Pink Sydney sunset by Renate Ruge

Shot one:
Sydney skyline
Taken from Lady MacQuarie’s Chair as the sun goes prettily pink on a summer’s evening. You can access this spot by taking a ferry, bus or train to Circular Quay and then heading to the Opera house. Once there, turn right at the forecourt and follow the harbour wall through the Royal Botanic Gardens on foot.

Under The Opera House by Renate Ruge

Shot two:
The eaves of the Opera House

Shot from the foot of the iconic building on one of those brilliant cobalt blue sky days. Alight at Circular Quay and stay on the right hand side. Follow the path to the umbrellas of Opera Bar, look up to Sydney’s most famous landmark and snap away!

Cremorne Point by Andy Waterworth

Shot three:
A shady spot at Cremorne Point
Hop on a ferry and enjoy the five minute ride to Cremorne from Circular Quay. Jump off and walk to the left of the wharf along the path that leads you through gum trees meandering around the shady foreshore where views of the Bridge and the Opera House as well as the whole Sydney skyline are on show.

Park Life in Centennial Park by Renate Ruge

Shot four:
Centennial Park at dark
The last of the sun’s rays light up rows of palm trees in Centennial Park. Their silhouettes give a sultry Sydney feel to the picture. Buses from Bondi Junction and the city stop at Centennial Park or you can walk through the park and around the lake from Paddington. Roller blades and bikes can be hired if you think you are a sure shot and can keep your camera steady.

Take a dip in Coogee seapool by Renate Ruge

Shot Five:
Coogee Sea Pool
Snap frames that will make you just want to dip at toe in the water on the beaches from Bondi to Coogee. Coogee beach is accessible by bus from the city and Bondi Junction where the white bathing pavilion, the scoop of vanilla sandy beach, the glistening shallows and the views from the top of the surf club make for hot holiday albums.

Lunch poolside by Renate Ruge

With its natural harbour and strings of sandy beaches all packed with cafes and restaurants, Sydney has restaurants with water views galore. Here some of the best.

Andrew Boy Charlton Poolside Café
Three tasty ideas: fishcakes, quail egg and tarragon mayonnaise. A delish start to a Sunday after some serious laps in the pool with stunning Woolloomooloo views. Not a swimmer? Then just enjoy the fresh fruit frappes – passionfruit, mango and orange – for us, while savouring the ‘one hat’ food with your choice of java shot or a lemon and ginger tea. Outdoors, cushioned chairs are perfectly placed to bask on the terrace in the Sydney sunshine. Hard to beat.
1C Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Lady Macquarie’s, Andrew Boy Charlton
(02) 8354 1044 www.abcpool.org

Catalina’s
You couldn’t get more Sydney
If you tried. Dining al fresco, amazing seafood and sashimi while watching the seaplanes and the pelicans that come to perch while you dine on the balcony. It just is one of the classiest places to brunch.
Try house smoked salmon, duck egg and brioche and make sure someone plumps for the ever-so- light pan fried snapper with creamy perfectly whipped mash and lemon caper butter. A treat.
1 Sunderland Avenue, Lyne Park
 Rose Bay (02) 9371 0555  www.catalinarosebay.com.au

The Deck

Venture through the laughing gates and savour flavours as well as the sights of the bridge and Opera House. Pre-book the corner table so you can sit smack bang against glass walls and neither of you misses out on the 180-degree views. Look out for the two-course specials. The Persian feta salad with spiced roast pumpkin is superb or the caramelised lambshank and olive terrine scores points. We are sweet on the lemon delicious pud with cream and a citrus wafer too. Share? Sure. But expect to battle it out with your date for the last bites.
1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point 
(02) 9033 7500 www.thedecksydney.com.au

Seasalt
Impress the out-of-towners on the tip of Clovelly headland. This beachside space is light and airy and overlooks the sand and surf, sea pool and kid friendly beach.
The simple menu has good veggie options and eggs with lots of sides. Don’t miss the roasted herbed tomatoes, fabulous Brazilian guava juice and babycinos for the little ones. Get there before midday if you want your eggs.
10 Donnellan Circuit, Clovelly Beach
 (02) 9664 5344 www.seasaltcafe.com.au

Whale Beach Kiosk
Next door to the posher Ripples is the kiosk with the best views of the big swell at Whale Beach and metres from the golden sands. As you watch the waves
roll in and the surfers park up and race straight into them, order a cheeseburger and sit under large white umbrellas with a large latte. It’s all just so cucumber cool and how beach life rolls in the Northern beaches. If payday precedes the weekend then a long lazy Sunday brunch at the slightly exier Ripples means rock oysters or delicious seafood tasting plate.

