DRINK – THE BUCHA SHED

STAY – MULLANE'S HOTEL

The Bucha Shed is the home of Bucha of Byron Kombucha and The Dirty Bucha of Byron (with premium spirits) in Byron Bay, which has recently opened to the public. Bucha is a delicious tasting raw kombucha that uses local ingredients and is produced by Stone & Wood. It’s a great non-alcoholic option if you’re at the bar but not drinking, and the alcoholic version is a healthier version of a mixed drink. The Shed is open on Friday and Saturday for tours and tastings. Visit thebuchaofbyron.com.au 

The Hills District in Sydney is set to receive a stylish, multilevel hospitality venue this Spring, with a café, Italian restaurant, function space, craft distillery and boutique public bar. Sarino’s restaurant and bar will have an open kitchen and a dining area which will spill into a decadent cocktail bar. The beverage list will include over 200 wines and reinvented classic Italian cocktails. A private function area will sit on level two, and an on-site craft distillery will produce almond liquor for affogatos and fresh limoncello, as well a range of craft spirits. Visit mullanes.com.au

TOUR – DJIRRINGANJ DREAMING TOUR

STAY – SEBEL SYDNEY MANLY BEACH

Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness (NNCA) is Aboriginal owned and operated and runs Aboriginal tourism experiences in the Narooma/Tilba region on the South Coast of NSW, on Yuin Country. Gulaga Mountain and Djirringanj Country are the heartbeat of the Yuin people and as traditional knowledge holders and teachers, NNCA guide visitors on country experiences to connect people to the creation stories. NNCA has refreshed their Djirringanj Dreaming Tour, with a new Indigenous Twist dining experience, a traditional forage and cooking demonstration and a sound healing workshop that includes song, vibration, yidaki and meditation. Visit ngaranaboriginalculture.com

The hotel has undergone a coastal makeover, reflecting its enviable location on the southern end of Manly Beach. The fit-out includes new-look accommodation as well as an update to shared spaces, including the hotel’s pool area, lobby and reception area. The apartment kitchenettes have Caesarstone benchtops and plenty of storage. New features include USB wall plugs, wireless Qi chargers and Samsung 55” televisions, and rooms have been brightened with splashes of colour and tropical prints. Visit thesebelmanlybeach.com.au

EAT – UNION BANK

Perfect for alfresco dining, the Union Bank in Orange will re-open in October with The Schoolhouse Restaurant and The Art House Bar & Courtyard. The iconic venue will celebrate its origins as an art school and original site of Kinross Wolaroi School, with manager Sarah Crowley from Sydney’s Rockpool Bar & Grill leading the team and Dominic Aboud in the kitchen. The restaurant will use local produce and exclusively stock Orange region wines, and the bar will offer snacks and cocktails out the back. Visit theunionbank.com.au

TOUR – CITY AND COUNTRY AIR CHARTERS

Explore the Mid North Coast via an unforgettable scenic joy flight with City and Country Air Charters, based out of Kempsey Airport. You’ll see breathtaking views of whales (in season), Smoky Cape Lighthouse, Hat Head, Kempsey and Crescent Head and South West Rocks during a half-hour flight. They also offer flights over the Blue Mountains and Orange wine region. Visit cityandcountryaircharters.com.au

TOUR – OUTBACK ASTRONOMY

The star gazing in the Outback in NSW is second to none, which you’ll discover for yourself at a guided session with Outback Astronomy in Broken Hill. On Fridays, the new Sunset Sizzle experience offers a classic Aussie barbeque dinner under the stars before the core Hang Out With the Stars experience. The latter is a great introduction to astronomy – you’ll view stars with binoculars and a telescope while listening to in-depth explanations of what you are seeing by a knowledgeable guide. Visit visitnsw.com/outback-astronomy

DO – ON THE PERCH BIRD PARK

The only bird park in NSW has recently added seven new exhibits. Located in Tathra, on the South Coast, the new exhibits will include a conservation precinct, a Central America desert walk-in aviary and a Southern Cassowary and Australian Brush Turkey exhibit. Feed the Southern Cassowarys and hear a special keeper talk inside the enclosure. Twenty additional bird species will live in the park, including a number of species that have never been previously displayed in the region. Visit ontheperch.com.au

SYDNEY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

24 October - 10 November – Sculpture by the Sea
The world’s largest annual free outdoor sculpture exhibition will be back on the cliffs of Bondi this Spring for its 23rd year. The Sculpture by The Sea two-kilometre walk features hundreds of works by Australian and global artists, all set against a stunning ocean backdrop. Visit sculpturebythesea.com

Until 30 November – Hello Koalas at Royal Botanic Garden
Follow the colourful koala trail at Royal Botanic Garden. The outdoor gallery curated by Arts and Health Australia boasts over 20 one-metre high koala sculptures hand-painted by Aussie artists. Visit
rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

1-2 November – Real Festival
Be part of the fun at this family-friendly event in Penrith, which transforms the bank of the Nepean River with pop-up performances, artists, markets, food trucks, riverside bar and more. Visit realfestival.com.au

1-10 November – The Festival of
Fisher’s Ghost
Held since 1956, this historic festival is one of Campbelltown’s biggest events of the year. The celebration of Campbelltown’s infamous ghost, Fred Fisher, tells the legend of the apparition with a popular street parade of vibrant colours and ghostly costumes. Visit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au

