J is for Justice

Sydney is full of history and no more so than in the spooky of jails in and around the city... and one of the very easiest to get to in right in the heart of the city. Hyde Park Barracks, which saw around 50,000 convicts come to stay during its operation in the 1800's. Also currently the host of the Convict Sydney exhibition, entry to the Barracks is only $10 and is easily accessible from Martin Place and St James train stations.

Just a hop, skip and a short ferry ride away from Hyde Park Barracks is Cockatoo Island, with UNESCO World Heritage Listed prison buildings and a constant stream of art and other exhibitions, Cockatoo Island should not be overlooked if you are on the lookout for a piece of Sydney's history. Details on how to get there and tour dates/times are all on the Cockatoo Island website and remember to take your lunch money with you as there are no ATMs on site. 

If all this seems a little bit ordinary, why not head north to Maitland where you can play out your own jail break, armed and all at the Maitland Gaol. Battlezone Playlive run laser skirmish at the Maitland Gaol, with twilight sessions for the bravest of the brave, this is a very unique way to experience this historic location! Of course it is still possible, and very worthwhile, to visit the Maitland Gaol at a slower pace by joining in on one of a wide range tours to get a real sense of this historic location. Tour details, activities and a bit of history are all available on the Gaol's website. More information about laser skirmish is available at the Battlezone Playlive website.

I is for I am Really Excited about Sculptures by the Sea!

It is almost that time of year again, like a mecca for Sydney photographers bot amateur and professional alike, Sculptures by the Sea provides three weeks of delight for the eyes as art is installed along the Bondi to Tamarama cliff side walk. This year is sure not to dissapoint as Sculptures by the Sea celebrates its 15th anniversary and will include artwork by Anne Ferguson, Bert Flugelman OAM, Ron Robertson-Swann OAM and Ken Unsworth AM, just to name a few.

Sculptures by the Sea is a 100 percent free event and will be held from 3 to 20 November 2011. Bring your towel and soak up the sun along with your culture and enjoy my personal favourite event in Sydney.

Find out more about the event, the art and the sculptures for this years event at the Sculptures by the Sea website.

H is for Halloween

What are you getting up to this Halloween? The 31st of October is not traditionally a holiday celebrated in Australia, but more and more we are coming around to the idea of dressing up and getting set to party on the spookiest day of the year. Personally I am choosing between sexy bunny or sexy kitty this year - staying true to the concept of a tight dress and animals ears, but of course! Anyway, I thought I would let you know about Sydney's best party for this year's (close enough to) Halloween weekend.

Magique Halloween Circus, which will be held at Luna Park on Saturday 29th of October, is an adults only dress up party guaranteed to keep the neighbours awake into the early hours of the morning. Magique Halloween Circus will feature incredible entertainment including trapeze, fire twirlers, illusion shows, pole dancers, hypnotists, jugglers and more. Check out the trailer or visit the Magique Halloween Circus website for more information, but remember, if you want to be there on the night be sure to get in quick because tickets are selling out fast.

G is for Gardens

So even though the weather has been unusually cool, it is still springtime and a perfect time for stepping out and discovering some of the beautiful gardens that Sydney has to offer. 

I have mentioned the Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney in my earlier posts but if you are after something special why not jump onto the Open Gardens website to see which beautiful gardens are open near you. With a low entry fee and gardening talks Open Gardens offers a gardens enthusiast with a cheap and unique day out.

This weekend, 8th & 9th of October, there are four gardens open across Sydney at:

Sherwood - 45 Parklands Avenue, Lane Cove

Botanica Lodge - 70 Wattle Tree, Drive, Theresa Park, 

Silky Oaks - 140 Russell Lane, Oakdale

Litchfield Park, 19 Murray St, Jewells 

Each garden has something different to offer so why not see them all for a relaxing way to spend a weekend. Be sure to find out all the details you need and garden opening times on the Open Gardens website.