The ultimate Sydney weekend

Sunday brunch at Icebergs Dining Room in Bondi Beach; Shopping in the Strand Arcade; Breakfast at Fratelli Paradiso in Potts Point

Earlier this month I was contacted by Tourism Australia for a super exciting project. They wanted Mytinerary (the bespoke travel consultancy I run) to come up with a kick-ass, once-in-a-lifetime itinerary for a journalist from one of my favourite magazines in France (call her L.), and her guest (call her S.).

 

Retail therapy in the Strand Arcade; Dinosaur Designs; the Kit Cosmetics store in Paddington (we also went to the Paddo's markets, Oxford St and Five Ways, where I took my guests to the rooftop of the Royal Hotel Paddington so they could enjoy the panoramic views); the Queen Victoria Building

I mean, seriously?! I was jumping up and down in my living room when I got the phone call - the briefing was too good to be true!

"L. and S. will be all yours for a whole weekend," Tourism Australia explained. "We'd like you to show them the Sydney you love: your favourite shopping spots, up-and-coming designers (L. and S. were invited as guests to the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week), quirky cafes, Sydney's most vibrant precincts, iconic restaurants, cool bars such as Ivy Pool and Icebergs, the Bondi-to-Bronte coastal walk - the whole shebang."

Breakfast at the Andrew Boy Charlton (ABC) Pool in Woolloomooloo; the ultimate chocolate tasting at Boon Chocolates in Darlinghurst; walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens

Right-up-my-alley!! This sort of boutique / lifestyle tours is the reason why I started my business in the 1st place, so I had a lot of fun working on a personalised itinerary for the girls...

And we had a fantastic weekend together - we did so many different things and really got along well, it was like spending a weekend in town with my best friends! Well, it was a bit action-packed of course (we basically did in 2 days what you would normally do in 4), but that was the point... At the end of the weekend, they were ready to pack up their stuff, get a job transfer and move to Sydney - so I guess it was mission accomplished! 

Saturday morning walk in Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay; Sunday morning in Balmain, with the madatory stop at Adriano Zumbo patisserie; Bondi Beach from Icebergs Dining Room, where we enjoyed a well-deserved brunch after finishing the Bronte-to-Bondi coastal walk

The only thing we didn't get to do was taking the ferry to Manly. We were supposed to do this on the Sunday night, to finish off the weekend with a nice glass of wine, but we were all too tired from everything else we did during the day and gave it a pass... Instead we all opted for an early night so the girls would look good and refreshed for Day 1 of the Fashion Week frenzy.

So what are your thought on our weekend in town? I know there's a million other things we could have done - if only we had 30-hour days! So tell me, what else would you have done?

Saturday night at Sticky Bar & Table for 20 in Surry Hills, after a 'drink with attitude' at Ivy Pool; the Water Bar at the Blue Hotel, Woolloomooloo; late Sunday afternoon cocktail at The Victoria Room in Darlinghurst; and a nice meat pie at Harry's Cafe de Wheels to finish the weekend

 

Comments

[Robin Dickinson]

This is fun, Myriam. I guess part of my ultimate Sydney weekend would include:

* taking a water taxi from McMahon's Point to the Opera House to catch an opera or show, with dinner afterward at one of those fab, hip restaurants;

* shooting down to West-Head/Bantry Bay in a convertible (listening to Mozart) to hop on a luxury cruiser for a tour of Pittwater, with a picnic lunch on one of those secret beaches.

These are but two of my favourite things! (Sounds like a song).

Keep up the great work.

Best, Robin :)

[Myriam]

Robin > Like these ideas, definitely my kind of things!! I love the Pittwater area, it's so nice... Recently discovered the Hawkesbury River (did that very special cruise with Australia's last riverboat postman, it was amazing...). All right, now I know who to call if I'm stuck for ideas for my VIP clients ;-)

[twitter.com/hollingsworth]

Myriam you are spot on with those choices. My favourite cafe in Potts Point is Fratelli Paradiso. They do amazing Italian-style breakfasts. Lunch at Icebergs would have been a real treat too - I would recommend the bar area for a cheese plate and wine after the meal. Great views up the beach.

The Strand Arcade is the most beautiful shopping arcade in Sydney - I bet they were impressed.

I look forward to reading about more of your adventures - you certainly know the best of Sydney!

Cheers
Tony Hollingsworth

[Charley]

prawns and verdhelo watching the sun go down at Cremorne point!

A trip up Port Hacing River in a tinny:)

[Myriam]

Tony > Thank you so much for your comments, my friend! Coming from someone like you, who knows the city like the back of his hand, this is a true compliment. I'm blushing now ;-))

And yes, about Icebergs in Bondi Beach, I'm totally with you there. I think going there for a nice drink and a tasting plate in the bar area is actually much better value for money - amazing view and everything. I mean, the restaurant is really nice, mind you, but some of their prices are a bit hard to swallow...

Anyway, I'll make sure to share a copy of the article the journalist will be writing, can't wait to see which spots she preferred out of everything we did!

[Myriam]

Charley > Nice one!! Although I live on the Northern beaches, I don't go to Cremorne Point enough - and I know the view is unreal, went there for the New Year's fireworks a couple of years ago. Done, it's on my to-do list now!

Also, I'm intrigued about Port Hacing River, I've never been there, will need to plan a trip someday. Thank you for sharing, really.

[Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella]

I love your selection. YOu really highlighted the beaches that we are of course so proud of but those cool bars as well as of course the shopping (a must given the magazine! ;) )

[Myriam]

Not Quite Nigella > Thank you Lorraine! Yes, it was a nice mix between shopping spots (there was quite a bit of shoe-shopping!!), sophisticated cocktails and delicious pastries and chocolates. Exactly what the doctor ordered for a girls weekend ;-)

[Jordan Jumpman]

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[Nike Dunks]

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[Travel Insurance]

There are a lot of ways to enjoy your stay in Sydney, Australia. If you want to get the best angle for capturing photos in Sydney, then consider boarding a ferry to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House in an excellent view.