So, I haven’t talked about this much since I’m in a bit of denial, but my birthday is in a scant three weeks. Hello mid-thirties. Nice to meet you. Whoa.
But thankfully, the shock is being tempered by pretty much the best birthday present ever:
I’m headed Down Under! I could not be more excited. I’ve never been to Australia, but always wanted to go. I’ve just begun poring over every source I can find {Vogue Living, Belle, Est Magazine, Australian Vogue and all those fabulous Australian blogs}.
There are SO many exciting things about this trip – we’ll be exploring Sydney and Melbourne for just over two weeks. I’m already day dreaming about heading back into summer and spending a day at the beach. Eating my way through town. Where we’ll stay?!
While I’m going to pretend my birthday is not real, this trip very much is, so I had better get to planning!
This is where you come in. I know Friday’s are usually reserved for offering up great links, but I’d so appreciate it if you offered up your advice! Sydney, Melbourne – really anything about Australia…let me know what I should know!
xx,
Erin
You have to visit the Blue Mountains (2 hours outside of Sydney), visit a vineyard or minimally do some wine tasting, and of course the obvious destinations – the Opera House, Sydney aquarium. My favorite part of Australia was Northern Queensland. If you can make up there and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef…do it! Oh, and Fraser Island too. Enjoy!
Thanks Hanna – I willl be wine tasting outside of Perth for my first weekend!
I’ve heard Australia is gorgeous! I just had a guest blogger do a city guide tour on my blog about Sydney. Check it out: http://www.eatdrinkshoplove.com/2013/09/04/city-guide-sydney-australia/
What an awesome idea for a birthday! Australia is wonderful and you gonna enjoy every single minute over there! Just make sure you don’t have bananas in your handbag when landing in Australia haha 😉
Have a good weekend xxx
When you are in Melbourne, the Roof Top Bar/Cinema is a must, a regular melbournian haunt!
http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/nightlife/directory/bar/rooftop-bar
The weather is improving (a beautiful, sunny 27 degrees today), so hopefully it will be just as good when you come, as it certainly makes exploring much better!
Also, Broadsheet (from where the link above it from) is a good start for seeing what is on, or where to eat.
Have a great time in our lovely country!
Eek – Clare – thank you! I am SO excited to discover local haunts and things off the toursit track!
Ohh wow! Love your blog. Long time reader from Sydney Australia. You’re going to love it. Crown St Surry Hills has nice shops and restaurants. The design files blog is a good place to look at for Syd and Melb!! Enjoy your trip! Transportation here is crappy and costly but other then that it is nice!!
Yay Laura! Thanks so much for commenting. I might be staying in Surry Hills when we’re in Sydney – I’ve heard so many good things.
An extensive but not exhaustive guide:
Some places to go in Sydney:
Gelato Messina in Darlinghurst (Victoria St), Surry Hills (Crown St) or Bondi.
Any/all of the Eastern beaches – the walk from Bondi to Coogee is especially beautiful but will take about an hour one way.
Opera Bar under the Opera House for a quintessential Sydney experience – stunning at sunset, busy on a Friday night!
The Glenmore in The Rocks for a rooftop bar overlooking the harbour.
Centennial Park for a walk.
For shopping, head to The Intersection in Paddington for a diverse selection of Australian designers – check out Zimmermann, Camilla + Marc, Lover, Dion Lee, Josh Goot and Ginger & Smart.
The Grounds of Alexandria for brunch or lunch.
Balmoral Boathouse for breakfast.
Dip your toes in the water at Bondi or Bronte.
For a change of pace in Sydney, head up to Palm Beach for a weekend.
The Winery in Surry Hills.
Bondi Icebergs for a quintessential Bondi experience.
Rockpool Bar + Grill, Aria, Chiswick or any of the restaurants at The Star in Pyrmont for fine dining.
Adriano Zumbo at The Star for great pastries and finely baked goods.
Australian coffee is generally pretty great, hard to go wrong.
Take a ferry to Manly for the harbour views, lots of great cafes and bars over there too.
Make sure you duck up the Hunter Valley for a night, or to the Yarra Valley while in Melbourne for wine tasting – hire a car and stay at a cute bnb.
Depending on budget, The Olsen is a great hotel in Melbourne – any of the art series hotels really. If in Sydney you want to splash out and treat yourself, spend a night at the Shangri La – Prince Harry stayed there during his recent visit.
If you’re here in spring or summer, remember that our sun is a lot harsher than anywhere else in the world so pack your SPF 50 and a hat. Expect temps anywhere between 10 and 40 degrees celsius.
We’re a very casual and relaxed bunch, and anything goes. Our food is pretty great as it’s a melting pot of cultures and there is lots of fresh produce available.
It is an expensive place, but don’t be put off by that. Tipping is not mandatory the way it is in the states as wait staff minimum wage is higher, but it is always welcomed and generally expected in fine dining establishments. If you have Uber, it is available in Sydney (not sure about Melbourne!)
