The Paper Mill, LiverpoolCredit: Destination NSW
Group of friends enjoying food and drink at The Paper Mill, Liverpool.
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South West Sydney is a colourful, exciting pocket of the city with a world-class zoo, a huge arts centre and an incredible variety of multicultural restaurants. From Liverpool to Fairfield, Cabramatta to the verdant banks of the Georges River, the South West offers a diverse and engaging daycation for Sydneysiders and visitors alike, all about a 40km or 40-minute drive from the city centre. The following highlights are mostly within a 5km radius of Warwick Farm, where you’ll find the South West’s first five-star hotel, the William Inglis.
Highlights:
- Indulge in authentic Vietnamese food in Cabramatta
- Meet the residents of a world-class zoo
- Enjoy some downtime at a luxury spa
Meet the animals at the zoo
Meet the newest arrivals at South West Sydney’s word-class Sydney Zoo, just off the Great Western Highway at Bungarribee. Feed the meerkats, or watch the African big cats, Asian elephants and Australian animals in their enclosures. Kids aged 7 to 13 can join the Mini Zookeeper for a Day program to get a little closer to the animals and learn about how to help protect rare and endangered species.
Go flying in Western Sydney Parklands
Climb, fly and jump through Western Sydney’s magnificent gum trees in TreeTops adventure park, which is threaded with more than 100 elevated obstacles, including self-guided rope courses, wobbling bridges, tunnels and cargo-nets, plus thrilling zip lines. The park in Abbotsbury, a 20-minute drive west of Warwick Farm, is suitable for all ages over three, and children’s courses are supervised by instructors.
Check out an exhibition
Take in a range of multi-disciplinary arts and culture events at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, a converted 1950s electrical plant on the banks of the Georges River in Casula, near Liverpool. As well as seven galleries offering rotating exhibitions, a 326-seat theatre and three artist studios to explore, the centre offers onsite eatery Bellbird Dining and Bar, with sustainable snacks and drinks (around 40 per cent of the produce is picked from its own kitchen garden).
Taste your way through Cabramatta
Discover the rich history and diverse eating culture of Cabramatta on a Taste of Vietnam food tour that highlights the area’s famously strong Vietnamese heritage. Taste some of the suburb’s famed dishes, like banh mi, pho, Vietnamese coffee and more. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and scents of a bustling authentic Vietnamese market town, without leaving Greater Sydney. Servings are generous, so arrive hungry and leave happy.
Enjoy authentic Chilean dishes
Start the day at the oldest Chilean eatery in Sydney, La Paula, whose owners have been dishing up South American food to South West Sydney for more than 30 years. In Fairfield, a 30km drive from the centre of Sydney, La Paula is famous for its traditional beef empanadas and addictive alfajores (shortbread biscuits stuffed with dulce de leche), but the street food menu has also garnered acclaim. Especially popular are the completos, Chilean hot dogs piled high with avocado, sauerkraut and mayo.
Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee Credit: Destination NSW
Resident emu greeting visitors at Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee in Western Sydney.
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Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee Credit: Destination NSW
Resident emu greeting visitors at Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee in Western Sydney.
TreeTops Adventure Park, Abbotsbury Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying the action at TreeTops Adventure Park, Abbotsbury in Sydney's south west.
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TreeTops Adventure Park, Abbotsbury Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying the action at TreeTops Adventure Park, Abbotsbury in Sydney's south west.
Breakfast like a local
Enjoy the buzzing vibe at The Woods Pantry in Villawood, which is perennially packed for a reason: an Instagrammable brunch menu that leans on Middle Eastern inspiration. Try the knafeh French toast — brioche filled with stretchy cheese and rose syrup, go for the Turkish salmon simmit, or order the breakfast mezze platter to share. With Campos coffee and sunny outdoor seating, this is the perfect place to satisfy those mid-morning munchies.