24 The Strand, Whale Beach
 (02) 9974 5111 www.ripples.com.au

Re-light your fire at Spicers

Love is but a road trip away from Sydney in the Hunter Valley. By Renate Ruge

1, Get in the mood
Splurge on a mini break at Spicer’s Vineyard. Start by checking in and then lay like lizards by the natural pool or relax in the spa amid the gum trees and tranquil flowing water before heading out for dinner at top restaurant Botanica. With excellent drops from their cellar door matched with gourmet dishes such as scallops and salt cod and decadent gnocci, shaved fennel and Pernod sauce or cardoman and pepper-crusted duck. While you are busy dining, your room will be lit by dozens of candles and a petal-filled bath drawn. There are in room massages, before you sink into huge comfy beds watching the flames leap in the open fire. 
www.spicersgroup.com.au

2, Lunch al fresco at Café Enzo

Share a hot salad, some home-baked bread and olive oil and a glass of David Hook chardy in the sun-drenched patio courtyard at Café Enzo. www.pepperscreek.com.au


3, Cruise around in a Cadillac

Feel the wind in your hair as you zoom from cellar door to cellar door in a cool 1950s Cadillac sedan with its shiny chrome and fins, leaving the day’s driving to your limo chauffeur. 
www.cadillacweddings.com.au


Bloomin' marvellous by Renate Ruge

4, Smell the roses at Hunter Valley Gardens
A flower-lover’s heaven in the wine regions’ historic district of Pokolbin, among the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges. Inhale sweet scents of 1000s of blooms in the rose garden before pottering around the calming streams and water-sculptures in the landscaped miniature Japanese gardens.
 Phone: 02 49982 222

5, Wrapture

Bliss out with massages for two and luxe spa treatments like body wraps for a little pampering at Chateau Élan www.chateauelan.com.au or The Golden Door Cypress Lakes Resort thegoldendoor@cypressresort.com.au

6, Horse play
Old fashioned romance can be found going clippety clop around the vineyards in a horse and carriage. It will cost you $85.00 per day or $50.00 half day visiting five wineries and a gourmet picnic lunch thrown in. www.vineyardshuttle.com.au (02) 49 913 655.

7, Wine with a view
Enjoy a swirl of shiraz on 
Bimbadgen’s huge deck and sweeping scenery www.bimbadgen.com.au. Also recommended is Hungerford Hill’s pretty outlook and outdoor movies www.hungerfordhill.com.au and Wyndham Estate’s patio at their historic cellar door and sprawling vineyards is worth a look too. www.wyndhamestate.com


Fizz at Peterson's

8, Life’s better with bubbles

Or so it goes sipping fizz with a few oysters thrown in on the deck at Peterson’s home to some very decent bottles of sparkling. www.petersonhouse.com.au

9, Sunset strolls 

Catch sight of families of kangaroos as they search for watering holes at dusk. The Hunter is home to many a blazing orange ends to the day. Just float off into the sunset by balloon with Balloons Aloft.

10, Take a tour of Lovedale
The cute heart-shaped area to the north east of the Hunter is Lovedale and it’s filled with boutique wineries. Try Emma’s Cottage Vineyard for organic wines from handpicked grapes and Tatler Wine Cellars and Wandin Hunter Valley for trophy earning drops of classic Hunter varietals like chardonnay, shiraz and semillon.

Movie Extra Tropfest Credit: featurepics@fairfaxmedia.com.au

It’s time for Tropfest: Sydney’s ultimate short movie outdoor flicker fest.

