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Sydney

Babies Proms at the Sydney Opera House

December 21, 2015 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

Cheese and I love the Babies Proms held several times a year at the the Sydney Opera House. Babies Proms are aimed at children aged two to five, perfect for their first live music experience. The Sydney Opera House has been running the interactive and engaging Babies Proms for over 30 years, so they’ve had plenty of time to fine tune what is now a tradition for many Sydney families.

We have just seen our final Babies Prom of the year, Babies Proms: Jingle Bell Jazz. The show was a fabulous mix of classic Christmas songs, with a jazz and calypso twist. Let by Australian stage and screen star, Valerie Bader, kids sang and danced their way through Christmas classics such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells.

If you’re considering booking a Babies Prom for 2016, their new schedule is up now (I’m booking Music for Tutus for us!).

I’ve put together a few points to help families making their way to their very first Babies Prom.

Get there early
The show is general admission. Kids sit on the floor in the middle of the room on a carpet and adults sit in the chairs around the sides. To get seats closest to the carpet (to keep an eye on rouge kids!) people start lining up often 30 mins before the show begins.

Know where you’re going
The Babies Proms are held in the Studio, which is on the side of the Opera House, not in the big theatres in the sails. You can catch the elevator to this level or walk around the concourse straight into the side doors of the Opera House to get there.

Parking at the Opera House
The cheapest parking is on weekends, where you can book a bay online beforehand and pay $10 for the entire day. If you’re seeing a show on a week day, parking costs a lot more, so consider the train!

Public transport
I often catch the train and walk to the Opera House. Circular Quay has elevators, as does the Sydney Opera House, so it’s all very stroller-friendly.

Stroller-check
You can bring a stroller of any size and leave it in the foyer outside the theatre with all the other strollers.

Bring a camera
While there is no photography allowed during the Babies Prom shows, after the performance has ended kids can go up to the musicians or actors, try their instruments and have a photo taken. Lighting is dim however, so bring a camera with a flash.

Meal time
The snack bar outside the Studio used to sell wonderful kids packs for $7, but this month they haven’t had them anymore, sadly. The only food choices are currently big adult sandwiches or chips, so either bring your own food or arrive early for breakfast/lunch at Opera Kitchen (kids meals around $15 each).

Keep a close eye on kids
Some shows sell out and get very busy. When the show ends it can be a bit chaotic as kids return to their parents and line up for photos with the cast. It’s very easy for kids to get lost.

Dress festive
Kids can wear whatever they like, but it’s fun to get into the mood of whatever the theme of the show is. At the Jingle Bell Jazz show, for example, there were lots of kids in Christmas gear, and a few even dressed up as Chrissie elves.

Once Upon a Time: The Sleeping Beauty

December 15, 2015 / Cheese, Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

Once a year, the Australian Ballet puts on a special performance for children called Once Upon a Time. Last year’s ballet was The Nutcracker, and this year’s was The Sleeping Beauty. The show runs parallel to the major full-length ballet being performed, so while adults have been enjoying the full version of The Sleeping Beauty this month, for this one special day, kids were treated to a child-friendly version of the famous ballet in the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

The Once Upon a Time performance is special because it’s the one show of the year where a child-friendly show is staged in the big theatre, using all the same props, performers and costumes as in the full-length version. Much of the choreography the children see is from the full-length performance too, so the children watch a first-class ballet company, performing exquisite dancing, in a world-famous theatre. Pretty amazing, right?

The main differences between the Once Upon a Time and full-length The Sleeping Beauty are the narrator and the show length. The narrator is a character within the ballet who explains to the children the story that is taking place, engages them by asking questions, and reminds kids of the characters’ names and plot points. The full-length ballet runs about 2.5 hours, and the Once Upon A Time version ran for about an hour and 10 minutes.

The Once Upon a Time series is aimed at children aged four and up, but there were plenty of younger kids (and older children aged up to 10) in the audience enjoying the performance.

Taking Cheese to this special ballet is a highlight of the year for me. I loved sitting with her in the auditorium and watching her face light up as she saw Aurora pirouetting across the stage in her stunning pink tutu. I believe kids are never to young to experience culture, particularly when it’s as breathtakingly beautiful as this ballet is.

