Sydney Archives - Page 4 of 80

Sydney

Take A Dip In The Jellybean Pool in the Blue Mountains National Park

January 28, 2021 / Australia, Beaches, Blue Mountains, Bush, Glenbrook, NSW, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Jellybean Pool Blue Mountains

Enjoy a refreshing dip in the Jellybean Pool, a short stroll down the Jellybean Track in Glenbrook, at the base of the Blue Mountains. The pool makes for a perfect Blue Mountains day trip with kids, who will love swimming in the calm waters.

Located inside the Blue Mountains National Park, the Jellybean Pool is a relaxing spot to swim, watch birds or picnic on the shore. There is a large parking lot which fills quickly on hot days, and an overflow car park which has a steep walk down to the start of the trail.

From the parking lot the Jellybean Track is a 500m walk downhill to the Jellybean Pool. The walk is graded a 3 as it is steep and slippery in places with sand.

An $8 park entry fees applies – you will be charged as you drive into the Blue Mountains National Park. You can also leave your car at the Glenbrook Information Centre at the Starting at the Glenbrook entrance to Blue Mountains National Park and walk from there for a more challenging walk.

The Blue Mountains National Park is open from the first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April 8.30am to 7pm, and the rest of the year 8.30am to 6pm.

When visiting the Jellybean Pool pack sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, towels and any food and water you might need. Floatation devices are fun as the water is so flat. You will see boogie boards, pool floats and even paddle boards down there. Remember it’s a walk through the bush to get to the pool and pack appropriate footwear.

The Jellybean Track winds through the Glenbrook Gorge, past pretty mountain spotted gums, down to the river. There is a lot of birdlife in the area so keep eyes peeled for kestrels and other birds of prey, rainbow lorikeets and even blue kingfishers.

The water is shallow and perfect for littlies to paddle in safely. Up river the water gets deeper.

There are no bathrooms at the Jellybean Pool, or rubbish bins, so prepare accordingly and take your rubbish with you.

The pool gets extremely popular in summer so go early. We arrived at around 10am and it was a little busy but still plenty of parking available.

Keep a close eye on small children. Remember there are no life guards present and keep a close eye on kids in the water.

After a swim, we highly recommend the 30min drive to Red Hands Cave to see amazing Aboriginal hand prints and stencils.

Get more information on the Jellybean Track and Jellybean Pool.

Find more things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Jellybean Pool
Hours: 8.30am–7pm during daylight savings; 8.30am–6pm the rest of the year.

Distance: From the Jellybean Pool car park it’s about a 200m walk downhill including steel stairs (about a 10-minute walk).

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Bells Road Social Native High Tea

January 22, 2021 / High Tea, Sydney / 0 comment

Bells Road Social Native High Tea

Enjoy the flavours of Australia with a Native High Tea at the Bells Road Social cafe in Oatlands, Sydney.

Bells Road Social is a beautiful little cafe in Oatlands, Sydney. They have developed a beautiful Native High Tea that showcases ingredients that been used by the Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Bookings are essential. There is no kids’ serve of the tea, however they do run a seperate kids’ high tea during school holidays.

The tea includes savoury and sweet options plus hot tea and a cool mocktail, all featuring native ingredients. We had a special vegetarian version of the high tea.

The Native Australian High Tea is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 11 am to 2 pm. Booking is essential (min 2 people).

Price $49 pp.

We really enjoyed our high tea as it was very different from the others we have experienced. It was lovely to introduce my 9-year-old to native Australian ingredients that she had never heard of before.

We highly enjoyed our Native High Tea experience. Every item of food was delicious, and the service was excellent. I also really appreciated that we were given our own vegetarian menu.

Across the road is a lovely little park with lots of shade and play equipment for kids to run around before or after dining at the Bells Road Social. Free street parking is available directly outside of the cafe.

Bells Road Social
1 Bells Rd, Oatlands NSW
Phone: (02) 9684 6221
thebellsroadsocial.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Visiting Greenwich Baths, Sydney

January 22, 2021 / Beaches, Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Visiting Greenwich Baths, Sydney

Enjoy an ocean dip at Greenwich Baths. With calm water, stunning views and an onsite cafe, the Baths are the perfect spot for swimmers of all ages.

Greenwich Baths is located on the tip of Greenwich Point. Surrounded by a shark-proof net and a child-proof gate, the Baths are the perfect spot for families to relax as well as adults to swim laps in the gentle ocean water.