Enjoy your stay!
x
Amy this list is AH-mazing!! Thank you so so so much!
I have lived in Sydney for 6 years and returned back to Europe last year. I agree with the above, just not with that Australia is expensive once you are there. Stuff costs the same as in Europe. You can go budget or splurge. I miss the cuisine. The take away food variety and restaurants. Miss the Eastern suburbs beaches, with picknics and barbeques. 🙁
Greetings US alien! You will find us strange but welcoming!
I’m in Perth but our take is – Melb is culture culture culture, amazing food, inclement weather and very nice indeed. Great shopping – Our NY shall we say?
Sydney is LA – very cool, lots of polish & class, better weather arguably, but more amazing food & shopping.
There you go 🙂
Cheers
Lori
Thanks Lori – I can’t wait to experience both. If you have any fave food or shopping spots in either city let me know!
Good timing, just discovered your blog today and I’m from Sydney!
I second the recommendation for Crown Street- there are quite a few good restaurants elsewhere in Surry Hills too- Bodega and Porteno, Movida (which actually started in Melbourne, so maybe just go in Melbourne). Macleay Street in Potts Point also has great food- fratelli paradiso for italian, apollo for incredible greek food- however Potts Point is right next to Sydney’s red light district of King’s Cross- I wouldnt say its dangerous, but still a bit seedy.
My absolute favourite restaurant at the moment is Sixpenny in Stanmore- incredible food, lots of Australian ingredients (they have a farm in the southern highlands so lots of unusual produce), a bit pricey but very worth it. It’s right near Stanmore railway station, about a 10 minute train ride from the city- there’s not much else in Stanmore so I wouldn’t make a day of it, but it is next door to Newtown, which can be a fun suburb to wander around.
Chat Thai (there are a few locations, two in the city- one at Campbell St, and one at the top of the Westfield shopping centre in Pitt St) has amazing Thai food.
Westfield on Pitt St in the city has shops of some great Australian designers, including Zimmermann and Ginger and Smart, and nearby is the Strand, which is a beautiful old shopping arcade, also with lots of Australian boutiques (its small enough to visit them all, but the Corner Shop, Gorman and Fleur Wood are highlights). The best neighbourhood for shopping is Paddington- all along Oxford Street, and then a few side streets off Oxford Street, including William St. Paddington is between the CBD and Bondi (oxford street runs all the way from the city to Bondi Junction), and Bondi Beach is worth a trip- but there are lots of other quieter beaches nearby, including Clovelly, Tamarama and Bronte- you can do a walk along the headland between them all, which is a pretty nice way to start the day.
About a 10-15 minute taxi ride (maybe $15 each way?) out of the CBD, in Rosebery, is Kitchen By Mike, really fresh delicious food, and its part of Koskela, a great design store- worth a trip if you have the time.
Taking the ferry is great fun, our trains are pretty slow and a bit rubbish but safe, and the buses are fine too. Get the app ‘Tripview’ for your phone, it has all the public transport times, and you can plan trips on it too- google maps also works pretty well for figuring out public transport to get from place to place. If you’ll be taking mainly buses, you can get a ‘Travelten’ which is 10 bus trips on one card- there are different zones, zone 1 is mainly the CBD, get a zone 2 if you want to go anywhere a little further out (Bondi, Newtown, etc), but the best value if you’re in sydney for around a week and you’ll be taking buses/trains ferries is to get a ‘Mymulti1’- this covers you for trains and ferries within a certain area, and any bus in the city.
Hope that helps a little!
This is SO helpful, thank you Kate!
oh what a great birthday trip! I’m from Sydney but I also love Melbourne. You have to do the main sights – Opera House, Harbour bridge etc and they don’t disappoint. Catch a ferry to Manly and walk to Shelly Beach. Hemingways is a cute bar/cafe on the ocean side or stop at Hugo’s at the wharf. You must do the cliff walk from Coogee to Bondi (Sculpture by the Sea is on til 10 Nov). In Bondi, try the Bucket List for a drink or go to Neighbourhood or Bondi Hardware for food. I live in Surry Hills and it’s my fave suburb to explore shops and cafes (Crown Street & Bourke Street). For something different check out the harbour beaches like Balmoral, Neilsen Park or Redleaf pool. Have a fab time xx
Both Melbourne and Sydney are lovely. The Melbourne Supper Club is a lovely place for a late drink and Brunetti’s in Carlton is a great stop for coffee and cake. In Sydney, The Wharf Woolloomooloo is a beautiful setting with lots of restaurants. Enjoy your holiday.
