WE UNCOVER THE BEST OF NSW THIS MONTH
STAY | TURON GATES GLAMPING
Much-loved Blue Mountains bush retreat Turon Gates has added six new adults-only glamping tents to its collection of cottages and camping areas. The new self-catering, riverside glamping experiences have luxurious four-poster king-size beds and sophisticated neutral-toned interiors, with walls you can lift up with leather straps to let the bushland views in. The sleek bathroom has a tub for two, and there’s a kitchenette with Nespresso coffee machine and Danish wood burner stove. There’s no TV, telephone or WiFi so bring a good book, bathers, gourmet supplies and walking shoes to explore the 6000-acre property with the Turon River winding through. Guests can also enjoy an in-tent massage or horse riding on the property. Visit turongates.com
Vivid Sydney is the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere. Celebrating its eleventh anniversary in 2019, Vivid Sydney is continually setting the benchmark for world class events, creativity and innovation. It will transform the Harbour City into a colourful creative canvas from 24 May to 15 June, 2019. The Festival features spectacular large-scale light installations and projections; contemporary and cutting-edge music performances and collaborations; public talks by renowned thought leaders, industry seminars, conferences and creativity workshops, all celebrating Sydney’s place as the creative industries hub of the Asia-Pacific. Visit vividsydney.com
SEE | EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO
The famed Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is coming to Sydney in October and tickets are now on sale. The internationally renowned event staged at the historical Edinburgh Castle for the past 69 years has been witnessed by over 20 million people. The Sydney 2019 season will present four shows from 17-19 October at ANZ Stadium, Olympic Park. Performed in front of a full-size replica of Edinburgh Castle, the show will feature a 1400-strong international and Australian cast, with pipe bands, highland dancers, fiddlers and precision drill teams along with the Australian Defence Force Band. Visit edinburghtattoosydney.com.au
This month a new culinary venture from chef Sean Connolly will open in the heart of Gosford. Owned by John Singleton and steered by Bells at Killcare owners Brian and Karina Barry, the Bon Pavilion will have a family-friendly steak and seafood restaurant Bonfire, an espresso bar, private dining and the Bon Bar, all under one roof. Connolly’s menu will focus on ethically sourced produce and premium suppliers. One of Australia and New Zealand's most well-respected chefs, Sean Connolly already has six restaurants across the globe, including The Morrison in Sydney’s CBD and The Balcony Bar in Byron Bay. Visit thebonpavilion.com.au
TOUR | ONE TREE HILL ALPACAS
PLAY | NEW RIDE LUNA PARK
The ultimate agricultural tour for those curious about Alpaca farming, One Tree Hill Alpacas outside of Murrumbateman offers delightful tours where you stroll through paddocks to meet, hand feed and hug Alpacas. Learn about alpacas, grab some super cute pictures and take part in a yarn workshop. Tours on offer include the Alpaca Outing; the Alpaca Journey; and the Aussie Alpaca Adventure all on the working alpaca farm, which is located just outside of Murrumbateman with picturesque views of the Brindabella Range. Visit onetreehillalpacas.com.au
The iconic and heritage-listed Luna Park has launched a new ride - Luna Park's first permanent ride since the Hair Raiser was opened five years ago. The brand-new family thrill ride Volaré, is a magical wave swinger overlooking beautiful Sydney Harbour and was specially handcrafted by a world class Italian ride manufacturer. The ride's artwork was designed with Luna Park's heritage in mind with hand-painted cityscapes, clouds and a star-studded sky. Volaré is the perfect excuse to head to Luna Park for the school holidays! Visit lunaparksydney.com
EDIBLE ADVENTURES IN NSWGet inspired with an authentic taste of New South Wales
on these wild food journeys ...
Image: Wild Weeds Foraging, Aimee Crouch
WHAT'S NEW ON THE SOUTH COAST There's always something new happening on the beautiful South Coast ...
SPOTLIGHT ON: THE ROYAL EASTER SHOW12-23 April, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park
Built on the traditions of the city-meets-country fair and dating back to 1823, the Royal Easter Show is now Australia’s largest ticketed event, attended by 850,000 people every year. It’s a unique celebration of the Australian way of life with agricultural experiences, fresh produce, animal displays, arts and crafts, baking, carnival rides, live entertainment and much more.
DON’T MISS … The Farmyard Nursery
An open-plan indoor paddock with over 800 free-range animals to pat. See ducklings, piglets, donkeys, fawns and more. Grab a cup of feed and give your new farmyard friends a snack. Coca-Cola Carnival
Soak up the atmosphere at Coca-Cola festival with a cacophony of excited squeals and the movement of brightly coloured carnival rides, from thrilling to kid-friendly. There are detailed descriptions of all the rides at eastershow.com and you can purchase tickets online now.
