Impress the other half
Sydney is famous for its city beaches but we’d head for one of the lesser known ones, which still have terrific views of the pretty harbour, for a leisurely picnic and swim. Top of our list are Nielsen Park or Milk Beach in Vaucluse or Camp Cove at Watsons Bay. Later in the day once the sun has dipped is a great time to take on the spectacular 6km Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, followed by a sunset cocktail at one of the city’s rooftop bars. Millers Pt offers the beautifully restored Hotel Palisade, which offers glorious sunsets from its Henry Dean bar, while in The Rocks you’ll find the historic Glenmore Hotel (est. 1821) which has 180-degree views of the Sydney Opera House’s iconic white sails. In Sydney’s neighbourhoods we’d recommend Paddington’s Light Bridge Hotel or Darlinghurst’s iconic Darlo Bar.
Spread out your beach towel
You don’t have to go far from central Sydney to find postcard-perfect beaches which have more space than a busy weekend at Bondi. And because the weather in this part of the world is consistently warmer than New Zealand for longer, that means more time to make the most of them. If you had to work over the festive season or you spent your break running between family engagements all over the country, now’s your chance to head somewhere with great weather and gorgeous surrounds that you could potentially have to yourself.
An hour north of the city head for the Northern Beaches of Dee Why or Palm Beach (the Home and Away beach itself), or go further afield to Port Stephens (two hours north) where you’ll find 26 golden beaches, a vast blue bay and many beautiful inlets. The vibrant cosmopolitan city of Newcastle is located between a working harbour and lovely stretches of sand, and is a great base from which to explore the region. Don’t miss the famous ocean baths at Merewether Beach and Newcastle Beach, or if you like to surf, you’ll want to hang 10 at Nobby and Bar Beach.
Escape the madding crowds inland
New South Wales’ unique hinterland has its own beauty -- and can be much cooler than the coast, weather-wise. You can access the charming towns of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area by a short train ride westwards if you don’t want to drive, or if you do (it’s easy), you could head two hours’ northwest for the famous Hunter Valley wine region -- Australia’s oldest -- and sample some of the world’s best wines at the area’s many cellar doors. Top tip: Don’t leave without trying a famous Hunter Valley semillon.
The South Coast is worth exploring too, We can recommend the charming township of Berry, and the scenic coastal paradises of Batemans Bay and Ulladulla. The blowhole at Kiama en route is also a must-see. Though with more than 600km of coast from the Royal National Park to the exquisite Sapphire Coast in the state’s south, abundant with uncrowded beaches, crystal-clear waters, pristine national parks, there’s plenty to fall in love with.
Wine, dine and unwind
You’re in one of the culinary capitals of the world, so take our advice and eat your heart out. Some of the city’s current dining hotspots include the consistently cutting edge inner-city suburb of Surry Hills which you’ll find near Central Station. Guaranteed to be buzzing, this is where you’ll find award-winning restaurants, hip bars and brilliant pubs, and the world-famous Bourke Street Bakery. In the city, the traditional tourist spot of CIrcular Quay is now home to Gateway, a three-level cornucopia of more than 25 respected eateries including its flagship Italian restaurant Popina. Neighbours include Neil Perry’s Burger Project and dessert superstars Zumbo and Gelato Messina.
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Advertise with NZME.Also in the city is new destination The Streets of Barangaroo which you’ll find to the west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Here you’ll be able to take your pick of cuisines, from Catalan-inspired Born by Tapavino to Vietnamese from the excellently named Phomo.
In the inner west the former Rozelle Tramway Depot has been reimagined as Tramsheds Harold Park, home to culinary artisans including Dust, a third-generation bakery serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Grounds of Alexandria and Kensington St in Chippendale are where it’s at southwest of the CBD. In Alexandria you’ll find a holistic cafe housed in a heritage-listed warehouse that roasts its own beans and grows its own ingredients; while in Chippendale you’ll find a hive of culinary activity including Spice Alley, a funky laneway packed with aromatic Asian eateries.
Love is about a compromise
This sounds like the perfect day to us: A bit of leisurely mooching in the morning around the boutiques of Paddington’s William and Oxford Sts, the city’s shopping mecca of Westfield Sydney and the Pitt St Mall, the eclectic Sydney Markets for some vintage finds, creative designs and gourmet delights, or the hectic fun of Chinatown’s Paddy’s Market during the day; then something for the other half in the afternoon or evening -- maybe a 20/20 match at the Sydney Cricket Ground or, even better, a seat at ANZ Stadium for this year’s opening Bledisloe Cup rugby match. The only Bledisloe game to be played in Australia this year, on Saturday August 18, will be a cracker, as the All Blacks set out to avenge their loss against the Wallabies during the final cup match last year. Beating the Australians on their home turf would make the event even sweeter.
Somewhere in the middle of this compromise is the Hello Sydney! Shopper Hopper, a ferry service linking the souvenir heaven of Darling Harbour’s Harbourside and the discount designer must-haves of Drummoyne’s Birkenhead Pt Outlet Centre, where you’ll find the likes of Hugo Boss, Coach, Versace and Michael Kors. A ride on Sydney’s harbour is a must-do anyway, so here you get to both sail and sale.
Culture Club
Though we might think we know all about one of our closest neighbours, you should never underestimate the rich cultural experiences Australia has to offer. New South Wales in particular is a global melting pot and home to some of the best galleries, museums, theatres and music venues in the world. Before you book have a look at the exhibitions, festivals or concerts on the 2018 calendar; we can highly recommend Vivid Sydney where many of the city’s beautiful buildings and structures are illuminated by incredible light artists and there is a wide menu of music and ideas from global thinkers and creators available, some of it for free. Sydney knows how to do festivals right. The annual Sydney Mardi Gras is also a brilliant event with a plethora of attractions and fun to be had, including the world-famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade (this year on March 3, with Cher as the headline act). Other big events this year include Puccini’s La Boheme performed by the magnificent Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (March 23 to April 22) and The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle which will be on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales from February 10 to June 24.
Qantas flies direct to Sydney from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown more than 60 times per week. When you fly Qantas, you can relax as everything is included: your meal, drinks, movies, and a generous luggage allowance for all your shopping. Plus, the newly refurbished A330 with the latest Business Class lie-flat suites is now flying twice a day to Sydney from Auckland.
Visit Qantas.com for more information and to book.
