Tag: australia travel

5 spots in Adelaide you can’t miss

Adelaide, the symbol of South Australia, is where you can find a mixture of cultural heritage, natural scenery, delectable food, as well as recreation venues. With plentiful places to wander around, here is a snapshot of a few key tourist attractions in Adelaide.

Glenelg Beach

Glenelg is not only famous for its beautiful beaches but also for its impressive history behind the heritage buildings. Located in a suburban area of Adelaide, Glenelg is a perfect place to seek your own peace of mind and to escape from city life. Family and friends are bound to have the best time in Glenelg with various entertainment choices including catching thrills at an amusement park, or even sailing and swimming with dolphins.

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo is Australia’s second oldest zoo, with it’s sole purpose connecting humans with nature and saving endangered species. There are plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained, from interactions with animals, the educational visitor center, and so much more. Spare some time and visit the pandas as they’re the only breeding pair of giant pandas in Australia, and not to mention, they’re super adorable.

Adelaide Central Market

If you are a foodie seeking multicultural cuisine and fresh food, Adelaide Central Market is the place to be. This is one of the largest fresh produce markets in Australia and one of the oldest indoor markets in the world. After browsing the wholesome stalls, there are an array of cafes and eateries for you to enjoy. What else could get better?

Adelaide Botanic Garden

Take a pause during your trip and drop a visit to a wonderland in the heart of the city, where stunning landscaped gardens, grand avenues, stunning architecture and the appeal of history awaits. This 50-hectare garden is home to the most magnificent plant collections in Australia. Relax your mind in the Botanic Garden atmosphere and scenery for an hour or few, you’ll feel like yourself in another world away.

Art Gallery of South Australia

Adelaide possesses not only one of the finest plants in Australia but also one of the finest art collections at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The selection varies from the colonial days to the present; crosses all mediums from sculpture, paintings, textiles, photographs to ceramics, furniture and jewellery. You can choose to wander around at your own pace or to take a tour or even attend an artist talk.

Visit Aabode.com now to find a comfortable accommodation and make the most out of your trip!

Your Sydney Winter Wonderland

Winter in Australia has started showing its magic and although it might be too cold to go for a swim in Bondi, there are still a plenty of fun things to do in Sydney at this time of the year. From pop-up ice rinks to high tea on Ferris wheels, the city is as bustling and busy in winter as it is in summer and here is a list of things that you can venture into to make the most out of your Australian winter season in Sydney.

Good Food and Wine Show

 When: June 22nd – June 24th

The Good Food and Wine show are back again, and you can spend a weekend immersed in all of the booze and yummy goodness the city has to offer. This year’s event will bring back some old favorites’ and provide an exciting line-up of features to discover, taste, share and enjoy. There will be lunches with notable chefs such as Maggie Beer, Manu and Clarissa Feidel, Miguel Maestre, Matt Morgan as well as other fun and educational events. From vegan pizza master classes to boozy brunches and more, you will want to add this event to your calendar.

Vivid Sydney

When: May 25th – June 16th

The world’s largest festival of lights, music and ideas is returning to Sydney for its 10th year in a row. Last year Vivid Sydney drew over 2.33 million visitors to the city for its massive list of events including educational talks and seminars, live music and light shows, and its 10th anniversary is shaping up to be as spectacular as ever. From the Heaps Gay Queens Ball to Vivid After Hours at the Art Gallery of NSW, the Snugglepot and Cuddlepie light display and so many more, you’ll definitely be wanting to get involved in Vivid Sydney this year.

Bondi Winter Magic Festival

When: June 28th – July 29th

I know what you’re thinking, going to the beach in winter? Well, why not especially when Bondi is bringing back its winter magic! You can ski along the shores as the festival brings snow to sand in the form of an ice-skating rink. There will be an educational history series, as well as daily ice skating and hockey demos and lessons.

Road and Snore at Taronga Zoo

When: April 30th – July 5th

Roar and snore is a long-running overnight experience offer by Taronga Zoo. It lets you bunker down after the zoo shuts its gates and stay in luxurious tents until morning. You’ll get to meet all the critters such as lions, tigers, snow leopards and a sun bear as well as dine at the zoo’s restaurant. The next morning you will be served a delicious brekkie before being able to feed a giraffe, pat a seal and sun bake with an echidna. From the 25th of May to the 16th of June, you can also catch Roar and Snore VIVID which will see amazing light installations on top of your furry filled experience.

Ferris Wheel High Tea

When: May 5th – 22nd September

The Deck in Sydney has brought back its quirky Ferris wheel high tea, so you can snack on scones and sip prosecco while taking in the best view in town. Served on board the iconic Luna Park Ferris Wheel, this next level experience is unlike any other tea party the city has to offer. After your one hour ride, you’re invited to sit back and warm up with a cuppa in the deck lounge.

