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Week 49 ~ W is for Wendy Whiteley’s Garden

Posted: December 6, 2015 in Sydney Harbour
Tags: garden, Sydney, sydney harbor, Sydney Harbour, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, what to do in Sydney

After the death of her husband (artist Brett Whitely) Wendy Whiteley started to clean up and landscape a large patch of derelict land adjacent to her home in Lavender Bay, owned by the NSW Rail Corporation. It was choked by weeds, overgrown and strewn with old train carriages, abandoned refrigerators, rotting mattresses and broken bottles, and some homeless people sometimes slept there.

The Rail Corporation had no interest in doing anything with it, and they raised no objections to her beautifying the area.

Over 15 years, it has become a coveted spot for those who have heard about or chanced upon it, with random benches in quiet spots, secluded paths, and a spectacular view to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It’s affectionately known by locals as “Wendy’s Secret Garden”, although the public have always had free access.

In October 2015, the New South Wales Government, which owns the land, agreed to give the North Sydney Council a 30-year renewable lease on it. [so says wikipedia]

So on a beautiful Sydney early summer Saturday evening we headed over to the garden with champagne and nibbles to see it for ourselves. We weren’t disappointed.

The first person we came across, working just below her house, was Wendy Whiteley herself.

Sydney Royalty

This was definitely one of the best things we have done this year.
We’ll be back with interstate and overseas visitors for sure 🙂
The gardens have hidden spots with tables and chairs, views, steps and stairs that just draw you to climbing and exploring.

Lovely statues are dotted around the place. Winner winner.

Beautiful Moreton Bay or Port Jackson Fig, with Whiteley’s house behind

Whiteley’s house

Week 41 ~ O is for Opera Bar

Posted: October 10, 2015 in Sydney Harbour
Tags: barangaroo, opera house, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney History, Sydney weekends, Weekends in Sydney, what to do in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

A new arrival in Sydney – Barangaroo.

On the headland just west of the Harbour Bridge is Sydney’s newest urban park. Barangaroo was a local Kamaraygal woman who was the second wife of Bennelong, an important interlocutor between the Aboriginal people and the early British colonists in New South Wales. (wikipedia)

We wandered around this new park (it’s quite beautiful) and then made our way around the foreshore to the Opera Bar for a drink at the Opera House before a walk through the Botanical Gardens and home.

Quite lovely.

Looking south from Barangaroo towards Glebe

Looking west towards Balmain

Drinks at the Opera Bar

Week 32 ~ F is for Fort Denison

Posted: August 8, 2015 in Sydney Harbour, Transport, Walking

Old and new

Fort Denison, in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Beautiful winter’s day for a picnic.

Move on. Nothing to see here

Sneaky beer and wine with our ploghman’s lunch, sheltering from the wind.

Half way through the year

Posted: June 29, 2015 in Sydney Harbour

So, we’ve done A-Z, now to start again.

Given that we were near the AnZac Bridge, Robyn thought this picture was a nice way to mark the occasion.

Week 26 ~ Z is for Zebra Lounge

Posted: June 29, 2015 in Cafe, Sydney Harbour, Walking
Tags: breakfast, cafe, Jacksons Landing, Pyrmont, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney History, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, what to do in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

Right at the end of Harris St (no. 1 Harris), by the water at Pyrmont, is the Zebra Lounge.

We had a beautiful breakfast there – delicious food and fantastic presentation. Coffees were a bit slow, but otherwise, can highly recommend it.

This Jackson’s landing area has been really nicely done so it’s a great place to have a wander afterwards.

This site has some history about the area, and its links to CSR, and there’s a fabulous photo gallery as well.

Week 19 ~ S is for Sav Blanc at Sunset on Sydney Harbour with Seafood

Posted: May 10, 2015 in Sydney Harbour, Walking
Tags: Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, what to do in Sydney

Google Best place to watch the sunset in Sydney and one of the suggestions is by the Bridge at Kirribilli.

