Australia is huge! If you’ve only got a couple of days to explore, then day trips could be the perfect option for you. If you’re looking for a quick adventure not too far from the hustle and bustle of Sydney, consider taking these day trips!
Central Coast
The central coast is home to a collective of stunning beaches, so if you love the sand and the sea, you need to be there! With dozens of beaches available at your fingertips, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The area offers a chilled vibe and secluded hideaways so this is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway. Is the beach not your thing? If not, the coast also offers astounding bush and coastal walks as well as some amazing markets!
Royal National Park
The distance to this national park isn’t too bad for the visitors that don’t want to travel for more than an hour. There’s so much to do and see at the Royal National park! Whether you’re just sightseeing or after an adventure, this national park is the place for you. It’s the home of stunning waterfalls, coastal cliffs and the infamous Wedding Cake Rock. Whether you’re taking a dip, a hike or want to hire a canoe, this is the perfect spot!
Southern Highlands
Although this is a large area, dropping in at any city in the Southern Highlands won’t disappoint! If you’re looking to travel somewhere closer to Sydney, try stopping by Stanwell Park or Helensburgh! They have great lookouts for spectacular views and have beaches that are much quieter than the ones in larger cities. If you’re willing to go the distance, drive down a bit and check out Kiama. Whilst you’re there, go and check out the Kiama blowhole or stroll along the Kiama Coast walkway!
Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains is one of the top day trip destinations for visitors and for good reason! Both Sydney siders and visitors come to the Blue Mountains to immerse themselves in the lush landscape filled with dense eucalyptus trees. With more than 140kms worth of hiking trails, you’ve got plenty to explore! The location is also home to spectacular rock formations like the Three Sisters and Bridal Veil Falls! Whether you’re hiking, rock climbing or just having a stroll, Blue Mountains is the perfect place to visit.
Ku-ring-gai National Park
Ku-ring-gai is just a dash north from Sydney and it’s the second oldest national park in Australia! Filled with tranquil bays, waterfalls and stunning bushland, you’d be crazy to give this one a miss! You’ll be surrounded by an astounding view and it’s the best place for a kayak down the river or for some solid hiking. Without a doubt, you won’t regret spending your day here!
Palm Beach
If you’ve just visited Ku-ring-gai National Park, why not head up a bit to the breathtaking palm beach! Here you can snap a pic at instafamous Barrenjoey Lighthouse as it’ll give you a spectacular panoramic backdrop! The area is home to some of the best beaches and is the perfect place to settle down for a picnic.
Looking for a place to stay? Check out Aabode.com because we’ve got the perfect accommodation for you!
We’ve got the ultimate know how on where to eat, stay and
play in Bruny Island! If you’re looking for a stunning but tranquil weekend
getaway or nature adventure, Bruny Island is the place for you! Just located an
hour out of Hobart, there’s no excuse not to go! Whether it’s for a romantic
getaway or a fun filled family retreat, Bruny Island is the next hot holiday
destination you have to visit!
Things to do in Bruny Island
Go and visit Cape Bruny Island Lighthouse
Cape Bruny lighthouse is a 114 meter heritage listed
attraction that is perched above dramatic cliff tops and stunning views of the
wild Tasmanian coastline. Cape Bruny lighthouse is the only Southern Tasmanian
lighthouse that is open for tours! The lighthouse stands on the tip of Bruny
Island in the waters of South Hobart and is the perfect way to marvel at the
sights of Bruny Island. This is the top must do that we recommend and can even
be achieved in a day trip to Bruny Island!
Source: Cape Bruny Lighthouse Tours
Head over to visit some penguins
If you’re heading to Bruny Island in the warmer months (September-February) you might get a chance at viewing some of Bruny’s furry friends! Head over to the Neck Game Reserve where they have boardwalks and viewing platforms where you can watch short tailed shearwaters and fairy penguins! This is the perfect activity for your family or even as a couple! From here, you’ll be able to see the little penguins return to their burrows in the sand dunes or make their way up to the beach in tight groups. While you’re here, the Neck lookout also offers jaw dropping 360 degree views of the beaches and flora.
Go berry picking at Bruny Island Berry Farm
For a relaxing and laid back day, take yourselves to Bruny
Island Berry Farm to pick a variety of fresh berries and taste their delectable
delights! The farm has more than 7000 strawberry plants housed on the farm so
there’s always a plethora of supplies for you to pick from! After a few hours
of basking in the sun and picking some luscious berries, treat yourself to some
nibbles or a drink at their café. If you still want to enjoy the glowing sun
after picking berries, you can even have a picnic on their grounds!
