NEW YEAR, NEW HOLIDAYS, NEW SOUTH WALES 

Let your summer holiday feelings linger longer by stretching out your weekend at new restaurants, boutique accommodation and on-trend travel spots in NSW. Read on to discover Sydney’s plans to revitalise the city, how to spend a delicious few days in The Murray, fresh ways to keep the kids entertained in the April school holidays, plus more exciting events to get you out and about.

Image above: Sunny days on a houseboat on the Murray River

New outdoor concert series Sunset Piazza features Sneaky Sound System. Credit: Nicole Cooper

WHAT'S NEW IN NSW

• Sydney is set to sparkle even brighter with a revitalisation of the CBD planned by the City of Sydney and NSW Government this summer. Supporting the city’s recovery efforts after last year’s lockdowns, the new plans include funding live music, performance and art in hospitality venues; funding public art in laneways; allowing more alfresco dining; and keeping Sydney’s cultural organisations open late into the evening. Sunset Piazza is a new outdoor concert series that runs until 21 March at a pop-up stage at Cathedral Square. Tickets are just $25 and there will be 32 performances including Peking Duck, Ben Lee, Sneaky Sound System and more, along with outdoor dining and drinks. You can also head to the Barlow Street Forest to discover a micro-forest in the heart of Haymarket; and look out for Sydney-based artist Adam Norton's giant nostalgic badges pinned up around Barrack Street.

• Award-winning cocktail bar Maybe Sammy opens its first daytime café Sammy Junior this month. Opening on the ground level of Art Deco heritage building 66 King Street, the new venue is set to caffeinate Sydney’s CBD with a bespoke espresso blend specially crafted by Maybe Sammy co-founder Martin Hudak, while chef Robert Lechowicz of Cronulla's Blackwood Pantry has curated the classic Aussie brunch menu. Mini cocktails will also be available on tap for afternoon drinking sessions.

Dine in the private cellar in the Shaw Escape experience

• It’s wine time in the Canberra District. Family-owned and operated Shaw Wines has launched two new luxury tasting experiences to take wine appreciation to new heights in Murrumbateman. The Premium Private Cellar Tasting includes four Reserve wines to try using a set of Riedel varietal glasses — yours to take home after the session — plus a glass of Estate wine and a vineyard platter ($275pp; Wednesdays and Thursdays only). Elevate your tasting with The Shaw Escape, including a private plane ride for up to six people direct from Sydney to Canberra; a private helicopter ride landing directly beside the Shaw vines; seated wine tasting; and three-course lunch with your choice of Shaw wines in the private cellar before returning home (from $2750pp).
   

• A new sun-filled café has opened at the heritage Coolamon Railway Station, in the country town of Coolamon in The Riverina. The Station Collective celebrates coffee, conversation and community, and on the menu expect house-made cookies, delicious lunches and iced tea made with native Aussie ingredients.

The Djaadjawan Dancers will perform at Four Winds 2021. Credit: Raine Brown

• South Coast music and arts festival Four Winds will return to Barragga Bay for the 2021 Easter weekend. Launching Friday 2 April and finishing on Sunday 4 April, this year’s Four Winds Festival theme is ‘Reconnect’ and will feature a range of performances, from English Baroque to Candelo folk, from Middle Eastern song to contemporary dance, from Yuin culture to ancient Greek tales, and from romantic poetry to Ravel piano trios. Free shuttle buses are available to and from the festival from Bermagui, just 15 minutes away.

• After a decade-long hiatus, Qantas resumes flights between Melbourne and Newcastle from 1 February, flying 12 return services per week including early morning flights from both airports. The revived route comes after demand for regional travel has increased, and more routes from Melbourne to regional NSW airports are being introduced including Merimbula also from 1 February, and Wagga Wagga and Albury from 28 March.

• The rugged coastline of Lake Macquarie, on NSW’s Central Coast, is best explored on foot on CoastXP’s Caves Coastal Hike. On the two-hour, 8.5-kilometre trek, you’ll discover sea caves, spot native wildlife, wander by spotted gum forests and learn about local geology, Indigenous history and conservation of this precious coastal paradise.