Take a picnic and get into the annual showcase of Australia’s next big thing in movie making. John Polson started the festival as the Tropicana Short Film festival a casual screening for cast and crew at Darlo’s Tropicana café. Some twenty years later and film fans (about 150,000 of them) gather in the Domain in the Royal Botanic Gardens to see a line up of talented filmmakers showcase their short films under a huge screen with satellite connections to audiences in other Aussie capitals.

Tropfest is free to attend and most moviegoers bring a picnic and arrive early to find a spot with a great view amid a sea of rugs laid out on the grass. Sunshades and umbrellas are a must in case of inclement weather or to protect against the February rays.

Famous Aussie faces like Toni Collette, Geoffrey Rush, Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman are among international movie stars who take part in judging the winners out of 16 finalists for the $100,000 prize pool.

Each short film is made for the festival and should include a Tropfest signature item. Light bulb is the theme for 2012.

What: Tropfest 2012

Where: The Domain, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney


When:  Sunday, 19 February 2012
Time: 11am – 11pm
For More: www.tropfest.com/au/sydney/

Chinese lantern

Chinese New Year Markets
Hot woks will be firing up and creating sensational aromatic cooking scents at sizzling Sichuan food stalls in Belmore Park as the Chinese New Year festival launches on Friday 27th January. It’s the Chinese food markets where you can grab trays of noodles and dumplings before watching the dragon show and Asian rock and pop gigs all lit up by pretty lanterns.
Chinese New Year Markets, Belmore Park (across Eddy Ave from Central Station) 2000. Fri 20 Jan, 4-11pm; Sat 21 & Sun 22 January, 11am-10pm. FREE.

Twilight Parade
The twilight parade is the main event at Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebrations. Around 3000 performers and dancers will meander from Town Hall to Chinatown in a sea of dragons, martial arts, lanterns and light projections.
Twilight Parade, Town Hall, George St, Sydney 2000. FREE.

Chinese Garden of Friendship

At the serene pagoda-filled gardens in Chinatown there are plenty of celebrations including tea ceremonies, fun stuff for kids and talks on Chinese culture. Entry to the Garden is free for everyone on Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January.
www.sydney.com.au/chinese-garden-friendship

Beach it up on Australia Day by Renate Ruge

It’s the biggest day of the year and firmly fixed in the Aussie calendar for community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies. Australia Day is a national celebration of the landing of the first fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. On this day each year Aussies sport clothes in the national colours of green and gold, wave flags and come together to celebrate under the blazing January sun and blue skies.

Here are ten of the best things to do to ‘get amongst it’.

By Renate Ruge

1, Watch the ferries race at Ferrython

Head to Circular Quay and find a spot on the Harbour foreshore to watch the annual ferrython where the iconic Sydney ferries are all dressed up, ready to do their dash and race to the finish line under the Harbour Bridge. Pack a picnic and pick a spot to watch the big boats race to line honours. Open 11am, free.
www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2012/All-Events/Ferrython/

2, Play ‘two up’ at the pub

Have a spin at the typically Aussie game ‘two up’, which involves throwing two or three coins into the air. Players gamble on whether the coins will fall with both heads up, both (reverse) tails up, or with one coin a head, and one a tail (known as ‘odds’). A schooner of the amber nectar completes this Aussie pub experience.

3, Hit the beach for the Havaianas Thong Challenge

Australia’s most iconic beaches will become a sea of giant inflatable thongs as beachgoers attempt to set a new Guinness World Record to create the longest line of inflatable airbeds afloat. Last year 2068 giant Havaianas floated out on the water.
www.havaianasthongchallenge.com.au

4, Rock out at Big Day Out
Shake your groove thing with Noel Gallagher, Kanye West and My Chemical Romance as well as heaps of other gigs to celebrate the 20th year of The Big Day Out concert in Sydney. 
www.bigdayout.com

5, Tune into Festival of the Voice at The Rocks
Aussie singers and songwriters from all over the country play and sing across multiple stages in the Rocks. The theme: the Australian voice. Hear jazz, soul and groovy tunes as well as operatic sounds in this celebration of home grown talent. 
www.australiaday.com.au

