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TAKE YOUR PICK THIS AUTUMN IN NSW
Autumn in NSW brings striking colours to the landscape and a host of bright new offerings from off-grid luxury stays to retro milk bars and bespoke Indigenous tours. Be inspired this season and #LoveNSW.
Image above: Apple picking at Shields Orchard, Bilpin
Crafters Cabin is a modern retreat among the alpine bush near Jindabyne
WHAT'S NEW IN NSW
Crafters Cabin is a new off-grid boutique stay in the heart of Thredbo Valley. Just a short drive from Jindabyne, the luxurious designer space features indoor and outdoor fireplaces, double showers, Australian botanical toiletries and uninterrupted views of alpine bush.
Broken Hill Outback Resort has launched a new deluxe package for road trippers from 1 April, 2021. Rates for the luxe king spa cabins include a gourmet continental breakfast, fresh coffee and deluxe toiletries.
A 1950s-style diner has opened in Wellington, just a 35-minute drive from Dubbo. With pastel blue walls, leather booths, a jukebox, plus a menu of burgers, shakes and soft serve, Milky Daze has had sell-out crowds since opening late last year.
The Hilton Sydney has unveiled a sleek $25 million renovation of its rooms and suites, with plush new carpets and curtains, modern furniture and smart TVs. The contemporary refresh also sees new artwork by Sydney artists Camie Lyons and Angela Hayson as well as Queensland Indigenous Australian artist Bec Tarrant.
Taste Australian botanical rum at Husk distillery in the Tweed
Tweed rum distillery Husk has a new addition to their range of sugar cane spirits — Husk Botanic. The new bottle distils their white sugar cane rum with gin-style Australian botanicals including lemon myrtle, strawberry gum and grapefruit peel for a sweet and zesty tipple.
The Batlow Hotel — a 1920s pub in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains — has reopened after a stunning restoration. It boasts a range of brews on tap in the beer garden, refined meals in the new Pioneer Bistro, live events, plus good-value accommodation.
Popular Crows Nest bar Hendriks Cognac & Wine has spread its wings to the Southern Highlands, with a second venue opening in Mittagong. The indulgent food menu includes premium cheese plates, giant jaffles, pizzas and spit roast, plus more than 150 bottles of wine and 30 cognacs.
Sydney’s new aquatic and recreation centre Gunyama Park has opened at Green Square in Zetland. The Park offers a world-class outdoor pool, fully equipped gym (including spin studio and reformer Pilates) and brand-new multipurpose sports field.
Refurbished motel The Sunseeker has opened in Byron Bay. Credit: James Tolic
With a retro aesthetic and designer touches, Byron Bay’s newest boutique accommodation The Sunseeker combines luxury with the artistic mindset of the famous Northern Rivers beach town. The refurbished 80s motel offers beautiful rooms and bungalows, plus a lush palm-fringed pool perfect for the modern traveller.
The Wiradjuri Motorcycle Tour in the Riverina is a fascinating journey alongside Wiradjuri guide Mark Saddler. Guests can bring their own bike and follow Mark to significant Indigenous sites, as well as taste local bush tucker and find native flora and fauna.
Outdoor Experience Factory is a new tour company offering private bespoke adventures ideal for team building and corporate events. The team curate custom trips featuring their side-by-side buggies in the Howes Valley, just a three-hour drive from Sydney.
Owners Harriet and DJ McCready from Blue Mountains brewpub Mountain Culture Beer Co.
FRESHLY MOUNTAIN BREWED
A start-up brewpub in Katoomba has been named the Number One brewery in Australia. Mountain Culture Beer Co. garnered more than 22,000 ratings on Untappd (a geosocial networking website for beer enthusiasts) elevating them to the top spot. Head to the Blue Mountains and taste Mountain Culture’s craft beer at the source – their double dry hopped IPA, Be Kind Rewind, is the number one beer in Australia on Untappd.