Learn the convict history of Harper’s Mansion in Berrima, on Yesterday Stories

• Gain a deeper connection to the important Indigenous, migrant, colonial and industrial history as you travel NSW with the new Yesterday Stories app and website. The new interactive map shares video stories from locals about significant landmarks, art, monuments and poignant personal memories of the area. Locations are continually growing, but current destinations include the Female Factory in Parramatta, the Bega Cheese Factory, the Old Goulburn Brewery and more. The app also allows users to upload their own stories to share, and a heritage trail is in development to connect these stories on a path together.

• On the banks of the NSW edge of the Murray River is Perricoota Station, a popular wedding destination with The Packing Shed function area and spacious five-bedroom homestead. A new addition is The Quarters, boutique accommodation inside an original collection of buildings on the property. The thoughtful restoration retains the rustic heritage and brings a contemporary style reflecting the hues and textures of this beautiful region.

• In the heart of Holbrook, a small town in southern NSW, a light and bright cottage circa 1880s has been restored for holiday accommodation. Step inside 6 Hume Street to discover three bedrooms with plush, country style, a well-equipped kitchen and relaxing lounge with books, puzzles and memorabilia. Holbrook is a pretty town to explore, boasting museums, galleries, boutiques and right near Woomargama National Park.

• In the Riverina Murray, the Khancoban General Store will open in February with a wonderful new café and providore and much more. It’s been closed since 2016, but now a new refurbishment will see this Snowy Mountains gem supplying coffee and fresh produce to the community once again.

Award-winning olive groves in the Wymah Valley​

WYMAH WINS BEST OLIVES IN AUSTRALIA 

The title of best table olives in Australia now belongs to Riverina producer Wymah Organic, whose certified organic kalamatas won the top award at the 2020 Australian International Olive Awards. The sustainably minded farm, located between the Murray River and Woomargama National Park, also produces extra virgin olive oil and tapenade as well as pasture-fed lamb, which you can buy online or at the Albury Wodonga Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.

The recently painted Hay Water Tower

HAY ADDS TO THE SILO ART TRAIL

The newest addition to the Australia Silo Art Trail has arrived in the country town of Hay in the Riverina. Depicting the legacy of war, enormous murals of five returned servicemen and women who are connected to Hay adorn the town’s water tower. Featured on the tower are Lieutenant Lorna Margaret Whyte, Private Victor George Murray, Corporal Clifford Leslie Farlow, Private William ‘George’ Cannon and Private Norman Charles Flack. Read more about their lives and service here.

 Dreamtime Southern X tour leader Margret Campbell

WOMEN PLAYING A STARRING ROLE IN NSW

As we approach International Women’s Day (8 March 2021), we shine a spotlight on women who’ve had a significant impact on our beautiful state of NSW, its culture and people. From a winemaker to an Indigenous tour guide and Sydney musician Meg Mac, these women are at the top of their game.

The Winemaker
Many of us dream of swapping corporate life for country life – and that’s exactly what Nicole Samodol did. The former financier brings a wealth of experience and innovation to a traditional industry and produces lively wines from her boutique winery in Orange, Rowlee Wines. “In the Orange region we specialise in cool climate aromatic varieties: chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling and shiraz,” says Samodol.

The Storyteller
Aboriginal elder Margret Campbell is a proud coastal water woman of the Dunghutti and Djerrinjah Nations. She is dedicated to giving NSW visitors a deeply cultural Indigenous experience in Sydney with her Dreamtime Southern X tours, and is highly respected in the community for her knowledge, warmth and passion. “The tour is about sharing a collection of places and spaces of Mother Earth within a modern built-up environment, which we now know as Sydney,” she says.

The Chef
For aromatic sambol and fiery curries, Lankan Filling Station in East Sydney hits the mark. The much-lauded restaurant is the brainchild of O Tama Carey, who opened the doors in 2018 after running a Sri Lankan street-food stall at Carriageworks Farmers Market for years. With a chef’s hat in the Good Food Guide and TimeOut Sydney’s restaurant of the year in 2019, Carey and her innovative eatery is one to watch.