The Baths are ideally located in a protected inlet, so the water is calm and flat, but the surrounding views of Sydney CBDm Cockatoo Island and Iron Cove are spectacular.

Bathers pay a small fee to enter and use the facilities inside, which include a cafe, toys for sand play, sun-loungers and picnic tables. The cafe serves coffee and solid meals including fish and chips, toasted sandwiches and calamari, as well as snacks, milkshakes and gelato.

Change rooms and shower facilities are also included in the entry fee. Kids under 3 are free.

There is free parking on the surrounding streets however it is limited and there is a bit of a walk to get down to the Baths from the street. Wollstonecraft station is a short walk. Another option is the 265 bus or by taking the Sydney Ferries Woolwich/Balmain ferry route to Greenwich Point which docks metres away from the Baths.

Greenwich Baths
Albert Street, Greenwich NSW
Cost: Casual entry adults $4.40, children under 16/students $3.40
Phone: 02 9438 5922
Hours: October 7am- 6pm, November 7am- 7pm, December & January 7am- 8pm, February 7am- 7pm, March 7am- 6pm, April 7am- 5pm
greenwichbaths.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

KOI Dessert Kitchen & Frozen High Tea

January 21, 2021 / High Tea, Sydney / 0 comment

Enjoy spectacular desserts beyond your wildest imagination at KOI Dessert Kitchen in Chippendale and Ryde.

KOI, which stands for ‘Kids of Ike’, is a dessert “kitchen” operated by brothers Ronald, Arnold and Reynold Poernomo. Reynold came to national attention through his appearances on Masterchef – and indeed, a walk into KOI reveals a showcase of the most amazing looking cakes that our eyes have seen.

The desserts are single serve or cake-sized which are perfect for parties.

The three brothers aim to deliver KOI diners an experience that arouses and excites the senses. The kitchen is really more like a cafe serving just desserts. They do put on high teas, and we attended their “In Summer” high tea, inspired by Frozen the Musical.

The High Tea is available Saturdays and Sundays only from 9th January – 31st January at KOI Chippendale and KOI Ryde.

The high tea comes in adult and child servings. We opted for two adult servings for the three of us to share as hubby isn’t a dessert person and the kid doesn’t like the savouries. The kid version has two less dessert items.

“In Summer” High Tea includes a selection of savoury bites, “In Summer” inspired desserts and free-flowing tea or coffee.

“IN SUMMMER” HIGH TEA MENU
Eternal Winter (raspberry, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry)
Jade (chocolate, raspberry)
In summer Jar (passionfruit, coconut, pineapple)
Cherry Jazz (cherry, raspberry, jasmine, blood orange, almond)
Salted Caramel Macaron
Chamomile and Honey Scone
Brik Pastry, Tomato Cream, Lump Fish Roe
Chicken and Leek Pie
Tomato on Toast with Feta

$70/person
(Including free flow of tea and coffee)

We had a vegetarian version which had a mushroom pie and tomato cream roll without the fish roe.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
High Tea time allocation is 1.5 hour per seating.
Booking time is between 11am to 4pm (last seating).
Minimum 2 people per high tea set.
Please provide 48-hour notice for all dietary requirements. Bookings are highly recommended and must be fully prepaid in advance.
Cancellation policy: 72 hours notification required, in the case booking is canceled less than 72 hours $70/person cancellation fee applies.

koidessertbar.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Tee off at Pixar Putt in Sydney

January 21, 2021 / Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Tee off with Woody and friends at the pop-up mini golf experience, Pixar Putt at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney.

After making its successful worldwide debut in Melbourne in January 2019, with over 25,000 enjoying a round of Pixar Putt, then Sydney in May, 2019, our fave putting experience is back for a limited time ay Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta.

Tickets are now on sale for the attraction. Due to Pixar Putt’s popularity, it’s highly advisable to book a session in advance.

Pixar Putt was inspired by beloved stories, characters and icons from some of Disney-Pixar’s most iconic films including Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Wall-E, Inside Out and Coco.

It is located right next to the new Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta, where guests can choose between playing 9-holes or the full 18-hole course. We chose 18 holes and it took us almost 2 hours to complete the course on a busy day. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water as the weather has been all over the shop.

We loved Pixar Putt when it first came to Sydney in 2019 and loved it just as much again for our second go. There are two new holes to represent the new films Onward and Soul, plus some extra photo ops.