“Once Upon a Time: The Sleeping Beauty“ is a performance designed for children aged four and above, adapted from David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty, with an original script.
Sydney Opera House

Sydney’s Best Shows For Kids: The 3 Little Pigs

December 13, 2015 / Sydney, Sydney Life, Theatre / 0 comment

The key to a great kiddie show is making sure the adults enjoy it as much as the little ones. A tough ask, but the 3 Little Pigs, now playing at the Sydney Opera House, absolutely nails it.

Aimed at kids aged 3+, the show manages to get that perfect mix of appealing to preschoolers with upbeat music, dancing and a fast-paced, easy-to-follow story, plus impress adults at the same time with skillfully-written lyrics and exceptional performers. Add in a few jokes for the adults and you’ve got a musical that will entertain the whole family.

The 3 Little Pigs has flown into Sydney from London’s West End (where it was created), and New York, where it also enjoyed a successful run. An upbeat re-telling of the classic story, the pigs in this version like to rap and are pretty adept at the running man.

The show runs for 50 minutes – the perfect amount of time to tell a full story and leave the audience happy rather than wiggly. My four-year-old sat mesmerised through out the entire show, while I enjoyed the clever writing and excellent vocals of the cast.

In this retelling, the pigs’ mum makes an appearance (my daughter’s favourite character), and there are the additional themes of the importance of family and working together.

The 3 Little Pigs is playing at the Sydney Opera House for a limited run – I’d highly suggest getting tickets and taking your little ones to see this curly tail.

3 Little Pigs
Wed 9 ‐ Sun 27 Dec 2015
Price $30.00 to $49.00
Open Daily 10am & noon

Sydney Opera House
Playhouse
Bennelong Point, Sydney 2000
Telephone 02 9250 7777

Images thanks to Elliott Franks Photography Services

Thank you to the Sydney Opera House for hosting us.

More things to do in Sydney

Find a list of the best things to do in Sydney with kids here.

Find things to do in Sydney for free here.

Get a list of the best kid-friendly beaches in Sydney.

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney here.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney here.

Find the best high teas in Sydney here.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney here.

Check out things to do in Sydney on a rainy day here.

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney here.

First time visiting Sydney? Get tips for first time visitors to Sydney here.

Sheraton On The Park Christmas Edition High Tea

December 11, 2015 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 1 Comment

A high tea at the Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, is always a special event. On this occasion, we were sampling the new Christmas Edition High Tea, which promised to get us feeling festive (and full!) in time for the holiday season. Christmas is only 2 weeks away, so I’ve been embracing the holiday spirit this week, starting with an amazing high tea.

The Christmas High Tea comes with scones, sweets and savouries, and your choice of tea, hot chocolate (made with Lindt chocolate) or coffee. I chose the English breakfast, which arrived in a cute glass pot, and made at least three cups of tea.

Scones
Freshly baked chestnut scone and plain scone with strawberry jam, pure double cream and butter
Fois gras – apricot brioche

Savoury
Avocado, mozzarella, tomato open turkish sandwich
Vegetable wrap (vegetarian alternative)
Sandwich with cranberry, tomato, cheese (vegetarian alternative)
Fruit and cheese tart (vegetarian alternative)

Sweet treats
Gingerbread mille feuille with cranberry cream
Pistachio macarons
Orange tart with campari jelly
Black forest trifle
Lemon berry yule log
Warm cinnamon, orange chocolate drink
Almond stolen (on the scone tier)
English fruit cake (on the scone tier)

I really enjoyed the scones at this high tea. Sydney scones are often small and biscuit-like, but the Sheraton ones are bigger and fluffier than most. The jam was tart and not too liquidy (hey, I’m a mess jam-spreader!) and the cream was nice and thick.

The savouries were especially made for this vegetarian, which I always appreciate. I enjoyed the avocado and mozzarella on turkish toast best (which is on the regular menu too), with the delightful hidden pesto giving it a pop of flavour. The vegetable wrap had creamy sweet potato inside, with fresh greens, and the little sandwich has really fresh fluffy bread – again with a surprising spread of cranberry inside that made the flavours that bit extra vibrant.

There were a lot more sweets on this platter than on most high teas. I managed to fit one of everything in somehow (yes I’m still feeling full the day after), with my favourites being the very chocolaty trifle and lemon berry yule log. The trifle had three tiers of components plus grated chocolate on top, all of which, when scooped up together, made for a perfect chocolatey mouthful. The lemon berry yule log had one of my fave combinations of lemon and berries, wrapped in a little scroll shape.

