Winter walkabout in Sydney

Fire yourself up with a winter recharge on Sydney’s sparkling waterside trails.

Sydney sure knows how to entertain you, no matter the season, but in the crisper days of winter, fire yourself up with a weekend recharge in the Emerald City. The cooler temperatures make it a perfect time for long scenic walks, gazing across the glittering water from so many inviting cliffside perches. The Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk is arguably the most famous trail, a poster-child for Sydney. Ocean swimming is probably off your agenda in the winter months – although a quick dip at Bondi Icebergs is guaranteed to provide quite the endorphins rush!

For a change of scenery, the Federation Cliff Walk is one of my new-found favourites. This five kilometre clifftop walk with postcard views out to the Pacific Ocean, runs to Dover Heights from Watsons Bay. The sandstone cliffs that guard the approaches to Sydney Harbour are one of the city’s most dramatic features, and this walking track offers spectacular sea views at every step. Keep your eyes peeled on the big blue, because winter is whale-watching season in Sydney, when southern right and humpback whales are commonly seen from the clifftops.

Harbourside lunching doesn’t get any better than at pint-sized Watson’s Bay, home to the storied Doyles on the Beach restaurant. First established in 1885, this was Australia’s first seafood restaurant, and is still family owned. They are sticklers for tradition, most fish are caught by hand line and iced on the boat. If the menu leaves you stumped, just order up a Fishermans Platter and gorge your way through the best of Australian sea life.

Sandstone headland by Vaucluse credit visit sydney

Fancy a strip of sandy solitude? Make a date with Kutti Beach. Head to the end of Wharf Road in Vaucluse and totter down the narrow set of stairs to the golden beach. This quiet strip of 100 metres of sand, flanked by rustic boathouses and cooling palm trees is one of Sydney’s best little secrets. An uber-cool waterside spot awaits you in swanky Potts Point. Follow the pathway by Potts Point Bookshop which will lead you to a Gatsby-style garden, complete with ginormous koi pond, oriental bridge, lily garden and watery views. Officially known as the Arthur McElhone Reserve, it’s the kind of setting packing a picnic was made for.

Circular Quay and landmarks credit visit sydney

Ride the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly and relax on the sunny harbour and ocean promenades. One of my go-to Manly staples is the ocean-hugging walking trail from Manly Beach to Shelley Beach. The trails on the headland offer sublime coastal panoramas. Shelley Beach is also one of Sydney’s most sheltered coves, with the geographical distinction of being one of the few places in the city where you can catch an epic sunrise and equally epic sunset from the sand.

Manly coastline views credit visit sydney

Cross the Harbour Bridge and dip into the leafy lanes of Kirribilli. Not only home to the Prime Minister’s Sydney perch, but the Governor General’s residence is right next door, built in 1842. Most visitors grab a peek of them, as part of a harbour cruise, but get up close with these palatial pads, as part of a village foreshore walk. Kirribilli (Aboriginal for good fishing spot) is one of Australia’s oldest and “effluent” suburbs, as Kath and Kim would say. Tailor-made for a leisurely walkabout, the village contains the second highest concentration of heritage-listed buildings in Australia – second only to the Rocks.

Milson’s Point overlooking the harbour. credit visit sydney

The Kirribilli walkway incorporates a long expanse of terraced lawn, just above the shoreline. Mary Booth was a Sydney physician who led the fight to save this prime stretch of shoreline from being hoovered up by high rise developments. She won the war, the reserve is named in her honour, and it serves up the most brilliant green framed vistas of the city skyline and Circular Quay.

Opera House from Kirribilli credit mike yardley

For an equally striking and distinctive vista of the Opera House sails peeping through between some art deco apartment buildings, head to the corner of Kirribilli Ave and Beulah Street. Heading west from Milsons Point, lovely Lavender Bay is the first watery cul-de-sac to greet you, headlined by Luna Park’s slightly sinister toothy-faced entrance.

Lavender Bay in Sydney. credit visit sydney

If you haven’t done so before now, bask yourself in the brilliance of Barangaroo Reserve, Sydney’s illustrious new foreshore park. After 200 years of maritime activity, and most recently a container wharf, this harbourside reserve unfurls across the northwestern tip of the CBD. Artfully landscaped with gigantic sandstone blocks, cascading down to the water, native trees and terraced gardens, all irrigated by self-sufficient water collection tanks, Barangaroo has solidified its stature as a prime picnic and exercise spot, with gun-barrel views across to Balmain and Darling Harbour.

Walking in Barangaroo credit visit sydney

Spectacularly designed and furnished with 74,000 native plants this stunning reserve doubles as a natural amphitheatre, with regular performances. I was in Sydney for the final weekend of Vivid and Barangaroo certainly seems to have refined Sydney’s centre of gravity.

View across to Crown Towers from Pyrmont credit mike yardley

Not only is it home to the city’s tallest building, the soaring Crown Towers (nearly three rugby fields high,) but the Wulugul Walk waterfront trail is now all laced up, leading you from Barangaroo all the way down to Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour.

Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites entry credit Oaks

Where to stay? Backing Darling Harbour in Pyrmont, I enjoyed a great stay at Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites. Boasting comfortable and spacious serviced apartments in a gorgeous heritage listed building, add a dollop of old-bones character to your Sydney stay. Originally built as a giant wool store, the venerable property combines the charm and elegant details of the Victorian age, with all the contemporary amenities discerning travellers expect.

Accommodation in Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites credit Oaks

You’ll also enjoy magnificent skyline views of Sydney’s great landmarks from the upper floors. With a magnificent neo-classical facade, original tallowwood floors and exposed ironbark columns featured throughout the hotel, Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites makes for a memorable stay. You can feel the sense of history in this atmospheric building. The Goldsbrough was the first of at least 20 wool stores on the Pyrmont peninsula, built in 1833, receiving bales of wool from all over NSW to be showcased then sold.

Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites pool credit Oaks

While the exterior remains true to the original design, the central interior is now a soaring atrium with eye-opening views from all floors. There’s a great display illustrating its proud past, in the lobby. Bonus points for the free Wifi, on-site pool area, sauna, spa and gym. Plus there’s a convivial little neighbourhood café on the ground floor, for your wake-up caffeine fix and hearty breakfast. https://www.oakshotels.com/en/oaks-goldsbrough-apartments

View from Oaks Sydney Goldsbrough Suites credit Oaks

I flew to Sydney with Qantas, who operate an extensive network of Tasman services from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. ( I love their new in-flight safety video, which artfully pays homage to their illustrious century-long service in the skies.) Enjoy an all-inclusive in-flight service with excellent entertainment offerings and tasty meal boxes in Economy, with complimentary alcoholic beverages. In Business, enjoy a generous meal with a great choice of mains, warmed bakery and something sweet to finish. Qantas Neil Perry Sommeliers proudly present a discerning selection of wines from across Australasia along with a range of spirits and non-alcoholic options. Qantas also provides a generous 30kg checked baggage allowance when flying Economy, or 40kg in Business. Qantas flights to Sydney start from $342, one-way. Book direct at www.qantas.com

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Rozwój rozwiązań OCR w live

Gry karciane vs ruletka – wybory graczy

Popularność darmowych miejsc w ruletce

Średni hit rate slotów kasynowych

iOS vs Android w grach karcianych

Opłaty sieciowe w łańcuchu Bitcoin

Zmiana preferencji graczy

Zakres stawek w blackjacku online

Gry kasynowe dla high-rollerów

Analiza łańcucha przez narzędzia AML

Wpływ darmowych spinów na retencję

Popularność auto cash-out

Liczba rozdań w blackjacku na godzinę

Nowe crash a marketing „spróbuj jeden spin”

Średnia liczba stołów live przy starcie kasyna

Sloty z funkcją klastrów

Płatności odroczone w iGaming

Polscy krupierzy w studiach live

Symbole Mystery w nowych tytułach

Średni zakład w Casino Hold'em

Wpływ waluty PLN

Rola porównywarek i rankingów

Udział nowych slotów w całej bibliotece

RTP w polskich slotach

Tryb pionowy vs poziomy w grach karcianych

Znaczenie SEO w polskim iGaming

Popularność płatności mobilnych

Nowe sloty vs klasyczne hity

Depozyty powyżej 1000 zł

Średnia prędkość ładowania slotów

Popularność bakarata w Polsce

Popularność gier z funkcją re-spin

Ryzyko KYC na etapie off-ramp

Nowe sloty o tematyce mitologicznej

Średnia prędkość ładowania slotów

Wzrost roli wewnętrznych polityk compliance

Nowe kasyna a social media

Cluster pays w katalogu nowych gier

Częstotliwość użycia BLIK miesięcznie

Średni czas sesji kasynowej

Popularność Auto-Roulette

Popularność bankowości mobilnej

Popularność trybu wielostolikowego

Średnia długość życia domen kasynowych

Gry karciane vs ruletka – wybory graczy

Nowe kasyna a RODO

Kasyna online a dostępność WCAG

Popularność funkcji bet behind

Czas księgowania BLIK

Rozwój polskojęzycznych stołów live

Wpływ blokad MF na offshore

Minimalne kwoty wpłat w Polsce

Retencja nowych kasyn po 6 miesiącach

Autoryzacja 3D Secure

Gry kasynowe a cashback tygodniowy

Wpływ minimalnych stawek na wybór gry

Live Casino a gry mieszane

Udział online w podatkach od gier

Średnia liczba graczy dziennie w top crash

Konwersja rejestracja → depozyt

Popularność gier z funkcją „buy feature”

Średni ticket depozytu mobilnego

Fire yourself up with a winter recharge on Sydney’s sparkling waterside trails.

Recent Posts

Most popular

Recent Comments

Related Posts