For celebrity chef Dan Hong, Sydney isn’t just his hometown: it’s a source of endless inspiration for his bold culinary stylings and quirky takes on Asian cuisine (like his famous cheeseburger spring rolls). The executive chef for a handful of high-profile Sydney restaurants, including the iconic Cantonese eatery Mr Wong and the modern Asian Australian diner Ms G’s, Dan constantly feels the pull of new foodie experiences across the city. Follow in Dan’s footsteps and you’ll indulge in oysters plucked straight from the Hawkesbury River, taste your way around Chinatown and feel inspired by art on a guided tour of a striking gallery space as you uncover a new side of the harbour city.
Eat your way around Chinatown
Dan loves visiting Chinatown, on the fringe of the city centre, to see what new taste sensations have emerged since he last dined there. “I lived in Chinatown for more than 10 years,” says Dan. “It’s pretty much my second home, but even though I lived there for so long, there’s always a new place popping up to discover, and it’s so exciting to try new cuisines or find new dishes I’ve never tried before.”
Dan recommends joining an expert guide from Local Sauce Tours on a Chinatown – Street Food & Stories experience to fast-track your appreciation of this vibrant inner-city neighbourhood. During the 2.5-hour-long walking tour you’ll get to taste delicious street food and snacks reflecting the diversity of regional Chinese cuisines from a range of venues, while learning about the fascinating history of the Chinese Australian community – be sure to bring an appetite and comfy walking shoes.
Like Dan, once you’ve discovered some of the secrets of Chinatown you’ll want to come back and dig deeper into this colourful dining precinct. “You get to eat all different types of food from different regional Chinese cuisines, from Sichuan and Hunan to Cantonese, and there’s live seafood, dumplings, noodles and everything in between,” Dan says. “This is what’s so good about Chinatown – I love discovering all these new places. It really is the ultimate for foodies and anyone who just loves to eat great food.”
Wade into a river for oysters
For an unforgettable moment during your stay in Sydney, Dan suggests you head north to the pristine waters of the Hawkesbury River to indulge in Sydney Oyster Farm Tours’ Immerse Yourself package. “It really is such a unique experience, being knee-deep in water and eating the freshest oysters,” says Dan.
From riverside Mooney Mooney, around a 45-minute drive from central Sydney, you’ll board a boat and head out onto a sheltered bay for a guided tour of a family-run oyster farm. Later, you’ll don chest-high waders and slosh out into the river to a tasting table, set with a white tablecloth, where you can relish just-harvested oysters and prawns in a spectacular setting.
“You’re literally in the Hawkesbury River, grabbing Sydney rock oysters out of the water, shucking them and eating them straight away,” Dan says. “Sydney rock oysters are the best oysters in the world. Plus, you get to have a glass of wine in hand. What could be more delicious or more natural?”
Immerse yourself in art
Think of the third stop on Dan’s itinerary as a palate cleanser: he suggests taking a breather between meals and enjoying a visual feast at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which borders the Royal Botanic Garden on the eastern fringe of the city centre.
“What I love about the Art Gallery of New South Wales is it’s a cool way of experiencing Sydney’s cultural side and it’s pretty chill,” says Dan. “I like to go there and just zone out, really immerse in the artwork and the sculptures and everything.”
Join a one-hour State of the art tour to explore the Art Gallery of NSW’s new landmark Naala Badu building overlooking Sydney Harbour, seeing the extraordinary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art of the Yiribana Gallery before heading over to the original Naala Nura building to view more of the gallery’s extensive collection of Australian and international art. “There’s actually really good eating there,” Dan adds. “There are many restaurants [including fellow celebrity chef Matt Moran’s restaurant and a kiosk offering by native ingredients pioneer and Indigenous Elder Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo]. You could really spend a whole day there.”
Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney Credit: Destination NSW
Magicla views with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney
Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney Credit: Destination NSW
Magicla views with Sydney Oyster Farm Tours, Mooney Mooney
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Appreciating artworks from all over the world, Art Gallery of NSW. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Appreciating artworks from all over the world, Art Gallery of NSW. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
Savour Sydney on a plate
Unsurprisingly, Dan’s idea of a memorable stay in Sydney involves a lot of eating. “One Sydney experience I’d recommend to everyone is going to the Sydney Fish Market for lunch,” he says. “They have amazing fresh Australian seafood, amazing sashimi, but what I’d do is get a live lobster and get them to cook it for you. What could be better?”
Dan recommends trying some of the culinary hotspots scattered across Greater Sydney’s suburbs. “What I love most about Sydney is the Asian food, especially when you can go to all these different suburbs to get a particular cuisine. For Korean, you can go to Lidcombe, Strathfield or Eastwood. For Chinese, you can also go to Burwood or Chatswood. And then for great Vietnamese, obviously you go to Cabramatta, Marrickville and Bankstown.”
If you prefer sticking closer to the city centre, Dan recommends checking out the dining precincts springing up in newer urban communities. “Something that really surprises me about Sydney is all these hubs of different Asian foods that pop up in high-rise neighbourhoods like Waterloo, Mascot and Wolli Creek. They open so many different restaurants that have different regional cuisines of China, Thailand and Vietnam; I always like checking them out.”
Cabramatta, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends admiring the ornate Pai Lau, gateway to Cabramatta's pedestrian mall, Freedom Plaza.
Cabramatta, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends admiring the ornate Pai Lau, gateway to Cabramatta's pedestrian mall, Freedom Plaza.
Chinatown, Burwood Credit: Destination NSW
A couple enjoys the lights and delicious food at Chinatown, Burwood.
Chinatown, Burwood Credit: Destination NSW
A couple enjoys the lights and delicious food at Chinatown, Burwood.
More Inspirational Stories
Newcastle Baths, NewcastleCredit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a day out by Newcastle Baths, Newcastle.
As the warmer weather of spring fuels your wanderlust, you don’t need to venture far from Sydney to satisfy your urge to explore. And when there’s a food and wine festival, a celebration of cutting-edge country music or a sporting event waiting for you at your destination? Your weekend getaway is transformed into a springtime holiday to remember, all within a couple of hours’ drive of the harbour city.
See a different side to the Hunter
Two very different events in the Hunter Valley provide equally compelling reasons to revisit Australia’s oldest wine region and discover a booming boutique winery scene. Prepare to get down and dirty (or look on in awe as participants alternate between grins and grimaces) during Tough Mudder, at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley in Lovedale on 6 September 2025. And return to watch top golfers compete for a big purse in the men’s Ford NSW Open Championship, at The Vintage Golf Club in Pokolbin from 13 to 16 November.
Buckle in for the two-hour drive north from Sydney, or fly into Newcastle Airport and rent a car for the hour-long drive to the valley. Then check into your room at your event venue – the Rydges Resort for the Tough Mudder or The Vintage Golf Club’s Château Élan Hunter Valley – or book a stay at nearby accommodation such as Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin.
Whether you’ve taken on the 5km or 15km Tough Mudder, where the personal challenge is actually completing the fiendish obstacle course, or you’ve engaged boss mode on the Infinity Tough Mudder, reward yourself for your outstanding efforts with a rejuvenating treatment at Château Élan’s day spa, Spa Anise at the Spicers Vineyards Estate or Elysia Wellness Retreat in Pokolbin.
Celebrate your Tough Mudder achievement, or a thrilling day of championship golf, with a memorable meal at one of Pokolbin’s many excellent restaurants, such as Circa 1876 at The Convent Hunter Valley, Muse Restaurant at Hungerford Hill Wines, Restaurant Botanica at Spicers Vineyards Estate, or the award-winning EXP Restaurant.
