Our partner Swissotel Sydney is offering Women’s Agenda readers an Unforgettable Weekend Package until the end of January. Check out the details below.
Sydney in the Summer months is pretty special, but you don’t need to be on a beach to experience it. Nor do you need to be business traveling to have an excuse to visit. Or even live outside of Sydney!
The CBD area has so much to offer — for those living both in and out of Sydney — and presents an excellent starting point to spring further outside of the centre, for example by taking a ferry over the Manly for a morning, or heading into the inner west for an afternoon, to check out some unique stores and world-class coffee.
With a good plan, you can’t go wrong staying in the heart of the city, experiencing the best of a great hotel and soaking up some find touristy things to do, as well as shopping, eating and everything eslse that comes with a little bit of dedicated downtime.
The sunny city will be at its most spectacular as summer gets into full swing. If you’re visiting for a short weekend, or just needing to do something outside the house, we’ve made a list of the best things to eat, do, and where to stay.
Where to EAT
We love to make an event out of our meals. Why shouldn’t we? Most of us have been holed up in our homes for a large portion of the year. When we go out now, we want it to be special. So, making it a big event is how it should be.
1. Bungalow 8
Bungalow 8 is situated along the gorgeous King Street Wharf, a short walk from Town Hall. It’s known for its tropical vibes, meaning walls sprawling with palm trees, vines, pastel colours and beach-ie tunes. Over the summer, they’re offering a “Bali Deck Package” which sounds delicious and exciting, doesn’t it? What’s included in this package? A 2 hour session of unlimited Prosecco & Bintangs from your own personal esky, a generous shared menu including fish tacos, gado gado salad, cured seafood, and labne dips. The best thing about this city-adventure is you don’t have to fork out hundreds for the flight. This meal will put you back at just $79 per person. Book here.
- Manly Wine
Since last month, Manly Wine have been lauding their incredible new Japanese-style menu as part of their Cherry Blossom Spring Garden Pop Up. The fine-dining restaurant is bringing the sights, sounds and tastes of Japan to the northern beaches of Sydney, with a stunning range of umeshu plum wines, yuzu soda, blossom syrup and matcha inspired cocktails. To go with the refreshing spritz, there’s a “Talk Tokyo to Me” menu of tempura oysters, prawn taco, green tea soba noodles and teriyaki salmon fillets. While you gorge on your delicious food, be sure to get your phone out to capture the incredible space they’ve created; cherry blossoms and pink flowers abound left right and centre. Be sure to check out their Sakura Spring Brunch which takes place every Saturday over summer. For just or $79 per person, give in to a bottomless Roku Gin spritz lunch packed with a menu of fish, sashimi and wasabi. Book here.
3. The Winery
In the past, many Aussies head to Asia over the summer. How about those of us who were planning to head over to Europe for a white Christmas? Change your plans and head to Surry Hills instead; specifically, to The Winery, where over summer, they are bringing the Italian wine vibes to those of us missing the cozy thrills of Italian culture. You can book you and your friends in for a Tuscan Grazing Experience on their Tempus Two Terrace. For just under $60 per person, you can enjoy ice cream from MAPO, smoked salmon and caviar sandwiches, baked cheesecake and a few bottles of Tempus Two Prosecco. Not bad, hey? Book here.
BEST THINGS TO DO
The rise of COVID cases in Sydney in the past few days is a warning that this pandemic is not entirely over for us here on the east coast. Stay safe and wear your masks; while your at it, be sure to do these COVID-safe activities this summer.
1. Watch a film outdoors, on a boat — Mov’in Boat
You’ve probably seen a film outdoors. But have you ever seen it while lying on a huge cushy cushion floating on our own small boat? Well, here is the newest craze; a socially distanced floating cinema at Darling Harbour where you can watch your favourite films (classics and newbies) lying on a boat while your dinner is served. You can get pizza delivered to your reclining bed or boat — champagne too. Films showing the next few weeks include old classics like Elf, Casablanca and The Great Gatsby, and new ones such as the Aussie hit RAMS, The Witches and All My Life. Book here.
2. Bondi To Coogee Walk
There is nothing like this in the world — coastal walk that hugs the eastern shores of our great island nation. If you’re a Sydney local, this is the place you go to unwind, forget about your troubles; stare out at the expansive blue; marvel at the extraordinary sky and sea. During the 2 hour stroll, you’ll pass beautiful beaches, cliff tops and glassy ocean pools. Be sure to schedule in a swim at either one of these beaches: Bondi Beach, Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Clovelly, Coogee Beach. For women, make sure you stop over at the McIvers Baths; for just $2, you can perch on a cliff face and rock platform and swim in a cute little pool that’s designed only for women and children. COVID rules however maintain that customers only have a 30 minute limit per visit.
3. Swim at Nielsen Park
Take a short drive to the eastern tip of the south side of Sydney to Vaucluse, where the most spectacular beach awaits. Nielsen Park is the jewel destination for those taking the Hermitage Foreshore track. There are picturesque places for a picnic, three large, sheltered picnic areas, plenty of sand and grass areas to gather (socially distanced) with friends and family. The beach is netted (for those scared of sharks) and there is always plenty of space for parking. After your swim and picnic, walk along to Bottle and Glass Point to see some impressive water views of Sydney Harbour.
WHERE TO STAY?
Go and checkout Swissôtel Sydney!
It’s right in the heart of the CBD, has excellent facilities — including a restaurant with fantastic options for High Tea — and something that’s particularly rare in Sydney CBD hotels: large rooms of all sorts and sizes!
There are also stunning onsite facilities — meaning you could actually spend most of your time within the hotel. The Spa is world-class, with a huge range of packages and treatments, and the outside pool (featuring two hot tubs) is warm all year round. There’s also a well-equipped modern fitness centre.
If shopping is on the agenda, it’d be hard to find a better location given the Swissôtel Sydney is right in the centre of possibly the most comprehensive shopping district in Australia. Pitt Street Mall, just round the corner, boasts more than 600 specialty stores, including David Jones — which is currently displaying its famous Christmas windows. Nearby on George St, The Strand Arcade offers high-end designer wear with stores including Bassike, Camilla and Marc, Dion Lee and Lover.
The Swissôtel Sydney is currently offering an “Unforgettable Weekend Package” exclusively to Women’s AGenda readers — including a 3pm checkout and Two-for-One Weekend High Tea. It’s available until the 31st January (excluding the 30th and 31st of December) on Advantage Rooms (King or Twin). You can check it out here
