Millions of people visit Sydney each year for its pristine beaches, beautiful city and fantastic landmarks. When you think of Sydney, the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach are normally the first things you would think of. But there is a lot more to Sydney then these common tourist attractions, with some of the best national parks, hidden beaches, treks, diving spots found anyway in the world.
What I'm about to share with you is some inside information, that most locals don't even know about.
Sydney's best National Parks + Treks
The Manly Scenic Walkway: This walk has been established across both national park and local council reserves to form one of the world's great harbourside walks. With stunning views on offer throughout, the track covers 8km from the Spit Bridge to Manly around the harbour's northern foreshores.
Bradleys Head: The walking track around Bradleys Head provides an ideal opportunity to view the majority Sydney icons such as the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and Fort Denison while on a gentle stroll in a natural bushland setting.
Blue Mountains National Park: Walk through World Heritage landscape that has become famous for its lookouts, waterfalls and sandstone cliffs. With over 140km of walking tracks for all grades, its a great day out for the whole family. See the Three Sisters at Echo Point or explore the historic Mt Werong and Ruby Creek area.
Ku-Ring-Gai Chase National Park: Offers a rich variety of things to see and do in a natural setting adjacent to Sydney's northern suburbs. If your heading that way make sure you do the Sphinx walking track to Bobbin Head where you can reward yourself with a beautiful lunch at the marina or drive to West Head and take the 2km Resolute Track down to Resolute Beach.
Hidden Beaches
1. Resolute Beach, West Head - Though its a 2km trek down a steep hill, the rewards are more than worth it once you arrive at this beautiful beach. During the walk, you'll take in spectacular views of Pittwater, Palm Beach and Barrenjoey, and if you look hard enough, you'll also discover Aboriginal carvings.
2. Camp Cove, Watsons Bay - Lined with mansions along the foreshore, this beautiful hidden beach is quite commonly visited by multi-million dolalr boats who anchor just off the shore. This is a fantastic beach for swimming and one of the leading spots for scuba-diving.
3. Shelly Beach, Manly - A short stroll along Manly's promenade, Shelly Beach is one of Sydney's best aquatic reserves. Perfect for snorkelling and picnics.
4. Milk Beach, Vaucluse - Is a calm, sandy cove hidden behind Strickland House. It's a short, steep walk down the driveway and across the lawn, but beachgoers will be rewarded with beautiful views across the water of the city, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
5. Echo Beach - Situated at Echo Point Park, it contains seven Aboriginal sites, a children's playground, barbecue and picnic area. Also popular for fishing and paddling.
Secret kayak Beach - Store Beach, Manly
Secret Surf Beach - Bungan Beach
Secret Posh Beach - Lady Martins Beach, Point Piper
Secret Picnic Beach - Little Sirius Cove, Mosman
Secret Nude Beach - Lady Bay, Watsons Bay
Sydney's Best Restaurants
Sydney is renowned for having some of the finest restaurants in the world. Below is a list of 7 of the best:
Bilson's: Unashamedly French with a contemporary, even light-hearted, twist to serene food in calm surroundings. The food speaks for itself, carpaccio of pink snapper with caviars, salad of black figs and fresh Perigueux truffles. Perfect raspberry soufflé and French, Swiss and Australian cheeses are a fitting finale to a dining experience in which the emphasis is always on subtlety, complexity and virtuosity.
Claude's: Also servings modern French cuisine, dinner at Claude's is one of the finer things in life. The chef offers signature dishes comprising of sublime smoke-salmon consommé, the pulse-raising snow eggs with caviar and Aylesbury duck with press sauce.
Est: Is an oasis of excellence within the hyperactive maze of the Establishment Hotel. Whilst taking in the elegant surroundings, the chef performs his culinary alchemy on the finest ingredients, producing such wonders as the kingfish sashimi with salmon caviar or Moreton Bay Bug on ocean trout boudin.
Marque: Offering tantalising meals that has made Marque famous over the years. Including amuse bouche - a sublime chaud-froid of egg - which might be followed by a creamy boudin noir with samphire topped with a single silver anchovy.
Pier: In the glass-encased finger of wharf jutting into Rose Bay, Greg Doyle serves arguably the country's best seafood. The keynotes being restraint and delicacy, with the dishes being so fresh you'd swear that they had been caught to order. While you're there it's a must to try award winning pastry chef Katrina Kanetani's desserts!
Quay: With its stunning sweep of the Opera House, Bridge and harbour views, this is one of Sydney's finest settings. Equally impressive is the dynamic, dramatic and deeply intelligent food, including poached quail breasts, suckling pig and a sensational millefeuille.
Tetsuya's: Saving the best for last, this Japanese restaurant is arguably the best in the world. You'll be made to feel like a star as you work your way through their famed 12 course degustation menu. It's an endlessly impressive and inventive show that will make you want to applaud and yell "bravo!"
Source: Sydney Morning Herald 2007 Good Food Guide
If you plan to dine at one of these restaurants then I recommend that you book before you leave.
For more information on the hidden treasures of Sydney then I recommend checking out the blog pages at www.edocket.com.au