Sydney Film Festival

When: June 6th – June 17th

Are you ready for 12 massive days of film, fun, talks, parties and of course all the movie snacks? Sydney film Festival kicks off in June and is bringing Sydneysiders over 120 flicks. With several of last year’s titles such as Call Me by Your Name, On Body and Soul and A Fantastic Woman scoring Oscar nominations or wins, you’ll certainly be wanting to take a sneak peak at this year’s lineup. From You Were Never Really Here starring Joaquin Phoenix, Kiwi flick, The Breaker Upperers and a hoard of other indie titles and docos, the program is packed to the brim. The State Theatre will be hosting most of the screenings, but there will also be films showing around the city in Newtown, Cremorne, Randwick and Western Sydney.

Whether you are planning your winter in Sydney or in another city, go to Aabode.com now to check out some cozy properties!

Meet Jo and Jim: Gypsy Willows House and Villa

Meet Jo and Jim, owners of the gorgeous 25 acre property, ‘Gypsy Willows – The House’ and ‘Gypsy Willows – The Villa’. It features beautiful gardens and views; 2 hours from Sydney, and just 3kms from the historic Wollombi village in Hunter Valley Wine Country. 

Enjoy a BBQ or glass of wine on the covered entertainment area, gazing out at the peaceful view of beautiful Narone Creek valley and Gypsy Willows own 20 acres of farmland. Horses and cows graze in the foreground and kangaroos visit most days. 

The owners? Meet Jo and Jim. Jo and Jim are retired professionals living in Wollombi, after having moved from Sydney. The pair came to Wollombi to visit friends for the weekend a few years ago and returned home having purchased a gorgeous cottage/weekender on top of a hill.

Their young daughter got the pair into horses, but the property that they had spontaneously purchased was unsuitable for that, leading them to sell the weekender in hopes of purchasing something a little more suitable later down the track.

“I wanted to build a house and garden from scratch on virgin land, which we did on our 100 acres, a property we love”

On that same property, Jo and Jim decided to breed gypsy cob horses (those used for pulling gypsy caravans in Britain).

A couple years later, 25 beautiful acres across the road became available…where Jim and Jo built a second home, but this time it lead them into the accommodation business.

Gypsy Willows – The Villa

I mostly enjoyed developing the gardens, which I do myself – and have contributed to the building of the houses as possible, but my skills are limited, being a “suit”

Can you guess where the name came from?

In struggling to find a name for the accommodation property, they used the connection with the horses as inspiration, and ‘Gypsy Willows’ was born!

We have tried to make the houses as luxurious as we could for country cottages and have tried to include all the obvious little extras including pay TV. We also went for more modern, light houses which we think people are now looking for and which is different from most country accommodation places.

Gypsy Willows is a totally private property, and is not overlooked by anyone. The property is based among expansive valley views, which is home to a large number of eastern grey kangaroos, which graze the valley in a large mob of up to 50, as well as horses and cows grazing Gypsy Willows paddocks.

More generally as a retiree and retired to the country it helps to keep in touch with the world.

I guess you could call the whole thing so far a bit of a hobby and a “labour of love”.

Jo and Jim would love to welcome you to stay at their beautiful home in the Hunter Valley, so get booking as their property has been booked out every weekend since June 2018!

Staying with a larger group? Gypsy Willows – The House is likely to be more suitable for you.

Heading to the Hunter with a smaller group? Gypsy Willows – The Villa is perfect for just that!

24 Hours in Canberra

Whether it’s your first time in Canberra or your first time since your year 5 excursion, we’ve got a jam packed 24 hour itinerary for you! Forget about Parliament House, Cockington Green and Questacon, because we’ve got a day of luxury and relaxation planned. Scroll down and check it out!

7am – The cupping room

Start your day off with a hearty start and a quality cup of Joe! There’s no better place to satisfy your needs than at The Cupping Room. Having one of the best baristas in the world manning the machines, you’ll be well looked after. With the menus continually changing with the seasons, there will always be a good variety of fresh bites to choose from. If you’re stomachs grumbling for a feed grab their grilled fish with koji and leek cream of their beetroot cured salmon with a kataifi egg! Whatever you get, you sure won’t be disappointed!

10am -Unwind at the Botanical Gardens

Begin your morning relaxing and strolling through the serene landscapes of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Boasting a wide variety of native plants, walking paths and lush greenery, it’s a great place to have a stroll or read a book. Want to take relaxing to the next level? Within the botanical gardens lies Jindii Eco Spa, a relaxing oasis for you to get a massage or a simple soak. Whether you want to bathe in minerals and detox or get a hot stone massage, there will be something for you!

