Bronte Escape

Katoomba

Blue Mountains • ~1.5 hrs from Sydney

• 🌄 Three Sisters — iconic rock formation at Echo Point
• 🚡 Scenic World — cable car, railway & skyway rides
• 🥂 Sparkling wine at The Carrington or Hydro Majestic
• ☕ Leura Cafe in nearby Leura village (closes 5pm)
• 🍎 Return via Bilpin — apple orchards & farm stalls

Manly

Northern Beaches • Ferry from Circular Quay

• 🚢 Manly Ferry from Circular Quay — one of the world’s great harbour journeys
• 🏄 Beautiful ocean beach with surf, cafes & restaurants
• 🚶 Manly to Spit Bridge coastal walk — stunning harbour views
• 🦈 SEA LIFE Manly — great for families

Cockatoo Island

Sydney Harbour • Ferry from Circular Quay

• ⚓ UNESCO World Heritage listed convict & industrial site
• 🎨 Regular art exhibitions and cultural events
• ⛺ Unique glamping & camping on the island
• 🍺 Outdoor bar & cafe with harbour views

Jervis Bay

South Coast • ~2.5 hrs from Sydney

• 🏖️ Hyams Beach — world’s whitest sand, crystal clear water
• 🐬 Dolphin watching — wild dolphins in the bay year-round
• 🦅 Booderee National Park — bushwalks & secluded beaches
• 🤿 Snorkelling, kayaking & whale watching (seasonal)
• 🦞 Fresh seafood at Huskisson village

Palm Beach

Northern Beaches • ~1 hr from Sydney

• 🎬 Filming location of Home & Away — Summer Bay!
• 🏖️ Stunning ocean beach & calm Pittwater side
• 🏠 Barrenjoey Lighthouse — 45 min hike, panoramic views
• ⛵ Ferry to Patonga across Broken Bay
• ☕ Barrenjoey House — great lunch spot

Hunter Valley

Wine Country • ~2 hrs from Sydney

• 🍷 Australia’s oldest wine region — world-class Semillon & Shiraz
• 🏡 Brokenwood, Tyrrell’s, Audrey Wilkinson — top cellar doors
• 🧀 Gourmet food, cheese & chocolate tastings
• 🎈 Hot air balloon rides at sunrise (book ahead)
• 🛏️ Consider staying overnight for the full experience

Royal National Park

South of Sydney • ~1 hr from Sydney

• 🌏 World’s second oldest national park (est. 1879)
• 🚶 Coast Track — 2-day hike or do sections as day walks
• 🏖️ Wattamolla & Garie Beach — secluded beaches
• 🦘 Wildlife spotting — kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas
• 🏊 Figure Eight Pools — stunning rock pools (tide dependent)

Wollongong

Illawarra Coast • ~1.5 hrs from Sydney

• 🪂 Hang gliding at Bald Hill — world-famous launch site
• 🚂 Scenic train ride from Sydney — one of Australia’s best rail journeys
• 🏖️ Beautiful beaches — North Beach, Thirroul
• 🏛️ Nan Tien Temple — largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere
• ☕ Great cafe scene in the CBD

Northern Beaches Loop

Manly to Palm Beach • ~1 hr from Sydney

• 🏖️ Drive the coast from Manly → Dee Why → Narrabeen → Avalon → Palm Beach
• 🌊 Stop at Curl Curl or Freshwater for a swim
• ☕ Brunch at Avalon — charming village feel
• 🏠 End at Barrenjoey Lighthouse for sunset views
• ⛵ Optional ferry back from Palm Beach to Manly

Byron Bay

Northern NSW • ~8 hrs drive or fly

• 🌅 Cape Byron Lighthouse — Australia’s most easterly point
• 🏄 World-class surfing at The Pass & Wategos Beach
• 🐋 Whale watching (June–November)
• 🎵 Vibrant food, music & arts scene
• 🍺 Home of Stone & Wood brewery — do the tour!

Hawkesbury River

North of Sydney • ~1 hr from Sydney

• 🚤 Hire a houseboat or kayak on the river
• 🦞 Fresh oysters at Brooklyn — straight from the river
• 🎣 Fishing, swimming & picnicking
• 🏘️ Charming riverside towns — Windsor & Richmond
• 🌿 Dharug National Park — ancient Aboriginal rock art

Southern Highlands

Bowral & Berrima • ~1.5 hrs from Sydney

• 🌸 Tulip Time Festival in Bowral (September–October)
• 🏏 Bradman Museum — cricket legend Don Bradman’s hometown
• 🏘️ Berrima — Australia’s best-preserved Georgian village
• ☕ Charming cafes, antique shops & gardens
• 🍷 Local wineries and farm-to-table dining

Bondi to Coogee Walk

Right on your doorstep • 6km coastal walk

• 🏖️ Passes through Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly & Gordons Bay
• 🎨 Sculpture by the Sea — annual outdoor exhibition (Oct–Nov)
• 🏊 Ocean pools at every beach — Bronte, Clovelly, Coogee
• ☕ Stop at Bronte (your beach!) for coffee mid-walk
• 🍹 Finish with drinks at Coogee Pavilion

Ku-ring-gai Chase

National Park • ~1 hr from Sydney

• 🪨 Ancient Aboriginal rock engravings — thousands of years old
• 🚤 Pittwater — hire a boat or kayak
• 🦘 Wildlife — wallabies, echidnas, lyrebirds
• 🏖️ West Head — stunning views over Broken Bay
• 🚶 Bobbin Head — mangrove boardwalk & picnic areas

Kangaroo Valley

South Coast Hinterland • ~2 hrs from Sydney

• 🏰 Hampden Bridge — Australia’s oldest suspension bridge (1898)
• 🛶 Kayaking & canoeing on the Kangaroo River
• 🦘 Kangaroos grazing in paddocks — almost guaranteed sighting
• 🧀 Kangaroo Valley Pub — great lunch stop
• 🌿 Morton National Park — waterfalls & bushwalks

The 440

Every Saturday • 4:40am

Ocean swim at Bronte Cutting (southern end of Bronte Beach). Rain or hail — this community goes in regardless. A truly unique Sydney experience.

Centennial Parkrun

Every Saturday • 7:00am

Free 5km community run through beautiful Centennial Park. All fitness levels welcome — walk, jog, or run. Register free at parkrun.com.au.

Bad Bunny

Olympic Park • Very Limited Tickets

Global superstar Bad Bunny performing live at Qudos Bank Arena, Olympic Park. Very limited tickets remaining — book fast!