The Musician
Meg Mac’s honeyed and haunting vocals are well known on Aussie airwaves after three headline tours, Triple J Unearthed Artist of the Year Award in 2014 and an ARIA nomination. Her pop is as personal as it is powerhouse, and she’s just as vocal in the community, speaking up in fierce support of Indigenous Australians and the LGBTQI community. Follow Meg on Facebook for live streams of her music and upcoming tour information: facebook.com/MegMacMusic.

The Artist
NSW-based artist Polly Lyn Kimmorley has lived everywhere from Dubbo to Forster and been inspired by the colours, vegetation and textures of our diverse NSW landscape. Polly paints immense canvases with exquisite vivid colours and uses drone imagery in her travels to get a comprehensive, bird’s-eye perspective of the hills, paddocks and coastline. “My favourite natural wonder would have to be far west NSW taking in the beauty of the sparseness and the big sky by light aircraft. I can't get enough of it, for the love of my aerial paintings.” You can view and order her artwork at pollykimmart.com/contact.

Chloé Zuel stars in the Australian performance of Hamilton

FIVE MINUTES WITH HAMILTON STAR CHLOÉ ZUEL

The Australian premiere of the Tony®, Grammy®, Olivier and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical HAMILTON will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on 17 March. The show features talented Sydney local Chloé Zuel (who was born in Prairiewood) starring as leading role Eliza Hamilton. Here’s what the performer loves about living in the city.

Why is it so exciting that Hamilton is coming to Sydney for its Australian premiere? 
It’s truly thrilling to see musicals finally returning to stages in Australia and I have to say that it feels very special for me to have Hamilton, my dream show, opening in Sydney  where I grew up. Most of my family are here which means they’ll get to experience it as soon as we open and be there to support me. 

 Alongside rehearsing, what does a normal day in Sydney look like?  
I usually walk down to the beach every day, get a coffee, go to a Pilates, yoga or cycling class, and eat delicious food with my husband.  

What places or experiences make Sydney so magical?  
For me, it’s about Sydney beaches and Sydney weather. When it’s warm and you can go to the beach, or sit at a beautiful restaurant by the water with a glass of wine with the sun shining down on you, it’s basically unbeatable! 

Best place for dinner, morning coffee and/or drinks?   
There are so many to choose from in lots of different suburbs here, but if I were to narrow it down to a few, then I’d say: coffee from Clodeli in Clovelly; and dinner at 10 William St in Paddington, The Continental Deli in Newtown, Mr Wong in the CBD, Totti’s or Pompei’s in Bondi. I love having afternoon drinks in Manly at Hugos, Mimi's in Coogee or Icebergs in Bondi. 

Favourite spot for a swim in Sydney?   
My favourite beach is Clovelly (or Gordons Bay) because it’s more of a bay so I can enjoy the ocean water without huge waves. Yep, weak swimmer over here!  

You're showing Sydney to a friend for the first time — what's your go-to itinerary?  
Start in Bronte on McPherson Street, grab a coffee from Three Blue Ducks and some bread or a croissant (or both) from Iggy’s Bread (the best bakery ever), then walk down and do the last part of the coastal walk, walking from Bronte to Bondi. Have a swim and sauna at Icebergs in Bondi, then, if you’re feeling like some brunch, head to Porch and Parlour (North Bondi) for a gorgeous view and great food and coffee. 

Head to Oxford Street for a spot of shopping in the beautiful boutiques in Paddington. Next stop, Circular Quay to see the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour up close (you could also make a stop at The Art Gallery of NSW), then hop on a ferry to Manly and enjoy the view on the way. Once in Manly, walk to Shelley Beach for a swim and a coffee from the Boathouse. Have a sundowner at Hugos on the water, then back to the city for dinner at Totti’s (CBD) or Restaurant Hubert, before enjoying a musical! If you still have energy, a nightcap at Palmer & Co. in the CBD, is a great way to end the day.     

Hamilton opens on 17 March in the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Reserve your tickets online now.

