Challenge your fears and knowledge of the plight of the world’s most misunderstood ocean predators with Shark Mission this summer at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
This Summer - Experience New Shark Mission!
- Snorkel with our sharks in the Great Barrier Reef ocean arium*
- See awesome 3 meters + Lemon and Grey Nurse Sharks
- New Shark Nursery with REAL baby sharks
- Interactive discovery touch pool
- Giant cutting-edge touch screens - not to be missed
- Discovery quiz trail for kids
- 7.4 meters replica Great White Shark
- Megalodon shark jaws - perfect photo opportunity!
A Host of New Experiences
See ten live species of sharks and discover what makes these creatures so intriguing in the brand new shark nursery. Marvel at huge real life Lemon Sharks and Grey Nurse Sharks in the new Shark Valley tunnels and touch shark jaws, eggs and more in the interactive discovery area.There are NEW giant interactive touch screens displaying everything you need to know about the King of the Ocean. Kids can delve into a new interactive quiz trail and touch and feel jaws in a hands-on game revealing their diet and play with a 3D maze displaying how sharks use their senses.
Be Amazed by the Size!
Guests can also climb inside the jaws of a Megalodon shark and marvel at the humungous 7.4m replica of the Great White Shark to get a sense of the sheer size of these majestic creatures.COMING SOON*: Shark Reef Snorkel
For the ultimate test of bravery, take the plunge into the Great Barrier Reef exhibit to snorkel amongst the various reef sharks, saw-fish and tropical fish. This brand new Shark Reef Snorkel encounter, that requires no diving experience, will give guests the chance to come face to fin with some of the most amazing creatures of the
Chilled times at Maccallum pool
When the going gets hot, the hot get wet. Forget about battling for towel space with the holiday hordes at Bondi during summer. We've got 10 of Sydney's top spots to cool off covered, from the uncrowded and unknown beaches to harbour pools with knockout views.
British travellers are madly in love with Sydney and here's proof
British tourists' love affair with Sydney has been made official. The Harbour City beat the likes of New York and Paris to win the award for the world's favourite overseas city at the 15th Annual Condé Nast Traveller UK Reader's Choice Awards.
While the win isn't the biggest surprise (been to Bondi lately?), it's still a huge achievement for New South Wales on the global tourism scene.
"Travellers continue to love Sydney for our iconic attractions, the beauty of our natural environment, our unsurpassed lifestyle and outstanding calendar of major events," said CEO Destination NSW Sandra Chipchase.
"It's easy to see why the city is regularly voted by travellers as the best Australian city to visit."
It's another notch in the belt for Sydney, which was also recently voted the number one city in the Condé Nast Traveller USA Reader's Choice Awards; the top Australian city in the Travel+Leisure Awards; and the world's best summer city by Lonely Planet.
British visitors contribute more than $557 million to the New South Wales economy (we wonder how much of that is pints of beer?), with 313,600 coming to NSW each year.
UK travellers are the third-largest tourist group to visit NSW behind Chinese and New Zealand visitors
Things to do in Sydney
View of Sydney from a 'Bridgecimb' tour
You've climbed the bridge, taken a ferry to Manly, walked along Sydney's beaches. What next, you might ask. Here are a couple of hidden gems you won't want to miss.