The mid-north town of Bellingen hosts an Australian writers festival in June
A BOOK-LOVER'S GUIDE TO NSW WRITERS' FESTIVALS
Coming up is World Book Day (23 April) and there are plenty of events for budding novelists and book lovers in NSW. The Sydney Writers’ Festival (26 April to 2 May) brings together writers to laud literature in the city, while a new bookish forum is coming to the Central Coast – Words on the Waves Writers Festival (12-13 June) presents author talks on the June long weekend. Also over the June long weekend but on the mid-north coast, Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival (11-14 June) solely showcases Australian writers. Heading south, Storyfest celebrates a love of storytelling from songs to poems and yarns in Milton.
The Dove No. 2, 1915, by Hilma af Klint
PAINTINGS FOR THE FUTURE
Sydney has secured a must-see contemporary art exhibition at Art Gallery of NSW: Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings (12 June – 19 September). Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was a high-profile Swedish artist, now considered one of the first contemporary artists. Featuring more than 100 works from her 'secret' collection stored away, her paintings uplift the viewer spiritually and bring a sense of joy with their immense scale, artful symbols and pop colours.
La Traviata director Constantine Costi at a dress rehearsal
FIVE MINUTES WITH DIRECTOR CONSTANTINE COSTI
Sydney-based director and writer Constantine Costi has achieved plenty of artistic goals in his 30 years, but his directorial debut with Opera Australia is one of the most high-profile successes to date — directing La Traviata on Sydney’s floating Handa Opera in the glittering harbour. We ask the North Shore local about the iconic production, and his favourite places to experience Sydney’s artistic scene.
La Traviata on Sydney Harbour is set to open this month — can you tell us about the production?
This production is bursting with excitement. The cast of local and international singers are at the top of their game, Shannon Burns’ choreography is completely thrilling, and Brian Thomson’s iconic crystal chandelier is breathtaking. All against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour — there’s nothing in the world quite like it.
What are your ultimate places to watch theatre and performances in the city?
As a co-artistic director of the Old Fitz in Woolloomooloo, I can safely say this is one of Sydney’s most exciting theatres. I’m immensely proud of our soon-to-be announced 2021 season which heralds an electrifying reopening of our stage and venue.
What does a normal day in Sydney look like for you?
If I’m not locked in a rehearsal room, I might find myself kick-starting a day with a coffee at Sample Coffee in Surry Hills, poring over an opera score in the Mitchell Library, having a lunch meeting at Tropicana Caffe in Darlinghurst, or catching up with friends over a beer at Hollywood Hotel in Surry Hills.
A local favourite you can’t live without?
Christopher’s Cake Shop in Surry Hills is a local classic. Greek pastries, strong coffee, and proudly without Wi-Fi.
Best place for dinner, morning coffee and/or drinks?
Chester White in Potts Point is hard to beat.
You're showing Sydney to a friend for the first time — what's your go-to itinerary?
There’s so much on my list! A picnic at Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden; a swim at Redleaf Beach; a ferry trip to Cockatoo Island; and finally, a cocktail on the rooftop at Old Mate’s Place and maybe a late dinner at Restaurant Hubert.
La Traviata on Sydney Harbour runs from 26 March to 25 April 2021, on the Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquaries Point. Book tickets at opera.org.au
Go apple picking in Bilpin this harvest season
FIND YOUR AUTUMN ESCAPE
Give yourself over to the crisp autumn change and book a cool-weather escape. It’s time to inhale that reviving autumnal air and welcome the golden leaves as you discover the wonderful experiences on offer in NSW.
Pick your own apples in Bilpin
90-minute drive from Sydney
Crisper than a mid-April morning, a bite of a just-picked Bilpin apple is an addictive experience you’ll want to repeat each autumn. And in this village in the Blue Mountains, you can do just that at a handful of orchards open to the public, such as Bilpin Fruit Bowl, Bilpin Springs Orchard, Shields
Orchard and Pine Crest Orchard, among others. Stop by Bilpin Cider for the Thirsty Third Sunday of each month for live music and
pork roast to accompany your cider.