Off-season fun on the Alpine Bobsled in Thredbo

EGGS-ELLENT EASTER HOLIDAY IDEAS 

Whether you’re after adventure, relaxation or something a little bit out-of-the-ordinary, the toughest part of entertaining the brood these coming April school holidays is deciding which part of NSW to discover next. 

Have a station staycation 
Corynnia Station, Riverina | approx. three-hour drive from Wagga Wagga
Give the kids a sampler of rural outback life at this working sheep station. Cycle through the property, explore the farm’s cotton and grain crops, and spot native fauna on the expansive dry box swamp. There’s a luxe side to station life, too, with a pool to cool off in after a round of tennis, boules or croquet. Be sure to book ahead for farm tours and the nearby Altina Wildlife Park, where you can ogle a menagerie of animals from a horse-drawn cart. corynniastation.com.au

Form your own bobsled team 
Alpine Bobsled, Thredbo | approx. five-hour 30-min drive from Sydney
Though you may be more used to visiting Thredbo when it’s shimmering under a layer of snow, this stunning Snowy Mountains village is just as magnetic before the first flakes descend. It’s also just as much fun, with its 700-metre alpine bobsled track that twists and turns down the mountain. Kids will need to be nine years old and 130cm-tall to ride solo, and smaller members may ride with an adult. thredbo.com.au

Ride-along zoofari 
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo | approx. five-hour drive from Sydney
See the zoo from a different perspective by exploring on a bike or a self-drive cart. Setting out on two wheels allows you to travel smaller trails and the terrain is largely flat, making it an easy ride for most. Or bundle up to six people in an open-air cart to whizz around the zoo, disembarking at a whim to get a closer look at the inhabitants. Cool off afterwards with a visit to the newest enclosure, The Waterhole, where kids can frolic under water jets. taronga.org.au

Adventure in the treetops 
Tree Climb Challenge Magic Mountain, Merimbula | six-hour drive or one-hour flight from Sydney
If you have a brood of nimble ‘monkeys’ eager to test their tree-scrambling skills, head to beautiful Merimbula’s Tree Climb Challenge at Magic Mountain Amusement Park. Here you can choose from three courses with more than 30 challenges, from rope bridges and highwires to obstacles and flying foxes, all to a lovely outlook over the Merimbula peninsula. magicmountain.net.au

Get bushed in Bega 
South East Forests National Park, Bega |six-hour drive or one-hour flight from Sydney
Replace screen time with serene time and take the family to one of the south coast’s most absorbing attractions, the rainforest. Immerse yourselves in the gem-like green hues of the old-growth canopy above while looking out for koalas, swamp wallabies and bandicoots. Come for the day or stay at one of the Park’s campgrounds, such as Waratah Gully, Nunnock or Six Mile Creek. 

Sun, sand and… camels 
Oakfield Ranch, Anna Bay, Port Stephens |approx. two-hour 30-min drive from Sydney
A veritable all-ages paradise, Port Stephens beckons in the school holidays with dolphin spotting and swimming, kayaking up the Myall River, cruises, 4WD tours, and sandboarding the largest shifting sand dunes in the southern hemisphere. But, for a more relaxed pace, who can refuse a sedate spin around the Stockton Sand Dunes on camelback? Oakfield Ranch offers 20-minute camel rides everyday — kids as young as two can ride during the day, or, if everyone in your crew is over 10, you can enjoy an hour-long sunset ride. oakfieldranch.com.au 

Meet the makers 
Hosanna Farmstay, Stokers Siding, Tweed | Sydney to Ballina, one-hour 15-min flight; Ballina to Tweed, one-hour drive
A farmstay offers a deeper connection to where our food comes from, and at Hosanna Farm in the Tweed hinterland little ones can collect eggs, milk cows and more. Come for a day visit or linger for a while in a campervan or tent, in an on-site cabin, hut or the homestead. Book in a farm tour, have a swim in the dam (complete with waterslide), and relax in the wood-fired sauna. There’s also a great kids’ playground, walking trails and a pizza food truck and live music on Saturday nights. hosannafarmstay.com.au 

Enjoy the great outdoors in Manly
Manly |30-min drive from Sydney CBD
Rolling surf, underwater jewels and exciting bush trails — Manly ticks all the adventure boxes. Combine adrenaline pumping activities with the area's stunning natural wonders these school holidays: go snorkelling or stand-up paddleboarding with EcoTreasures; learn to ride the waves with Manly Surf School; or take on the tracks and firetrails in national parkland on two wheels with Joe’s Mountain Bike Tours.