Brunch with a different bunch
Try something unusual at The Usual Cafe in the heart of Cabramatta, which offers lunch with a difference, levelling up classic brunch plates with decadent flavours. Try miso spanner crab scrambled eggs in your croissant, order the tangy yuzu French toast or go luxe with the wagyu burger with truffle aioli. Caffeinated drinks use Single O beans, juices are cold pressed by Wollstonecraft juice business Allie’s and organic loose-leaf tea comes from Byron Bay company Mayde.
Get spoiled for choice
Spice your life with variety at Liverpool’s dining hub The Paper Mill Food, where there are four distinct eateries to choose from. Try Lebanese-style grilled chicken at Charcoal Joe’s; feast on locally sourced meat and market-fresh seafood cooked over the flames of a hand-crafted fireplace at Firepit; go for Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza at Georgie’s; or order classic brunch dishes and luscious desserts at Shepherd’s Lane.
Balkanise your palate
Go Balkan at Fabrika by Madera in Canley Heights, which offers southeast European dishes served with modern flair. Many dishes are slow-cooked in the traditional Balkan earthenware oven, the sač. Try slow-roasted lamb shoulder, the chargrilled pork neck, or the karadjordjeva, a deep-fried schnitzel and cheese roll stuffed with fries. Don’t leave without sampling a glass of rakija, a fruit brandy popular throughout the Balkans.
Mix up a Mexican
Join the nightly fiesta at Warwick Farm’s El Topo Cantina, the South West sister venue to Bondi’s popular Mexican restaurant. With a playful menu of street food snacks, freshly made tacos and heartier chargrilled mains, plus cocktails and more than 40 different kinds of tequila, El Topo promises a fun night out.
Dine fine alfresco
Treat yourself from a menu centred around paddock-to-plate dining at The Newmarket Room, and admire the plush designer interiors and lush alfresco dining space looking over the striking gardens of the Riverside Stables at the William Inglis hotel. Choose your after-dinner drinks from hotel bar 1867 Lounge’s extensive whisky selection.
Stay in style
Make yourself at home at the William Inglis, an M Gallery by Sofitel boutique hotel inspired by part-owners William Inglis & Son’s revered horseracing history. Elegant and luxurious equine-themed rooms overlook the surrounding Riverside Stables and each is named after a winning Inglis family horse. Grab a pre-bottled negroni by The Everleigh Bottling Co. from the mini bar and take in the sights of Warwick Farm Racecourse below.
For some downtime relaxation treats, order a poolside cocktail as you laze by the 20-metre rooftop Chiltern Pool or book into the decadent Inglis Day Spa. Qualified therapists are ready to ease away the stresses of your week with a luxurious menu of beauty and wellness treatments. Choose the Inglis Signature facial that brightens and smooths using selenite crystals and serums, or go for a couple’s massage to unwind and relax with your partner.
Streetscapes, Cabramatta Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to Freedom Plaza off Arthur St, Cabramatta in Sydney's south west.
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Streetscapes, Cabramatta Credit: Destination NSW
Entrance to Freedom Plaza off Arthur St, Cabramatta in Sydney's south west.
The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the sunset and views across Sydney from The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm in Sydney's south west.
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The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying the sunset and views across Sydney from The William Inglis Hotel, Warwick Farm in Sydney's south west.
More Inspirational Stories
Margarita Daze, Umina BeachCredit: Destination NSW
Delicious meals on available at Margarita Daze, Umina Beach.
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This small region punches above its weight when it comes to dining out, with a wealth of excellent cafes and restaurants as well as many passionate producers, partly due to the influx in recent years of ex-big city hospitality pros looking for a better work-life balance. Just an hour north of Sydney (or a 30-minute ferry ride from Palm Beach), the Central Coast makes a convenient weekend destination, where you can sip and snack your way through cruisy seaside towns and the buzzy centre of Gosford. From a garden distillery to bright seaside diners, here’s where to dine on the Central Coast.