6, Celebrate at the Darling Harbour Spectacular
Tall ship displays, water and firework shows and six hours of free music are all part of the official Australia Day celebrations at Sydney’s famous inner harbour.
www.darlingharbour.com

Fireworks for Australia Day

7, Green Beats and Lawn Bowls
Head to Coogee Beach for celebrations, stalls and a dip in the sea before spending a relaxing afternoon barefoot lawn bowling while grooving away to the Green Beats dance music line up.
www.greenbeats.com.au or www.coogeebowls.com.au

8, Star of The Show
Sydney’s super casino has ‘heaps’ on offer on Australia Day. Water views, live bands including Ian Moss from Cold Chisel, beats and bubbles at cocktail bar Cherry Jam and beers and bangers (or snags and schooners) at Fuel’s Aussie sports bar. 
www.star.com.au

9, BBQ on the Beach
Most Sydney beaches have bar-be-cue areas with coin-operated grills, where you can fire up your own sausage sizzle right by the sea. You will need to score a spot early and byo (bring your own) tomato sauce.

10, Hitch A Ride

Hop onto a vintage bus for a trip back in time. A fleet of vintage buses from the Sydney Bus Museum will operate a circular route through the City at specially marked bus stops.

For more, check out:

http://www.australiaday.com.au/

The huge sreen at St George OpenAir Cinema by Renate Ruge

Summer at the movies in Sydney is a sophisticated affair and the best part is watching the action outdoors on a balmy evening. Here’s what’s on show at the open-air cinemas for summer 2012

Sydney’s summertime outdoor movie screens book up a long way ahead but where else in the world can you cuddle up in the moonlight on a warm evening watching a flick on a giant movie screen, which rises out of the water as soon as the sun sets with the lights of the city and harbour twinkle in the background? Romantic movies with views, champagne and popcorn? It’s all too, too much. Swoon.

The St George Open Air Cinema is the pick of the bunch with its killer Harbour views and  the program goes from January 11 until February 18. This is so much more of an experience than just a movie. Ticket holders – you need to book well in advance or try your luck early on the door for limited tickets – are treated to the best views in town as the sun sets over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. A bar serves champagne and fantastic gourmet food options like antipasto platters, sushi or good old-fashioned fish and chips. There’s a buzz of anticipation in the air as the 350 square meter screen is raised from the water with the city lights flickering prettily in the background and bats from the botanic gardens swooping overhead. Movies to look out for include The Iron Lady, Burning Man and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Sydney 2000. From Wed 11 Jan.
Book on line at www.stgeorgeopenair.com.au  

Or there’s the Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema at Centennial Park www.moonlight.com.au, at the Belvedere Amphitheatre from December 8 to March 15, where VIP Gold Grass seats ($36) mean sharing comfy beanbag in the best lawn locations under the stars.
Catch a line-up of summer blockbusters alfresco including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park 2021. From 8 December, sunset. $11–$36.

And for movies by the beach, visit Bondi OpenAir Cinema.
Post lazing on Sydney’s most famous beach, wander a little back from the foreshore to the amphitheatre as the sun goes down over the Bondi surf. Live tunes are played by local bands and get you in the mood for the movie. Make your movie night a Friday and grab a free scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Midnight in Paris, The Inbetweeners, We Bought A Zoo and Happy Feet 2 are all screening among a long list of hot movie hits.
Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach 2026. From 29 January, 6.30pm. $13.90–$18. www.bondiopenair.com.au

Fireworks at the Opera House by Renate Ruge

The countdown is on to the biggest night of the year. Here’s some last minute inspiration to get in the mood for NYE 2011.

It is one of the best places on the planet to bring in the New Year: Sydney, Australia, world famous for it’s fantastic firework display seen by over 1 billion viewers around the world on TV.

If you’re lucky enough to be among the thousands of people celebrating in the harbour city on December 31, you’ll be in one of the first places in the world to experience the start of 2012.