Embark on a cultural journey
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park |40-min drive from Sydney CBD
Join a Guringai Aboriginal Tour in World Heritage-listed Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and gain a deeper understanding of our Indigenous history. The Aboriginal-owned tour company leads visitors young and old to a cave with ancient stencil art and engravings, where you’ll learn how our Aboriginal ancestors used the site as a classroom, cared for the land and how it cared for them.

Have lunch by the water at River Deck Café in Albury

PLAN A SUMMER BREAK IN THE MURRAY

Stretching for more than 2,500 kilometres on the border between NSW and Victoria, the Murray River is not only an oasis for nature lovers but is home to some of Australia’s best produce to seek out on a summer road trip. Riverside border town Albury offers a thriving food scene to explore — graze on paddock-to-plate menus at a growing list of restaurants and bars, and linger at idyllic cellar doors just outside of town. Venture further along the river to find a unique art and culture scene, or spend relaxing days out on the many waterside golfing greens.

Culinary delights
With the perfect climate, soil and irrigation for growing fine produce, the Murray is one of Australia’s best agricultural regions. Discover cafés, fine-dining restaurants, foodie trails, farmers markets, picturesque wineries, whisky distilleries and craft breweries.

For an al fresco lunch of wood-fired pizza and wine, head to Blacksmith Provedore at Lake Mulwala. Stretch out under a canopy of pink sun umbrellas in an open pavilion, and enjoy a wine list championing local suppliers and platters with a selection of cheeses and meats. Nearby, Corowa Whisky is a distillery and Belgian chocolate factory in a refurbished 1920s flour mill in Corowa.  

In Albury, new dining venues make the most of the region’s premium produce. Norma brings authentic Italian food and house-made semolina pastas to the table. Just a few blocks away is 2640 Restaurant and Bar, offering a relaxed dining experience with exceptional local fare plus a beautiful mural that pays homage to the town. The refined Level One Wine Bar and Restaurant features seasonal menus, classic cocktails and boutique wines from France, Italy and South America.

For incredible views, River Deck Café is perched right on the river in picturesque Noreuil Park and utilises fresh ingredients from local suppliers, or head to The Bended Elbow for its buzzing rooftop beer garden. Try modern European cuisine at Bistro Selle, or The Woolhouse for craft beer and clean simple cocktails. Coffee-lovers should beeline to Rise Espresso, a newly opened café serving up great coffee and delicious food with all profits going to disability services provider, Kirinari Support Services.

Discover art and culture
The Murray is rich with cultural activities to expand your mind — find art galleries, historical buildings and Indigenous tours. Just a short walk from the Murray River, is the Murray Art Museum Albury, which features international touring exhibitions with connections to the surrounding area.

Take a step back in time and discover the region’s social, political and economic past with the Albury CBD Historic Building Walking Tour. The tour showcases 21 sites, including the Albury Railway Station and Botanic Gardens. Or head into the outback on an Indigenous tour of Mungo National Park. In the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area, see the archaeological discoveries of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, which are perhaps the most important human remains in Australia.

Explore the outdoors
From thriving wetlands lined with beautiful river red gums to rolling farmland and ancient rock formations, the Murray is home to some remarkable landscapes. Marvel at the extraordinary beauty as you enjoy a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Murray River on the Yindyamarra Sculpture Walk. The impressive five-kilometre sculpture trail features installations created by local Aboriginal artists and is accompanied by interpretative panels and videos which tell the story and cultural significance of the river.