Inside the big house
Everyone has their photograph taken on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, but wouldn't you like to get a little bit closer than that? The Essential Tour does just what it says, and given it only takes an hour, it's well worth the effort. You get to see inside all the theatres and hear about the trials and tribulations involved in bringing this modern architectural masterpiece to life. The best reason to tag along, however, is the access you get to the Utzon Room, a small reception venue near the main foyer. The room features the building's only true Jørn Utzon interior with colourful 14-metre-long tapestry designed by him while he listened to Bach's Hamburg symphonies. The work was created in Australia by the Victorian Tapestry Workshop and the famous architect didn't see the completed project before he died. The only way the general public can see it is by being invited to a function in the room or by taking this tour. Book online beforehand for a 25 percent discount.Small bars, Sydney-style
Since the recent change in licensing laws, Sydney has tried to play catch-up with Melbourne and small bars have sprung up like incredibly delicious mushrooms. See what I mean at LL Wine & Dine in Kings Cross, hidden away in a space that previously housed an illegal gambling den and swinger’s club (Those hooks in the ceiling? Use your imagination). Or The Passage, open till 3am in Darlinghurst. Burton Street has had its own renaissance, collecting The Commons (Ph: (02) 9358 1487, 32 Burton St, Surry Hills), Pocket Bar (Ph: (02) 9380 7002, 13 Burton Street, Darlinghurst), and everyone’s favourite, Shady Pines Saloon (Shop 5, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst). What about Oxford Street? Try Ching-a-lings (Ph: (02) 9360 3333, 133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst). Or head further afield to the Absinthe Salon (Ph: (02) 9211 6632, 87 Albion St, Surry Hills) if you like your drinks dangerous (and green).What a difference a street makes
As a local, you often wonder what overseas visitors must make of Campbell Parade, the long thoroughfare that runs parallel to the famous stretch of sand at Bondi Beach. It's lined with dead-ordinary shops selling surf wear and cheap CDs, and overpriced cafes that mostly don't even have a decent view. Here's a tip: head one street back to Gould Street and you'll find a strip of cool stores, such as Ksubi, Tuchuzy, Milk Bar, Electric Monkeys and Me + Moo, which all have amazing streetwear. Another lovely lane is the tree-lined Curlewis Street, where you'll find Tea Petal for fashion, ceramics and flowers, and one of the best brekkie spots in Bondi, The Shop.To market
The best way to gauge the pulse of a city is often by checking out its transient markets alongside the locals. Sydney has a score of them, and the one that’s right for you depends on what you’re looking for. For food, the dependable weekly choice has become Eveleigh Farmer's Market at Carriageworks, a short walk from Redfern Station (Saturday, 8am-1pm). For a more adventurous and rewarding choice take a bus to Marrickville for the organic food market instead (Sunday, 8:30am-2pm). For the treasure hunting and those slogan t-shirts, hit up the ever-popular Glebe Markets (Saturday, 10am-4pm). Gourmet food exists alongside recycled fashion and left-wing socialist stalls. For something a bit more organised, designers peddling their wares and original artworks, you're safe at Paddington Markets, taking over the local school every Saturday right on Oxford Street (10am-4pm).Lunch like a king
Sydney is renowned for its huge array of fine-diners, but when you’re on a big trip and big night out can make a substantial hole in your travelling funds. Luckily, some smart chefs are doing special Friday-only lunches that deliver much more than the final bill would suggest. At Marque, Mark Best’s dishes are inspired by molecular gastronomy but still resemble food. However, the $145 dinner degustation menu can leave the credit card with a little indigestion (especially when we add another $75 to the bill to have matched wines). At lunch, however, you get three courses (plus an amuse bouche of chaud-froid egg) for $45. The menu changes each week. Other favourites are Assiette, where Warren Turnbull turns out three courses of excellent Euro-inspired dishes for $35, and Foveaux Restaurant & Bar, where you get three courses of Darrell Felstead’s creative cuisine for $40.Perfect picnics: Sydney
Beautiful Balmoral Beach
A picnic in the great outdoors is one of the best ways to spend a long lazy afternoon, and Sydney boasts some great locations to find a patch of grass.