Each year Sydney has a theme to it’s pyrotechnic show and this year’s mantra is ‘Time to Dream.’ Around 1.5 million spectators will line the harbour foreshore – so plan ahead to ensure you have a safe and fun-packed night. The fireworks can be seen all the way from the Gladesville Bridge in the inner west to the famous headlands forming the entrance to the harbour.

Best seats in the house
For top views of the fireworks head here: popular vantage points include Sydney Harbour Heads, Cremorne Point, The Rocks, Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, Darling Harbour, Mosman, Balmain and Glebe. Barangaroo is also a fantastic vantage point to watch fireworks with friends and family. Pack a picnic and book tickets or make a day of it to get the best spot.

What’s On
Here’s what to expect and when:

8.45pm
The Acknowledgement of Country
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ships engage in a Smoking Ceremony where vessels will cleanse the Harbour of negative spirits as images projected on the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons mark the start of the New Year countdown. Teaser fireworks will follow.

9pm
Family Fireworks
The prelude to the main event are the family fireworks that spark up at 9pm. Designed and choreographed specifically for the little ones, these fireworks will fill the night sky fills with colour to chart topping tunes. The eight-minute performance is accompanied by a soundtrack featuring chart hits from 2011.

9.15 pm
Harbour of Light Parade
Following the 9pm fireworks, a flotilla of vessels switches on their lights and begins a spectacular 15-kilometre parade around Sydney Harbour. Selected from design entries, there are tall ships, Sydney’s Heritage Fleet, commercial charter vessels and Sydney Ferries chosen to take part to illuminate the 2011 Sydney New Year’s Eve theme Time to Dream.

Sydney Harbour Bridge by Renate Ruge

12 midnight
The main event fireworks
At the stroke of midnight, Sydney celebrates the start of a new year in style by lighting up the night sky with a spectacular fireworks display launched from seven barges on the Harbour, the rooftops of seven city skyscrapers and, unforgettably, from Sydney Harbour Bridge in a majestic 12-minute fireworks display. The atmosphere is electric.

What a blast. NYE 2010 by Renate Ruge

Getting the party started
Check out the Opera Bar right under the Opera House, the bars at King Street Wharf, fireworks and beachside parties at Manly, Bondi and Coogee Beaches, fairground fun at Luna Park or cocktails and fireworks at Cockatoo Island.

For more info or to download a special app, go to:
http://www.sydneynewyearseve.com/

Life's sweet at Ormeggio

Make a rendez-vous for a special supper date. Get set to impress after the sun goes down. Hot stuff!

Quay
Impress and win hearts with Peter Gilmore’s fine dining: dress circle views of the Harbour are almost as good as the sea pearls, which are practically a right of passage. Quay cleans up the awards on best lists every year. Devoted to art and detail, flowers appear in salads and they might well be wasabi flowers flown to Sydney in a postal bag from Tasmania… and then there’s always eight textures chocolate cake…
Upper Level, Overseas Passengers Terminal, Circular Quay
(02) 9251 5600 www.quay.com.au

Ormeggio
“Now which boat shall I choose when I win lotto.” It’s the million-dollar question to ponder over a luxe lunch, watching the sleek motor yachts slink past. (‘Ormeggio’ means mooring in Italian.) Our tip: go for antipasti tasting plates with baked buffalo ricotta, red witlof and pear salad. Enjoy a wine or two as the sun streams in. For those with a boat, call ahead and order a hamper for romance to go.
d’Albora Marina, The Spit, Mosman
(02) 9969 4088  www.ormeggio.com.au

Manly Pavilion
Already scooping up awards, this newish seaside Italian affair has that cool Manly beachy vibe. Start with a little herb-crumbed white anchovy and mozzarella grilled on lemon leaf before working your way up to a hearty pasta main like pappardelle with wild boar ragu or a pea and ricotta gnocchi. Dolci is a sweet treat with chocolate, peanut caramel ice cream sandwich or cocoa ravioli with Gorgonzola and honey. Take the ferry as the wine list is fantastico and with those sparkling sea views, there’s no rush.
W Esplanade, Manly, NSW 2095
02 9949 9011 www.manlypavilion.com.au