Bankwest Stadium is located right next to Parramatta Park, so I highly suggest making a day of it in the park with a picnic lunch or with a cafe and trying the two playgrounds in Parramatta Park.

Find things to do nearby in Parramatta and Western Sydney.

There is a parking lot right next to the putt putt course for easy access.

There are also adults only “After Dark” sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm-10pm.

Pixar Putt
Dates: Currently through to January 31.
Bankwest Stadium, 11-13 O’Connell St, Parramatta.
Hours: Sun-Thurs 10am-8pm, Fri & Sat 10am-10pm (Adults Only from 7pm-10pm)
Prices: 18 holes $39.90 Adult, $29.90 Child, $119.60 Family (2A/2C or 1A/3C), 9 holes $24.90 Adult, $19.90 Child, $79.50 Family (2A/2C or 1A/3C)
pixarputt.com.au

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to to in Wollongong.

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool & Poolside Cafe, Sydney

November 16, 2020 / Outdoor Play, Sydney / 0 comment

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool & Poolside Cafe, Sydney

Enjoy swimming with a view of Woolloomooloo Bay at the Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool, located in The Domain, Sydney.

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is an eight-lane outdoor heated salt-water 50-metre swimming pool, with a smaller, 20m shallow pool.

There have been 11 outdoor bathing establishments in the Woolloomooloo Bay area since European settlement, including the “Gentlemen’s Baths”, which held Australia’s first official competitive swimming events in 1846.

The most recent pool was named in honour of Australian swimmer Andrew “Boy” Charlton, who won five Olympic medals during the 1920s, and who set a world record at the baths (then called the Domain Baths) in 1924.

A visit to the pool is really the perfect Sydney outing. The pool is typically closed for four months in the colder period of the year – May through August – so plan your visit accordingly.

From September 1 – April 30, the pools are open and heated for comfort.

The 8 lane x 50m Pool is chemically treated sea water and heated to a balmy 25 degrees. Depth ranges from 1.2m to 2m.

The 20m Program Pool has a maximum depth of 1.2m and heated to 29 degrees. This pool is perfect for babies and toddlers, and also has a shade cover to protect littles from the sun.

While there would usually be sunbeds on the pool deck available for use, when we visited in November 2020 there was no sunbathing due to COVID safety plans.

There is however a shaded grandstand area where people are able to place their belongings or watch family members swim from.

The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool hosts Learn to Swim lessons and swimming squad programs.

Other features include a family change room and access for people with disabilities.

After your swim, do what we did and enjoy a sensational brunch at the Poolside Cafe, which is located at the entrance to the pool. It has a stunning view of the pool and bay, and offers both indoor and outdoor seating.

The cafe offers all-day breakfast and lunch from 12pm. They have an excellent range of smoothies and healthy food options, with gluten-free and vegan options.

We ordered the Free Range Eggs on toast ($13, available until 11:30am only), one serving scrambled, and one with additional bacon, wilted spinach and roast tomatoes, the Blush Bircher Museli with Almond Milk (raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, coconut, pistachio & roasted hazelnuts, $18) and the Summer Sunrise smoothie (mango, raspberry, banana and coconut water, $9.50).

The food and service were both A+ and the view amazing – this is a cafe that we will absolutely come back to time and time again, with a quick refreshing dip in the pool for some exercise first.

Read more about visiting the Poolside Cafe.

After your swim and brunch, I highly recommend exploring more of the Royal Botanic Garden or Mrs Macquarie’s Point, which is what we did on the day we visited.

The iconic view from Mrs Macquarie’s Point is on the tourist track for a good reason – it really is stunning.

We love to stroll through the Royal Botanic Garden in all seasons – spring is particularly gorgeous with the Spring Walk and jacarandas in full bloom.

Take a ride on the Choo Choo Express if you want to save little legs walking, visit the pond with eels in the centre of the garden and pass through the cactus garden near Lion Gate on your way out.

Read more about visiting the best Sydney gardens.

To get there: We drove and parked on the side of the road near Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool. There is metered parking here and it’s the shortest walk to get to the pool via a short walk down the hill down either a path or steps. There is a disabled car parking spot at the entrance to the pool and cafe.

You can also park in the Domain Car Park and walk, or catch train/bus.

Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool & Poolside Cafe
1c Mrs Macquaries Rd, Sydney
abcpool.org

This review was written in conjunction with Belgravia Leisure. All opinions are my own.

