City
I am almost loathed to reveal the Periwinkle, but feel I should in the interests of good travelling and helping their business! This is a real gem. I have stayed here three times and would go back tomorrow given the chance – I’ve also recommended it to friends and they have raved about it.
A small and laid back guesthouse – of the stylish and comfortable kind – it oozes charm. The building is a Victorian villa on the sea-front facing the Manly ferry – which is handy when making a dash for the boat into town. Tea and coffee are free all day, breakfast is included, there is a self catering kitchen and the rooms are beautifully decorated and finished.
The welcome is always warm but beware - they get booked up fast. Prices will depend on the room you take. They also own a sister guesthouse in Sydney – The Chelsea – which is well worth staying in for a more central city location.
18-19 East Esplanade, Manly
For bookings phone 9977 4668 www.periwinkle.citysearch.com.au
Poowong is a little town about an hour from Melbourne...in the Gippsland hills among all the dairy farms. Very quiet and picturesque. Take a break there and have a drink or meal in the pub. Watch out for the motorbike riders, it's a favourite haunt of theirs on weekends.
Poowong
near Korumburra Gippsland
1 hr from Melbourne out via the Monash and Sth Gippsland freeways
Great little hidden treasure on the city fringe, and a short walk to Hyde Park, Museum and Oxford Street. It’s a traditional espresso bar that has a definite flavour of Italy mixed with the warm hospitality of Sydney. Located in the foyer of a small boutique hotel, it attracts an eclectic mix of corporates, travellers and locals. Real baristas serving cups of perfection - latte art and all. We had breakfast everyday there whilst visiting Sydney. Well worth checking out!
4 Wentworth Avenue, Darlinghurst;
www.mrespresso.com.au
Encompassed in an art deco building (built in the 1930s after a storm destroyed the original), the baths at Middle Brighton are home to get-fit enthusiasts and 'icebergers' alike. They feature a very large caged area for swimming with a sandy beach and have been used in many learn to swim arrangements. The baths also feature a modern fitness centre with gym and sauna.
251 The Esplanade (the beach road), Middle Brighton Beach;
tel: 9539 7000;
www.middlebrightonbaths.com.au
Well known by sports motorcycle riders for its location on the fabulous Reefton Spur run, the old timber pub has a good bar menu and an even nicer restaurant. The best spot however is sitting outside with a beer in ya hand.
McMahons Creek, on the C511 between Warburton and Cumberland Junction (n.b: Reefton is approximately 4kms downstream and Warburton is 15kms away);
tel: 5966 8555
Some British visitors to Australia are put off indulging in one of its greatest attractions, swimming in the sea, for exaggerated fear of the beasties lurking therein.
A supervised dive at the Oceanworld aquarium in Manly might prove an antidote to such an aversion. The big sharks here, the Grey Nurses, are, like the rest of the swimming displays - among them enormous, velvety black rays and constantly curious little Dog Sharks - too well fed to consider nibbling on you. But even were that not the case, the jaws of the Grey Nurses are, despite their fearsome appearance, quite the wrong shape to make lunch of one of your body parts.
Sharks should probably fear humans at least as much as the reverse: many of them, such as the Grey Nurses, have become endangered due to fishing and other human activities. You can also simply view the aquarium animals through the glass.
Oceanworld Manly:
West Esplanade, Manly
+61 2 9949 7950
A terrific bookshop filled with interesting books, music, journals and informative, helpful staff. Ask for Dave Clarke, he knows his stuff.
Lygon St, Carlton
Stands for Queer + Alternative. A weekly alternative to the europop blandness of most of Melbourne's gay scene. Indie boys and girrrls galore bouncing to top mocker toons until the smallish hours. They put together an awesome playlist when i was there, including perhaps the best sequence of 6 tracks i've ever heard in a club :)
Thursday nights.
64 Smith Street, cnr of Gertrude St. Collingwood
I particularly recommend the atmospheric night-time tour for an experience that is spooky and exciting, but also very interesting. The actor guides you around by candle light, and even locks you in a cell for a few moments. When I was there, they had a temporary exhibition of the Ned Kelly gang armour, which were incredibly evocative in their dramatic surroundings. Note that this might not be suitable for children!
Russell Street, tel: 03 9663 7228
For a mere $6.20 (about £2.50/45-minute journey) catch the train south from central Sydney to the lesser known beachside suburb of Cronulla. Often overlooked in favour of its northern cousins, Cronulla beach is the longest stretch of sand in Sydney, and makes a refreshing change from the crowded city beaches.
After submerging yourself in the south Pacific, head across the road to Northies pub, to quench your thirst, whilst enjoying stunning sea views. Get here early on a Sunday, as the place gets packed, especially during the summer months when things can get quite rowdy.
If your on a budget or just want to make the most of the perfect climate and coastel location, follow the cliff path to south Cronulla beach and continue about 500 metres past Cronulla Point until you get to the tranquil Shelly Park. Here you can take advantage of the communal barbecue area, whilst enjoying the ocean views with a beer.
An essential Sydney experience.
Catch the Bondi Junction to Cronulla train from any city station. (It's the blue line, by the way.)
I am a massive fan of Thai and Sydney probably does the best Thai food outside Thailand - this is the best and most funky Thai in Sydney. You can't book but there is a great funky bar with awesome cocktails while you wait. The Bloody Longrain is an interesting twist on a Bloody Mary.
Food wise you must order the betel leaves with smoked trout and prawns as an entree - stunning. And whilst it may not sound very nice the caramelised pork hock is out of this world. The pork ends up very crispy so don't worry about the fat.
Other great dishes are crispy trout on a green mango salad and any of the braised beef fillet curries will be great. Soft-shell crab is another highlight.
Should be about $140 for two including wine. If you want something a bit different to go with the meal order the sparkling Shiraz they have on the menu - it is great with Thai which is traditionally difficult to match with wine. Arrive quite early if you go on a Thurs/Fri or Sat as they get very busy and usually if you don't get your name on the list early they don't have any spaces left. I would say make sure you're there by 8pm to ensure you eat relatively early, otherwise you may not get a table until 10.30pm.
85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, Sydney
This place is situated right on a stunning little beach with clear blue sheltered waters. Stunning views and I would say really a day time place so great if you want to get away from the city for a day and have a day on the beach with a lovely lunch.
There are two options at Bather's - a posh restaurant which you can book and does fabulous and interesting seafood. Or the cafe which is more brassiere style with great food and wine. You just rock up to the cafe as you cant book. It is a little difficult to get to Balmoral - it is a 20 minute drive from the city over the harbour bridge on the north shore. I think you can get a bus from Wynyard station or get a taxi - about $35 one way.
Balmoral Beach
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