Jacarandas in Spring bloom, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Sydney bursts with colour in spring, with jacarandas colouring the skyline from the Royal Botanic Garden to the North Shore.
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Warmer weather and longer days make spring an attractive time of year to visit Sydney, with locals making the most of the extended hours of sunshine by lingering over alfresco brunch or lunch, then spending the evening sipping rooftop cocktails. And then there’s the flowers on show, from streets lined with eye-popping purple jacarandas to gardens draped with cherry blossoms. Here are five great ways to spend a spring day in Sydney.
Snap a selfie under a jacaranda
From Paddington to The Rocks, large swathes of Sydney are painted with the lilac hues of jacarandas throughout spring. Arguably the best place to snap a selfie under a blooming canopy is in the North Shore suburb of Kirribilli. Here, McDougall Street is transformed into a fairytale of flowers every year, with tree branches arching over the road to create a dreamlike purple dome.
Sip a cocktail at Henry Deane
Australia’s Harbour City has its fair share of cocktail bars with a view. None are quite as pretty as the Henry Deane, perched atop the historic 1915 Hotel Palisade in the inner-city harbourside enclave of Millers Point. Celebrated local designer Sibella Court decked the split-level space out in dusty pink and rose gold, her interiors only outshone by the view. Order a spritz and settle in to watch the spring sun dance over the water and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Jacarandas, Kirribilli Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom along McDougall Street, Kirribilli.
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Jacarandas, Kirribilli Credit: Destination NSW
Jacaranda trees in full bloom along McDougall Street, Kirribilli.
Henry Deane, Hotel Palisade, Millers Point Credit: Destination NSW
Drinks with harbour views from Henry Deane's rooftop cocktail lounge at the Hotel Palisade, Millers Point.
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Henry Deane, Hotel Palisade, Millers Point Credit: Destination NSW
Drinks with harbour views from Henry Deane's rooftop cocktail lounge at the Hotel Palisade, Millers Point.
Do brunch at The Grounds
Arriving at The Grounds of Alexandria, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped to the country, thanks to the sustainable garden, small farm animals, themed laneways, fountains and canopies of green overhead. In actual fact, you’re just 5km from the centre of Sydney in a former industrial precinct turned urban oasis. Pick up jam doughnuts from old-fashioned stalls while you decide where to eat: in The Café (brews are made using house-roasted beans); the Potting Shed (try and nab a swinging seat); or in the courtyard Garden (where wood-fired pizzas and barbecue rule).
Wander the Royal Botanic Garden
Australia’s oldest continual horticultural display, The Spring Walk has been a feature at the Royal Botanic Garden, on the fringe of the city centre, since 1855. From mid-August to early October every year since, the 50m trail between Royal Botanic Garden creek and Lion Gate Lodge is transformed with a riot of colour, all manner of perfumes filling the air. Take the five-minute stroll for a sensory overload of wisteria, rhododendrons, osmanthus, waratah and grevillea, among many other floral species. While you’re here, refuel at the rainforest-shrouded Botanic House, a dining concept that mingles Asian flavours with native Australian ingredients courtesy of applauded chef Luke Nguyen.
Attend a flower festival
Travel 20km west of Sydney’s centre to attend one of New South Wales’ largest floral festivals at the Auburn Botanic Gardens. Every August, the two-week Cherry Blossom Festival here pays homage to these delicate pink and white blooms. Head to the Japanese Garden to wander beneath a canopy of fragrant blooms, over decorative bridges to a traditional tea house where snacks are served. For more olfactory excitement, the Scented Garden is designed in a way to enhance the aroma of the frangipani, lavender and sage planted here.
The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria Credit: Destination NSW
Dining in The Garden at The Grounds of Alexandria.
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The Grounds of Alexandria, Alexandria Credit: Destination NSW
Dining in The Garden at The Grounds of Alexandria.
Cherry Blossom Festival 2018, Auburn Botanic Gardens Credit: Destination NSW
Geese waddling under cherry blossoms in the Auburn Botanic Gardens.
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Cherry Blossom Festival 2018, Auburn Botanic Gardens Credit: Destination NSW
Geese waddling under cherry blossoms in the Auburn Botanic Gardens.
More Inspirational Stories
Glasshouse Rocks, NaroomaCredit: Destination NSW
Father and son heading out for a morning surf at Glasshouse Rocks, Narooma.
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Put this glorious stretch of the New South Wales coastline on your holiday radar and drive four hours south from Sydney to discover the charming Eurobodalla region. You’ll have plenty of easy adventures on this laidback coastal getaway stretching from South Durras down to Tilba Tilba on the NSW South Coast. Elevate your visit with these 10 memorable experiences.
Go snorkelling with seals
Experience the unforgettable thrill of snorkelling alongside playful fur seals on a day trip to Montague Island, a protected nature reserve just off the coast of Narooma. Local operators such as Montague Island Adventures can take you on this exhilarating adventure and if you book between November and May you might be lucky enough to share your trip with migrating whales. You can also tour the island’s historic lighthouse and significant Aboriginal sites or seize the rare chance to stay overnight in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
Get back to nature with your family
Connect with your loved ones in the inspiring surrounds of Murramarang National Park, which offers a family-friendly taster of the magnificent coastal wilderness in the Eurobodalla region. Children will love the tree stump stepping ‘stones’ at the start of the Durras Lake Discovery Trail, with possible kangaroo sightings adding to the fun. Find the trailhead for the 1.5km loop at the end of Lake Road.