1 November - 14 December – Così, Sydney Theatre Company
Enjoy an authentic Australian comedy at the Sydney Opera House, when the Sydney Theatre Company presents Così in the Drama Theatre. Set in 1971, it’s a play about community, inclusivity and romance with a cast of loveable characters. Visit sydneyoperahouse.com

2 November 2019 - 8 March 2020 – Sydney International Art Series: Japan Supernatural
Celebrating the wildly imaginative spirit world of Japanese art aross the centuries at the Art Gallery of NSW. Visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au

8 November 2019 - 16 February 2020 – Sydney International Art Series: Cornelia Parker
Cornelia Parker will transform everyday objects into unexpected and explosive installations, sculptures, drawings and films at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Visit mca.com.au

9-10 November – Southeast Aboriginal Arts Market
This free art fair gathers artists and collectives from South East Australia and offers authentic art work for sale from over 60 Indigenous artists. There are no commission fees so all the proceeds go to the artists. Visit carriageworks.com.au/events/south-east-aboriginal-arts-market-2019/

24 November – Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney
Held at the foot of the Blue Mountains at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, this half Ironman includes a 1.9km swim, 90km bike course and 21.1km run. Visit ironman.com

27 November – 2019 Aria Awards
The 2019 ARIA Awards celebrates the brilliance and diversity of the Aussie music scene, and this year’s host will be Guy Sebastian. The Australian music industry’s biggest night of celebration is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Visit ariaawards.com.au

Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach

REGIONAL EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

25 October - 3 November – The Grafton Jacaranda Festival
The Grafton Jacaranda Festival is the longest-running floral festival in Australia, held under canopies of purple blossoms and boasting a program of markets, open gardens, art exhibitions and the crowning of the Jacaranda Queen. Visit jacarandafestival.com

1-3 November – Perfect Light Film Festival
The Perfect Light Film Festival is a free short film festival in the NSW Outback, which showcases the location’s use in multiple film shoots. Bring a picnic rug and enjoy watching a selection of 12 shortlisted films all judged live by a panel of celebrity judges. Visit perfectlightfilmfestival.com.au

2-3 November – Carcoar Cup Running Festival
This running festival in a stunning Central NSW location offers multiple distances from a marathon to a 10km walk. The marathon is considered one of the toughest and most beautiful courses in Australia. Visit carcoarcup.com.au

2-10 November - Oberon Outdoor Week
A fun-filled week for the whole family with everything from a fishing tournament and homestead tours, to fossicking and mountain biking. Visit visitoberon.com/events/oow

3 November – Woolgoolga Blues and Berries Festival
On the mid-north coast of New South Wales, visit the Blues and Berries Fair and enjoy Blues and Roots music in Australia’s blueberry capital, Woolgoolga. There are free farm tours, a blueberry pie-eating contest and a stellar line up of live music. Visit bluesandberries.com.au

8-10 November – Return to Rio
A musical mecca just 90 minutes from Sydney on the Hawkesbury, this annual festival offers three stages of music with The Martinez Brothers headlining, a fancy dress party, a hidden disco and a pool party. Visit returntorio.com

14-17 November – Mullum
Music Festival
Every year since 2008, the lovely village of Mullumbimby hosts four days of world, roots and blues music in an array of performance spaces from cafés to parks. This year’s line up features Mojo Juju, Nano Stern (Chile), Husky and Alysha Brilla (Canada). Visit mullummusicfestival.com

14-17 November – Kennards Hire
Rally Australia
Watch international rally car teams race around the beautiful Coffs Coast for Kennards Hire Rally Australia, the closing round of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship season. The 300km track travels through some of the most picturesque conditions in rally driving and spectators can watch the cars fly by from vantage points around the track. Visit rallyaustralia.com.au

16 November – Bouddi Coastal Run
This spectacular coastal trail run has views that will take your breath away. Held in the stunning coastal reserve of Bouddi National Park, there’s a 14km and a 21km option with a course combination of smooth trails, sand running, rocky terrain, cliff top trails and hills. Visit bouddicoastalrun.com.au

22-24 November – Coates Hire Newcastle 500
Supercars will take over the streets of Newcastle for the second annual Coates Hire Newcastle 500. There will be three days of non-stop on-track action as teams battle it out in the final round of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. Book a seat in the grandstand to get an unbeatable view of the track. Visit supercars.com/newcastle

23 November – Perricoota Pop and
Pour Festival
The Perricoota Pop and Pour Festival is a celebration of food, drinks and tunes in the Perricoota Wine Region of Echuca Moama, held every year on the last Saturday of November. Guests will be ferried from venue to venue in the Pop & Pour shuttles to sample the region’s very best produce and listen to live music performances. Visit visitnsw.com

29-30 November – L’Etape by Le Tour
de France
L’Étape Australia by Le Tour de France is a unique road cycle event that provides an experience close to riding in the Tour de France. It’s held in the Australian NSW Snowy Mountains on 170 kilometres of fully closed roads, under professional Tour de France Race conditions. Visit letapeaustralia.com

30 Nov – 1 Dec - Jetblack Wild Wombat MTB Challenge
Jetblack Wild Wombat is a mountain bike challenge through forests, along rivers and coastal tracks in the pretty Eurobodalla region. There’s a short track sand and dirt criterium on the Saturday followed by the Slingshot Race on a 7.1km circuit Visit rockytrailentertainment.com/jetblack-wild-wombat