Australia

Our Favourite Spots

Across Australia

NSW North Coast · Fly to Ballina

Byron Bay

The coastal town where Bridge grew up! A cluster of gorgeous towns all within 30 minutes of each other, packed with amazing restaurants, beaches, hikes, hippy markets and waterholes — so much to see and do. If you want a coastal getaway, true Aussie style, Byron should be high on your list. Best to fly into Ballina and hire a car (you'll need one). You don't have to stay central — Suffolk Park is lovely. Ask Bridge for more, she has loads!

VIC · 1.5hr flight

Melbourne

A brilliant city for food, coffee, live music and nightlife — there's always loads of music and events on, plus laneways, bars, restaurants and nearby coastal drives. Reach out to us if you book to go and we'll send more detailed recommendations!

QLD · Tropical islands

Whitsundays

Stunning tropical islands with some of the most beautiful water in the world. Perfect for snorkelling and lazy beach days — or hire a yacht and sail between the islands for a couple of nights.

QLD · Sunshine Coast

Noosa

A relaxed beach town with great restaurants, coastal walks and national parks. Lovely mix of nature and laid-back luxury.

QLD · Bucket list

Great Barrier Reef

One of the natural wonders of the world. Incredible snorkelling and diving with coral, turtles and tropical fish.

QLD · Tropical North

Daintree & Port Douglas

The world's oldest rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Waterfalls, croc cruises and stunning tropical beaches.

QLD · 4WD adventure

Fraser & Stradbroke Island

Rugged sand islands with towering dunes, wildlife, shipwrecks and crystal-clear lakes. You'll need an off-road (4WD) car, but this is a must if you're after a true Aussie experience out in the wild.

NT · Fly in

Uluru & Central Australia

One of Australia's most iconic experiences. Ancient desert landscapes, Indigenous culture, star-filled skies and unforgettable sunrises.

TAS · Fly in

Tasmania

Dramatic landscapes, incredible hiking and unique wildlife. Explore Hobart, Cradle Mountain and the stunning Wineglass Bay.

WA · Wine region

Margaret River

Beautiful WA region famous for wineries, beaches, caves and surf. Perfect for food and wine lovers wanting a relaxed escape.

WA · Day trip from Perth

Rottnest Island

A small island off Perth with crystal-clear water and adorable quokkas. Great for cycling, snorkelling and beach hopping.

NSW · Untouched island

Lord Howe Island

One of Australia's most beautiful destinations with limited visitor numbers. Incredible hiking, snorkelling and nature — peaceful and exclusive.

Great Barrier Reef

Close to Sydney

NSW South Coast · Day trip or weekend

South Coast, NSW

A beautiful day trip from Sydney, or a couple of nights away. Drive south through Royal National Park and along the Sea Cliff Bridge, stopping in Thirroul or Berry, down to Jervis Bay for some of the whitest sand in Australia. Loads of amazing pubs, hikes and nature — reach out to us for our top recommendations if you go!

NSW Coast · 3hr drive

Jervis Bay

Crystal-clear water, brilliant white sand and great swimming spots. Perfect for dolphin cruises, snorkelling and coastal walks.

NSW · 2hr drive

Kangaroo Valley

A peaceful country town surrounded by waterfalls and rolling green hills. Great for hiking, kayaking and cosy cabin weekends.

NSW · 2–3hr drive

Blue Mountains

Stunning hikes, waterfalls, lookouts and eucalyptus forests. A perfect weekend escape — and don't miss the Blue Mountains Sauna!

NSW · 2hr drive

Hunter Valley

Australia's most famous wine region. Great wineries, long lunches, beautiful countryside and plenty of kangaroos roaming around.

NSW Coast · ~3hr drive

Seal Rocks

One of our favourite camping spots. Treachery Camp has beautiful beaches, white sand dunes, amazing snorkelling and loads of wildlife.

Seal Rocks

In Sydney

Make the most of your time in Sydney.

Walk · 2 hrs

Manly to Spit Bridge

One of our favourite Sydney walks — a 1.5–2 hour coastal path with beaches to stop at along the way. Our favourite is Castle Rock Beach for a swim. You can bus it back if you'd rather not walk both ways.

Walk · 6 km

Bondi to Coogee

It can get busy and touristy, but it's still an amazing experience and a beautiful walk. Great with a pram and a baby too, as it's a path the whole way.

National Park · Day trip

Ku-ring-gai National Park

We love it here — we often head out for the day to hike and swim. Drive in and walk 30 minutes down to a secluded, tropical-island-feeling beach, or take one of the longer hikes. Let us know if you'd like more recommendations!

Surf Lesson · Manly

Surf Lessons in Manly

Learn to surf on one of Sydney's most iconic beaches. Let's Go Surfing runs great lessons for all levels.

Ferry trip

Watsons Bay

Hop on a ferry from Circular Quay for fish and chips with harbour views.

Lookout

North Head & Quarantine

A beautiful headland with 360° views over the Pacific and harbour, and a bit of a hidden gem. On weekends there's often live music down at the Quarantine Station restaurant — plus a free shuttle to the beach, or walk down in about 20 minutes.

Kayaking

Manly Kayaks

Hire kayaks from the wharf and paddle around Manly and all the surrounding bays. Let us know if you're keen — we'd love to show you around!

Day trip

Palm Beach

Drive up the Northern Beaches for one of Sydney's most beautiful stretches of sand.

Market

Glebe Markets

Saturday morning street market with great food, vintage finds and live music.

Hugo's, Manly

Beaches

Sydney's coastline is genuinely world-class.