Spot some white wallabies
Never seen a white wallaby? Here’s your chance! Bruny Island
is known for their population of white wallabies and their white coats attract
a small crowd of visitors each year! You won’t spot them easily in any other
place so see them while you can! They love to be near grassy areas and usually
hang around early morning or during sunset. Head over to some of the parks or
to Adventure Bay to spot them!
Source: Tasmania.com
Go hiking
Bruny island is home to enchanting forests, stunning coves,
unique wildlife and striking coastal scenery so why not explore them! There are
a plethora of walking and hiking trails for your to explore and it’s a great
way to spend a sunny morning or afternoon! Some of our favourites include
Maycista Nature Walk, Alonnah-Sheepwash Bay Track and the Labillardiere
Peninsula Track. During these hikes you’ll be able to witness Bruny Island’s tranquil
environment and be showered with spectacular views.
Where to eat in Bruny Island
Get Shucked
Looking to taste some of the freshest oysters in town? Look
no further than Get Shucked, a locally owned and operated oyster farm and bar.
Their oysters are harvested, shucked and served everyday to the public who
can’t get enough! Find yourself a seat outside and enjoy a plate of oysters
with a glass of bubbly ! It’s the perfect place for to stop after a morning
exploration or an afternoon chatter!
Source: Get Shucked
Bruny Island House of Whisky
If you’re keen to experience a once in a lifetime whisky,
there’s no better place to go than to the Bruny Island House of Whiskey! With
110 expressions of Tasmanian Single Malts available to taste and rare Tasmanian
Single Malts, tantalise your taste buds with the finest whiskey around! If you
haven’t had time to travel around Tassie to visit independent distillery’s and
bottlers, this is the perfect place to visit as they have a range of award
winning malts under one roof! This is
perfect for a relaxing afternoon by the sea!
Bruny Island Cheese Company
If you’re after a long and lazy lunch that’s paired with a
few beers, Bruny Island Cheese company is the way to go! You can sit under the
eucalyptus trees on their property with their cheese platters or enjoy a simple
coffee and cake. It’s the perfect place to kick back and relax with some
friends and family or just as a couple. Situated only 15 minutes away from the
ferry wharf, it’s the perfect place to visit on a sunny day in Bruny Island!
Penguin and Pardalote Cafe
Penguin and Pardalote is the perfect place for a little
nibble and sip! This café is situated in an old school styled house and has a
laid back atmosphere where you can start your mornings or spend your
afternoons. Indulge yourself with their range of brunch bites, savoury crepes
and sweet crepes! If you’re feeling a little extra special, order yourself one
of their decadent cheese boards or some freshly shucked Bruny Island oysters!
Whatever you choose, you’ll be sure to enjoy
Source: TripAdvisor
Where to stay in Bruny Island
Bruny Ocean Cottage
Bruny ocean cottage is a beautiful three bedroom self
contained holiday home suitable for couples or families! It’s equipped with
free Wifi, Netflix and bicycles which is suitable for a weekend full of
unwinding and relaxation. The properly is situated in a prime place that’s
adjacent to Adventure Bay Beach! The cottage is also close by to great cafes,
South Bruny National parks and other nearby attractions!
The Lookout
The Lookout is a stunning brick property that is located
near Denned Point and has 180 degree views looking over Storm Bay. It’s set on
two acres of private parkland and is close to Nebraska Beach and the Jetty
Beach Café! It’s the perfect place to invite company as the property had three
entertaining areas for you to choose from and a spacious covered deck with a
four burner barbecue!
Captain’s Cabin Bligh Point
Captain’s Cabin is located at Bligh Point on North Bruny and
has access to more than 1600m of private beachfront! The cabin boasts stunning
wooden walls and ceilings with rooms that look directly out to the water! The
main bedroom boasts a beautiful four poster bed and the guest room has a
spacious queen bed. Stay at the Captain’s Cabin to be completely encapsulated
by panoramic views of the channel.
With retirement on the horizon and after working in the fire service and retail/admin sectors, the pair were in search of somewhere to live permanently or open a holiday rental business.
