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Posts Tagged ‘Things to do in Sydney’

Week 47 ~ U is for Underground Bars

Posted: November 22, 2015 in Bars
Tags: small small bars, Sydney, Things to do in Sydney

Sydney’s small bar scene has changed a lot in the past few years as the local council has changed licencing laws to make them more viable.

The result is a really healthy mix of small bars, many of them underground, many of them completely un-advertised. Only through social media would you find a bar like Baxters – up a small alleyway and tucked around under a building in the corner.

We went to 3 underground bars –

Stitch Bar in York St, easily identified by the array of old Singer Sewing machines at street level
The Baxter Inn, a whisky bar in Clarence St, and
The Lobo Plantation, a rum bar in Clarence St

Secret Sydney. Fascinating.

Stitch Bar at street level

Underground

Stitch Bar

Baxters – hell of a whisky selection!

The Lobo – Rum Rum Rum

Week 42 ~ P is for Pittwater

Posted: October 17, 2015 in Cafe
Tags: pittwater, Sydney, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

As Peter Fitzimons is fond of saying – Gotta love this city!

Less than 25 kilometres as the crow flies from the CBD, Church Point, opposite Scotland Island on Pittwater, north of Sydney.

Just beautiful. Idyllic setting; runabouts doing the Saturday morning shopping and run-around, lanyards slapping against masts, kayaks, fishing, walking, running, cycling.

A beautiful part of Sydney. Breakfast at the The Waterfront Store cafe and then a walk – what a great start to the weekend.

Next door, The Pasadena Motel and Restaurant – closed for the past 6 years after court action regarding its redevelopment – prime site, someone’s losing a lot of money.

The Waterfront Cafe on Pittwater at Church Point

Pittwater, Church Point

Pasadena Motel and Restaurant – closed for the past 6 years

Week 35 ~ I is for ‘igh Tea at the Hydro Majestic

Posted: September 4, 2015 in Cafe, Driving NSW
Tags: blue mountains, 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

Yes, I know it’s a complete cop-out… but we had a lovely day in the Blue Mountains staying at my sister’s house at Hazelbrook while she’s away riding Route 66.

We did a few touristy things – morning tea at the Carrington Hotel at Katoomba

Visited the 3 sisters and Evans Lookout before High Tea at the Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath.

They have done a beautiful job refurbishing this hotel – it’s obvious they’ve spent millions on the renovations and extensions.

Cold beer and champagne, beautiful live piano music in the background and delicious high tea.

Can highly recommend it. A great day out.

Morning Tea at the Carrington at Katoomba

Views over Megalong Valley

High Tea at the Hydro Majestic

Week 33 ~ G is for Gladesville Hospital

Posted: August 16, 2015 in Walking
Tags: Sydney, sydney harbor, Sydney Harbour, Sydney History, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

We bought our first home unit at Gladesville in 1983 and lived there for a few years, but never visited the site of the former Gladesville “Mental Hospital”, a psychiatric hospital, established in 1838 in Gladesville. Its original name was Tarban Creek Lunatic Asylum.

It’s located at Bedlam Point. Those of you who don’t get that connection > look here

It was purpose built to house “lunatics” in 1838, and apparently was a genuine attempt to improve the treatment of the mentally ill, allowing relatives to visit, patients to have access to recreational facilities and worthwhile work in what were once beautiful grounds.

In 1997, all inpatient services were consolidated at the Macquarie (North Ryde) site in Wicks Road.

Beautiful grounds

The pool looks a bit tired, but was probably once pretty advanced for a psych hospital.

Bedlam Point (not joking… it really is called that)

Gorgeous old fig by the water

One of these graves is that of a patient who was a resident there for more than 60 years

Had no idea there was a tunnel under Victoria Road

Imagine being housed in wings like this for perhaps years and years. Imagine the tears shed by inmates and families visiting.

Week 27 ~ A is for Art

Posted: July 4, 2015 in Cafe
Tags: cafe, kids hospital, Sydney, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

Back to the letter A again 🙂

Westmead Kids’ Hospital (The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children Hospital at Westmead, near Parramatta) runs an annual art competition for school children. From the thousands of entries, the best 50 are selected and framed and displayed on the walls of the corridors of the wards.

This has been happening for years, and as a result there’s hundreds of paintings that brighten the walls and corridors for the hundreds of sick kids and their parents, some of whom spend months and months within the confines of the hospital.

Even tough this year’s competition hasn’t been judged, we enjoyed what we saw from previous years.

http://bandagedbear.org.au/schools/operation-art/

This gorgeous Panda is a collage pasted onto newsprint.

My Daddy is a lady beetle

Afterwards, we dropped in to Parramatta Park for a coffee at Lachlan’s Cafe.Crap coffee, nice spot though.

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 22 ~ V is for Vivid

Posted: May 31, 2015 in show, Walking
Tags: lighting, Sydney, Sydney Harbour, Things to do in Sydney, vivid, What to do in Sydney this weekend

Sydney’s annual Vivid festival – an annual outdoor lighting festival with light installations and projections. read about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivid_Sydney

Nice 🙂

We filmed a bit of Vivid from the top of the MCA

Drums in Martin Place

From the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Week 21 ~ U is for U-Turn, or Up the Uther way ;)

Posted: May 31, 2015 in Walking
Tags: cycleway, Sydney, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney, What to do in Sydney this weekend

After last week’s little mosey along the Cook’s River from Tempe, we went back there and headed the other way. Turning left at Tempe Station and heading towards the airport, while I guess we didn’t expect to find pristine waters to swim and fish in that close to the airport, we were nonetheless surprised to see some pretty substantial waterfront developments being built around Wolli Creek. If they keep cleaning the river up it’ll be an attractive real estate investment methinks.

And we really didn’t think we’d be enjoying a drink at a club on the Cook’s River… we know where we’ll head for breakfast near the airport next time. Was quite nice!

Plenty of development at Wolli Creek

Disappointing… no fishing in the canal 😉 (Frankly, I’ve heard that lead poisoning isn’t as bad as they make out)

There’s a few nice parks and playgrounds and BBQs along the path

Wolli Creek, and “The Rowers” club on the river.

Shelter shed – you could shoot a 70’s movie in some of these places!

Fishing. Unbelievable!

A hard earned drink at “The Rowers”

The path goes right up to Sydney International Airport

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 18 ~ R is for Reuben Hills

Posted: May 3, 2015 in Cafe
Tags: cafe, Sydney, Sydney weekends, Things to do in Sydney, this weekend in Sydney, Weekends in Sydney

We’ve both been really busy with work this past week and needed to continue doing some more work over the weekend, so just a quick breakfast at a great little cafe in Surrey Hills before hitting the office.

Reuben Hills, a funky little cafe in Surry Hills

A rustic warehouse conversion

Delicious menu

So, this weekend, we…

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