Escape in the Cty

Although amazing for the most part, sometimes living in a city like Sydney I feel the urge to escape the madness. To find a quiet place where I can be outdoors but just forget where I am for a little while.

There are a few gems still left where you can clear your head, read outdoors in peace or escape the hustle and bustle. My favourite city escapes in the city are by far Royal National Park, Vaucluse House, Parsley Bay and Nielsen Park.

Unlike the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains, Royal National Park is still within Sydney. The are some beautiful bush walks, secret beaches and waterfalls to be discovered. You can walk through the rain forest, sandstone or bush and the air is so fresh you can completely forget you are so close to home.

For closer to home still there are a couple of spots in the eastern suburbs that are so peaceful it is amazing they have stayed this way. Not so good for drivers as parking is very limited but Parsley Bay is so secluded there is almost it can be a little eerie! But perfect for those who want to hide with a book and forget the city for awhile.

Vaucluse House and the beautiful gardens that surround are incredibly peaceful and allow you to take in some history at the same time. There are tearooms if you feel like a quite afternoon catching up with friends or there are often smaller scale events such as jazz in the gardens which make for such a nice evening so keep an eye on the Historic Houses Trust website to plan your visit.

Finally if you need to escape with the family in tow, why not visit Nielsen Park. This little harbour beach is the perfect spot for a relaxing family picnic and those who are prepared to make a short walk will rewarded with spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour. There is also a little cafe here but it would pay to check out the Nielsen Park website before your visit to see opening times, etc.

On Your Bike

Cycling is a great way to keep fit and be kind to the environment. Luckily Sydney’s cycle network is growing and our city is providing more options for greener commuting then ever. But cycling for necessity is not all that Sydney has to offer. Manly Dam, Royal National Park and the Blue Mountains offer terrific mountain bike tracks for all levels, whether you want to take the kids out for some fresh air or are an adrenaline junkie seeking your next thrill. The Royal National Park’s website provides details on which tracks are suitable for cycling, but to get more help choosing the right track for you check out the TrailFlix website.

If you don’t own your own bicycle, or are just looking for a slower pace, jump onto the City of Sydney cycleways website to find your nearest cycle paths. Bike hire is available at Centennial Park Cycles who offer competitive hourly rates and are located in the heart of Centennial Park, a mecca for Sydney cyclists of all levels.

Finally, if you are after a bicycle tour, pay a visit to Bonza Bike Tours in The Rocks or Manly Bike Tours. Both Bonza Bikes and Manly Bike Tours offer a range of tours at reasonable prices.

Home Sweet Sydney

Missing Sydney traffic is not something I expected to experience when I went to Canberra for the weekend. So, while it took me by surprise, I guess this means I really can call Sydney home now that ‘home’ is no longer where my heart is. What once seemed a beautiful comfortable place to watch my life flitter before my eyes now seems slow and incredibly ordinary - I no longer feel right if I can’t get a kebab at 3am, and a good one at that.

I pondered what it is that makes Sydney so captivating amidst all the hustle and bustle. Then I think of when an STA driver will stop two metres after the stop to let me on or when someone lets me turn into the peak hour traffic on George Street, or a work friend sharing the location of their latest favourite yum cha - often a 30 minute drive but so worth it. What I love about Sydney is that it isn't comfortable, it is a challenge, yet so often I see the locals of Sydney helping each other out to conquer this urban jungle. Maybe on my trip down south I picked up some rose coloured glasses but I know one thing for sure, the pace isn’t slow, the people are amazing and I rarely find myself bored in Sydney.

Now, if you were wondering where that tasty late night kebab is hiding they are at Hey Hey Kebabs, Parramatta Road, Auburn. Sure it's a trek out west but they are the best kebabs in Sydney.

Take your Little Monkeys to the Zoo!

Every sydney-sider has been at least once, but come school holidays Sydney's Taronga Zoo is a venue that can't be missed. Tickets can be purchased online to save time and a kids ticket costs only $22 - great value for a full day out! 

Come along between the 2nd and 18th of July 2011 and the kids can also tackle the Herald Mystery Trail where they will collect all the clues to solve the zoo investigation.

And don't forget big kids have fun at the zoo too! Enjoy a walk through the jungle followed by lunch at one of the zoo's many eateries or share a picnic to enjoy the stunning views of Sydney Harbour.

All the advice you need to plan your day out is on the zoo's website.

A Foodies Paradise

I discovered Pasta Emilia at The Rocks Markets a few years back and fell in love with their delectable truffle cream pasta sauce - seriously it is to die for! In fact, team Pasta Emilia’s fresh made pasta with any of their beautiful pasta sauces – inspired by the Italian city of Emilia – and you will be sure to impress your family, guests and yourself as you can create an instant meal worthy of gossip amongst friends.

Better yet they also offer cooking classes so you can have a go at recreating Pasta Emilia’s epicurean paradise yourself.

Keep an eye out for them at local markets. If you cannot wait, Pasta Emilia’s boutique store is located at 129 Macpherson Street in Bronte, for opening hours, contact details or to register your interest for cooking classes, visit their website at http://www.emilia.com.au/.

Get your Skates On!