Stroll Cowra’s Japanese Gardens
Four-hour drive from Sydney
With Cowra hosting a prisoner of war camp during WWII, the relationship between the Central West township and Japan began on a sombre note. These days, however, a friendship between the two is tended as meticulously as the Cowra Japanese Gardens and Cultural Centre, which puts Japanese design and heritage on show. The serene and diligently cultivated five-hectare gardens display astonishing beauty and serve to nurture good will and peace.
Celebrate the falling leaves in Tumut
Four-hour 30-minute drive from Sydney
If autumn is your favourite season, you’ll find a whole town of like-minded people in Tumut, at the foothills of the Snowy Mountain. Here the locals celebrate the golden season with the Festival of the Falling Leaf on the last Saturday of April each year. Get along for the street parade, market stalls, music, activities and fireworks.
Eat around Orange F.O.O.D Week
Four-hour drive from Sydney
As Australia’s longest-running regional food festival, Orange F.O.O.D Week has a long and enviable legacy of stuffing people to the gills with extraordinary local fare. Shining a light on producers, restaurateurs and vintners, the festival is delicious way to explore this beautiful pocket of country NSW and stockpile one’s larder and cellar stores for the coming winter.
Seasonal sips
Autumn brings both excuse and invitation to while away some solid hours in a cosy drinking den. In the heart of Sydney, elegant British-style tavern The Duke of Clarence has definite drawing room vibes, while on the Central Coast, head to Distillery Botanica in Erina, where you can warm up from the inside out with spirits and liqueurs made in traditional European copper pot stills. Celebrate the finest of whiskies with a wee dram at Aspinalls Whisky Bar in Bowral where you can savour each sip from a cosy velvet armchair.
Take a hike
Exit Sydney in almost any direction and you’ll be met with nearby bushland playgrounds threaded with stunning walks to suit any level, from relaxed ambles to serious treks. If you’re aiming to hit the middle ground, head to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and set course for 1.8km-return America Bay track.
Autumn sleepovers
Cooler weather means inside is better than out, book a luxe escape in these retreats.
Watch the morning mist slip across the water from the deck of the cabins at Hideout in the Southern Highlands. Barranca in Kangaroo Valley offers a stylish, pared-back stay where you can bask in the natural drama of the bush. 232 at Boonderoo is a unique earth-covered hideaway set on a conservation and bush
regeneration property near Bathurst.
Bathurst Autumn Colours
Three-hour drive from Sydney
For six cool-weather weeks from 13 March, Bathurst and its villages host an Autumn Colours program that tours the heritage and history of the area through talks, walks and events. You might come simply for radiant leaves, but once here, spend some time exploring the fascinating sites and characters that have shaped this beautiful region.
Spot more autumn shades
This season’s changing of the leaves are photographers’ and nature-lovers’ dreamscapes. In Oberon, the 65-hectare Mayfield Garden hosts the Autumn Festival between 2–25 April, where you can glamp under the stars. Take a road trip through the stunning Riverina region, stopping at Tumut, Wagga Wagga and Gundagai. A short side-step from the city is a visit to Mount Tomah in the Blue Mountains where you can tour the Botanic Garden’s array of deciduous trees.
Download a selection of Autumn in NSW imagery below:
Forty Baskets Beach in Balgowlah is on the Spit to Manly walk
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
You need only point the compass slightly north of Sydney to unearth some of the state’s best coastal enclaves. Just an hour’s drive from the CBD, the city’s Northern Beaches are laden with experiences for the day-tripper and mini-breaker, alike. From Manly to Newport to Palm Beach, incredible oceanside activities, relaxed seaside dining and breathtaking accommodation await.
Bert’s Bar and Brasserie, Newport
You may have travelled just under an hour from the city to reach Bert’s, but cross the threshold into this grand, light-flooded dining room and you’ll feel as though you’ve travelled back to the 1930s, such is its elegant bygone charm. The mood calls for nothing less than Champagne and oysters and expect to find yourself Googling nearby accommodation to linger longer.