Enter cheese heaven
Feasting on local cheese is a quintessential experience in this historic dairy region, which has been producing quality cheeses since the 1870s. Live out your farming fantasies at the 1950s-style Bodalla Dairy in Bodalla, where fresh milk is produced onsite every morning to make artisinal cheeses with native flavours, as well as traditional milkshakes, great coffees and ice-creams. Stay the night in one the property’s five farm-chic guest rooms.
Sample more delicious cheeses and perhaps join a cheesemaking course at the ABC Cheese Factory further south in the charming surrounds of National Heritage-listed Central Tilba, which offers a living snapshot of 19th-century regional Australia.
Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
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Montague Island, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Montague Island Discovery Tours
VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
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VIP Private Tours, Bodella Dairy Shed, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
VIP Private Tours design bespoke and exclusive experiences exploring the Eurobodalla region.
Be mesmerised by whales
Seeing a whale in the wild is magical, whether it’s your first time or your 50th. The huge marine mammals are at their most playful in the Eurobodalla region from September to November, making this the perfect time to marvel at their aerobatic feats. Bring your binoculars to spot whales from the shoreline at Toragy Point near Moruya (which has the region’s only airport) or on Broulee Island. Or join an action-packed whale watching tour with the likes of Narooma Charters. You might also be treated to a very special whale encounter on a half-day kayaking tour with Region X as you paddle out into open water in search of hidden beaches and azure rock pools.
Sign up for more aquatic adventures
The Eurobodalla Shire is known as the land of many waters, with rivers, lakes and, of course, the ocean to enjoy aquatic adventures such as surfing, diving, fishing, and more. Revel in the accomplishment of learning to surf with Surf the Bay, a mobile surf school based in Broulee; get a buzz catching your own seafood dinner on a fishing trip with Narooma Charters;, and feel anew after an invigorating beach dip at pretty Mystery Bay.
Explore Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden with all your senses
Stop and smell the native flowers in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, just south of Batemans Bay, where five walking trails weave around a collection of themed gardens. Learn something new on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a 1km walking path suitable for visitors with limited mobility that reveals the fascinating traditional uses of about 30 Eurobodalla plants. Feel your worries melt away as you wander the gardens, calmed by the trickle of water features and the buzz of the bees. Bring a picnic or grab a wholesome bite at the Mossy on Gardens Café, which overlooks the gardens.
Follow Eurobodalla’s oyster trail
Shuck and slurp to your heart’s content in the Eurobodalla region, which forms part of Australia’s famous Oyster Coast. Look out for these plump delicacies on menus across the region, as well as oyster specialists like the Oyster Shed on Wray Street in Batemans Bay, where you can sample oysters beside the Clyde River where they are farmed. The Oyster Farmers Daughter is an alfresco oyster bar nestled alongside the idyllic Wagonga Inlet in Narooma where you can pair fresh oysters with refreshing cocktails made with local gin.
Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
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Narooma Charters Montague Island Tours Credit: Destination NSW
Aerial view of the Narooma Charters Montague Island Tour boat travelling from Narooma to Montague Island
Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
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Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay Credit: Destination NSW
Farmer returning to Wray Street Oyster Shed, Batemans Bay with fresh oysters.
Immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture
Transform your understanding of the Eurobodalla region’s Aboriginal peoples and their fascinating stories with local Indigenous operator Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness. Its 40-hour Yuin Retreat, named for the region’s Traditional Custodians, begins on the first evening with a traditional welcome, followed by a sunrise ceremony and the option to hike Gulaga (formerly Mount Dromedary) or visit significant sites on the Djirringanj Dreaming Trail. Following a cultural program in the evening, the experience ends with an Aboriginal healing and connection workshop on the final morning, leaving you with a whole new outlook on Aboriginal culture and this storied corner of the country.
Embrace next-level camping and glamping
Deepen your connection to the region’s enriching natural landscapes on a local camping or glamping experience. Soak up the unrivalled seaside location along with the stellar wildlife-watching opportunities at Beachcomber Holiday Park at Potato Point, just south of Tuross Head, where you may be surprised to discover emus are among the menagerie of native animals known to frequent this campground backing onto Eurobodalla National Park.
If glamping is more your style, wake up to sweeping mountain views after a romantic night in a glamping tent at Mountain View Farm in Tilba Tilba. Also tucked in the lush rolling hills of the Tilba Valley is Tilba Lake House, which offers a luxe glamping option as well as four cosy self-contained tiny house stays with views of the lake, ocean and mountains.
Go market-hopping
Get to know the friendly Eurobodalla community at the region’s vibrant markets. Learn about their passion for developing a sustainable local food system as you fill your basket with local goodies spanning vegetables from Old Mill Road Biofarm to McAsh Oysters at the SAGE Farmers Market, held every Tuesday afternoon from 3pm at Riverside Park in Moruya. Find more produce and connect with the local artisans, craftspeople and designers, at the Moruya Country Market on Saturday mornings from 8am, held at the same spot.
Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
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Tilba Tilba Lake, Central Tilba Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views across Central Tilba to Tilba Tilba Lake.
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.
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Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness, Narooma Credit: Destination NSW
Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness located at Narooma offers an immersive Indigenous experience on-country in Yuin Country.