Australia | Spending Summer at 20°C, Experiencing the Tranquility and Vibrancy of New South Wales

📍 Sydney · 👁 1820 reads

With Beijing hitting 40°C this year, escaping the heat has become a more urgent travel need than any previous summer.

In June I spent an incredibly cool Dragon Boat Festival holiday in the southern hemisphere. The 8-day trip was joyful and rich, so much so that even a month after it ended I still can't stop thinking about it.

That said, Australia is actually a very suitable travel destination for Chinese people. Australians are relatively friendly, there are many Chinese people, and it offers both the familiar cityscapes we grew up with and magnificent natural scenery. Moreover, during China's long holidays, the seasons are reversed, making it perfect for escaping both heat and cold.

New South Wales is located in southeastern Australia, with Sydney as its capital. It was Britain's earliest colony in Australia and is the most populous state.

In one week, we enjoyed the convenience and vibrancy of Sydney as an international city, as well as experiencing the quieter, more 'Australian lifestyle' energy of the NSW South Coast. To sum it up in one English sentence: 'We got the best of both worlds.'

So come with me and experience the tranquility and vibrancy of NSW!

【Day 1 ~ Day 4 Sydney and Surroundings】

Day 1 Beijing - Sydney - Arrive at hotel - Dinner at Woodcut

Day 2 Lunch at Opera Bar - Sydney Opera House tour - Watch sunset from hotel Sky Deck - Dinner at Ploos Restaurant - Vivid Sydney Lightscape

Day 3 Climb the Harbour Bridge - Lunch at Icebergs Club - Bondi Beach - Vivid Sydney Dark Spectrum - Dinner at Opera Bar - Vivid Sydney drone show

Day 4 Helicopter tour - Wine tasting at Megalong Creek Estate in the Blue Mountains - Return to Sydney - Dinner at Nobu

【Day 5 ~ Day 7 NSW South Coast】

Day 5 Breakfast at The Grounds of the City - Shopping at QVB - Wine tasting at Coolangatta Estate on the NSW South Coast - Check in at Bangalay Luxury Villas - Dinner at Bangalay Dining

Day 6 Whale watching in Jervis Bay - Lunch at Salty Joe's - Plantation Point white sand beach - Dinner at The Hill Bar & Kitchen

Day 7 Kiama town - Kiama Blowhole - Lunch at Penny Whistlers - Sea Cliff Bridge - Return to Sydney, check in at Crown Sydney - Art Gallery of New South Wales - Dinner at The Charles Bar and Brasserie

Day 8 Shopping in Paddington area - Hyde Park - Shopping at Westfield - Airport

【Vivid Sydney】

There were too many highlights on this trip, but the biggest one was definitely the annual Vivid Sydney light, music and ideas festival.

Vivid Sydney is a creative lighting, technology and art festival held every May/June during Sydney's winter. It is the city's biggest event of the season, lasting about 3 weeks each time.

This year was the 13th edition of Vivid Sydney, with the theme 'Nature'. Every day, iconic buildings are lit up with 3D projections, and there are dozens of performances and events scattered around, fully satisfying the senses.

This year's Vivid Sydney was the largest ever, comprising four parts:

Vivid Lights

Vivid Music

Vivid Ideas

Vivid Food

Lights turn buildings into fantastical landscapes, performances turn the city into a stage for dancing everywhere, creative forums and talks spark conversations about technology and the future, and food makes flavours from around the world accessible... During the festival, the entire city becomes a playground. After nightfall, joy fills every street and lane.

Here are a few activities we experienced:

🟣 Dark Spectrum

An abandoned underground subway tunnel turned into a dreamy electronic party. Eight different zones feature unique installations, combining technology, light, and music that make you want to sway to the beat. This was a brand new event this year and my personal favourite.

🟣 Sydney Opera House & Harbour Bridge

These two most iconic Sydney landmarks put on light shows every night during Vivid Sydney. The Opera House's exterior is covered in colourful animations, while the Harbour Bridge and passing boats are lit up in ever-changing colours, sparkling against the dark night.

🟣 Lightscape

A unique 'night walk' in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Pitch black around, only scattered light installations along the path occupy your vision. Most recommended is the big tree outlined with colourful light bands, feeling like you've stepped into an otherworldly forest.

🟣 Written in the Stars drone show

There were drone shows almost every week during the festival, also the largest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere to date. We were very lucky to catch the last one – absolutely spectacular. Whales leaping into the sky, nebulas spinning around the harbour – it was technology casting magic in the night sky, letting everyone share a beautiful dream for 10 minutes.

🟣 Practical tips:

- There are both free and paid events. Check the official website for ones that interest you. It's recommended to book tickets in advance for paid events.

- The festival is extremely crowded – I haven't seen such dense crowds in a long time... So I strongly suggest walking or using public transport.