And be inspired to extend your stay and seek out unexpected adventures and destination dining all across the valley, from Bistro Molines, a 20-minute drive away in Mount View, to famed farm-to-table fare at Margan Restaurant, at the Margan winery in Broke.
Circa 1876 Restaurant at The Convent Hunter Valley Credit: Circa 1876
Circa 1876 is an award-wining restaurant with a celebrated history in the Hunter Valley.
Circa 1876 Restaurant at The Convent Hunter Valley Credit: Circa 1876
Circa 1876 is an award-wining restaurant with a celebrated history in the Hunter Valley.
Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin Credit: Spicers Guesthouse
Spicers Guesthouse is a shrine to the art of winemaking and wine appreciation, and from the moment you enter its hallowed halls, you’ll discover vintage hospitality, a full-bodied history, elegant service and notes of the whimsical.
Spicers Guesthouse in Pokolbin Credit: Spicers Guesthouse
Spicers Guesthouse is a shrine to the art of winemaking and wine appreciation, and from the moment you enter its hallowed halls, you’ll discover vintage hospitality, a full-bodied history, elegant service and notes of the whimsical.
Be the first to experience an iconic event in Bowral
The Southern Highlands cool-climate wine region is set to heat up courtesy of the inaugural Horizontal Festival, at the Centennial Vineyards estate outside of Bowral, from 4 to 5 October 2025.
An immersive celebration of art, music and culture as well as epicurean indulgences, this food and wine festival with a difference features a series of curated gourmet zones. Sip on sparkling wines and slurp down oysters in the serene Sparkling Bar, dip into NSW dairy delights in the Cheese Den, sample top regional pours in the white-wine-focussed Vineyard zone, the Rosé Room and the Barrel Room red wine specialty space, or enjoy interactive art, DJ tunes or live musical performances over craft beer at the Hops Garden & Concert Stage.
After you’ve tasted your way through your chosen day or evening session, there’s plenty of time to work up an appetite before sampling more of the Southern Highlands’ incredible foodie experiences. Make a reservation and make room for exquisite paddock-to-plate fare sourced from local producers at the acclaimed Eschalot in Berrima. Enjoy a breakfast or lunch of ethically produced, expertly prepared goodness at Hearth, next to Bowral’s Ngununggula regional art gallery. Or tuck into a signature beef cheek pie at Briars Inn, less than a 10-minute drive from central Bowral in Burradoo.
Continue your journey of discovery across this cool-climate wine region by sampling fine drops at wineries like PepperGreen Estate and Bendooley Estate, both in nearby Berrima. Book a luxe cottage at Bendooley Estate to continue your deep immersion in wine country, snaffle the three-bedroom Black Barn Bowral designed by Australian fashion legend Collette Dinnigan with your friends or family, or take a room at a boutique Bowral stay such as Berida Hotel or Links House.
PepperGreen Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
PepperGreen Estate located in Berrima, Southern Highlands offering a curated aesthetically pleasing wine-tasting experience.
PepperGreen Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
PepperGreen Estate located in Berrima, Southern Highlands offering a curated aesthetically pleasing wine-tasting experience.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the Book Barn located on Bendooley Estate, Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
Bendooley Estate, Berrima Credit: Destination NSW
Exterior view of the Book Barn located on Bendooley Estate, Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
Cheer on triathletes in Wollongong
Watch some of the fittest and most dedicated athletes in the world compete at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in the laidback beachside city of Wollongong, a 90-minute drive south of Sydney, from 15 to 19 October 2025.
The five-day event kicks off with an opening ceremony and parade of nations on Wednesday 15 October, with under-23s, junior and para triathletes competing in the following days and the elite men’s and women’s championships decided on the Sunday. Gather at Cove Beach between Wollongong’s two historic lighthouses to watch competitors swim out beyond the harbour breakwater, before they return to jump on their bicycles for a 40km circuit. Once the competitors have ditched the bikes for the 10km running race, head over to Wollongong City Beach to the south of the lighthouse to see who hits the finishing line first.
