Blogger: Lauren Lucy Crowley
You may have noticed the OnTheQT crew spent quite some time in Sydney this year! We went on road trips, weekends away, drank delicious coffee, explored off the beaten track and we’ve gathered our top 5 favourite things to do there just for you!
Blue Mountains Camping Trip: The Blue Mountains is a rugged region west of Sydney in Australia’s New South Wales. It is known for dramatic scenery encompassing steep cliffs, eucalyptus forests, stunning waterfalls and gorgeous hiking trails. Katoomba is the main town in the area which is dotted with cute cafes, art galleries and guest houses with an selection of restaurants to choose from to fuel up on before a long trek! (If camping isn’t for you, you will also find alternative accommodations to choose from there!). We camped in Katoomba Falls caravan park which was perfect; great BBQ facilities, clean bathrooms and hot showers – what more could a happy camper wish for! My favourite hiking trail was Wentworth Falls, we followed a steep path down the Mountain side for about an hour before coming to the prettiest waterfall I have ever seen! Luckily we had our swimming togs on so got to hop into some of the freshwater pools to cool down before hiking back up the mountainside! Most definitely a bucket list check! It was amazing! I also loved the Echo view point which has spectacular views of the iconic Three Sisters sandstone rock formation!
Sydney Opera House: Here at OntheQT we love nothing more than discovering hidden gems off the beaten track… however, we also appreciate going to one of the worlds most iconic concert venues for an unforgettable evening of culture! The infamous Sydney Opera House, (now a UNESCO world heritage site) has been identified as one of the 20th century’s most distinctive buildings. It is admired internationally and proudly treasured by the people of Australia (rightly so!). Though its name suggests a single venue, the building comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest of performing arts centres in the world – hosting well over 1,500 performances annually, attended by more than 1.2 million people! We were lucky enough to attend a showing of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” , a childhood favourite of mine! Having collected the tickets, and walked up the red velvet carpets to our seats, we sat there in anticipation waiting for the show to start! The costumes, the lights, the music were simply amazing… I was captivated as I watched on in awe for the entire show!
Spit to Manly Walk: If you’re looking for a nice long walk in the Sydney area, you should definitely check out the Spit to Manly walk! It is approximately 10km in length taking about 3-4 hours (depending on fitness levels) to complete and offers spectacular scenery and view points along the way! You can choose to start at either Spit or Manly – however I decided to start at Spit so that I could end up in Manly to enjoy a nice lunch and catch the ferry back to circular quay in the city!The walkway will take you to on a very picturesque journey, surrounded by wild life animals and beautiful diverse landscapes. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit as you will encounter some stunning secret beaches along the way!
Glebe Markets: Do you enjoy rummaging through vintage clothes, looking for bargains and finding beautiful custom made jewellery whilst having a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning? If so… then you must get to Glebe Markets as you will LOVE it there! Glebe Markets is now one of the longest running markets in Sydney.It is vibrant, lively, and very accessible from the CBD. With a huge selection of products from jewellery, clothes and bags to stationary, flowers and delicious food… you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for!
Watsons Bay: Watsons Bay is one Australia’s oldest fishing villages and as a result remains a popular local inlet famous for its fresh seafood. Doyles restaurant and takeaway on the beach has long been a fine dining Sydney institution for those looking to experience fresh fish, lobsters, prawns and more…. And so we couldn’t resist a seafood picnic on the beach! It was simply delicious! Steeped in history, Watsons Bay is home to several buildings that date back to the 19th Century. St Peter’s Church on Old South Head Road is a tourist favourite, while on the same street there is also a Scout Hall and a former school residence designed by the prominent 19th century Sydney architect George Mansfield. The southern coastal walk will also take you past the site where the fully-rigged passenger ship, “The Dunbar”, was famously shipwrecked in 1857! Accessible by boat or land, and not too far from Sydney CBD (approx.. 11km) I highly recommend taking a day trip to the beautiful Watsons Bay! I assure you, you won’t be disappointed!
Happy Exploring x