The chocolate orange drink was a tiny sip of heaven (I love chocolate and orange together), and the gingerbread mille feuille was just divine. The crispy gingerbread wafers combined with the cranberry cream made for a light and refreshing treat – as well as being extremely pretty.

I also enjoyed the macaron with its fresh berry centre, and the little slice of fruit and nut Christmas cake, and the “almond stole”, which was kind of like a tea cake with almond inside. Light, fresh and sweet.

I highly enjoyed the Christmas high tea, and would strongly recommend it for a special outing in the lead up to Christmas. It’s only available until Dec 24, so get in quick!

The Christmas Edition High Tea Stand includes one coffee or tea per person. $109 for two. Additional cost for sparkling wine

The Christmas Edition High Tea is served Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat & Sun 11am-2pm and 2:30pm-4:30pm until December 24th.

Sheraton On The Park High Tea
161 Elizabeth Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9286 6000
Prices: $$$
Get Directions

Thank you to Sheraton On The Park for hosting us.

Bake Bar: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Randwick, Sydney

November 30, 2015 / Eastern Suburbs, Randwick, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

I’ve been going to Bake Bar weekly for about a year now and only just took my camera there for the first time to take some pictures for a blog post. It’s one of my favourite little cafes that I’m reluctant to share incase it gets even busier!

Bake Bar is kind of the perfect cafe to take kids to. It’s casual, with an open layout on a busy road (so you don’t need to worry about the noise your kiddos might make!), and it has a really cute little nook in the back that’s perfect for holing up with kids for a cosy coffee and snack.

There are two places to order food inside – one to sit down and one to go. I love this and sometimes will grab something from the “to go” counter and perch at one of the stools for a bit with my daughter, maybe snack a bit, then leave with her to the playground that’s just up the road.

Bake Bar is famous for their amazing sourdough bread. I buy a loaf every week (bonus points because they slice it for me!) as well as a berry scone with poppy seeds, a chocolate croissant for Cheese and a bagel for Alec. The bread is so incredibly good. It’s so soft and fluffy with a firm but not hard crust. There’s nothing worse than bread with a tough crust that hurts the roof of your mouth.

If you’re thinking of dining in, here’s what we ate on our most recent visits: Avocado & Tomato (on sourdough, $9.50) plus Haloumi ($3), Gusto’s Famous Brekkie Combo fruit salad yoghurt (small $7.50), Eggs Poached (served with tomato, spinach & your choice of hollandaise or yoghurt basil pesto $11.50) and the Chunky Beef Pie $5.50.

I love the avocado and tomato on sourdough because the bread is a star at Bake Bar, so you know it’s going to be good. My other favourite dish is the fruit salad yogurt because it’s light and filling at the same time. You can make your own combination from their muesli bar too, and add in granola or a berry coulis.

Bake Bar does get busy particularly on weekends, but there is a fast turnover of tables so the wait is never long. If you take your kids, they have a small selection of books you can find to read to them stored underneath the water cooler.

Before you go, grab one of their delicious pastries for the road. The fruit tarts are excellent, as are the croissants.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Bake Bar
67 Frenchmans Rd,
Randwick NSW 2031
Phone: (02) 8021 0728
Prices: $
Hours: Daily 6am-6pm
Get Directions

5th Earl Rosebery: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Sydney

November 29, 2015 / Inner West, Roseberry, Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

Rosebery in Sydney’s inner east has been exploding lately with new cafes. The latest I’ve noticed is 5th Earl Rosebery, a cute little place that opened a week ago near to my favourite Black Star.

When I saw the sign encouraging cake eating, I knew we had to try it out.

The cafe has a large indoor and outdoor area with plenty of tables and space. It has a bit of an eclectic vibe, with miss matched chairs and chalkboard menus.

At the counter lives a delicious looking assortment of pastries, including croissants by Grumpy’s.

We arrived during a particularly busy period and were delighted by the particularly good service. I’m pretty sure it was the owner who greeted us and cleared a table for us pronto, on the outdoor baloney area (always my fave place to sit cos the lighting is better!). The balcony is completely covered, so no chance of sunburn in high summer.

We ordered a fresh Apple Juice ($6), kids’ Bacon And Eggs (with bread soldiers, $9), Zucchini and Corn Fritters (with asparagus, shaved Spanish ham – exchanged for avocado – roasted tomatoes, 2 poached eggs and pomegranate molasses, $17) and the Burger (with fries, price unknown).

The eggs were a large serving and come in a choice of fried, poached or scrambled. We don’t eat bacon, so that’s not in the picture.

