The Best Live Music Venues in Sydney
Sydney loves its live music, so if you are here for a visit, be sure to catch at least a show or two. There are constantly international acts touring from all over the world, not to mention a solid local scene, so make sure your Sydney accommodation is close to at least one of the following Sydney venues so you can check out a show or two while you are in town.
The Enmore Theatre
One of the most popular venues in Sydney to see live music at is the iconic Enmore Theatre. Being a small place, you can get up close to the bands, creating an intimate vibe that never fails to rock the house. Located in the inner city suburb or Enmore, this venue has been one of Sydney’s top live music venues since the 1960s.
Preparing Early for Sydney Mardi Gras
Attending Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival is an experience of a lifetime, but you had better start your preparations as soon as possible so that you are able to get the most out of this unique cultural festival. The following are some of the elements of your Mardi Gras extravaganza that you should start preparing for well in advance.
Accommodation
One of the first things you should do once you have decided you are going to Mardi Gras is book your accommodation. Whether you plan on staying in a hostel, hotel, serviced apartments, or on a boat, short term accommodation absolutely everywhere is going to fill up early. Make sure you book your digs ASAP, because you don’t want to be without a base for Mardi Gras.
A Short Guide to Sydney Food Festivals
Sydney is becoming world famous for its food; people here take every opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the finest cuisine. Whether you’re interested in cultural foods, fine dining, finger foods or snacks, Sydney has it all, and the easiest way to check out as much of it as possible is to hit up one of the many food festivals. The following is a short guide to some of Sydney’s best food festivals.
Crave Sydney International Food Fest
This fabulous month-long food festival consists of the Night Noodle Markets, a growers market, Breakfast on Bondi and a ‘Shoot the Chef’ competition. Here you will enjoy some world-class and extremely varied food options. You can also take cooking classes, do a food tour, or take part in progressive dinners and kids events. This awesome festival does a fantastic job of showcasing food in one of the world’s most accomplished food cities.
A Short Guide to the Highlights of Sydney’s CBD
Sydney’s CBD is a large and vibrant place that is full of highlights. Not a particularly old city by world standards, Sydney has managed to maintain an older feel and charm while growing to become one of the world’s most modern cities. Whether you’re here backpacking or on business, check out the following highlights of Sydney’s CBD.
Circular Quay
The number one highlight of the Sydney CBD is of course the majestic Sydney Harbour, and your gateway to it is Circular Quay. This is the most beautiful harbour city in the world, and Sydney Harbour showcases two of Australia’s most famous landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. There are always thousands of people milling around the Quay — both locals and tourists — and there is no shortage of places to either grab a bite to eat, or just sit back with a coffee and people-watch.
Travelling With Children to a Large Event
Taking your family out to an event can be a fantastic way to have a fun day together. However, if you have small children, a fun day out requires a great deal of organisation. If kids don’t have what they want or need, they are well and truly capable of turning a nice day out into a full-scale nightmare, so do your best to stack the odds in your favour and get organised. The following are some of the essential elements that you’ll need to have covered.
Food
Most large events will have their own food vendors, but these are usually quite expensive and can end up costing you a fortune — not to mention they often involve standing in very long line-ups. Taking your own food is the best move, because not only will you save money, but you’ll also be able to bring healthier food options, and ones that you know your kids will like. If you’ve come from out of town and will be staying in short term accommodation, look for hotels in Sydney with kitchenettes or cooking facilities, so you have a space to prepare your food before heading out to the event.
The Best Foods to Enjoy in Australia
Australians like their food, and they are spoiled with a huge variety of high quality options. While the cuisine isn’t exactly exotic, food here definitely has its own style, and is highly regarded around the world. When you’re in Australia, make sure you eat lots of the following fantastic foods when you have the chance.
Fruit
With an extremely long growing season and perfect growing conditions, Australia is absolutely blessed with its massive variety of high-quality fruit. Whether you’re a fan of Tasmanian apples, Queensland strawberries or South Australian oranges, fresh organic fruit in Australia makes the rest of the world’s fruit seem bland. From passion fruit to rockmelon to custard apple, fruit is easily one of Australia’s food highlights.
Planning Your Easter Holiday Adventure
By the time the Easter holidays roll around, everyone is ready for a break, and even though it’s usually a four- or five-day break, it goes by fast. If you’re hoping to do something more interesting than just watch TV next Easter holidays, make a plan and be ready, as you’ll want to take advantage of every second. Here are some things to consider when planning your Easter holiday adventure.
Accommodation
Regardless of where you go on your Easter holidays, it’s going to be full of people, as this is the first chance most people have had for a decent break since Christmas. Book as early as you can — especially if you’re travelling with a family or have any special needs — because without somewhere to stay, the holiday will be a disaster. Whether you’re looking for hostels in Perth, serviced apartments in Hobart or accommodation in Brisbane, the golden rule is always the same: book early!
Planning Ahead for Brisbane’s Riverside Fireworks
Every year, Brisbane plays host to one of the biggest and best pyrotechnic displays in the country, with the Riverside Festival fireworks display kicking off the annual Brisbane Festival. If you haven’t been to Brisbane for a while, or at all, this is a fantastic excuse to make the trip. Indeed, this awesome 25-minute explosive display is just one of many highlights within a booming city. If you do plan on coming for the fireworks, plan ahead, and keep in mind the following tips.
Where to stay
There is a huge range of accommodation options depending on your style and budget, with comfortable serviced apartments, funky Brisbane hotels,= and cute B&Bs making up some of your choices. Whatever you choose, try and get somewhere within walking distance of the riverfront, as it’s nice to have an easy trip home from the party.
A Short Guide to Sydney’s City2Surf
The City2Surf is a 14-kilometre road running race that has been taking place every year in Sydney since 1971. It draws thousands of spectators as well as participants and is one of the most fun days of the year to be in Sydney, as it adds a carnival atmosphere to this beautiful harbour city. The following is a short guide to all the main things you need to know.
The route
If you like to run, this fabulous event is a great way to see the city. Starting in the downtown core of Sydney’s CBD, the run winds its way through the streets, taking in inner city suburbs of Kings Cross, Rushcutters Bay, Double Bay, Rose Bay, Vaucluse and Dover Heights, before ending up at the iconic Bondi Beach. This fantastic route takes you past some of Sydney’s most exclusive residences and showcases a large section of spectacular Sydney waterfront. Finishing the run at Bondi is perfect too, as you will want nothing more than to charge into the surf to cool down.
Travelling to the Royal Easter Show in Sydney
One of Australia’s favourite festivals, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, will be held from April 5-18 in 2012. Taking place at Sydney Olympic Park and consisting of rides, agricultural exhibits, displays, show bags, food and all sorts of fun, this is easily one of the most family-friendly events of the year. No matter where you’re coming from, the following pointers will help your adventure to Sydney for the Show to be an easy one.
Getting there
Obviously you’ll need to get to Sydney first. From there, getting to the show is as easy as jumping on the bus or train, no matter where you are in the city. Sydney Olympic Park was designed to be easily accessible for the Olympics, which now benefits anyone heading to the Easter Show. Showlink tickets are available and can save you money on getting to the Show by bus, train or ferry. If you’re visiting Sydney for a few days, it may be worth hiring a car, both to get you to the Show and also around town to see the sights before you have to leave.