The pair first visited the Bellarine Peninsular in search of somewhere to live permanently or a place that felt right to open a holiday rental business. Jan and Lin found a two bedroom unit in Ocean Grove; their first holiday rental business. It was later on when they found it a right time to buy a larger home around the corner on Roditis Drive, the start of Bells By The Beach Holiday House. The couple moved permanently to another location in Ocean Grove to be close to the investment and serve guests 24/7, which they still do.
Bells By The Beach Holiday House is now a welcoming holiday home for families to spend a short or extended time, with or without their dogs.
During the past 15 years or so, Jan and Lin have welcomed more than 400 different dogs, with pet-parents from regional Victoria, suburban Melbourne and interstate to holiday in their home. Guests return time and time again to the welcoming home as they love the property facilities, the squeaky clean house and the neat and tidy dog-friendly coastal garden…not to mention the beach is just a short doggy stroll (500 metres) to the sand dunes and over onto the beach.
We love being holiday accommodation owners, it gives us much satisfaction to know we are helping families plan and budget for holidays well in advance
Dog-lovers are delighted to find that the house truly is dog and family friendly, where dogs are welcome to sleep indoors with their family and be safe and secure in the fully fenced property.
About the area
Ocean Grove is growing into the largest township on the Bellarine Peninsula. The area is surrounded by renowned wineries, walking trails, pristine beaches, fishing spots and golf courses. Bring your dogs down to run along the beach, crash through the waves, or just enjoy a swim. Head further away and explore the many local attractions across the region. There’s something for everyone to enjoy at Ocean Grove.
With the property in easy reach of shopping, activities and the glorious beach, it is no wonder that the property is thriving with guests in Spring, Summer and Autumn.
We look forward to meeting new guests and welcoming back others who consider our house as a home away from home. We sometimes wish we had another house to ‘spread the beach love’ to everyone who wants to stay and who are disappointed to find we are booked out.
There’s plenty for you to do this October in Sydney! This
month is jam packed with festivals, food and fun so bring your family and
friends along for a great time!
Sydney Craft Week |
11-20 October
Head over to Sydney Craft Week and get your creativity on!
From Egyptian art to pottery, there are a plethora of stalls, exhibitions and
workshops for you to explore. This year, thousands of crafty minds will be
coming to celebrate through this year’s theme, ‘Play’. The festival encourages
it’s attendee’s to immerse themselves in al l things ‘play’ and be inspired to
consider new possibilities! This year, you’ll be bound to have a good time so
give yourself the opportunity to let loose and get creative!
Source: Sydney Craft Week
Sydney Night Noodle
Markets | 11-18 October
Indulge in a night of glutton and pure food fantasy at the
2019 Night Noodle Markets! Back again this year, this food festival is a
culinary delight that all foodies look forward to every year and has a
bountiful of stores you can choose from. This year’s lineup will include Xian
Biang Biang, Gelato Messina, Wonderbao, Chur Burger, Donut Papi and many more!
If you’ve got a little furry friend with you as well, bring your pup down to
the festival on October 12th for the first Night Poodle Market!
Tickets for the poodle market are $5 which comes with a dog treat and the
proceeds will go to the RSPCA! Whether you have a pup or not, be sure not to
miss out on the Night Noodle markets otherwise your stomachs will be waiting
for another year!
Source: Good Food Month
Pinot Palooza | 12
October
Pinot Palooza is back for it’s eighth year as Australia’s
largest annual pinot noir festival! The festival is home to over 100 kinds of
Pinot and they’re all ready for tasting! This year’s festival will be held at
Carriageworks and a standard ticket will only cost you $65 which includes every
drop of pinot. If you’re feeling a little tipsy from the pinot, there are also
food stalls, classes and performances too! You’ll also see a special appearance
from Burger Project, La Bastide, Porteno and Agape! Yet read to drink your way
around the world and strap yourself in for a good time!
William Street
Festival | 19 October
The boutique and hip lane, William Street, hosts a festival
each year and fills it to the brim with fashion, food and music! The festival
celebrate the unique businesses and the heritage of Paddington. It’ll be a
relaxed and fun filled day of scrumptious food and live entertainment. Kick
your weekend off on the right note by grabbing a drink and leisurely strolling
around the festival! The festival features a variety of eclectic vendors
including 10 William Street, Elph Store and Italian Bar!