Whether it's a bushland park ringing with the calls of kookaburras and cockatoos, a harbour island, a gorgeous garden or a shady park with a beach close at hand, you can find the perfect setting in Sydney for a memorable picnic.By the beach
Chinamans Beach, McLean Crescent, Mosman Cupped in a green hollow of lawns and shady trees, this harbour-side gem is one that the locals prefer to keep a secret. There's plenty of space here so bring frisbees, footballs and cricket bats as well as picnic essentials. The well-protected beach, with its toddler-sized waves, is the icing on the cake.Balmoral Beach, The Esplanade, Mosman
The long and shady parkland bracketing this north-side beach is a stunning backdrop for a summer picnic, with lawns, a playground, shade under the stately Norfolk Island pines and plenty of recreational options. Take a dip, hire a catamaran and head for the modish cafes at the back of the beach for espresso, cakes and fish and chips.Bondi Beach, Sydney
Bondi Beach is one of Australia's most famous beaches and among the world's most well-known beaches. The beach is roughly a kilometre long and is patrolled by lifesavers who make swimmers stay between the yellow and red flags.
Darook Park, Darook Park Road, Cronulla
Overlooking the placid waters off Gunnamatta Bay to bushland on the far side, this south-side beauty has plenty of shady spots on the lawns which slope down to the water. There's plenty of enjoyable swimming in the protected waters of the bay and, although it's popular, there's space to escape even on the hottest weekend.At the park
Centennial Park, Oxford Street, Paddington Once the reservoir that supplied Sydney with water, this sprawling, 189-hectare parkland has something for everyone: stately palm avenues, a shady paperbark grove, duck ponds, statues, lawns, flowerbeds and birds. And it's a great place to observe Sydney's fashionable eastern suburbanites society at play.
Lake Parramatta Reserve, Bourke Street, North Parramatta
Based around a freshwater reservoir rimmed by natural bushland, this beautiful 73-hectare reserve is a glorious spot for warm-weather picnics. Among the highlights are native birds and wildflowers, as well as rock shelters and hand-stencils which bear witness to a long history of Aboriginal habitation.EG Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens, corner of President Avenue and Kareena Road, Caringbah
This tranquil oasis was created 40 years ago and now features many rare species of camellias and azaleas, set against lawns, duck ponds, cascading water and bridges. Spring brings a brilliant flush of colour to the gardens, but they're serene and they make for a perfect picnic spot all year round.On the harbour
Jubilee Park, Glebe Point Road, Glebe
At the water's edge in Glebe, this luscious parkland has been rehabilitated, with a lovely promenade walk wrapped around the shores of Blackwattle Bay — which has only enhanced the already existing shady Moreton Bay figs, playground, sports oval and acres of lawns. Delis and cafes in Glebe Point Road can supply your gourmet picnic ingredients.Strickland House, Hermitage Foreshore Walk, via Carrara Road, Vaucluse
The grounds of this harbour-side villa, which was used as a location for Baz Luhrmann's film epic, Australia, are tailor-made for picnics in the grand manner. It's a 10-minute walk from the nearest parking, but well worth it for the dazzling harbour views alone. Bring swimmers for a dip at Milk Beach.Wendy's Secret Garden, Lavender Street, Lavender Bay
Small and perfectly formed, this green heaven of tree ferns, palms and a massive fig tree frames a view of one of Sydney's loveliest coves, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House as a backdrop. A haven for chattering parrots, gulls, kookaburras and wagtails, the garden was created by Wendy Whiteley in memory of her husband, Brett, one of Sydney's favourite painters, who lived nearby.Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Bordering the city centre, this sublime botanical wonderland incorporates palm groves, rose gardens, ponds and fountains, shady lawns and a treasury of tropical and temperate trees, wrapped around a harbour cove. Follow the waterline to Mrs Macquarie's Chair for one of Sydney's best viewSee Sydney 007 style
Sydney Tower, QT Sydney, James Bond
Bond, James Bond. He's travelled from Britain to the Bahamas, India to Istanbul — even Iceland. And, any avid 007 fan would know the globetrotting spy hasn't had secret duties in Sydney, yet. So, if the agent was to come Down Under here's where we think you'll find him.