Our favourite

Freshwater Beach

Our favourite beach in Sydney — a little further from the Manly crowds, with long waves, blue water and great cafes. A must!

Hidden gem

Quarantine Beach

Another favourite, and a real hidden gem. Hike in or take the free shuttle to a cafe and restaurant right on the water, with incredible snorkelling and clear blue water — not touristy, sometimes live music, just a lovely day out. Watch for the wind though, the cove can get blowy some days!

Hidden gem · Ku-ring-gai

Resolute Beach

A beautiful hidden gem tucked inside Ku-ring-gai National Park, with a secluded, island-like vibe. You can drive most of the way and walk down — and the walk itself is amazing.

Iconic

Manly Beach

Fab, but very busy with tourists. Worth a look — then walk around to Shelly Beach or Fairlight for a quieter swim.

Sunset picnic

Milk Beach

An awesome spot to bring some pizza or a picnic for sunset, or a cheeky dip in the water — all with jaw-dropping harbour and city views!

Hidden cove

Castle Rock Beach

A little secret cove tucked below the cliffs, and a lovely stop along the Manly to Spit walk. Worth the stairs down.

Iconic

Bondi Beach

Australia's most famous beach. Great surf, brilliant cafes and the iconic Icebergs ocean pool. Busy but worth it.

Harbour beach

Balmoral Beach

A calm, sheltered harbour beach with grassy picnic areas and great cafes nearby. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

Eastern beaches

Coogee Beach

A lively, beautiful beach with a great strip of cafes and restaurants. The perfect end point for the Bondi to Coogee walk.

Noosa

Restaurants

Our go-to tables across the city.

Italian · Manly

Cibaria

Great if you want good Italian and to treat yourself — a lovely, slightly fancy atmosphere in the heart of Manly.

Mexican · Manly

Chica Bonita

Casual Mexican right in Manly — try the chilli margs, they're the best!

North African · Cremorne

Radio Cairo

A Cremorne favourite serving bold North African and Middle Eastern dishes. Great share plates and a buzzy, intimate vibe.

Middle Eastern · Darlinghurst

Ezra

Modern Israeli-inspired cooking in Darlinghurst. Beautifully presented share plates with bold, exciting flavours.

Greek · CBD

Akti

Contemporary Greek restaurant in the CBD. Fresh seafood, great mezze and a lively atmosphere.

French · CBD

Restaurant Hubert

Dark, moody, old-school French brasserie in the CBD. Live jazz, great wine and one of Sydney's most atmospheric dining rooms.

Lebanese · Surry Hills

Nour

Modern Lebanese cuisine in a stunning Surry Hills space. Beautiful share plates, incredible flavours and one of Sydney's most talked-about restaurants.

Lebanese · McMahons Point

Zahli

Upscale Lebanese with stunning harbour views. Exceptional mezze, wood-fired meats and a beautiful setting — perfect for a special occasion.

Lebanese · Multiple locations

Al Aseel

A Sydney institution for traditional Lebanese food. Generous portions, incredible value and always packed for good reason.

Lebanese street food

Manoosh

Lebanese flatbreads and wraps done brilliantly. Great for a quick, delicious and very affordable bite.

Area · CBD

Chinatown

Sydney's Chinatown is a must — incredible variety of Asian food across Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and more. Great for a cheap, delicious and very fun night out.

Lebanese · CBD

Jimmy's Falafel

Brilliant Lebanese street food in the heart of Sydney. The falafel wraps are incredible — great value, big flavours and always a queue for good reason.

Cafes

Sydney does coffee and brunch better than almost anywhere.

Cafe · Manly

Sway Cafe

Bridge's favourite and local spot — great coffee and breakfast!

Bakery · Croissants

Rollers Cafe

Incredible croissants — some of the best in Sydney. Get there early before they sell out.

Deli · Sandwiches

Norma's Deli

Famous for their focaccia sandwiches. Packed at lunch for good reason — generous, delicious and great value.

Brunch · Popular

Noon Cafe

One of Sydney's most popular brunch spots. Expect a queue but it's absolutely worth the wait.

Pies · Very Australian

Upper Crust Pies

A true Australian experience. Classic meat pies done properly — a must if you want to eat like a local.

Cafe · Balmoral Beach

Balmoral Boathouse Cafe

Sit right on the water at Balmoral Beach with great coffee and food. One of Sydney's most scenic cafe settings.

Bars & Drinks

Where to go for a good time.

Iconic · Circular Quay

The Opera Bar

A must for anyone visiting Sydney. Opera House and harbour views, great for happy hour — such a nice buzz and energy!

Waterfront · Manly

Felons / Hugo's / The Espy

All great bars — try to grab a spot along the water for an amazing sunset!

Rooftop · The Rocks

The Glenmore Hotel

Head straight to the rooftop for one of Sydney's best views over the Opera House and harbour.

Quirky dive bar · Darlinghurst

Shady Pines Saloon

No signage, no fuss — just a brilliant tucked-away saloon bar with taxidermy on the walls and great whisky.

Underground · CBD

Seri Bar

A moody underground bar with exceptional cocktails and an intimate atmosphere.

Music bar · CBD

Record Bar

Vinyl, great drinks and a relaxed vibe. A cosy spot for music lovers.

Late night · Newtown

The Caterpillar Club

Eclectic, fun and a little wild. One of Newtown's favourite late-night spots.

Darts bar

Flight Club

Social darts bar — surprisingly fun even if you've never played.

Very Australian

Lawn Bowls (The Bowlo)

A beloved Australian tradition — bowling clubs (the bowlo) are all over Sydney. A fun, social way to have a drink and play a game outside. Give it a go!

Fraser Island