Cycling is a wonderful way to see the region at your own pace. Stop for a picnic along the river, admire the varied scenery and meet native wildlife on the banks. There are several mountain biking trails, including Nail Can Hill in Albury and the Five Mile in Murray Valley National Park, which provides 7 kilometres of unique trails and is suitable for all skill levels. Get closer to the water with a paddle: canoes and kayaks are available for hire. Alternatively, go boating and fishing at Lake Hume, a focal point for the region, with bountiful things to see and do all year round. Watch flocks of native birds take flight or cast a line and lure Golden perch, Murray cod or Rainbow trout. Back on land, there’s plenty to discover with Murray Offroad Adventures, with wetland, salt lake, billabong and history tours.

Tee off by the river
There are more than a dozen spectacular golf courses fringing the Murray River that suit all levels of golfers. With sweeping fairways that curve around the river, a round of golf on the Murray makes for an exciting experience. Howlong Golf Resort has a reputation for being a finely kept green on the water, while Corowa Golf Club boasts a 27-hole championship golf course. At Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, choose from three golf courses, including those with river and lake views.

Where to stay
However you like to travel, the Murray offers accommodation for every style. In the beautiful small town of Holbrook, make yourself at home in the charming refurbished 1880s three-bedroom cottage 6 Hume Street. In Albury, find modern comforts at Atura Albury hotel, or heritage luxury at Circa 1928 a decadent spa hotel in the former historic Commonwealth Bank Building on Dean Street. Immerse yourself in nature in Moama at Talo Retreat, offering premium self-contained yurts in the heart of the bush.

How to get there
Travelling by road to the Murray is a two-and-a-half to six-hour trip depending on your final destination. Drive time to Albury from Sydney is about six hours and three-and-a-half hours from Canberra. Alternatively, it’s a one-hour flight from Sydney to Albury Airport.

For more information about The Murray, head to visitnsw.com.au

Views from a private infinity pool in the Komala Villa at Gaia Retreat and Spa

NSW WELLNESS RETREATS TO RECHARGE FOR 2021

The start of a new year is the perfect time to reset and recharge your mind, nourish your body with wholesome foods and enrich the soul through mindfulness and meditation. Whether you want to begin your morning with a relaxing session of yoga or immersed in a luxurious spa bath with a dreamy view, NSW has some spectacular health resorts that will leave you feeling rested and refreshed, and ready for the year.  

Gaia Retreat and Spa, Byron Bay Hinterland | Sydney to Ballina, one-hour 15-min flight; Ballina to Gaia Retreat, 20-min drive
If your new year’s resolution was to take up yoga or detoxify your body then this retreat should be high on your list. A place to refocus, rebalance and restore your mind and body, Gaia Retreat and Spa is sheltered on a subtropical property in the beautiful Byron Bay hinterland. Founded in 2005 by Olivia Newton-John and friends, Gaia encourages guests to discover invigorating on-trend treatments and inventive plant-to-plate food. Many guests return year after year to reset with meditation and yoga. Gaia is also home to the magnificent Samira Yoga Lookout – the highest point in the Ballina Shire – offering breathtaking views from the Pacific Ocean to the Nightcap Ranges. gaiaretreat.com 

Billabong Retreat, Maraylya | approx. one-hour drive from Sydney, in Hawkesbury region
Learn about inner wellness, reconnect with nature, increase your energy levels and improve your body’s balance with a serene stay at the Billabong Retreat. This popular eco retreat – just 50 minutes from the Sydney CBD – will help you find peace of mind and relax. There’s a variety of programs on offer, including the Yoga Essentials Retreat, featuring workshops that explore how yoga practices and philosophy offer a path to freedom, plus twice daily yoga classes and meditation. With a range of lovely treehouses and deluxe cabins overlooking the picturesque billabong, it’s easy for guests to unwind. billabongretreat.com.au 

Elysia Wellness Retreat, Hunter Valley | approx. two-hour drive from Sydney
Nestled in the heart of wine country and just two hours from Sydney, you’ll find Elysia Wellness Retreat. From afternoon naps in your luxury suite to tai chi on the lavender-lined hill, this retreat helps guests escape the demands and distractions of everyday life. Explore the retreat’s extensive facilities – opt for a match of tennis in the afternoon, loosen up your muscles with a yoga class, or stretch out on a deck chair by the resort-style pool. There’s also a wide selection of body treatments, massages, facials and healing therapies on offer from highly specialised therapists. elysiaretreat.com.au 

Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa, Katoomba | approx. one-hour 30-min drive from Sydney
Surrounded by lush gardens in the Jamison Valley is the grand, country house of Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort and Spa. Located in the picturesque World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains and adjacent to the iconic Three Sisters, Lilianfels Resort and Spa is a refreshing sanctuary and haven for relaxation. Say goodbye to the stresses of life at the spa, which features four spacious treatment rooms and an extensive list of spa rituals and massage therapy, including hot stone massages, facials, and body treatments. Alternatively, spoil yourself with a manicure or pedicure. lilianfels.com.au 

Japanese Bath House, Lithgow | approx. two-hour drive from Sydney
Experience authentic Japanese pampering at this traditional onsen (hot spring). Situated in front of Lake Lyell on 300 hectares of farmland, Japanese Bath House in the Blue Mountains offers a range of treatments for mind and body relaxation. The heated baths use natural spring water, which flows from a depth of about 300 meters from the mineral-rich layers of the land. There’s also traditional Japanese-inspired accommodation, a pretty rose garden and Japanese Zen garden on site. japanesebathhouse.com.au 

Mt Hay Retreat, Shoalhaven | approx. two-hour drive from Sydney
Perched high on Mount Hay, this adults-only retreat features five private light-filled sanctuaries with breathtaking views of NSW’s South Coast. Only a 10-minute drive from the centre of Berry, Mt Hay Retreat is a working farm and tranquil haven, surrounded by native bushland, lush green pastures and beautiful gardens. Each of the luxury suites are contemporary and feature deep freestanding bathtubs where you can take in the majestic natural setting. There’s also an indoor heated 33-metre lap pool for a morning dip and giant chess set to keep your mind sharp. mthay.com.au 

For more information and travel ideas, go to visitnsw.com 

The Mardi Gras returns this year with a parade in the Sydney Cricket Ground. Credit: Jeffrey Feng

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | Sydney
19 February-7 March
Australia's largest celebration of its LGBTQI communities will return to Sydney in 2021. The colourful program will include the iconic Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 6 March (this year to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground) along with dazzling shows, outrageous comedy, inclusive workshops and impressive theatre.

True Grit | Lower Portland – Hawkesbury River
6 March
Test both your physical and mental perseverance at military-inspired obstacle challenge True Grit. The NSW course is run at Dargle Farm, on the Hawkesbury River in Lower Portland. Those who attempt the course will move through a varying property of grasslands, temperate rainforest, dense swamps, granite escarpments and towering sandstone cliffs. Register here.

L’Etape Australia by Tour de France | South Coast
19-20 March
Gear up for L’Etape Australia, the award-winning cycling event giving amateur riders the closest experience to riding in the Tour de France in NSW. Register for ‘The Ride’ or ‘The Race’, or simply show your support for the riders and region as they travel from Kiama across the South Coast, the Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands.  

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: La Traviata | Mrs Macquaries Point
26 March-25 April
Opera Australia presents magical performances on Sydney Harbour and this year it’s the world’s most popular opera, La Traviata, the story that inspired Moulin Rouge. The floating stage will come to life as the sun sets with colourful costumes, a giant chandelier, unforgettable music and dazzling fireworks.

HAMILTON | Sydney Lyric Theatre
The musical Hamilton has wowed audiences and broken records around the globe and now it’s coming to Sydney’s Lyric Theatre this March. The story of American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, is told through hip-hop and R&B, in a revolutionary Broadway moment. Book tickets now.  

Milton Food & Wine Festival | Milton Showground
27 March
The South Coast region is a bounty of fresh farm produce, seafood and hand-crafted wines. The Milton Food & Wine Festival brings together some of the best suppliers, breweries, restaurants and producers in the region in a vibrant community event brimming with live music and activities.

Sydney Royal Easter Show | Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park
1-12 April
A celebration of Australian culture from rural traditions to modern-day lifestyles, the Sydney Royal Easter Show brings us all together for a day of entertainment, competitions, exhibits and good old-fashioned family fun.

VISUAL STORYTELLING GALLERIES

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