- Sydney in May/June is autumn/winter. It gets cool at night, and most activities are outdoors, so dress warmly.

【Climbing the Harbour Bridge】

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge had been on my travel list for a long time, and I finally got to tick it off.

It's one of the few bridges in the world that tourists can climb, and it's a must-do life experience. From the bridge, you get the best panoramic view overlooking Sydney's most famous landmark area.

There are 4 climbing routes to choose from, taking 2.5 to 3.5 hours. We chose the classic Summit route: climbing the outer arch to the top and back. The entire route and duration were just right – not too long to cause aesthetic fatigue, nor too short to leave you wanting more.

Excluding the safety briefing and changing clothes, you spend at least 1.5 hours on the bridge. The overall difficulty is not high, with little physical demand. Most of it is gentle stairs, and it's very safe – children and seniors can do it.

During the climb, you are not allowed to wear any jewellery or bring phones/cameras. Only the guide can take photos, usually at three photo points. Our guide was very nice; he stopped for us 5 or 6 times and even let us use his camera to take many scenic shots.

🔗 Booking: BridgeClimb official website

💰 Price: ~AUD360 (~¥1500)

🕙 Time: You can climb throughout the day; sunset time is more beautiful, more expensive, and more popular, requiring booking well in advance.

⚠️ Note: Need sports shoes. Wear a uniform jumpsuit. No jewellery or hair clips. Sunglasses allowed.

【Helicopter Experience】

Flying by helicopter from Sydney to the Blue Mountains was one of the most luxurious and unique experiences of this trip. Our pilot was a handsome middle-aged guy a bit like Chris Evans (Captain America). Rounding up, we basically flew in Captain America's plane!

We chose Sydney HeliTours. This company offers many itineraries; we chose the Sydney to Blue Mountains one-way trip, with a flight time of about 45 minutes. Apart from going to the Blue Mountains like us, there are also options within Sydney city and several surrounding areas.

The best value is the Sydney Harbour Heli Flight, a 20-minute flight seeing several landmarks, costing AUD240 per person.

【Opera House Tour】

As the most famous landmark in Sydney and all of Australia, the Sydney Opera House is a must-see for anyone visiting Sydney for the first time. Beyond taking photos outside, going inside for a tour gives you a deeper understanding of this unique architectural wonder.

We joined the Official Guided Walking Tour, which had a Chinese-speaking guide. In one hour, we toured different performance halls inside the Opera House and learned about this architectural marvel from an in-depth perspective.

【Amazing Whale Watching】

On the NSW South Coast, whale watching is one of the top activities not to be missed in autumn and winter. Of course, you need the right season and a bit of luck.

The whale watching boat isn't very large – three decks, holds a few dozen people. We first sailed about 1 hour to reach deep-sea areas to chase whales. The total activity time is about 2-2.5 hours.

The sea was very windy, blowing our heads hard. Once the captain spots a whale in the distance, he announces it over the intercom and turns off the engine to reduce noise disturbance. Then the boat becomes even more turbulent, perfectly illustrating 'a tiny boat adrift in the waves' and recreating the amusement park pirate ship experience.

Maybe due to a lack of luck, we only saw a tiny bit of a humpback whale from far away. Each time the captain announced, we nervously scanned the wide sea ahead, but could only see a distant grey shape. I scanned the sea indiscriminately with my camera and finally caught a few frames of the humpback – still worth the trip.

- Best to take seasickness medicine in advance. My friends and I took it, but many people still vomited.

- Dress warmly! Especially protect your head and neck from the strong sea wind.

- Keep an open mind. It's best if you see whales, but if not, treat the boat trip as an adventure.

Accommodation | 6-star luxury hotel & cozy beachside villas

【Crown Sydney】

Crown Sydney is one of the best hotels in Sydney and the only six-star hotel. We stayed at Crown for 5 nights. The overall experience of eating, drinking, playing and staying was complete and wonderful. The hotel itself can become part of your Sydney travel experience – a perfect staycation destination.

If you get the chance to go to Crown Sydney, here are some things worth trying:

🟠 Watch a sunrise/sunset from your room

The building's twisted form gives every room type a great view. We experienced two room types – one facing Darling Harbour and the Anzac Bridge, the other offering a panoramic view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Those days, the first thing I did after waking up was open the curtains and lie in bed enjoying the view. I could probably look at it all day without getting bored.

🟠 Take a nice bath

Their oval extra-large bathtub is so comfortable! Some room types have the bathtub by the window, making the bathing experience even more delightful.

🟠 Eat at Epicurean on the 5th floor – the city's best buffet

Rich, diverse, and hearty – that's my impression of the Epicurean buffet. I only regret that I didn't have enough time every morning, otherwise I could have eaten for a full hour.