Ice Skating is back at Bondi this winter! As part of the Bondi Winter Magic Festival an ice skating rink will be set up on Bondi Beach from 30 June to 17 July. An adult ticket is $26 for 45 minutes of ice skating and skate hire, a pretty small price to pay for a really unique winter activity. Or better yet take the kids to try out the Ice Fun Slide - a first in Australia - with three slides costing only $7.50. Tickets are selling fast for skating and slides so jump onto the Bergstation website to get yours now!

Ice skating is not the only thing happening in Bondi throughout the colder months and the Winter Magic Festival event calendar is packed with great activities like the Ice Ball to raise money for Epilepsy Action Australia on 23 July and the Art on the Streets on 9-10 July where anyone can create their own chalk masterpiece right in Bondi. Details about these and many other events are available on the Bondi Winter Magic Festival website.

The Two Best Views from the Bridge

So we all know that the highlight of any cash-flash tourist's visit to Sydney is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. The combination of height, a touch of adrenaline, the best view of Sydney Harbour that $198-$298 can buy, and the awesome happy snaps to take back home make for a must-not-miss for visitors to Sydney. The bridge climb is well worth the payment and if you have the money to burn it ensures an unforgettable experience not only for tourists but also for locals wanting to know what all the fuss is about. 

In saying this, there is another option which should not be dismissed to quickly. It is not the same as the bridge climb experience but at only $11 entry there is an incredible view of the harbour to be seen from the top if the southern Harbour Bridge pylon. Truly a budget way to get an million dollar view.

Information for both experiences can be found on their websites at Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb and Pylon Lookout.

Discovering Breakfast in Coogee

I'll admit i'm a breakfast in Bondi kinda girl... And why not - with the markets, surfing and skating comps to entertain, and backpacker prices it makes for a perfect Sunday morning out.. 

But today I decided to try something different and head further south to Coogee beach for my Sunday ritual. And I was pleasantly surprised. Parking was easy, the atmosphere was relaxed and the sun was out - thank you for a sunny day at last! I quickly discovered that the prices are not so backpacker along the cafe strip on Coogee Bay Road but it is still a popular spot with barely a spare table at the six or so cafes to choose from. We settled on Tropicana Cafe as they serve Campos coffee and I chose the breakfast bruschetta. The service was great and I had my delicious brekky in no time. The bruschetta was awesome, basically scrambled eggs on sourdough with a basil, tomato and persian fetta salad - yum! Followed up with the obligatory stroll along the beach, although not too much was going on.

All in all I think I will definitely be heading back to Coogee soon, but at $18 for a breaky I don't think i'm converted, my breakfast still belongs in Bondi.

Horse Riding Close to Home

With school holidays fast approaching I thought I would look into an activity that is fun for the whole family. So I have checked out three options for horse riding close to Sydney over the past couple of weeks: Malabar Riding School, Glenworth Valley Hording and Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre.

Malabar and Centennial Parklands both offer horse riding close to Sydney CBD and are well equipped to cater for adults and children as young as three years. Malabar includes helmet hire in the $65 fee for a one hour trail ride which will take you along the scenic east coast of Sydney and provide a stunning backdrop for a family day out. Centennial Parklands has five different riding schools in the one complex so you will be sure to find a ride and budget that suits you. The pace is somewhat slow at both locations but is a great activity to ease school holiday boredom.

Glenworth Valley is located about an hour and a half from the Sydney CBD and provides a different experience altogether. There are still pony rides for toddlers, although it is the adults and older children who will really enjoy the horse riding here. $75 will get you a two hour ride but helmet hire is an essential extra at $5 per helmet. The trail rides are through vast bushland and provide a unique experience for city-dwellers. The riding is at a faster pace at Glenworth Valley and for those who ride regularly there is an option for independent ‘free-riding’. Watch the weather carefully though as payment is required in advance with a 48 hour cancellation policy.

So much happening in Sydney so little time to blog!

I was at the State of Origin game last night and must say the NSW supporters did not dissapoint - niether did our team for that matter! Go the Blues! The atmosphere at ANZ Stadium was electric and this event was well worth the not so reasonable ticket price. A hint though: we didn’t buy pre-paid parking but I would definitely recommend buying parking in advance to anyone thinking of heading along next year or be prepared to park up to 1.5 kilomteres from the stadium. Although if you do pay park on the night there is a free carpark shuttle bus which runs every half hour but as the rain had subsided yesterday we decided it was a lovely night for a walk in any case.

Now looking towards the future and this weekend in Sydney! The Sydney Film Festival is still on until 19 June 2011 and with a standard adult ticket costing $17 it is a cheap way to check out some great films and will keep you in out of the cold. Films are showing at The State Theatre, Event Cinemas George Street, Dendy Opera Quays and the Art Gallery Of NSW. Tickets can be bought online at the Sydney Film Festival website which will tell you everything you'll need to know about the event.

If this is still a little above the budget but you still want to spend some time indoors, why not check out the 2011 Archibald Prize Exhibition also at the Art Gallery of NSW. With your $10 entry you will have access to the exhibition and general admission to the main galleries (which are free on there own if $10 is still too much to part with). You could even take a stroll through the botanic gardens just across the road and make a day of it. There is limited parking nearby so public transport is probably your best option. You can find public transport and exhibition details all on the Gallery website.