No Images? Click here WE UNCOVER THE BEST OF NSW THIS MONTHAUGUST 2019 EDITIONAs the weather gets warmer next month, celebrate with a post-swim drink at Coogee Wine Room, opening in September. Locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales are behind the European-inspired venue, which will offer a 400-bottle wine list of over 50 different varietals. The menu will include snacks that pair well with wine like charcuterie boards and pork cheek sliders, as well as more substantial dishes such as ricotta ravioli and chargrilled octopus. The slick interiors include marble finishes, leather furniture and concrete floors and the second level will be available for private parties. Visit coogeewineroom.com.au
Australia is famous for its opals – a unique, enigmatic stone. They are difficult to find and extract and the process of cutting and polishing can have vastly different results. The aim is to get the best colour play across the surface of the opal. The Polished Opal in Leura is offering workshops for you to experience the magic of opal polishing and learn about the stone. In small groups, you’ll receive three opals between 6 and 12 carats to polish and keep. The workshops are run by artist Sonja van As, who has made art across many disciplines before finding her passion for gems. Visit thepolishedopal.com.au Circa Hotels & Spas opened a new hotel in Albury last month, its third in NSW. Housed in a former bank, the boutique hotel will offer two suites, five day spa treatment rooms, a retail outlet and gallery with a focus on local art. The hotel features a selection of artworks by high profile Indigenous artists including Patrick Butcher, and is one of the stops on the North East Aboriginal Art Trail. Make sure to try the spa, which offers a wide variety of luxurious treatments, including body scrubs, massages, facials and hand and foot treatments. Visit bycirca.com Go Fish Australia is offering a new Outback Helicopter Fishing tour – a chance to access stunning parts of the Outback for an unforgettable adventure. The day starts with a limousine transfer from your hotel at Byron Bay to your private helicopter. A 90-minute flight will take you out over spectacular scenery to an area near Ashford, close to the Queensland border. Your guide (a famous Australian cricketer) will take you along gorges, under waterfalls and kayaking for a full-day fishing experience, in some of the most beautiful natural scenes. Visit gofishaustralia.com.au EAT | RAGAZZI A bowl of pasta and a glass of wine in an intimate space is a winning combination – especially when a couple of hospitality heavyweights are behind it. The owners of Sydney wine bars Love, Tilly Devine and Dear Saint Éloise, along with chef Scott Williams (Movida, Bacco), are opening Ragazzi, a tiny restaurant in Angel Place this month. The menu will include six handmade pastas and snacks that change regularly. The wine list will include more than 250 labels, half of them Italian, half of them Australian wines working with Italian grape varietals. Visit instagram.com DRINK | LONG LUNCHES ON THE LAWN There’s something special about a long lunch in the outdoors and even more so if it includes the best produce and wine from Australia’s oldest wine region. The hotel voco Kirkton Park Hunter Valley is putting on a series of long lunches in the gardens on the 70-acre property. Each event will include a three-course lunch and a different winemaker – on 3 August enjoy wines from Usher Tinkler, as well as fire pits and live music. On 24 August Drayton Wines will be pouring, with more to come through the year. Visit huntervalley.vocohotels.com From October, The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts will take over operations at Westin Sydney, housed in the historic GPO building at Martin Place. The hotel will offer a new heritage tour to guests and the public that will share the building’s incredible history as well as life in early Sydney. A program of bespoke experiences and excursions will be available for guests to get up close to Sydney’s history, diversity, arts and culture. The operator is carrying out remediation to the iconic building, including cleaning its façade and preservation work. Visit the-fullerton-hotel-sydney.com
A new microbrewery has opened in Gosford by three friends with a passion for craft beer. Not far from the beach, it’s the perfect spot for an afternoon drink after a swim or walk. There are currently eight beers on offer, including classic IPAs, XPAs and pale ale as well as limited edition beers, including one infused with dragon fruit and a tropical rum porter. It has a coastal aesthetic with whitewashed walls, hanging plants and murals of a colourful anchor and octopus. Book a spot at the Brew Day Academy for sensory analysis, tasting and a lesson on how to brew. Visit bayrdbrewing.com.au FEATURED STORIESCool Things To Do in EurobodallaThis South Coast town offers uncrowded beaches, country pubs, rolling farm country, fresh seafood, pristine bays and lakes along with a sophisticated selection of accommodation. Visit Maitland for Coffee, Culture and an Excellent Farmers MarketOnly two hours from Sydney, Maitland is a fascinating town with a rich history and burgeoning cultural scene.AUGUST 2019 EVENT GUIDESPOTLIGHT ON: MURIEL'S WEDDING THE MUSICALUntil 8 September, Sydney Lyric Theatre One of Australia’s most iconic films is now a laugh-out-loud, slightly cheeky musical. Follow Muriel Heslop’s journey to Sydney where she finds fame and fortune and more than she bargained for! With 20 original songs by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttal, this is the top-tapping, feel-good musical of the year. Catch star-on-the-rise Natalie Abbott as Muriel and Stefanie Jones as her best friend Rhonda. The first season sold out, so don’t miss out this time. SYDNEY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 18 August | Ferragosto 18 August | Sydney Tea Festival 17-25 August | The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival From20 August | Chicago the Musical 23-24 August | Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships Until 1 September | Muriel’s Wedding The Musical Until 8 September | Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2019 21 February – 8 March 2020 | Women’s T20 World Cup
REGIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Throughout August | Love Sea Food 1-4 August | Orange Winter Festival 8-11 August | Tour de Tweed 9-26 August | Australian Surf Festival 23-25 August | Woolgoolga MTB 24 August - 1 September | Sculpture For Clyde 25 August | Dubbo Stampede 30 August - 8 September | Kiama Bodyboard King Pro 31 August - 1 September | Nosh Narrabri 10-12 October | Wine Media Conference The 2019 Wine Media Conference will be held in the Hunter Valley, the first time ever it’s been located outside of North America. With a program of highly regarded speakers, wine tasting and networking opportunities, it’s a fantastic event for Australian wine media. Visit winemediaconference.org
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