If you haven’t swum in a rock pool, it's time you do so! The dramatic Sydney coastline is dotted with them. New South Wales is home to at least a hundred of rock pools, with over 30 in Sydney. A rock pool is so called because it has been hammered out of rocks along an ocean’s edge. The site is of course, chosen in the first place because a large pool of water would collect in a depression in the rocks whenever the tides recede. Most of Sydney’s rock pools are at least 100 years old, with the last ones being built in the 1960s. Even if you don’t fancy a dip in these saltwater pools, these Instagrammable spots are still worth a stop. The most famous of Sydney’s rock pools are the Bondi Baths (aka Bondi Icebergs), Bronte Baths which is just next door to Bondi; and the Wylie Baths – just a few hundred metres south of Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Feel  the warmth of the morning sun’s first rays, and a cool morning breeze on your face as you paddle along the Sydney Harbour. The waterways of the Harbour are rich with sights, life and activity. And one of the best ways to savour these is on a kayak. For safety and a live commentary from a local expert, sign up for a guided Sydney Harbour sunrise kayak with Sydney Harbour Kayaks. This tour starts at 6am, and is tailored for all levels –  from beginner to experienced. The guide will even make a stop at Sydney landmarks such as Luna Park and Harbour bridge for photo-taking.

The Imperial Erskineville is somewhat of an institution in Sydney.  Since it was reopened in 1983, the hotel (especially in one of its previous incarnations) has been known as a symbol of hope for the LGBT+ community in Sydney. The then-owner had pledged to make it a safe place for the community to gather or even come out. In 1994, parts of the famous movie on drag queens: Priscilla, the Queen of the Desert’s, were filmed at the hotel. Therefore, feather boas, sequins and glitter are not an unfamiliar sight at the hotel. After a new owner took over and restored the property in 2015, a ground floor restaurant called Priscillas has been taking pride of place in the hotel.  It serves a vegan and vegetarian menu alongside a selection of seafood and grilled meats at a ceviche bar – all to be enjoyed during dazzling drag shows put on by some of Australia’s most well-known queens.

As if eating bugs are now passé, some bars in Sydney have to go a step further – to use insects in their drinks. The  Cartel Bar, a South American-inspired cocktail bar features insects sal de gasano (spiced worm salt) in their beverages, while the Gin Lane Bar  offers Green Ant Gin, a citrus-tasting drink with green ants added to before and after distillation. It is said that the ants add a pop sensation to the drink.

The vast landscape of Australia makes her an ideal destination for stargazing. The starstruck who have always wanted to learn more about stars and constellations but never got around to investing in a telescope, or had the opportunity to while away an evening  under a starlit canopy, can join one of the public sky observing sessions that the Macarthur Astronomical Society runs at Campbelltown Rotary Observatory.

**Due to fluid nature of covid measures, please get in touch with the society directly for updates.

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