After a busy week away for me, Robyn and I headed out at about 430 pm and bought some fish and chips before walking down to Jeffrey St Wharf at Kirribilli. There’s a lovely waterfront path heading east from the wharf. It must be a nice spot – we were the only two people there without a bridal party in tow – photographers, brides, grooms and their parties were the order of the day. A beautiful afternoon for their big day 🙂

The city looks gorgeous from here, especially at sunset. It’s a beautiful harbour.

That really IS Savignon Blanc! You’ll just have to believe me 😉

Week 17 ~ Q is for Quay – Circular Quay

Posted: April 26, 2015 in Sydney Harbour, Walking

ANZAC Day. I agree with many who argue this is our most significant day of the year.

We went down to Circular Quay to see the ANZAC images cast onto the pylons for the ANZAC centenary.

Beautiful.

We were hoping to see the poppy park down at Circular Quay as well, but by the time we got there after the sunset ceremony it had been taken down. Bugga 😦

Earlier in the day we went into the city for my first (ever) ANZAC Day march. Not many of the old brigade left – a few who joined under the age of 16 still here from WWII.
Appreciative crowd, terrific bands from schools and clubs; I love that our national day of remembrance is not one that celebrates a glorious victory but rather the futility of war.

Late in the day we headed back into Martin Place for the sunset ceremony. Teaming rain, thunder, lightning, but on queue the rain stopped for a moving tribute to the fallen from all wars.

#proud

ANZAC images cast onto the Harbour Bridge

Representing all the diggers from WWI. A riderless horse with the boots in the stirrups facing backwards

Not many left now

Week 14 ~ N is for Neutral Bay

Posted: April 5, 2015 in Sydney Harbour
Tags: breakfast, Coffee, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, weekend, Weekends in Sydney, what to do in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

Easter, and an opportunity to enjoy the company of Phil and Jill Walker, friends from Canberra and the brains behind this year’s alphabet theme.

After 2 days of solid rain, the sun came out and a chance to enjoy a lovely breakfast at Ripples Cafe at Chowder Bay before heading towards Neutral Bay to walk around Cremorne Point and show off the most beautiful kilometre this city has to offer.

Chowder Bay

Ripples Cafe at Chowder Bay

Georges Head, with the city in the background.

Georges Head, with South Head in the background.

Georges Head, with the city in the background.

Cremorne Point, such a beautiful spot so close to the Harbour Bridge and city

Cremorne Point has beautiful gardens, some established years ago by some of the local residents and maintained now by the council.

And this, just a kilometre or so from the heart of the city.

A beautiful morning after 2 solid days of rain

Lighthouse at the end of the point, looking towards the Heads

Near Cremorne Ferry Wharf

The western shore of the path, facing The Bridge

Week 12 ~ L is for a walk from Lavender Bay to Luna Park and a coffee at the Lindt Cafe

Posted: March 22, 2015 in Sydney Harbour
Tags: free city walking tour, Sydney, sydney harbor, Sydney Harbour, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, what to do in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

Saturday afternoon we headed out to Lavender Bay, near North Sydney, to walk from there around the foreshore to Luna Park. Historically typical of foreshore land being used for industry in the past couple of centuries, as recently as 2005 small ships were still being built at a boat shed there on land that is now a mixture of apartments worth millions of dollars and beautiful grass parkland (with brides at every turn!) We parked at Blues Point Tower (what a great spot to watch the fireworks on New Year’s Eve)

Stairs leading down to the foreshore at Lavender Bay

Boat building, baths, welding, slipways… such recent history

The path is populated with these whimsical characters/statues/caricatures.

Picnic ground out the back of Luna Park

And then a hot chocolate at the Lindt Cafe. 95 days after that December morning, thousands of people came, not to gawk I believe, but to just quietly make sure these bastards don’t win.

Wendy Whitely, Brett Whiteley’s widow, has a garden down that way… might file that idea away for W