INSIDER TIP
Dal Dennison, Flight Centre St Lukes
Sydney is legendary for its glitzy outer shell and postcard landmarks, but there’s more to this sprawling city than the trappings of a CBD full of high rises.
Three days in Sydney was all I needed to sample Australia’s most populous city, including a pilgrimage to its sun-kissed beaches, a sneaky serve of retail therapy – and a few cultural endeavours.
Sydney’s Royal National Park is one of the oldest national parks in the world with heaps of rainforest gullies, hidden beaches and dramatic cliffs. I did one of the shorter hikes from Bundeena Drive to Marley.
It took me about two hours and I made pit stops at the fresh water pools and creeks. I was rewarded with perfect photo opportunities with scenic beach views along the way.
Kid Kyoto in the CBD was a huge hit with the taste buds. It’s a 90s rock’n’rollinspired Japanese restaurant. I had kingfish ceviche with pickled watermelon, roast wakame and lemon aspen kosho for a starter. My main was a black hole sun pork belly with nori jam, apple and pickled radish – so good!
On Fridays, Paddy’s Market in China Town has the freshest produce to snack on while exploring the city. On Sundays, they have almost everything you could think of, from underwear to kitchenware and everything in between.