On 18th December, I flew out to Sydney to spend a few days with friends prior to a scheduled Christmas stop-over in South Australia - with the lure of Shiraz country and wild coastal roads.
Sydney is one of my favourite cities. I love spending a couple of days in the capital, shuttling around the harbour on the glorious commuter ferries, quaffing Rock Oysters ocean-side and stomping through the CBD - with her old colonial heritage, buxom panoramas and mega-watt sky.
This December, I dropped by to check out the Pullman Quay Grand, a boutique hotel, located slap bang in the middle of Circular Quay - boasting enormous views across the bridge and her working harbour. My latest review for Just Luxe can be found here.
Sydney is vast - a series of interconnecting beaches and communities. From Surrey Hills to Watson's Bay, each holds fast with an independent identity. There is plenty to explore. Having spent a significant amount of time on the northern side of the harbour, (Manly rather stole my heart back in 2013), this year I headed down to Coogee, just south of the world-famous Bondi Beach, to hang with some friends, hike along the cliffs and flirt with the surf at Maroubra. And yes, we ate some more oysters (here), went for a midnight swim in the coastal pools, and spent many happy hours at brunch spots by the beach.
Tim Winton's beautiful coastal memoir played loud in my head throughout those few days.
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be, nothing else I would prefer to be doing. I am at the beach looking west with the continent behind me as the sun tracks down to the sea. I have my bearings.”