EASY SIDE TRIPS
The Northern Beaches
The sun-kissed beach suburbs to the north of the city offer a breezy pace of life that's the envy of other Sydneysiders.
WHAT TO DO: Life in the Northern Beaches revolves around the water. At PALM BEACH, 28 miles from the city, learn to surf (manlysurfschool.com), go hiking to , BARRENJOEY LIGHTHOUSE kayaking around tranquil PITTWATER and watch for humpback whales ( fantasea.com.au). In CLAREVILLE there are stylish interiors decor stores filled with designs suited to the luxury houses in the area.
WHERE TO STAY: JONAH’S in Whale Beach has rooms looking out to stunning water views. Any stay should include lunch or dinner in the award-winning restaurant. jonahs.com.au
WHERE TO EAT: BARRENJOEY HOUSE serves up modern Australian dishes with Mediterranean influences. barrenjoeyhouse.com.au
The Blue Mountains
A 1.5-hour drive from the city, the Blue Mountains are made up of imposing escarpments, seemingly endless tracks of national park and quaint mountain villages.
WHAT TO DO: Spending time in the mountains is all about being in nature. Head to the THREE SISTERS, a rock formation of three pillars with an Indigenous back story. The nearby SCENIC RAILWAY (scenicworld.com.au) is the steepest passenger railway in the world; ride it down into the Jamison Valley where you can take the 1.5-mile walk through ancient Jurassic rainforest.
WHERE TO STAY: The landmark HYDRO MAJESTIC HOTEL BLUE MOUNTAINS (hydromajestic.com.au) is the obvious choice for its history and grand style.
WHERE TO EAT: The award-winning DARLEY’S is charming and cozy. darleysrestaurant.com.au
The Southern Highlands
The rolling countryside of this popular locals' getaway, just over an hour from Sydney, is home to a collection of quaint towns and villages to explore.
WHAT TO DO: Head to BOWRAL , with its pretty historic houses and bustling main street; drop into DIRTY JANES EMPORIUM (dirtyjanes.com) to browse vintage fashions and furniture, and grab a hot coconut chocolate at THE PRESS CAFE , which shares space with a vintage letterpress. Every September the TULIP FESTIVAL sees Corbett Gardens planted with 100,000 bulbs. In , the MOSS VALE main street is busy with boutiques selling local crafts, while the historic village of BERRIMA feels like stepping back in time to a bygone era with its heritage buildings. The area also boasts a number of wineries, many with tasting rooms to sample the cold climate varieties.
WHERE TO STAY: GIBRALTAR HOTEL BOWRAL combines a luxury boutique hotel, day spa and an 18-hole golf course. gibraltarbowral.com.au
WHERE TO EAT: BIOTA DINING's tasting menu and share plates make the most of locally sourced produce and wines. biotadining.com