Stay close to the action at the mid-century Palm Springs-style Surfside 22, mere steps from the finishing line, or Sage Hotel Wollongong, a five-minute walk down the beach. Or take your pick of eateries like the chic Italian bistro Restaurant Santino when you check into the minimalist Hotel TOTTO, near the Keira Street dining precinct in the city centre.
Race heats start as early as 7.30am, but with local favourite café Diggies Wollongong serving breakfast from 6.30am at nearby North Wollongong Beach, you can fuel up and even savour a second coffee without missing a minute of the competition. Looking for something to do races? Venture north to check out beach towns like Austinmer and Thirroul, or slip down south to the beach-holiday hub of Kiama to see its famous blowhole.
And after the last event has been decided on the Friday or Saturday, head over to South Coast Distillery’s bar for house-made sundowner cocktails and craft whiskies, or wash down a craft ale with a burger at Principle Brewing.
Diggies Cafe, North Wollongong Credit: Destination NSW
Young people visiting Diggies Cafe in Wollongong
Diggies Cafe, North Wollongong Credit: Destination NSW
Young people visiting Diggies Cafe in Wollongong
Sunset, Wollongong Credit: Above Down Under by Kramer Photography; www.kramer.photography
Sun setting over the city of Wollongong.
Sunset, Wollongong Credit: Above Down Under by Kramer Photography; www.kramer.photography
Sun setting over the city of Wollongong.
Sidle up to modern country music in Newcastle
Australia’s newest country music festival joins Newcastle’s packed events calendar when it debuts in the port city on 1 November 2025. Grab your ticket to Strummingbird to see edgy international country artists like the genre-bending Jelly Roll, Texas’s Treaty Oak Revival and Shaboozey (a guest vocalist on Beyoncé’s 2024 album Cowboy Carter) strut their stuff alongside homegrown stars such as indie-folk duo Dreggs. Away from the two live stages, steep in country culture as you ride a mechanical bull, learn how to line-dance or simply chill with smoky barbecue ribs and a cold beer.
Make the most of Strummingbird’s handy location on Newcastle’s central Foreshore Park by staying at the nearby QT Newcastle, a 15-minute walk from the festival grounds, or the Crystalbrook Kingsley, a few blocks further inland. Either luxe boutique hotel makes a great base for exploring the hip bars, restaurants and creative spaces that have taken over former industrial buildings in the city centre.
Looking to balance out the deliciously indulgent festival fare you wolfed down at Strummingbird with something a little more wholesome? Savour sustainable seafood paired with a glass of natural wine at Scottie’s, between Foreshore Park and Newcastle Beach, or nourish yourself with some of the creative Asian fusion dishes on offer at Signal Box, nestled in the Market Street Lawn precinct between the QT and the Hunter River.
Linger in Newcastle to follow the Brewcastle craft brewery trail across town, cruise down the coast on an Adventure Tour with CoastXP, or get a better sense of the city and surrounding coastline on a guided tour with Newy Tour Co. Newy Tour Co. also offers absorbing guided day trips to the Hunter Valley wine region and nearby Port Stephens, home to thriving populations of wild koalas and dolphins.
QT Hotel in Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
The QT Newcastle hotel is approximately 10 minutes on foot from The Obelisk and a short way from the magnificently landscaped King Edward Ocean Park. QT Newcastle dining features Jana Restaurant & Bar and Rooftop at QT.
QT Hotel in Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
The QT Newcastle hotel is approximately 10 minutes on foot from The Obelisk and a short way from the magnificently landscaped King Edward Ocean Park. QT Newcastle dining features Jana Restaurant & Bar and Rooftop at QT.
Scottie's, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy food and drinks at Scottie's, Newcastle
Scottie's, Newcastle Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy food and drinks at Scottie's, Newcastle