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to do in Wollongong.

Cook+Phillip Park Pool & Aquatic Centre in the Sydney CBD

November 9, 2020 / Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Cook+Phillip Park Pool & Aquatic Centre in the Sydney CBD

Swim in one of three heated pools, including a 50m lap pool and leisure pool, in the heart of Sydney at The Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic Centre.

The Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic Centre is located smack in the middle of Sydney’s CBD, nestled between St Mary’s Cathedral, Hyde Park and the Australian Museum.

Perfect for year-round aquatic fun, the centre features three heated indoor pools:

An 8-lane 50m lap pool, with ‘easy steps’ for assisted entry and hoist, heated to 26.5°C.

A leisure pool, heated to 30°C with ‘beach-style’ entry and full-access ramp. There is a 35-metre wave pool inside the leisure pool which operates hourly on weekends from 12:00pm.

The leisure pool is fantastic for little ones with its shallow entry, a small slide and fountains. The large, colourful mosaic sculpture in the middle of the pool is great for kids to splash around.

A hydrotherapy pool, heated to 33°C with full ramp access.

The Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic Centre also hosts Learn to Swim lessons for all ages (starting at 6 months right through to adult advanced), plus competitive squad programs and swimming clubs. The pools for baby classes are located at the back of the Aquatic Centre, in their own designated space. The lap pool is used for older children’s lessons.

There is a large courtyard attached to the centre with tables and chairs. It was closed (as was the cafe) when we visited.

There is a sports shop at the entrance which sells swimsuits and other swimming essentials.

There is a pay parking station on Cathedral Street which offers all-day parking on weekends for a reasonable amount. If your visit is going to be short, street parking in this same area is a cheaper bet. You can also catch the train to Museum or St James.

After you’ve had a swim in the Cook+Phillip Park Pool, make a day of your city visit with one of these ideas:

Yum Cha at Bodhi

Located right next to the Aquatic Centre, Bodhi is an excellent choice for a post-swim lunch. Bodhi serves vegan yum cha that is pretty to look at and delicious to eat. Choose a table under the fig trees and enjoy this Sydney dining institution that is a long-time fave of ours.

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo

November 2, 2020 / Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo

Get fit year-round at the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, featuring three indoor heated pools and a spa, cafe, shop, health club and a sauna and steam room.

The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre (ITAC) also offers a range of aquatic and fitness programs suitable for a wide range of ages, interests, fitness levels and abilities.

Named in honour of five-time Gold Medal winning champion, Ian Thorpe, the centre opened in 2007 to provide the community with a well-rounded fitness centre that could be enjoyed in all seasons.

The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre has a wide range of excellent features:

50m Indoor Heated Lap Pool
Squad program
Leisure Pool
Program Pool
Spa, Sauna & Steam Room
Learn to Swim
Fully equipped Gym
Small Group Training
Personal Training
Group Fitness Classes
Aqua Aerobics
Café (currently closed due to COVID-19)
Birthday Parties (currently closed for bookings due to COVID-19)
Family change rooms
Underground car park with elevator access
Disability access

It has a distinctive wave design that lets a lot of light into the centre and makes for a very appealing aesthetic while you’re enjoying the facilities.

The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre runs an excellent Learn to Swim program, developed in partnership with Swimming Australia. The program focuses on contemporary experiential and activity-based learning techniques.

Aspiring swimmers can also join the competitive squad program once they’ve graduated from Junior Dolphins (also open to new members of all ages wishing to extend their swimming skills).

The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre has three pools.

50m Olympic Swimming Pool
The Ian Thorpe Aquatic lap pool is an eight lane 50-metre pool with ‘easy steps’ for assisted entry and hoist. This indoor pool is heated all year round at approximately 26.5°C.

We highly enjoyed splashing around in the Recreational and Free Play Lane in the 50m pool, as well as doing some laps in the slow lane to help build up that swimming endurance again.

Program Pool
The program pool is used for the swimming and water safety program and gold aqua classes. The pool can be accessed by stairs or the access ramp and aqua wheelchairs are available for use. It is available at certain times for access by the general public and is heated to 32°C.

Leisure Swimming Pool
The leisure swimming pool is available for recreational swimming at all times and is equipped with a spa, water fountain and bubbles for fun and interactive play. It is a shallow pool suitable for all ages and is heated to approximately 30°C.