I appreciated the option to swap the ham for a vegetarian ingredient. I really enjoyed the fritters. The asparagus was a nice touch (love asparagus!), the roasted tomato was nice and juicy and the eggs perfectly poached.

Alec’s burger was a great size with a cute little container of fries. The apple juice was deliciously sweet. Really once of the nicest juices I’ve had in a long time.

The service was particularly noteworthy. After sitting down next to a large group, we were told that it would take 20-25 minutes for our meals and did we still want to wait. I really appreciated being told, particularly with the little one who has a short attention span.

The staff kindly put through Cheese’s dish quickly and ours followed soon after. Despite the warning of a long wait, the food all came out within 15 minutes of ordering. The staff repeatedly came and checked on us and our meals too, in case we needed anything. It’s service like this that turns curious diners into regulars.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

5th Earl Rosebery
34 Morley Ave,
Rosebery
Phone: (02) 8338 1110
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 6:30am-3:30pm
Get Directions

Moo Gourmet Burgers, Bondi Beach: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bondi, Sydney

November 15, 2015 / Bondi, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, Sydney Food / 2 Comments

I love a good burger! Being vegetarian makes it hard to find good burgers, so I was very excited when walking past Moo Gourmet Burgers in Bondi to see their menu out front listed three different types of vegetarian burgers.

Moo Gourmet Burgers is a small chain of burger stores focusing on producing great burgers, amazing shakes, and addictive chips. Moo Gourmet Burgers only uses ethically farmed, free range, free to roam, sustainable products free from hormone growth promotants and antibiotic treatments. Their menu includes 20 different gourmet burgers.

All beef burgers are made with 100% Australian Grasslands Premium Beef. As well as the 3 vegetarian options there is a selection of premium burgers including the double Wagyu beef “Deluxe Moo®”, Duck & Bacon, Greek Lamb, and Grilled Salmon.

Kids under 12 can choose from the “Little Cow®” menu which includes a choice of 3 menu options (including a vegetarian burger), a drink, and a dessert.

Multigrain and gluten free buns are on offer.

You know a restaurant is kid-friendly when you sit down and a box of crayons and drawing paper appears immediately on your table. The walls are covered with the drawings of Moo’s kiddie customers too – another good sign.

We ordered the kids’ Mini Falafel Burger with Hummus and a chocolate milkshake, $10.95, a Vanilla Malt Milkshake, $6, the Grilled Haloumi vegetarian burger, $14.50, Kangaroo Burger, $16.50 and a side of Sweet Potato Chips, $5.50. All in all, a bit expensive for burgers, but I guess you’re paying for the view, too.

The kids’ milkshake came in the cutest cup – a miniature version of the adult one. Both shakes were classic, old school Aussie shakes.

The Bondi branch of Moo Gourmet Burgers overlooks Bondi Beach.

The kids’ burger came with a small side of chips and a little side salad. It was the perfect size for little kids – and still way too much food for my little Cheese to be able to finish.

My haloumi burger was delicious: pureed avocado, haloumi, tomato, rocket and cucumber on a fluffy fresh bun. Hubbie’s kangaroo burger was “great”. He loves word economy.

We thoroughly enjoyed our burgers at Moo Gourmet. A great easy dining option with plenty for everyone to eat and a laidback atmosphere perfect for families.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: Yes.

Moo Gourmet Burgers
70A Campbell Parade,
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Phone: (02) 9300 8898
Prices: $$
Hours: Daily 11am-9:30pm
Get Directions

Chrissie Gifts Sorted at the Myer Christmas Giftorium

November 15, 2015 / Indoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 1 Comment

The holiday season is my favourite time of year. I admit to going a bit overboard with the festivities – I just can’t help myself. This past weekend I was invited to the opening of the Myer Christmas Giftorium in Sydney. The Giftorium is more than just a store, it’s a really one-stop Christmas destination in Sydney where kids can meet Santa, write him a letter with their wish list, ride a mini train and also check out the hottest gifts for the whole family.

The Frozen and Disney section was a very popular section of the store, particularly the Elsa singing gloves and Anna and Elsa dolls. Still a hit, almost two year on. This is also the area where you’ll find Toy Story, Minnie & Mickey, Cinderella, Marvel Avengers and Inside Out toys.

