Travel

Sydneysiders are hopelessly in love with their harbour city, and when you’re surrounded by blue skies and some of the best beaches in the world, who can really blame them? Words Jenny Hewett

58 Ya hala / November 09

Words Jenny Hewett

58 Ya hala / November 09 Ya hala / November 09 Ya hala /

November 09 / Ya hala 59

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For us aussies, the approach of the southern summer (from November to February) is like receiving that present that you were anticipating as a kid for months. You know it’s there, you’ve even felt it, but

it hasn’t quite landed in your hands yet. When summer does hit the shores of this elegant hub by the sea, time stands still. Young men carrying surfboards bounce across the burning tar in the direction of the swell as workers in fluoro vests take a smoko break to eat their meat pies while they ogle bikini-clad beauties. Behind them, graffiti-scrawled Wicked Camper vans meander by slowly, full with eager backpackers who have come to see the island country in all her glory. There is a distinctive charm to Sydney, from it’s eclectic multicultural make up, to the laidback beach lifestyle, where going barefoot anywhere and everywhere is embedded folklore. When the sun is shining, there is no better place to be.

01_Bondi Beach can expect crowds of up to 40,000 on a busy day.

02_ Locals hit the surf daily looking for the ultimate ride.

03_ Set sail on the Manly ferry.

04_ The jewels of the city, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. 02

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Ahoy, SAilorOften confused as the capital, Sydney is the largest city in australia with a growing population of over four million and contrary to popular belief, not one of those ride a kangaroo to work. In fact, quite a lot of them take the ferry and so should you to see the harbour in its entirety. Sydney Ferries, www.sydneyferries.info, operate between most major sights, including Darling Harbour and Taronga Zoo, but the must-do voyage is the trip to Manly. Once onboard, move quickly to get a seat outside on the top deck to soak it all in. When in Manly, walk up The Corso – a pedestrian strip of shops and cafés that lead from the wharf to Manly Beach. If you've been looking for that perfect postcard to send home, the return ferry ride back to the city is the ideal snapshot as the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House appear on the horizon.

01_Enjoy a meal as the harbour lights up and the sun goes down.

02_Jump onboard a ferry to Manly at Circular Quay.

03_ Sydney's CBD is bustling with nightlife and live music venues.

04_Wake up to the Opera House at the Park Hyatt.

05_Be spoiled for views at Bondi Icebergs.

06_Check out the action at Bondi Beach.01

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circulAr quAySydney Harbour’s Circular Quay is the gateway to the CBD and makes quite an entrance as it appears into sight. Dotted with chic bars and high-end restaurants, on the water’s edge is the ideal place to enjoy the views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The aptly named Quay restaurant, www.quay.com.au, is a who’s who of culinary mastery and has been voted Sydney’s top restaurant two years in a row. expect to pay no less than top dollar while you absorb the tranquil setting. Opera Bar, www.operabar.com.au, is situated

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BoNDi BEAchat the height of summer, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an inch of spare sand on Sydney’s most popular shores. The favourites among tourists are iconic Bondi Beach in the exclusive eastern Suburbs – the closest to the CBD – and Manly Beach on the Northern Beaches, which is a 30-minute ferry ride from the city, but equally as populated. They may be crowded, but for good reason – Bondi has great surf while its white sand has been famed world over and the beautiful people that flock here are just as eager to be seen as they are to feel the water between their toes. Bondi’s patrolling lifesavers have risen to fame in reality Tv show Bondi Rescue, and the camera crew are often spotted filming in shorts and flip-flops on the sand. Take a stroll up the south end to Bondi Icebergs, www.icebergs.com.au, for lunch with a view. When the sun begins to set, share an antipasti plate at well-known Bondi institution, North Bondi Italian, www.idrb.com, the scene-savvy have practically taken up residence here and the no booking policy only adds to its cool factor. Still hungry? Check out quirky hole-in-the-wall venue The Flying Squirrel, www.flyingsquirreltapasparlour.com.au, for Spanish-style tapas and an enviable selection of cocktails. Canadian-owned, this infinitely small tasting parlour may be a tight squeeze but it’s a big hit with locals (determined to keep it a secret) and full of atmosphere.

below the Sydney Opera House in outdoor surrounds with live music and the best seat in the town for viewing Sydney’s skyline. If you can handle heights, climb the Harbour Bridge at twilight, www.bridgeclimb.com, the journey takes three and a half hours and runs daily.

rooM WiTh A ViEW Want to wake up to this? The luxurious Park Hyatt, www.sydney.park.hyatt.com, is located on the water with stunning views of the harbour and within arm’s reach of some of the city’s finest seafood restaurants. Situated in the historic The rocks district, australia’s first european visitors settled here in 1788, but today restaurants occupy heritage buildings and you can browse shops and galleries in a colourful contrast of old and new.