The Shed
Immerse yourself in Aussie farming traditions at The Shed where you’ll find displays of Sheep Shearing, Milking and the precision moves of Aussie working dogs too. Cream of the Crop
Every year at the Royal Easter Show, you can watch animal judging competitions with many types of animals from goats to pigs, to dogs and cattle. Watch preening poodles strut their stuff; dairy cattle circle the lawn and marvel at Huacaya or Suri Alpaca breeds competing for Best Alpaca. Woodchopping
Woodchop made its first appearance at the Easter Show in 1899 and has been a drawcard for curious crowds since 1911. The infamous Woodchopping and Sawing Competition is a fascinating display of strength and skill. Little Hands on the Land
Perfect for school holidays, take children along to the kid-sized working farm in The Paddock, which teaches kids the crop-to-shop agriculture story. The Show Bags
At the ShowBag Pavilion adjacent to Coca-Cola Carnival, there is literally a show bag for everyone with everything from Shopkins and Australian Women’s Weekly, to Jumbo Mega Warheads and the classic Cadbury Caramello Koala. For more information visit eastershow.com.au
SYDNEY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 22 March – 21 April | West Side Story, Handa Opera
West Side Story takes the iconic floating stage at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Featuring classic Broadway hits including ‘Somewhere,’ and ‘Tonight,’ this all-singing, all-dancing cast takes on Leonard Bernstein’s brilliant score. Visit opera.org.au 29 March – 5 May |
Saturday Night Fever
Based on the 1977 movie starring John Travolta, the new stage version of Saturday Night Fever has been revitalised for a new generation with explosive energy and sensational choreography.
Visit saturdaynightfever.com.au 29 March – 21 July | The National: New Australian Art 2019
The National presents the latest in contemporary Australian art across three of Sydney’s top cultural institutions, the Art Gallery of NSW, Carriageworks and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. 65 Australian artists from emerging to established will be showcasing works. Visit the-national.com.au 1-7 April | 2019 Australian Athletics Championships
More than 3500 athletes of all ages will compete at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre when it hosts the Junior and Open aged Track and Field Championships for able-bodied and para-athletes. Visit athletics.com.au 13 April | Longines Queen
Elizabeth Stakes
The Championships race day at Royal Randwick will see the cream of the riding crop vie for over $20 million prize money this April. To book your tickets and plan your day, Visit australianturfclub.com.au 12-23 April | Sydney Royal Easter Show
Every Easter, the country and city join together at the Sydney Royal Easter Show at Sydney Showground. The show is a twelve-day celebration featuring agricultural competitions, animal experiences, live entertainment, carnival fun, shopping and much more. Visit eastershow.com.au 29 April – 5 May | Sydney Writers’ Festival
A celebration of writing and ideas, The Sydney Writers’ Festival has over 300 events held in various locations around Sydney. Festival highlights include Lie to Me: An Evening of Storytelling at Sydney Town Hall; Rachel Kushner: The Mars Room; and closing address by Fatima Bhutto. Visit swf.org.au Until 10 June | STAR WARS™ Identities showcases 200 original objects used in the making of the blockbuster Star Wars movies. Visitors can discover the force that shapes them by creating their own bespoke Star Wars character as they journey through the exhibition. Visit starwarsidentities.com Until June 23 | Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Roald Dahl’s enduring tale of little boy Charlie Bucket touring the fantastical world of candy maker Willy Wonka is on now in a musical extravaganza at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre. Visit charliethemusical.com.au
REGIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 5-7 April | Newcastle Writers Festival
The Newcastle Writers Festival celebrates national and regional literary talent over three days each April. More than 100 writers and thinkers participate in 70 sessions (most are free) including panel discussions, readings, book launches and one-on-one interviews. 2019 guests include Jane Caro, Michael Robotham, Clementine Ford and Hung Le. 6 April | Colour New England
This street arts festival is all about showcasing local talent, building creative capacity and cultural tourism, connecting arts and business, and involving the local community. The theme is Colour New England, celebrating the colours of autumn, wide open skies and amazing light of the region. Visit armidaleregional.nsw.gov.au/events 8-14 April | Under 15’s Australian Hockey Championships
The Under-15’s boys and girls Australian Championships will run from Monday 8 April to Sunday 14 April at the Macarthur Regional Hockey Complex in Narellan. The championship has been secured with the support of the Camden Council and the Metropolitan South West Hockey Association. Visit hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com 12 April – 12 May | Sculpture at Scenic World 2019
This outdoor exhibition takes art beyond the walls of a gallery into the magical backdrop of an ancient rainforest in the Blue Mountains. Showcasing over 35 artworks from more than 40 world class artists, visitors can take part in guided tours, artist talks and workshops. Visit sculptureatscenicworld.com.au 9-15 April | Sail Port Stephens
An annual yachting regatta, Sail Port Stephens incorporates various events including the Commodores Cup, NSW IRC Championships, Australian Sports Boat Nationals, Super 12 NSW Title, Port Stephens Trophy plus a Junior Sail Series and Special Olympics regatta. Visit visitnsw.com 13 April | Bobby Jack’s Festival
Bobby Jack's Festival is a celebration of original music and arts for all ages and is held at the Walcha Showground during Autumn. Enjoy unique local food stalls, craft beers and creative workshops as well as plenty of free activities for children. Visit bobbyjacks.com.au 24-28 April | Boggabri Drovers Campfire Weekend
Take along your caravan, motorhome, camper, four-wheel drive, ute, tent or even a swag to this fun, rural-themed weekend. Get to know the locals and enjoy a big campfire, camp oven cooking, shearing demonstrations, bush poets, bush band, craft stalls and whip cracking. Visit droverscampfire.com.au 27 April | NRL Regional Match West Tigers v Gold Coast Titans
The West Tigers return to Tamworth to take on the Gold Coast Titans at Scully Park, West Tamworth for Round 7 of the NRL Telstra Premiership season on Saturday 27 April. The hotly anticipated clash will also feature traditional ANZAC activities both on and off the field. Visit tickets.nrl.com
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