The talking storm troopers in the Star Wars pop up were also extremely popular. We have a Star Wars lover in our house so I think we will be revisiting this section shortly…

Myer have really upped their personalised gifts this year, which are MY personal favourites. The Peanuts pop up store is particularly cute. Choose your artwork and name, et voila, custom artwork.

Preschoolers will love the array of Peppa Pig toys.

This Toy Story booth is a cute photo opp for kids to pretend to be a toy on sale for Christmas.

Arty kids are covered with a particularly big arts and crafts area, including brands like Crayola and Seedling.

Another hit with the preschooler set is this huge Thomas the Tank Engine and toys.

A bit of face painting fun at the craft station.

The most popular item at the Giftorium this year – personalised Nutella jars. For only $12, it’s a gift that is unique, cheap and delicious. Myer is the only retailer in Australia to offer this service in-store. It’s available in all stores as well as online from November 6.

Christmas decorations abound with plenty of ideas for making your home look jolly.

Right in the back of the store is a mini train that gives free rides to kiddies.

Next to the train depot is this little indoor play area. Perfect for letting kids run their sillies out with one parent supervising while the other does some sneaky Christmas shopping.

Santaland is next door to the train – beat the queue by booking online. This year Santa has brought his reindeer with him – kids can give the slumbering Rudolph a little pat when they visit.

Another personalision service available at the Myer Christmas Giftorium – custom Santa sacks and Christmas stockings.

My two favourite takeaways from the Myer Christmas Giftorium.

Are you excited about Christmas too? What’s on your Chrissie wish list?

Sleeping Beauty High Tea at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel

November 14, 2015 / CBD, Sydney, Sydney Food / 4 Comments

The combination of two of my favourite things makes for an irresistible outing. I’ve been a lover of ballet my entire life, and of high teas for a good 10 years or so. Together, they are a bit magical!

I’ve booked tickets this year to see the Australian Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty and also their children’s version of the Sleeping Beauty Storytime Ballet. An evening at the ballet has been a highlight of mine over the years. One of my dearest friends and I have been seeing attending the ballet every year since our university days, and recently have started taking our daughters to the Australian Ballet’s children’s performances too. When I saw the Sofitel Wentworth had a new high tea inspired by the Australian Ballet’s new Sleeping Beauty ballet, I knew we had to go, and take the girls too.

The Sleeping Beauty High Tea is available for a limited time only (Nov 1 2015 – Jan 31 2016) and is an excellent showcase of the skills of their talented Head pastry Chef Vai Hong Lo and internationally renowned Executive Chef Boris Cuzon.

Sleeping Beauty High Tea at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel via christineknight.me

The high tea is timed to co-incide with David McAllister’s lavish reimagining of The Sleeping Beauty, performing at the Sydney Opera House from 01 November 2015 – 31 January 2016. I have tickets towards the end of November and I am counting down the days.

If you too are a ballet and high tea lover, then you too may enjoy a decadent afternoon indulging in both of your loves at the same time.

Another detail worth noting is the Sofitel Sydney’s collaboration with lifestyle designer Cristina Re. Her vintage-inspired exclusive Signature High Tea collection is now a part of the luxury high tea experience. I really enjoyed the delicate China in its beautiful pinks and purples with 24 carat gold finishes. A really modern China with romantic colours, a perfect fit for the ballet theme as you can see from the images.

The Sofitel Sydney has amazing attention to detail with their high teas. The menu for the special high tea was specially printed with a floral design, as were the colouring in sheets given to the girls to occupy them. The purple ribbons around the cutlery were a gorgeous touch.

The table was beautifully set up for our arrival, including a glass full of pencils for the girls to use to colour in. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness in regards to the girls, who, at 4 and 6, are on the young side to be taking to a high tea, mostly because they both eat like birds and also aren’t the best at sitting still for long periods.

Our tea choices arrived in individual pots, each contained at least 3, maybe 4 cups of tea. Much appreciated as I love, love, love tea.

Even though the children’s tea is advertised as coming with soft drink, Cheese was offered a more suitable hot chocolate option, which came with a sweet heart flower design (she loved it), and a little square of chocolate. The barista was particular to make it very lukewarm so as not to burn her little tongue. Cheese tipped a (hopefully clean) finger in and pronounced it perfect.

The teas arrived looking absolutely amazing. The children’s high tea is actually exactly the same as the adult’s high tea but is served with the soft drinks instead of a pot of tea. This makes it the best value children’s high tea I’ve ever seen.