Café Sydney
Long, lazy and live jazz: that’s what a Sunday at Café Sydney is all about. Kick back with a mocktail and peruse a long list of seafood specials involving yabbies, prawns, crab and Moreton Bay bugs. Sydney rock oysters in fancy caramelised cabernet vinegar are hard to beat. Celebrate some of the best views in town with bubbles. Book ahead to snag a balcony table for your date!
Fifth Floor Customs House
31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay
(02) 95251 8683 www.cafesydney.com.au

Manta
Kick the evening off with a sundowner (our pick the Manta Sunset peachy cocktail) and bask in the Woolloomooloo views. Sleek white boats bob around while you feast on surf or turf (or both). Steak lovers will appreciate the leather bound meaty menu and the angel chips with truffle oil at this flash wharf restaurant. Just add sour dough-crumbed Sydney rock oysters for a total love in.
6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo 

(02) 9332 3822 www.mantarestaurant.com.au

By Renate Ruge

A perfect picnic by Renate Ruge

Picnics are synonymous with long, lazy days and lunch tastes so much better al fresco. Pack up a picnic basket full of delicious goodies and pick a spot on a beach in a gorgeous garden or a shady park. Otherwise lay out the rug on a Harbour island. Sydney has plenty of perfect picnic settings. Here are six top spots:

Beachy picnic at Balmoral
Pitch a sun umbrella in the white sands of Balmoral beach and paddle in the shallow waters. You can bring your own picnic or cheat a little and buy salads, sandwiches and quintessentially Aussie pies from the Bather’s Pavilion kiosk shop. Worried about sand in your sandwiches? Just over the decorative bridge, a grassy knoll juts out to sea splitting the two beaches and makes for a great picnic spot with plenty of shade.

Best views in town at Cremorne Point
Hop off the ferry after a five-minute cruise across the Harbour from Circular Quay’s wharf 4. Turn left and follow the leafy path that winds around the grassy shores of Cremorne. The killer views of the Opera House and Bridge make Cremorne Point one of Sydney’s top vantage spots for the fireworks and a brilliant New Year’s Eve picnic spot. (Be prepared to come early and camp out on December 31 though to secure your spot!) There’s a coffee kiosk on the ferry wharf, conveniences and parking. Bring a blanket and cop a squat in the shade of a gum tree. Food-wise pack a picnic basket full to the brim, as the nearest shop is a pacey twenty-minute walk away.

Shady days in Centennial Park
Stay until the sun sets with an all day picnic here. Wander down stately palm avenues, get 
the kids on horseback and set up picnic camp in a shady paperbark grove. There’s plenty to see: duck ponds, statues, lawns, rose garden and cockatoos in 189 hectares
of parkland. Cycle or roller blade around and grab post picnic coffees from the kiosk.
Oxford Street, Paddington 02 9339 6699 www.centennialparklands.com.au

Panoramic picnic at Lavender Bay Point
The delis on Blues Point Road are a good place to stock up on picnic fare like crackers and cheese and fruit and salad wraps. At the bottom of the hill stay right of the McMahon’s Point ferry and settle
in for a spot of lunch by the water. Most days tourists and the odd bride will pose for photos, as this 360-degree backdrop of Sydney Harbour has wow factor.
McMahon’s Point wharf by ferry or North Sydney train station

Romance in the Royal Botanical Gardens
Well, this is one place to say I do… to a proposal, a wedding or perhaps just a picnic! Iconic picture postcard harbour views, lush green gardens, pretty ponds, steamy hot houses, water features and flowers galore. Love is definitely in the air.
Mrs Macquarie’s Rd, Sydney
(02) 9231 8111 www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Fishy Tales at Sydney Fish Market
A fishy picnic right on the water and you can turn up without prepping a thing! Bag a bench with a view outside and stock up inside on oysters served up in newspaper, some tasty slithers of sashimi, 
fish cooked any which way, crusty bread and olives. BYO champagne! There’s a ‘bottle-o’ (liquor store) here too in case it slips your mind. Watch out for the pesky seagulls! 7am to 4pm.
Sydney Fish Markets, Bank Street, Pyrmont. www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au

By Renate Ruge

A shady spot in Cremorne by C.C Man