The style and sexiness, glitz and glamour of Bond can be found at Sydney's QT Hotel. Behind an art-deco façade that used to be Gowings department store — a local landmark — is a kaleidoscope of classic and contemporary design showcasing the building's rich past that fuses original features with cutting-edge designer furniture and found objects. The history of the Gowings building is not just celebrated, but brought back to life in this 200-room hotel.
Great food and hip decor make Gowings Bar and Grill a novel place to eat. With a hefty yellowfin tuna exhibited behind the open-kitchen, a fish dish is on the cards to sample. We go for the tartare of yellowfin tuna ($18). Fine slices of tuna are dressed with fresh horseradish, preserved lemon and capped with a long sesame grissini. Items from the wood fired oven have us wooed; there's whole flounder with lemon caper sauce ($39) and the hand dived wild scallops served with sea-urchin, lemon and mint butter (market price). Then, after dinner do as Bond would — move upstairs to Gilt Lounge for a cocktail. The 'Applewood bacon old fashioned' grabs our attention. Made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, the signature cocktail is infused with bacon, peppercorn with a dash of bitters topped with a chocolate covered bacon and flamed orange ($19).
Like a breath of fresh sea air, The Sailor's Club has swept through the Eastern Suburbs eating scene. Not only is there a great fit-out of bright decor and sun-lounges on Rose Bay’s sunny sea edge, the menu features a modern twist on comforting favourites like fish and chips, burgers and Osso Bucco. Make a Bond-style entrance by arriving in a luxurious classic Italian wooden speedboat and when it's time to leave get whisked away in a chauffeur-driven Jaguar — a gentleman's wager on wheels. If you prefer something more sporty hire an Aston Martin for the day; passenger-side ejector seat, guns and revolving number plates not included.
To feel like a secret agent explore Walsh Bay, even Sydney-siders forget about this nook of the city. As you enter the precinct you're confronted with a wrecked car that's that been crushed by a rock (an artwork by Jimmie Durham). The area has become a cultural hub cultivating sculpture art and theatre among a growing food scene in an environment that, again, successfully marries historic architecture and with contemporary design and boasts views across Sydney Harbour.
If you've been mesmerised by some of Bond's pursuits in exotic locations wander from Walsh Bay to Chinatown through the bustle of Darling Harbour and onto Pyrmont Bay. Luckily, you won't have to battle nemesis forces or dodge assassins to do so. Before the area became trendy, Pyrmont was once a thriving industrial area that deteriorated to slums when industry moved on. Nowadays it's home to The Star casino and media enterprises including Fairfax, Google and network studios. For gadget gurus a trip to the Powerhouse Museum is sure to excite. The museum celebrates innovation, science, technology and the environment we live in showcasing bright ideas and hands-on interactive displays.
For a gripping experience in the heart of city head up Sydney Tower. At 309 metres it's the highest point in the state and boasts 360-degree views of the city. If you have the courage, march onto the Skywalk plank. If hanging over the tower's edge isn't your thing you can take in the city views from an observation deck inside the building. For a meal high above the fray make your way to O Bar and Dining, previously Summit Restaurant at Australia Square, Sydney's first major office tower. The establishment is perched 47 floors above the city and prides itself on healthy, gourmet modern Australian dining. It's a rotating restaurant without the hordes of tourists and has views that are as outstanding as the fare.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island. You can call it hidden natural treasure. It is host of an endangered species of wild dogs, Dingos, and several types of fish found only in Australia. With the beaches that looks like haven, it is very popular holiday destination for people all over the world.
Five ways to have fun on Fraser Island:
1. On four wheels or in flight
2. With rare and spectacular nature
3. Sleeping under the stars or in luxury lodgings
4. Watching wildlife
5. Hot on the heels of Aboriginal and European history
Cairns
The gateway to Queensland’s tropical north, Cairns is a stylish
city, which is also renowned for its relaxed, tropical climate and laid
back ambience. With islands, rainforests and reefs on its doorstep, from
Cairns you can swim, snorkel, dive and sail the World Heritage-listed
Great Barrier Reef. Immerse yourself in the World Heritage Wet Tropics
Rainforest, or take the scenic railway to the tranquil,
butterfly-fringed village of Kuranda and cruise amongst colourful
parrots, platypus and fresh water crocodiles.