Spa, Sauna and Steam Room
The Ian Thorpe Aquatic and Fitness Centre has a sauna (dry heat), which is heated to between 70°C – 90°C. Steam room (wet heat) heated above 41°C with a humidity of around 100%. The sauna and steam room are open from 6:00am until 9:00pm. The spa, sauna and steam room were closed during our visit.

Parking is available in the underground carpark. There is lift access from the car park to the aquatic centre so on rainy days it’s easy to go from car to the centre without getting wet as well as making access easy for strollers and wheelchairs.

There are multiple changing rooms available as well as lockers to safely store belongings. Next to the 50m pool is a row of steps and benches that is great for sitting on while watching swimmers in the pool and for putting your towels and non-valuable items.

After your swim, check out nearby Powerhouse Museum or the Darling Harbour precinct.

The Powerhouse Museum is an interactive art and science museum located in Ultimo. The museum’s collection encompasses science, technology, design and decorative arts, engineering, architecture, health and medicine, fashion and contemporary culture.

Locomotive No. 1, the first steam locomotive to haul a passenger train in New South Wales, is a popular drawcard just inside the museum’s entrance, as is the ever-popular interactive Wiggles Exhibition. More on the Wiggles exhibition here. There is also a great hands-on science section that we love.

Nearby Darling Harbour is has so much to entertain families, from waterfront restaurants, wildlife and tall ships to one of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

We often eat at Fratelli Fresh in the Darling Quarter and race home-made ships in the splash section of the playground, or enjoy a peaceful stroll around the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

We also love visiting the giant rays at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, the butterflies at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and the hands-on exhibitions at the Australian National Maritime Museum. You can read about all the things to in Darling Harbour here.

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre
458 Harris St, Ultimo
Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-8pm, Sat & Sun 7am-4pm
itac.org.au

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

Visit the most beautiful Sydney gardens.

Explore Sydney’s best parks.

Find things to to in Wollongong.

This post was written in collaboration with Belgravia Leisure.

P’Nut Street Noodles: Authentic Thai Food in Sydney

October 19, 2020 / Sydney, Sydney Food / 0 comment

P’Nut Street Noodles: Authentic Thai Food in Sydney

Try authentic Thai dishes at P’Nut Street Noodles, located in Sydney, Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast.

P’Nut Street Noodles are a small chain of restaurants offering eat-in or take away dishes that offer a taste of Thailand in Australia.

Owned by chef P’Nut (the nickname given to him by his friends and family), P’Nut Street Noodles aims to transport diners to the streets of Thailand. The street-style noodles, soups and salads offered in store are created with authentic, make-from-scratch sauces directly from Thailand, using P’Nut’s own recipes.

We recently visited the P’Nut Street Noodles store in Balmain to try their new Nuts about Taste menu. We love Thai cuisine and were really thrilled with how delicious our meals were – they really reminded us of our Thai trip a few years back and the flavoursome food we ate at street stalls.

P’Nut Street Noodles offers an array of hot noodle and rice dishes, salads and soups, sides and desserts. All P’Nut outlets offer nut-free, gluten-free, and vegan variants on most dishes – you can see the full menu online and sort the menu to see which items are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, spicy or contain egg.

A great option right now for families is the Family Meal Deal, which includes two street food or soups and salad with chicken or vegetable, plus two kids meals and a choice of two sides for $55.95.

We were keen to try some items from the new P’Nut Street Noodles menu, which includes some fun Aussie-inspired dishes including Chicken Spring Rolls with Sweet Plum Sauce, Popcorn Chicken with Sriracha Mayonnaise, Popcorn Prawn with Sriracha Mayo, Roti Bread with Peanut Sauce, Molten Chocolate Cake and Nutella Spring Rolls.

We chose the Mongolian with Jasmine Rice, Pad Thai with vegetables, Roti Canai with Satay Sauce. Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet Plum Sauce and Nutella Spring Roll, as well as the Curly Wurly Noodles from the kids’ menu (egg noodles with teriyaki sauce and fresh veggies). All kids’ meals come with a drink and a cute pair of reusable kids’ chopsticks.

Our dishes were made quickly from scratch and delivered piping hot. The serves were generous and dishes were just busting with flavour. The Roti Canai was so flaky and light that it was a firm favourite that we would have ordered several more servings of.

The Nutella Spring Roll was a delightful addition – dripping with ooey Nutella, it’s something none of us had tried before.

P’Nut Street Noodles has 11 locations across Sydney, Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. You can find your nearest branch online.