🟠 Book a fine dining experience

The hotel has 14 restaurants, including Oncore by three-Michelin-star chef Clare Smyth and the legendary Japanese restaurant Nobu. We tried Nobu – a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavours with Australia's fresh seafood, absolutely umami. We also ate at Woodcut – more Australian-style cooking with steak, seafood, and many local wines – also highly recommended.

🟠 Go up to the SkyDeck for a postcard view of Sydney

The SkyDeck is on the 83rd floor, facing Sydney's most beautiful skyline. We happened to catch a pink sunset – incredibly romantic.

🟠 Check out the crystal spiral staircase on the second floor

The outer side of the staircase is covered with strip-shaped crystal lights. When looking up from below, the dancing, changing light flows along the spiral lines.

In addition, we were lucky to tour the ultra-luxurious suite on the 88th floor of Crown Sydney – over 800 square metres of duplex space with stunning views over the entire city. It costs AUD 38,000 per night (about RMB 200,000), with a minimum 2-night stay. 🤓

【Bangalay Luxury Villas】

During our two days on the NSW South Coast, we stayed at Bangalay Luxury Villas, a beachside villa near Shoalhaven Heads.

The interior was warm and comfortable, with a fully equipped kitchen and washing machine.

The villa's location was great – next to a small golf course. Each standalone villa has a view of the course. A 2-minute walk leads to the adjacent beach. On good weather days, walking along the beach and watching the sunset was a wonderful experience.

After dark, the whole area was silent, but the lack of light pollution meant you could look up and see the southern hemisphere's stars. It was autumn in Australia, and from the hotel parking lot we could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. I took a few photos with my phone – the results were amazing.

Even better was the hotel's dining. Australia doesn't use Michelin stars but has a 'hat' rating system. Basically, three hats equates to three Michelin stars.

Bangalay Dining is a one-hat restaurant. Every dish deeply pleased me. Many dishes featured unique local ingredients – their signature cocktail used bush leaves from the surrounding area, ground with salt to rim the glass, giving a unique herbal scent.

Oh, and at checkout, you can buy souvenirs from the small shop at the entrance. They have fragrances, skincare products, sun protection lip balms, etc., many with unique Australian botanical elements. I bought a lot to take home as gifts.

During our one-week trip, we ate three meals a day with great variety, visiting many excellent restaurants. Whether flavour or ambiance, each was noteworthy – highly recommend every one!

🔴 Woodcut

Local Australian flavours | ~AUD200

Woodcut focuses on Australian cuisine, using mostly local ingredients with many charcoal-grilled elements. The Golden Wattle Menu's fish sashimi with apple aroma and caper sourness instantly won my heart. The grilled John Dory and T-bone steak were also juicy and flavourful.

🔴 Nobu

Legendary Japanese-South American fusion restaurant | ~AUD200

Nobu's name is huge worldwide. Its most iconic dish is Black Cod Miso – sweet miso-marinated black cod with jelly-like translucent flesh, melting in your mouth, incredibly tender. The entire table had no misses – highly recommended.

🔴 Icebergs Club

Best view spot at Bondi Beach | ~AUD150

Icebergs occupies the best position at Bondi Beach, exuding chic vibes inside and out. It's arguably Sydney's most iconic restaurant. The food is top-notch – the Persimmon Carpaccio was stunning, crispy persimmon slices with cheese – so good I wanted to run to the beach and dance.

And here are a few more photos of Bondi Beach – living up to its fame.

🔴 The Charles Grand Brasserie

Art Deco elegant French cuisine | ~AUD150

The restaurant has an Art Deco classical feel, with very high ceilings like a grand theatre. Many celebrities visit when in Sydney. Great ambiance, great food. My favourite was the Aged Pork Cutlet – caramelized meat aroma and sweet date flavour – I still crave it.

🔴 Opera Bar

Harbour restaurant at the foot of the Opera House | ~AUD70

This spot boasts Australia's most iconic view – situated below the Opera House steps, facing the Harbour Bridge, iconic landmarks right in front. The outdoor atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. We ate here twice – recommend any seafood dish. If dining in a group, definitely order a seafood platter – hearty and delicious.

🔴 The Grounds of the City

City's most popular brunch spot | ~AUD50

A super popular restaurant with three branches. We went to the CBD one; even at noon on a Monday there was a queue. The interior has a vintage vibe, and having afternoon tea there is also lovely.

🔴 Ploos Restaurant

Harbour view Greek cuisine | ~AUD120

Interesting Greek cuisine – very authentic, and agreeable to a Chinese palate. Located at Circular Quay, facing the Opera House across the quay – worth a try.

In Australia, I enjoyed drinking every day. As a pseudo-drinker with low tolerance but eager to try, a little wine is most enjoyable – easily reaches a tipsy state without burden.

Some excellent wineries are scattered around Sydney and across New South Wales, so almost every meal's wine was from the local region. We also tried wine tasting menus at two wineries – both great day trip options from Sydney.

