http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34266 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34248 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34248 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34244 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34244 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33853 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33831 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33831 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33804 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33804 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33801 The Blue Mountains walkabout would not be everybody’s cup of eucalyptus tea. It’s quite strenuous and you will get dirty. But if you want an escape from the frenetic pace of Sydney, see more of the Australian bush than you would in a whistle-stop bus tour and gain a real insight into Aboriginal culture, this is a MUST DO.
Evan Yanna Muru, our tour guide of Aboriginal descent, met us at Falconbridge station which is approximately an hour’s train journey from Sydney’s Central Station. As a former tour guide myself, I am hard to please but I can honestly say that Evan is one of the best. He is passionate about Darug (the Aboriginal tribe that lived in the Blue Mountains) culture and his knowledge of his heritage is vast and deep. The tour group was small and they were an eclectic and interesting crew – ranging from a business tycoon who followed the road less travelled to become a volunteer in Namibia to a technical architect with Sony Playstation who was about to climb Everest.
Most of the 8k walk is off-track and therefore the terrain is rough. You do not need to be super-fit but you do need to be surefooted. However, there are compensations - our group did not encounter one other person all day. Other than our voices and movements, no other noises interfered with the bush soundscape.
I felt slightly ashamed that the Irish who settled in Australia were among those who condemned this ancient culture as primitive. I winced at the irony that many of the Irish convicts, who were transported to Australia for petty crime (I would argue partly because they themselves were dispossessed), went on to drive the Australian natives off their land. The Darug aborigines occupied the Blue Mountains for 50,000 years. Within two years of white settlement (1788), smallpox had killed more than half of this tribe. By 1860 the last of the full-blood Darug people had died.
Unfortunately the weather was not conducive to swimming in a billabong so we had our lunch sitting round a campfire in a sandstone cave. We drank eucalyptus tea and toasted marshmallows.
I do not want to give the impression that the walkabout is too worthy – we chatted and joked and finished the day, weary but exhilarated, in the pub.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33801 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33769 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33769 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33585 OS presents a classic simple Italian menu accompanied of course with an excellent wine list. Bookings are advised as OS has become very popular]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33585 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33362 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33213 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33213 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32417 However, in between these, in the original service lanes, has developed a unique city culture - really what makes Melbourne special.
This is where the coffee culture small local shops are located, from cup cakes to shoe maker, from barbers to fashion designers and artists.
They are great to stroll through, have lunch, coffee, or find some unique artisan wares.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32417 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32244 I was travelling to Australia and was keen not to just do the tourist trail.
This book recommended places to visit to view art in Melbourne and it was a brilliant springboard to make me think about places to go and things to see.
When I'd had enough of artistic viewings I wandered a little further out of Melbourne to St Kilda and spent some time watching the kite surfers on the beach, then headed off for some fun at Luna Park just off the boardwalk at St Kilda.
In need of something yummy to eat after a hard day viewing art and having fun I wandered along St Kilda High Street and struggled to select from the unbelievable number of cake shops!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32244 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31851 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31851 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31432 Both the gift shop and restaurant are not overly priced and offer good quality products.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31432 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31380 I’m taking you for a day out to the alternative and indie kids paradise, Newtown. Although only one station from Central, backpackers and tourists tend to miss this lively area.

Here is my guide to a place often forgotten for the Bondi sunshine and lifeguards. So put away you boardies and pick your favorite pair of skinny jeans.

Newtown is amazing for food. Every time I went to Oz, I ended up piling on the pounds because I lived so close to so many delicious places. I am actually slightly drooling when I think of it. Get me there now.
To start the day right, one of my favorite places for breakfast is Café Sophia on Erskenville Road. You have to try their banana raspberry melon smoothie with salmon and eggs benedict or their French toasts. Actually try everything. Just go every morning for four months like I did.

For lunch, I would generally go for one of the many Thai restaurants on King’s Street, Newtown's main road. Most of the places are vegan/vegetarian and although I'm neither, I did get a little bit addicted to the fake duck, pak choi and rice $6 lunch boxes.

To walk off all this food, shop around! Newtown has lot to offer when it comes to retail therapy, whether it’s one the many vintage stores or young designers’ outlets, you will find everything you need to look like the Sydney hipster crowd.

Then head to the art gallery “Oh really?” on Enmore Road. Oh really? is a collective/magazine/gallery presenting the latest street artists around. They regularly organize openings and you could find yourself having a beer with artist Ears while nodding to some breakbeat. Check out what’s going on at ww.ohreallymagazine.com

Then it’s time to wind down. Head down for a cold long neck at The Court House (“The Courtie”) on Australia Street. Cheap drinks, a lovely beer garden decorated with fairy lights, a lively atmosphere and very important, a pool table.

Then move on for some cocktails on the Zanzibar Roof. You will find a cosy terrace and the staff there are always lovely (and not too shabby looking either).
If the schooners have gone straight to your head, then it’s time to go and pull some shapes on the dance floor. I have to say this is not in Newtown. On a Friday I’ll head to Mum at World Bar in Kings Cross to watch live music and listen to the latest indie-electro. Check the coming up MUM nights on MusicFeeds. On any other night check out Sydney promoters and all around cool kids UPTOOUR HIPS for the best nights in town (seriously).

And there you go, I can assure you this will be hell of a good day.

Now there is a lot more to discover by yourself in Newtown and around. But it would take way too long to tell you all about it and I have still things left to see myself. It’s alright; I’ll be back very soon. I’ll see you at The Courtie.

PS: If you were still to be hungry on your way home, stop by Saray’s on Enmore Road for a pite (also called Laknore) ,a filled bread from Kosovo with lemon juice on it. Delicious.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31380 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31310 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31310 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30923 And that's about all that needs to be said. Smooth, creamy, rich, lush. A tiny place pumping out some seriously good coffee in a city that knows its coffee.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30923 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30921 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30921