EAT | COOGEE WINE ROOM

DO | THE POLISHED OPAL

As 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

STAY | CIRCA 1928

TOUR | GO FISH AUSTRALIA

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

TOUR | FULLERTON HOTEL SYDNEY

DRINK | BAY RD BREWING

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

SYDNEY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

18 August | Ferragosto
Great North Road in Five Dock will come alive with the tastes and sounds of Italy for Ferragosto, showcasing the best of Italian culture, entertainment and cooking with over 120 stalls and four stages. Visit canadabay.nsw.gov.au

18 August | Sydney Tea Festival
Tea lovers won’t want to miss the Sydney Tea Festival featuring a market full of artisan tea stalls, handmade teaware, workshops and sweet treats at Carriageworks. Visit sydneyteafestival.com.au

17-25 August | The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
The Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Auburn Botanic Gardens, is a celebration of Japanese modern and traditional culture through flora, food, movies, music and performance. Visit cumberland.nsw.gov.au

From20 August | Chicago the Musical
The razzle dazzle world of Chicago the Musical is coming to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre with show-stopping tunes, iconic Aussie performers and slick choreography. Roxie Hart is played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte, while Casey Donovan hits the stage as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton. Visit chicagothemusical.com.au

23-24 August | Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships
The Australian Indoor Skydiving Championships is the largest indoor skydiving competition in the Southern Hemisphere and the qualifier for Australians to participate in the World Cup. The public can attend free of charge. Visit sydney.com

Until 1 September | Muriel’s Wedding The Musical
One of Australia’s most iconic films is now a laugh-out-loud 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. Visit murielsweddingthemusical.com

Until 8 September | Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2019
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes are amongst the most prestigious art awards in Australia and are held at the Art Gallery of NSW. Prizes are awarded to the best portrait painting; the best landscape or figure sculpture; and the best subject, genre or mural. Visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes

21 February – 8 March 2020 | Women’s T20 World Cup
The T20 World Cup is a family-friendly affair, with children’s tickets for all matches just $5 each. A family of four can attend a women’s match for $50; the semi-finals and finals will be held at the SCG. Tickets are on sale now and you can register for the Men’s T20 World Cup. Visit icc-cricket.com/t20-world-cup

REGIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Throughout August | Love Sea Food
Port Stephens celebrates its exceptional coastal cuisine with Love Sea Food 2019, a month of live cooking demonstrations, tastings, signature dinners, seafood lunch and dinner specials, oyster tasting and shucking, educational talks, kids’ activities and much more. Visit portstephens.org.au/loveseafood

1-4 August | Orange Winter Festival
The three-day Orange Winter Festival will showcase the best of an authentic country Winter through a series of bonfire events. Enjoy chargrilled feasts under starry skies or huddle up next to a pub fireplace for a blazing Sunday lunch. Visit orange360.com.au/Events/Orange-Winter-Fire-Festival

8-11 August | Tour de Tweed
Tour de Tweed is Australia's sought after weekend of cycling; showcasing the best of the Tweed's natural environment, food, accommodation and cycling. The not-for-profit Tour de Tweed brings the cycling community together for great country laneway racing. Visit visitnsw.com/destinations

9-26 August | Australian Surf Festival
The annual SAE Group Australian Surf Championships on the Tweed Coast will see over 500 competitors from around the nation have a shot at being crowned an Australian Champion. The mobile surfing event will be hosted each day in the best waves available. Visit www.visitnsw.com/destinations

23-25 August | Woolgoolga MTB
The Woolgoolga MTB Festival is a two-day mountain bike extravaganza with events for riders of all ages, fitness and ability. There’s an all-mountain XC, a beach sprint, hill climb as well as Taste of Woolgoolga Curry & Beer Food Market. Visit woopimtbfestival.com

24 August - 1 September | Sculpture For Clyde
Sculpture For Clyde, is a cultural event featuring famous and local sculptors’ creations on the beautiful South Coast of NSW. The nine-day art festival celebrates imagination in 3D and is open to professional, emerging and novice artists with prize money over $70,000. Visit sculptureforclyde.com.au

25 August | Dubbo Stampede
This is the only major running festival that takes place in a zoo in Australia. Whether you are keen to walk or wheel five kilometres, run 10 kilometres, or smash out a half or full marathon, you’ll be close to animals and the surrounding Macquarie River at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Visit dubbostampede.com.au

30 August - 8 September | Kiama Bodyboard King Pro
The Kiama Bodyboard King Pro is the third stop on the APB World Tour and will see over 100 world class competitors battle for the title. The headquarters for the event will be at Surf Beach, Kiama, with organisers making use of surrounding beaches depending on the conditions. Visit visitnsw.com

31 August - 1 September | Nosh Narrabri
This foodie festival in the North West of New South Wales showcases a wide variety of local produce and is the perfect opportunity to savour the fruits of this rich agricultural region. Explore the wares of over 40 local and regional exhibitors offering tasty gourmet samples including olives, pasta, wines as well as other delicious treats. Visit noshnarrabri.com.au

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