Sweet layer 1:
Raspberry and white chocolate dome
Vanilla bean choux
“Kiss” chocolate tartlet

Sweet layer 2:
Macarons
Candy floss “spindle” – the feature element in the high tea is this “spindle in a glass” consisting of a spindle shaped chocolate with pink and blue fairy floss.
Fairy bread cheese cake

Savoury layer:
Scones, cream, jam
Smoked salmon, cucumber, multigrain bread
Roasted beef, mustard, tomato, brioche
Mushroom quiche
* Avocado, cucumber, tomato on brioche
* Vegetable pesto on multigrain bread

The highlight sweet for me was the raspberry and white chocolate dome and vanilla bean choux. I really love fruity desserts and the raspberry dome was lovely and tangy with its tartness. The vanilla bean choux was kind of like a profiteroles but better – light and fluffy and stuffed with the most amazing creamy custard.

Cheese loved the fairy floss in the cup. She actually ate all three of them before I could stop her. They were delicious from the tiny bit I managed to snaffle. Not sickeningly sweet like the commercial fairy floss you usually get. Both the girls loved the “lips” on the chocolate tart – playing with them more than eating them, but they did have a lot of fun and they were eventually eaten and enjoyed.

Out of the savouries I enjoyed the quiche the most – I am very partial to a good quiche! Nice buttery pastry on the outside, fluffy eggy centre with bits of leek and mushroom throughout. The sandwiches were made with lovely fresh bread and toppings. Sandwiches often get served hard edge to them that shows they’ve been out in the air too much, but these were so soft and fluffy.

The scones were on the smaller side, more like an American biscuit than an English scone. The petite size actually helped in that I could eat them both – the plain and current one – without getting completely full on just the scones. They came served with two good sized bowls of jam and cream. The jam was a burst of fruit flavour, but i would have liked it to be a tad thicker only to stop me from making a mess of it when I tried to spoon it onto the scones and failed miserably when I got the tablecloth instead. I enjoyed the thickly whipped cream.

Both the girls started to get restless towards the end and made their own “tea” out of milk, tea, hot chocolate and whatever else they could get their grimy little hands on. A massive thank you to the attentive and tolerant staff who didn’t blink at their “delicious” concoctions.

The Sleeping Beauty High Tea is available 01 November 2015 – 31 January 2016.

$59* per person including a glass of Veuve Clicquot

$65* per person including sparkling wine for the duration

$39* per child (5-12 years) inclusive of soft drinks

*Vegetarian substitutions

Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
61-101 Phillip Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9228 9188
Bookings
Get Directions

Thank you to the Sofitel Wentworth for hosting us. All opinions and “adorable” children are our own.

Sculpture By The Sea, Bondi 2015

November 9, 2015 / Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 8 Comments

Sculpture By The Sea is one of the highlights on my Sydney calendar. I try to go every year (on the blog are 2014, 2009 and 2008!). The sculpture exhibition is the largest free public exhibition in the world and I’m betting the most breathtaking, given its surrounds. The sculptures dot along the coast line from Bondi to Tamarama. Competition for a place in the exhibition is fierce. This year Sculpture By The Sea received 500 submissions from 41 countries and 6 territories around the world.

Sculpture By The Sea runs for two weeks only. On weekends the walk is so busy it’s very hard to get walk along, so I suggest going on a weekday if possible, particularly with kids. We tend to drive to the Tamarama end and park there or even around the next corner in Bronte rather than in Bondi, where a parking spot is rarer than a table at the Grounds of Alexandria for Saturday brunch.

It’s worth noting if you’re planing to do the walk with kids that there are a lot of stairs involved, so either bring a stroller you can carry up and down stairs and visit on a week day, or carry your child in a carrier. If neither of these are options, check out the sculptures at Tamarama (where there is a ramp to the sculptures) or Mark Place. The Sculpture By The Sea website has information on accessibility.

Down on Tamarama Beach these giant squeezy bottles were the most popular sculpture for adults and kids alike.

Marks Place is about halfway on the walk and is also home to the Grounds by the Sea Pop-up cafe during the walk. This year it looks like the hobbits moved in. As a side note, if you’re looking for a bathroom, they’re located at Tamarama Beach, Bondi Beach, or Marks Place.

This little playground is at Marks Place too – a great spot for kids to swing on something without being told either not to touch or stand away from the edge, which is what I was saying on repeat to Cheese for a lot of the walk.

At the Bondi Beach end, the view is spectacular. Oh what a day!

Have you been to Sculpture by the Sea?