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MANly BEAch It's the village feel of this bohemian beachside town that draws plenty of tourists each year – some who decide to call it home permanently, their accents often heard over the noise of cappuccino machines in quirky cafés. The grand Norfolk pines lining the beach are Manly’s most iconic residents and stand tall above the locals who don't miss a day in the ocean. To the south is a seaside walkway leading to Shelly Beach, a small inlet suitable for kids and a popular scuba and snorkelling spot. Thrill seekers should take a 2-minute stroll from the ferry wharf to swim with sharks at Manly Oceanworld, www.oceanworld.com.au. If that doesn’t get the heart pumping, then the giant waterslides at Manly Waterworks will, www.manlywaterworks.com. looking for a bite with a difference? Manly Phoenix, www.phoenixrestaurants.com.au, does yum cha overlooking the ocean on Manly Wharf and is both delicious and well-priced. You can’t beat the bar nextdoor, www.manlywharfhotel.com.au, for idyll, grab a seat on the jetty and enjoy the sunshine over drinks.

chilD’S PlAy a short ferry ride from the CBD is Sydney's most visited attraction, Taronga Zoo, www.taronga.org.au. located in the affluent suburb of Mosman, the kids will love the vast grounds and wide selection of animals including koalas, kangaroos,

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crocodiles, chimps, gorillas, elephants, seals and displays casing australia’s most infamous reptiles and spiders. Take the gondola ride from the wharf to the zoo entrance and organise your visit around the daily animal presentations. Back in the city, hop on a ferry to Darling Harbour, home to the world’s biggest IMaX theatre, www.imax.com.au, they regularly screen 3D movies and educational films. While you're there, check out The Powerhouse Museum, www.powerhousemuseum.com, a science and design fun house with hands-on activities, and nautical buffs will love the australian National Maritime Museum, www.anmm.gov.au.

STylE huBSydney's hotspot for fashion is no further than Oxford Street in Paddington, a boutique-lovers paradise with aussie designer labels such as Sass & Bide, alannah Hill, Collette Dinnigan, Tigerlily and Ksubi. Check out attic for home accessories from luxe labels including alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. For a unique buy head to The Corner Shop, for emerging labels including acne, anna & Boy and Josh Goot, as well as vintage finds. For out-there accessories Harlequin Market, www.harlequinmarket.com, has quirky pieces and a loyal fashionista following. Trinket haven The Family Jewels, www.thefamilyjewels.com.au, is stocked floor to ceiling with divine statement pieces including chunky rings and artistic neckpieces. For more info on outlets in Paddington, check out www.urbanwalkabout.com/sydney. visit The Strand arcade, www.strandarcade.com.au, on Pitt Street Mall for labels such as evening gown king alex Perry, Dinosaur Designs, Mimco, Bettina liano and Zimmermann.

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roAD TriPPalm Beach is the northernmost suburb of Sydney, about an hour’s drive from the CBD and located on a peninsula surrounded by pristine waters and lush bushland. This is where the city’s rich and famous keep holiday homes and the slow-paced sleepy village lifestyle and surf culture reign supreme. The scenic drive to the Northern Beaches takes you through some of the most popular surf spots including Newport, avalon and Whale Beach, before heading down to Pittwater, a sailing paradise on the opposite side of Palm Beach where cashed up residents moor yachts. Walk to the northern end of ‘Palmy’ as the locals know it, and take the bushwalk up to Barrenjoey Headland to get a feel for the natural beauty of the area. Want to splurge some cash? Nothing says luxury like Jonah’s, www.jonahs.com.au, a high-end seaside retreat on Whale Beach, they offer stylish accommodation, seaplane rides, and the fine dining restaurant is an established award-winning eatery.

Getting there: Emirates flies direct to Sydney twice daily, www.emirates.com.

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01_Get involved in the fun and games at Manly Beach.

02_Have a day out with the kids at Taronga Zoo.

03_ Stroll the promenade at Darling Harbour.

04_Absorb the laidback vibe at Palm Beach.

05_Refresh with a morning dip in the ocean.