The Box on the Water, Ettalong Beach
For a memorable meal, have lunch at Ettalong Beach’s restaurant The Box on the Water – with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the sea breeze in on warm days as you dine, you’ll feel relaxed immediately. Have a picnic on the sand with an egg and bacon roll or fish and chips from the beach kiosk or dine at the light-filled restaurant for Sydney rock oysters followed by Goan fish curry or Thai-flavoured black mussels, all while enjoying panoramic views of idyllic Broken Bay. Watch the water turn slowly golden on Fridays to Sundays between 3pm and 5.30pm with happy hour drinks and a box of prawns or a cheese plate.
The Boathouse Patonga Hotel
Catch the ferry from Palm Beach and a sea of white umbrellas beckons you as you approach Patonga Wharf. Overlooking the postcard-worthy sleepy bay, Boathouse Patonga Hotel houses a laidback pub serving classics as well as prawn linguine with lumpfish caviar, tiger prawns and oysters – the perfect place to kill a sunny afternoon. If you’re passing through, grab a simple breakfast or takeaway fish and chips from the kiosk, but staying the night is highly recommended. The chic boutique apartments nod to the town’s fishing history with tasteful nautical touches and in-room dining.
The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
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The BOX on the Water, Ettalong Beach Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying evening drinks at The BOX on the Water restaurant and bar, Ettalong Beach.
Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
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Patonga Wharf, Patonga Credit: Destination Central Coast
Aerial overlooking Paronga Wharf, Patonga.
Distillery Botanica, Erina
Tucked away in a bushy pocket of Erina, a 10-minute drive from Gosford, Distillery Botanica is the birthplace of Moore’s Dry Gin (the first Australian gin to win gold at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition) and Mr Black coffee liqueur, creations of herbalist and distiller Philip Moore. Pop in for a tasting or join a garden and distillery tour that takes you through the unique plants and botanicals grown on site. Stick around for lunch in the onsite cocktail bar, Bar Botanica (there’s live jazz on the weekend) and leave room for a Mr Goaty Gelato, which is churned on site, or an affogato using housemade liqueurs.
Six String Brewing Co, Erina
In walking distance from Distillery Botanica, find independent brewery Six String Brewing Co, a culmination of the owners’ two loves: beer and rock’n’roll. As well as a core range of six ales, lagers and IPAs, Six String produces seasonal one-offs, as well as hard lemonade. Tours are run every Saturday at 11am (bookings essential) where you can get into the nitty gritty of brewing and sample the beers. Beer needs hearty bar food, and the kitchen delivers: burgers are made with wagyu beef and snacks include a basket of wings or loaded fries.
Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
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Distillery Botanica, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying ice-creams at Distillery Botanica, Erina.
Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
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Six String Brewing Company, Erina Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying beer tastings at the Six String Brewing Company brewery in Erina.
Lago Cucina, Budgewoi
Located on level one of the Budgewoi Hotel, Lago Cucina is a chic addition to the sleepy lakeside town. With terrazzo counters, rattan chairs and whitewashed walls, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant is Italian at its best. Try dishes that let produce sing such as handmade burrata with cherry tomatoes, zucchini flowers, truffle and mushroom raviolo, and sample local seafood through dishes including crab linguine and calamari fritti. With a selection of woodfired pizzas, a kid’s menu and a bespoke cocktail list, it ticks all the boxes, whether you’re meeting up with friends or bringing the whole family.
Burnt Honey Bakery, Copacabana and Long Jetty
First opening in 2019 in Copacabana, Burnt Honey Bakery quickly gained a cult following due to its wide range of sourdough bread, perfect croissants and community-minded approach. That popularity led them to open Burnt Honey Bakers Pantry at Long Jetty, which sells a curated selection of cookbooks, specialised baking ingredients, tools and pantry goods alongside pastries. Try one of their famous brown sugar cinnamon buns with burnt butter glaze and take home a few loaves of sourdough and a jar of sour cherry and almond biscotti. Keep an eye on their website for pastry masterclasses so you can recreate these delectable treats at home.
Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.
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Burnt Honey, Copacabana Credit: Nikki To
Fresh pastries available from Burnt Honey cafe, Copacobana on the Central Coast.