🟢 Megalong Creek Estate

This winery is in the Megalong Valley in the Blue Mountains, a small boutique single-vineyard. Tasting here not only lets you learn wine knowledge from the owner, but the scenery is beautiful too – a very relaxing experience.

I really liked the Pinot Grigio on the list – a very refreshing aperitif, smooth on the palate, with pear and citrus aromas, great for women. The Lost Shiraz was more interesting – heavier tannins, ruby-coloured with complex notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, and vanilla – very layered.

🟢 Coolangatta Estate

Another winery on the NSW South Coast. It was once a landing place for the first convicts sent from Britain to Australia, converted into a winery in the 19th century, and still run by the same family.

Australia's Semillon is very famous. I really liked the Semillon 2015 on their list – a blend of tropical fruit and grass aromas, very crisp.

【Kiama Town】

On the way back from the South Coast to Sydney, you pass through Kiama town. Tiny, but it gathers all the lovely elements that make your heart sing – ocean, lawns, lighthouse, lunch spots with a view, cute dogs everywhere... It's a favourite weekend escape for Sydneysiders. For tourists, no need to go out of your way – stopping by without a specific purpose makes its charm even more discoverable.

【Sea Cliff Bridge】

Also on the way back from the South Coast to Sydney is the landmark Sea Cliff Bridge along the Grand Pacific Drive. The bridge is 'suspended' over the sea along steep cliffs, curving along the cliff's arc like a ribbon floating over the ocean. Our friends even saw dolphins and whales leaping out of the water nearby – super lucky.

【Art Gallery of New South Wales】

The Art Gallery of NSW is one of Australia's three major art galleries, built in 1874 in a beautiful neoclassical building. It houses Australian art from various periods, as well as works from medieval oil paintings to Impressionist masters.

Interestingly, the gallery displays artworks in a 'mix-and-match' style. Classical and modern intermingle, traditional European paintings sit next to Indigenous installation works – visually refreshing.

【Hyde Park in the City】

An iconic park. The Archibald Fountain in the centre might be Australia's most beautiful public fountain. It's also adjacent to St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney's largest Catholic church. On the grass, people sit in groups soaking up the sun – very relaxing.

【Queen Victoria Building】

The QVB is a very iconic building in Sydney's city centre, and in my opinion, the most beautiful shopping centre. A Romanesque dome, huge stained glass windows, a spiral staircase, complex classical arches and columns, and two very distinctive clocks – the building itself is a work of art.

It's not extremely large, more of a small and beautiful mall, with many quality Australian local brands – very pleasant to shop in.

Located on Sydney's busiest street, the surrounding shopping area is also worth visiting. I shopped for about an hour in the morning and came away with plenty.

【Paddington & Oxford Street】

On the last day, I spent most of the morning and afternoon strolling along Oxford Street in the Paddington area – arguably Sydney's best shopping district. The streets are lined with many clothing brands and concept stores – niche, stylish, and high quality. You can basically cover all famous Australian local clothing brands here.

I started from the eastern side near Paddington Market and walked westwards. Here are a few shops I really liked – each worth a visit:

⚫️ Parlour X: Avant-garde concept store with many big-name and trendy brands. The shop was once a small church – very distinctive.

⚫️ Hansen & Gretel: Australian local clothing brand – practical with a touch of design. I bought a lovely burgundy leather trench coat here.

⚫️ Aje Paddington: One of Australia's most famous affordable luxury brands in recent years, combining designed silhouettes with colourful elements – very powerful woman style.

⚫️ ZIMMERMAN: Australian 'flower butterfly'. Linen fabrics with extremely intricate prints – very recognisable. Many palace-style and resort-style dresses.

⚫️ Scanlan Theodore: Local brand – simple, clean, practical yet high quality – perfect for daily commutes.

⚫️ Rachel Gilbert: Not practical but extraordinarily beautiful evening gowns. If you're planning a wedding, highly recommend looking – those bling bling dresses are absolutely stunning.

⚫️ Dion Lee Paddington: Australian designer brand famous for cut-out designs – edgy and trendy, favourite of stylish girls.

⚫️ Oroton: Leather goods brand much loved by Australians – mainly bags, but also a womenswear line. Our Australian friend strongly recommended this brand – reasonable prices, excellent bag quality – successfully planted the seed in all of us.

Travelogue Directory

1. Let's Go, Escape the Heat in New South Wales

2. 8-Day Itinerary

3. Play | Light Festival, Helicopter, Bridge Climb, Whale Watching...

4. Eat | Seafood and Steaks, Every Meal a Feast, Fresh to the Tongue

5. Drink | Winery Tour, Tipsy with Scenery

6. Tour | Lovely Towns and a Silk-like Sea Bridge

7. Shop | Art Gallery and Boutique Stores, Explore Them All

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