1pm Visit the Canberra truffle festival

If you’re visiting Canberra in the winter months, you must head to the Canberra Truffle festival! Celebrating one of the most decadent foods in the world, this festival elevates the luxurious truffle by integrating it into many dishes and products. You’ll find products here such as truffle crème brulee, truffle pizza and even truffle beer! Expand your taste buds and sample some of the best truffle you’ve ever had presented by Canberra’s top bars, cafes, restaurant and wineries! If you head there around lunch time, they might even be conducting some truffle hunts so get in there quick!

3pm – Have an afternoon nibble or sip at Pialligo Estate

Located on the banks of the Molonglo River, Pialligo Estate is the perfect place to watch the sunset, enjoy good company and have a sip! Their vineyard produces some of the best wine in the area and is highly recommended by locals. They also have an olive grove, fruit orchard and market garden in case you wanted to try any of the local nibbles! Don’t worry, if you don’t have any room for their local preserves or oils, you can purchase a small sample to bring home!

7pm – Grab dinner on Lonsdale Street

After a day of relaxing, it’s time to dine like kings! If you head over to Lonsdale Street, you’ll be spoilt for choices as it is a notorious hub for activity and good bites. Wherever you go, you won’t be disappointed, however, we definitely recommend Lazy Su. It is a Japanese, Korean and American fusion eating house which packs a punch! The food is loud and will definitely tantalize your taste buds! Dishes include tea smoked duck breast, buttermilk fried chicken ramen and wagyu cheese steak spring rolls.

9pm – Wind down for drinks at The Highball Express

End your night at the hip and Cuban late night joint, The Highball Express! Thing Cuban themed tropical styled bar is famous for their cocktails in highball glasses and it is the perfect way to settle down for the night. Enter through the custom built spiral staircase and take you last sips for the night! With over 500 varieties of rum and some spectacular cocktails, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Whether you spend a day or a week in Canberra, there’s always something to do! But don’t worry, we’ve sorted out where you can stat at Aabode.com!

Vivid Sydney: A Glowing History

Sydney is back with Vivid for its 10th annual celebration and the city will once again be lit up from the 25th of May until the 16th of June!

Not too long ago, lighting designers, Mary-Anne Kyriakou and Bruce Ramus, who collaborated with English musician, Brian Eno projected light paintings onto both sides of the opera house. The idea of this festival was introduced by the NSW Tourism Board as a part of an initiative to attract more tourists. And what started as a Smart Light Festival for energy efficiency in 2009 has now, turned into a world famous exhibition with some of the most fascinating light installations and sculptures that attracts over millions of people to the city every year. This 23-day festival, full of light and music, exhibiting some of the most creative minds bridges art, technology and commerce together. It’s more than just lit-up displays, it’s also a platform where leaders come together and share their innovative ideas with everyone. And the best part is, all the installations on the streets all over the city are all free!

The success of this festival was not all that glowy at the beginning. Punters who were asked to get involved in the festival were highly confused about the entire idea and concept behind Vivid. But what made Vivid find its voice is the Vivid Ideas, where innovative ideas are shared and the whole exhibition was made in such a way that everyone could participate.

How has it changed over the years?

In 2012, the festival attracted more than 500,000 visitors and Janelle Monae, an American R’n’B singer gave one of the most memorable performances at Vivid.  In 2013, the numbers increased to 800,000. In 2014, the festival teamed up with The Star and Carriageworks. In 2015, Vivid took a bigger step to include musical events and held multiple talks, making it more dynamic.  

What to expect this year?

This year, Vivid is showcasing over 317 events. And at least 100 of them will all be magnificent light works! The Opera House is obviously lighting up, but not just the harbor area is to look out for. Australian collaborative team Kathryn and Martin Bevz are bringing their ‘Light-Hearted’ installation in Chatswood. They are combining their backgrounds in teaching, architectural science and illumination design to create installations that focus on simplicity. Taronga Zoo is having its wild light displays with ‘Lights of The Wild”, where their displays will be all about animal conservation.

Carriageworks is returning with its 4th ‘Curve Ball’- the warehouse party of the year, featuring a performance from FKA Twigs.

Get inspired by the Vogue Codes Summit, where speakers will talk about the power of technology and the B2B Rocks that will talk about startups in Barangaroo.

Getting Around

Let’s say, a lot is going to be hot and happening, but navigating your way through Vivid is not that easy. What used to be a quiet winter evening around the harbor area in the city now buzzes with people. So early in the evenings or weeknights are best times to go! Take the public transport or pre-book parking, or else it’s going to get really hectic! Make sure you eat first and hit up the popular installations first and try to be there before the lights are on!

Book your accommodation now on Aabode.com to make the most out of Vivid Sydney 2019 make some bright memories!