Forty Baskets Beach, Balgowlah
The Northern Beaches is a veritable buffet of naturally carved out coves and soft-sand shores, but among them are a few less-visited treasures. Frolic-friendly Forty Baskets Beach is stop 13 on the famous Spit to Manly walk, but is worth a standalone visit for its hidden-away beauty. If you have small ones in tow, park at Balgowlah Heights and make your way down the stairs on Beatty Street.
Flow Mocean, Manly
If you’re the type who begins the day with a salute to the sun, dial up your morning practice with a few ocean-top downward dogs. Flow Mocean offers paddleboard yoga classes on their floating studio, which is helpfully tethered, so you won’t drift away mid-pose. Then stroll into town to even out your morning virtue with a buttery croissant from Rollers Bakehouse, after all, yoga is all about balance.
Contemporary Hotels, Palm
Beach
An oceanfront vacation in pretty Palm Beach deserves luxury accommodation, and Contemporary Hotels’ hand-picked list of villas, mansions, penthouse apartments and romantic beach cottages offer unforgettable indulgence that still feels at home. The Archer House at Whale Beach is immaculate and minimal — arrange a staycation here with up to 12 friends for a sophisticated soiree.
Barrenjoey House, Palm Beach
Drop by for an expertly mixed cocktail and Modern Australian fare with a seafood focus and stay the night in bright seaside rooms at this heritage restaurant, bar and guesthouse. With views of Pittwater and daily happy hour, this is a must-stop at the very top of the Northern Beaches.
Sydney Seaplanes
Make your arrival at the Northern Beaches part of the indulgence and take a private flight with Sydney Seaplanes. Land directly at Jonah’s on Whale Beach for an award-winning lunch or dinner overlooking the water, or fly to the peaceful Cottage Point Inn surrounded by the dense bush of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.
Download a selection of Northern Beaches imagery below:
Outdoor concerts at Sunset Piazza. Credit: Maclay-Heriot
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | Sydney
Until 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.
Sunset Piazza | Sydney
Until 21 March
Summer comes alive with performances spanning pop, cabaret, comedy, hip-hop, indie rock and opera at this new pop-up outdoor concert series at Cathedral Square. Alongside an impressive line-up, guests can enjoy Italian snacks and aperitivi.
Sounds on the Terrace | Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
5 March
Look out to Harbour Bridge and Opera House views at sunset with a soundtrack of live music at this monthly event at the Sculpture Terrace at the MCA. Food and drink are also available from the seasonal menu of the MCA Café.
HAMILTON | Sydney Lyric Theatre
From 17 March
The musical Hamilton has wowed audiences and broken records around the globe and it’s coming to Sydney’s Lyric Theatre this March. See and hear the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton told through hip-hop and R&B.
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 and the Southern Highlands.
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.
2021 NSW Open Men’s Golfing Championship | Concord Golf Club
25-28 March
Join NSW and Australia’s leading elite amateur golfers play against seasoned professionals at this year’s NSW Open. This year the event returns to Concord Golf Club, one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious clubs. Tee up to play or come along and walk the fairways with the players and show your support for the region.
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 transform as the sun sets with colourful costumes, a giant chandelier, unforgettable music and dazzling fireworks.
Mudgee Region Food + Drink Trail | Mudgee
20-21 March and 27-28 March 2021
Go on a culinary crawl through Mudgee at this new gourmet trail event. Held over two weekends in March, visitors can purchase a trail pass to access exclusive wine and food pairings at a range of wineries and venues.
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 at Sydney Olympic Park brings us all together for a day of entertainment, competitions, exhibits and good old-fashioned family fun.
Field to Forest Festival | Oberon
1-30 April
Forage for wild mushrooms, embark on a wine trail or 4WD tour, or join a long lunch in a secluded forest at this produce-driven food festival in Oberon in the Central West.