Don’t miss staying in an eco-lodge in the magical Daintree Rainforest, the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest, which the local Aboriginal people have named ‘Wawu-karrba’, or ‘healing of the spirit’. A cruise along the mangrove-lined Daintree River will reveal crocodiles and turtles in clear, sparkling streams. Take the aerial walkway or one of the many hiking trails to experience the extraordinary diversity of life to be found here. Travel north to the remote frontier of Cape Tribulation and connect with Aboriginal culture.
The Pacific Coast Touring Route from Cairns to the capital city of Brisbane, travels through Townsville, Mackay, and Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. It features many of Queensland’s greatest coastal landscapes, pristine islands and World Heritage-listed national parks along the way.
If you are seeking thrilling adventures, looking to connect with aboriginal experiences or simply want to immerse yourself in an exotic tropical rainforest, Cairns has it all within easy reach.
Port Douglas Australia is just an hour’s drive north from Cairns via a spectacular coastal road that is surrounded by forest and the Coral Sea.
It is the only place on Earth where two World Heritage listed jewels exist; the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest of Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
We all need time out now and again, enter a laid back tropical oasis with sophisticated worldly comforts offering a small friendly village atmosphere. Go from business suit to barefoot and frantic to free. Refresh, restore and revitalise, in the aquamarine reef waters of the Coral Sea, the crystal creeks of Mossman Gorge, and the palm fringed golden sands of Port Douglas Four Mile Beach.
Discover the breathtaking northern tropics of Australia through pristine Daintree Rainforest walks and safaris, diving and snorkelling the reef and sailing the waterways. Be inspired by the amazing array of nature and wildlife and glorious simplicity.
The climate is seductive. Balmy days dissolve into tropical evenings with velvet starry skies. The tropics are a feast for the senses; the sights, sounds and tastes; you will never want to leave!
Don’t miss staying in an eco-lodge in the magical Daintree Rainforest, the planet’s oldest surviving tropical rainforest, which the local Aboriginal people have named ‘Wawu-karrba’, or ‘healing of the spirit’. A cruise along the mangrove-lined Daintree River will reveal crocodiles and turtles in clear, sparkling streams. Take the aerial walkway or one of the many hiking trails to experience the extraordinary diversity of life to be found here. Travel north to the remote frontier of Cape Tribulation and connect with Aboriginal culture.
The Pacific Coast Touring Route from Cairns to the capital city of Brisbane, travels through Townsville, Mackay, and Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. It features many of Queensland’s greatest coastal landscapes, pristine islands and World Heritage-listed national parks along the way.
If you are seeking thrilling adventures, looking to connect with aboriginal experiences or simply want to immerse yourself in an exotic tropical rainforest, Cairns has it all within easy reach.
Port Douglas
Port Douglas Australia is just an hour’s drive north from Cairns via a spectacular coastal road that is surrounded by forest and the Coral Sea.
It is the only place on Earth where two World Heritage listed jewels exist; the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforest of Daintree and Cape Tribulation.
We all need time out now and again, enter a laid back tropical oasis with sophisticated worldly comforts offering a small friendly village atmosphere. Go from business suit to barefoot and frantic to free. Refresh, restore and revitalise, in the aquamarine reef waters of the Coral Sea, the crystal creeks of Mossman Gorge, and the palm fringed golden sands of Port Douglas Four Mile Beach.
Discover the breathtaking northern tropics of Australia through pristine Daintree Rainforest walks and safaris, diving and snorkelling the reef and sailing the waterways. Be inspired by the amazing array of nature and wildlife and glorious simplicity.
The climate is seductive. Balmy days dissolve into tropical evenings with velvet starry skies. The tropics are a feast for the senses; the sights, sounds and tastes; you will never want to leave!