I’ve read about the Melbourne Supper Club – my dining plan is going to be extensive!
wowzahhh! what an awesome birthday trip! i’ve never been but it’s on my to-travel list! have the best time 🙂 xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Wow, what an awesome birthday pressie! I’m from Aus, and second just about everything everyone has said. If you have time/money, definitely come up to the Hunter Valley (where I’m from) and take a day or two for wine tasting. It’s beautiful up here with soooo many wineries, both large and small to visit. Have an amazing time, I’m sure you will.
As a native San Franciscan now living in Australia, I think you’ll find that SF and Sydney are sister cities–they both have the same feel to me. You’ll definitely want to check out the Opera Bar for a drink, and something fun to do might be to visit the Taronga Zoo–it’d be a good way to see most of your Aussie animals in one go!
Conde Nast traveler had an article titled The Melbourne Ultimatum by Tony Perrottet, which highlights the most chic places to dine, drink and absorb the Melbourne culture. Im not sure of the dates you will be in Melbourne, but if you’re there on the 4th of November, be sure to see the Melbourne Cup (from what I hear, its like the Kentucky Derby, and would be something unique to Australia to witness while you’re here. Also to get yourself ready I’d recommend reading the book In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson–its hilarious and gives opinions on pretty much everything Australia has to offer.
Thanks Kat – I’ve got to check out that Conde Nast Traveler article!
Both Sydney and Melbourne are brilliant! For me, Melbourne is just that little bit better than old Sydney town. Make sure you venture to Fitzroy when you are in Melbourne – you will love it! Being a Brisbane girl though, I am so disappointed that you will not be coming our way and enjoying our beautiful city and glorious spring weather. Have fun! Kate.
I wish I could make it to Brisbane too Kate – just so much to do in only two weeks – and your country is so big! It gives me an excuse to come back again though 🙂
I’m a Melbourne girl an I love Sydney. If you have time visit the wineries on the mornington peninsula (especially Montalto’s) and if you can enjoy a day trip down to Sorrento. A day exploring the myriad of lanes and hidden allys in Melbourne is a must. The comment above who described Melbourne and Sydney was spot on! Sydney is like an exotic bird (the beaches! The color! The bridge! The harbor!) and Melbourne is your black on black arts, music, cultural hub with very changeable weather! Layers are recommended!
Oh wow! I’ve been following your blog for the last 2 years since I stumbled across it while living in Washington DC. Now I’m back in my home town of Melbourne and still a follower. My favourite post has always been Monday Work Wear – this is what got me hooked on your blog in the first place. Our taste in fashion is very similar – I’m often repinning your pins! My Pinterest ID is “GC F”. Ok, favourite places in Melbourne:
Shopping: Scanlan & heodore is hands-down one of the best fashion brands anywhere. There isn’t much else in Melbourne that you wouldn’t find in SF or anywhere else in the world for that matter. S&T has several locations, but for me, the stores in Chapel Street South Yarra and High Street Armadale have the best selections and service of all the stores in Melbourne. High Street Armadale is probably Melbourne’s best shopping strip right. You will also enjoy Gertrude Street Fitzroy for edgy shopping (such as Nom D), general hipster-watching and great eating.
Speaking of great eating: while on Gertrude St., treat yourself to Cutler & Co., but be warned: it isn’t cheap – in fact, you might be surprised to learn that eating and shopping in Oz is generally pretty expensive compared to the USA.
Melbourne is probably a world-leader when it comes to cafes and coffee, especially for breakfast. Right now, one of the most popular breakfast places is Hardware Societe in the Melbourne CBD. There can be queues however. My other current favourite cafes for breakfast are Baker di Chirico in St Kilda, Wall Two 80 in Balaclava, Two Birds One Stone in South Yarra, and The Stables at Como House in South Yarra. Another breakfast “institution” is The European in the CBD (I haven’t actually been!) Victoria Street Richmond is a Vietnamese restaurant district not far from the centre of Melbourne.
The list goes on! I hope you enjoy Oz.
I JUST got back from 2.5 weeks in Australia and am so excited you get to visit. It’s a wonderful place with so much to see/ do. All of these tips are great, and I would definitely recommend that you do the walk from Bronte to Bondi beach (Sydney). The views are amazing but it was very hot the day we went so make sure you dress accordingly.
The Grounds of Alexandria for brunch was an experience in itself. It’s a converted warehouse so the design of the whole grounds is very much your style.
There are tons of really great restaurants in the harbour and by the opera house, but if you want real authentic asian food, check out some places in Newtown.
We rented a catamaran one day and sailed around the entire Sydney harbour which was really beautiful. Something to do a beautiful sunny day!
Enjoy your planning! You’ll love it no matter what you do.
By far the best thing I did in Sydney was treat my hubby (and me!) to a seaplane ride to the Northern Beaches, Palm Beach specifically, on his birthday. There’s an amazing cafe there and we spent the afternoon sipping bubbly and eating an amazing lunch. Decadent, yes. And totally worth every penny. If interested, email me and I can look up details.