While away those Australian summer evenings down by Sydney Harbour.
So as the temperature in Britain drops to below freezing, schools close and roads are gridlocked, wouldn’t it be nice to get away from it all? Somewhere where the sun is shining, the skies are blue and the unmistakable smell of barbeques are wafting through the calm, balmy air. Where else would this be than Sydney, the most populated city of Australia and THE place to be this winter!
Do you really need more good reasons to visit Sydney at this time of year? Well, for those of you in any doubt, here are just a few!
Vivacity begins in earnest in Sydney. It’s a whole month packed full of outdoor festivities, entertainment, music and events to celebrate the energy and vibe of this buzzing city. It incorporates Australia Day and the Sydney Festival as well as much much more. If there was ever a good month to visit Sydney, it would be January. If you plan on visiting this month read our guide to what’s on and get caught up in the party atmosphere!
Sydney Festival
From the 9th to the 30th of January Sydney really comes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of festival season. Best of all, Sydney Festival is absolutely FREE! A host of musicians will be playing including Marianne Faithfull and a plethora of other stars bringing you the very best in jazz, dance, rock, pop, blues – whatever musical genre tickles your fancy you can bet that one of your favourite stars will be headlining this event.
Theatre, visual arts, performances, dance and all manner of entertainment will also be taking to the streets of Sydney as Sydneysiders get ready to party the glorious days of January away. The atmosphere is truly electric and there is something for everyone, free kids entertainment and plenty of refreshments to keep you going all day and night.
Australia Day
One of Australia’s biggest barbeques gets underway in Hyde Park as thousands of people from all over Australia come to join in the picnic. So pack yourself a couple of deckchairs and a few tins and head on over to the park where people will be asking if you want to throw another shrimp on the barbie. Add the live music and performers and you really do have a barbeque to remember!
Hidden Networks By George!
Discover the hidden inter-connected laneways dotted about Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD) with this exciting and innovative project by urban designer Dr Steffan Lehman. Temporary artworks have transformed the area and challenge the viewer to think about their future and concept of space itself. The artworks have been designed and created by architects, urban designers, musicians, landscape artists, poets and even a scientist and a lawyer! Challenge your own ideas and way of thinking with these very special and unique artworks. Print off a walking map from thelanewaysbygeorge website.
Try tasting summer in a glass!
Summery Cocktails
After all that walking and dancing you might want a sip of something cool and refreshing and what better than to sample one of Sydney’s cocktails made especially for the festival. Head on over to Alira on Jones Bay Wharf and order one of their Sundowner cocktails. It’s a special blend of vanilla vodka, Aperol, pink grapefruit and Campari ice cubes. Perfect for chilling out!
If you’ve spent the day shopping on Crown Street and need to put your feet up, you might want to check out Low 302 nearby and order a Piccadilly’s Real Citrus. A deliciously tangy mix of cucumber vodka, Pimms, Rosso Antico, lime and ginger. A real fruity drink with a pleasing Carribbean twist.
And staying with the Carribbean theme, Springtime in Tokyo has been described as “summer in a glass” and is a unique mix created by Julian Terna from Sake Restaurant and Bar in The Rocks. Julian uses his expertise to whisk together a cool martini-style drink made with sake fat-washed with roasted coconut, Appleton Reserve and topped with fresh pineapple juice. Even though it’s snowing outside right now, I can already taste the summer!
Bollywood
Forget Hollywood, Bollywood is heading to Sydney this season, well to Parramatta to be exact. This suburb on the outer-western fringe of Sydney could be described as Sydney’s multicultural heart with its strong links to an indigenous past and a thriving and eclectic local community. As with all multicultural areas, it has a bold creative and cultural feel that is reflected in its architecture as well as its food.
A R Rahman is the man behind the Bollywood flavour to Sydney’s Festival and if you liked the dance scene from Slumdog Millionaire then you’ll need to get to Parramatta Park on the 16th January as hundreds of dancers and singers converge on the park to give a free rendition of the famous soundtrack and dance scene.
Medibank International
If tennis is your thing then this should be right up your street. All the big names of tennis gather together in what promises to be the best tennis event of 2010 – Wimbledon eat your heart out! Sydney has the likes of Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva and Lleyton Hewitt competing in this nationally renowned event. Plus in an exclusive comeback Justine Henin will be returning to tennis especially to play at the Medibank International.
With off-court entertainment from the likes of Ian Moss, Wes Carr and Cassie Davies this really is your ticket to the world! See Medibank International for more details and to get your limited tickets.
Merchant in Venice performed on the banks of the famous Sydney Harbour.
Shakespearean Sydney
If you like a bit of classical literature then you simply have to head down to Sydney’s Harbour for a rendition of Shakespeare by moonlight. Twelfth Night and the Merchant of Venice will both be performed on the harbour foreshore by the Sydney Shakespeare Festival organisers every Thursday to Sunday starting at 8pm from the 7th of January through until Valentine’s Day on the 14th of February – a must then for all lovers heading for a romantic break in the city.
There are many more events organised in the city, such as Live Music in the Library and Romancing the Bones. If you want a complete list of events happening in Sydney this winter (if you’re in the UK, or summer if in Australia) then check out the city of Sydney events calendar, or the NSW tourism guide to Sydney.
There has never been a better place to spend the start of a new decade. With so much going on throughout the day and night, you’ll never want to leave this magical city! Good job we’ve provided a migration guide then for all those wanting a piece of Sydney for good. In fact Sydney is one of the top cities for Brits emigrating to Australia, and with all this free entertainment under blue skies and a golden sun, I might just be tempted to join them!
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