Oktoberfest | 26
October
Get your lederhosen and dirndl on and get ready to have a
good time at Oktoberfest in the Gardens! Once again this year, The Domain will
be transformed into a beer fuelled party and a giant beer garden inspired by
Germany’s Oktoberfest. The festival will be hosting two big beer halls, a
silent disco, roving performers and a giant dodgeball competition! Whilst
you’re there you’ll be surrounded by circus performers, magicians, accordion
bands, yodelers and brass bands so you’re bound to have a good time. Beer,
cider, wines and spirits will be frivolously pouring throughout the day and you
can pair it will a pretzel or bratwurst. Whatever you have, you’re bound to
have a crackin’ time so don’t forget your tickets!
Source: Oktoberfest in the Gardens
Sculpture by the Sea
| 24 October – 10 November
One of Sydney’s infamous annual events, Sculpture by the Sea
is back for its 23rd year! The two kilometer coastal walk from Bondi
to Tamarama is going to be filled again with spectacular sculptures from
incredible local and international artists! The walk is the perfect way to
start off the week or wind down from a hectic schedule, but be warned, crowds
can get a little crazy during the weekends so come on weekday mornings if you
can!
Source: Sculpture by the sea
There’s plenty to do this October so be sure to jot these events down in your calendar! Not from Sydney? Head to Aabode.com for some great accommodation for your stay in Sydney!
Meet Jacqui and Charlie, owners ofClubyamba Luxury Villas in Yamba on the North Coast of NSW!
Jacqui and Charlie purchased Clubyamba Holiday Villasjust 14 months ago. The pair previously owned a couple of holiday houses/apartments over the years but Clubyamba is the first time they have owned more than one at once, as well as the first time managing the property themselves!
After 20 years or so working as a teacher and maintenance fitter, the pair purchased their first business, an organic butcher shop, which was successfully run for almost 8 years. From there, they decided business operating was the path for them and thus moved back to their childhood town and purchased Clubyamba. Both Jacqui and Charlie grew up on the north coast of NSW but moved to Queensland to raise their family, before moving back to their roots to be close to ageing parents.
We love being holiday accommodation owners because guests are almost always in a good mood and happy to be having some relaxing time in Yamba. No one ever leaves having not loved Yamba or our accommodation, so it’s pretty easy to love our job. With a couple of excellent staff to back us up, we also manage to get some good breaks away, ensuring we don’t get ‘run down’ or overworked.
Clubyamba is an exclusively adult retreat consisting of seven villas tucked away in the peaceful part of town between shops and beaches. The villas could not be located in a more prime position, just a five minute walk to the beach, shops and restaurants. Peaceful enough to get away from it all yet close enough to be part of the action if wanted. Villas and apartments are all self-contained and have everything you need to eat in if you choose. With Foxtel, free WIFI and air conditioning, it isn’t hard to see why the property is Yamba’s number one rated accommodation!
A romantically appointed, upstairs, one bedroom apartment with queen bedroom leading out to a rear deck with relaxing hydro/aromatherapy spa for two. Quality percale linen and bathrobes included. Spacious lounge area with large LED television, DVD, CD, iPod dock. Free Foxtel, free wireless internet. Second television in bedroom. Fully equipped quality kitchen with dishwasher, oven, and hotplates. Delightful coastal and hinterland views from the balcony. Complimentary laundry facilities available. Please note that access is via a spiral staircase.
Coastal and Garden Villas
Four affordable self-catering villas with one queen size bed. Quality percale linen. Well equipped kitchen, timber floors and open plan lounge/dining. Front and rear decks with garden and garden spa access. Garden or coastal and hinterland panorama from front deck. Free wireless internet and Foxtel. Large TV in lounge room; second TV in bedroom. iPod dock and alarm clock radio. Complimentary laundry facilities available. Rate based on 1 queen bed. Optional 2nd queen bed is AUD$70 extra per night.
Courtyard Villa
One bedroom with queen bed and quality percale linen. Open plan living and dining area opening onto covered courtyard. This villa has a disabled accessible bathroom. Large TV in lounge room with free Foxtel. Second TV in bedroom. iPod dock. Access to garden spa. Free wireless internet. Complimentary laundry facilities available. Parking is on Church Street in front of Villa.
Panorama Suite
This spacious apartment offers coastal views to Angourie with three large outdoor areas for entertaining or relaxing. One bedroom luxury apartment overlooking gardens and garden spa. Large TV in lounge and bedroom. Free Foxtel. Free wireless internet. iPod dock. DVD player. Clock/radio. Complimentary laundry facilities on site