This blog post was written in collaboration with P’Nut Street Noodles. All opinions are my own.

More things to do in Sydney

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

Find things to do in Sydney for free.

Explore the best Sydney gardens and parks.

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

Find the best animal experiences in Sydney.

Chase waterfalls in Sydney.

More things to do on the Central Coast.

Visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

Find the best high teas in Sydney.

Things to do in the Southern Highlands.

Head to one of the best museums in Sydney.

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

Enjoy one of the best ocean pools in Sydney.

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

Cool down at one of these free water parks in Sydney.

Find the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Sydney.

Get a list of the best playgrounds in Sydney.

Find the best ice cream and gelato in Sydney

Things to do in the Blue Mountains.

Plan amazing NSW road trips.

Pick your own fruit: fruit picking Sydney.

The best things to do in Western Sydney and Parramatta with kids.

The Best Sydney Parks To Explore

October 14, 2020 / Outdoor Play, Sydney, Sydney Life / 0 comment

The Best Sydney Parks To Explore

Enjoy a picnic, a wander and stunning harbour views in Sydney’s best parks.

Ballast Point Park, Birgrove

Located at the very tip of the Balmain peninsula, Ballast Point Park was once home to local Aboriginal tribes before European settlers arrived in the early 19th century. The park’s indigenous history is recognised in a dual name – Walama – which means ‘to return’. The 2.6-hectare park opened in 2009 with several design features that highlight its history. Ballast Point Park has stunning harbour views and is a popular picnic and barbecue spot for families.

Sydney Park, Alexandria

This 40-hectare park contains large expanses of grass perfect for kicking a ball around, landscaped gardens, rolling hills (great for sliding down on cardboard boxes – not kidding!), pathways for strolling or running and wetlands home to native birds. The park is also super dog-friendly, so on any given day you’ll see many many many dogs rolling, running and snuffling with abandon. Local parents like us love the huge playground.

Read more about the playground at Sydney Park.

Hyde Park, Sydney CBD

Hyde Park is a heritage-listed 16.2-hectare (40-acre) urban park right in the centre of Sydney. The oldest public parkland in Australia, Hyde Park is home to beautiful shady fig trees, various statues, the beautiful Sandringham Gardens, War Memorial and Archibald Fountain.

Nearby you’ll find the Hyde Park Barracks, Australian Museum and St Mary’s Cathedral.

Glebe Foreshore Parks

This collection of four, leafy parks in the inner-west suburb of Glebe includes Blackwattle Bay Park, Bicentennial Park, Jubilee Park, and Federal Park. The four parks huge the harbour, resulting in a stunning outlook over the water including the ANZAC Bridge and even the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance.

Take the 2km Glebe Foreshore Walk to enjoy the best of the vistas along this walk. Kids will enjoy the two playgrounds in Jubilee Park and Bicentennial Park.

Read more about the Glebe Foreshore Walk and Jubilee Park & Playground Glebe.

Victoria Park, Sydney CBD

Right in the middle of Sydney lies Victoria Park, a 9 hectare public park adjoining Sydney University.

Victoria Park features historic structures such as the entrance gates, Gardener’s Lodge, a Canadian totem pole and ornamental wooden bridge.

Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush

Sydney Olympic Park is not just a park, it’s a destination that includes 430 hectares of parklands, playgrounds, entertainment and sporting venues, accommodation, cafes and restaurants. for all things entertainment, sports and family fun.

Bicentennial Park

Walk, cycle or run through 40 hectares of parklands featuring wetlands, meadows, playgrounds and picnic areas at Bicentennial Park.

Bicentennial Park is located inside Sydney Olympic Park, a 40-hectare park combining the Badu Mangroves wetlands with beautifully landscaped parklands with gentle hills, meadows and a large lake.

We have been visiting the park for years, and love how much space there is to explore inside the park, with monuments, boardwalks, wildlife and playgrounds to occupy us.

Read more about visiting Bicentennial Park.

Cathy Freedman Park & Olympic Cauldron

After the magical opening and closing ceremonies (who can forget Cathy Freeman lighting the cauldron and it rising through the air simultaneously dripping with fire and water?) the cauldron was taken down and moved just a few hundred metres to its permanent home – in the appropriately named Cathy Freeman Park.

Located very conveniently next to the Allphones Arena, Cathy Freeman Park has two playgrounds – one for young kids and one for older – huge shady trees and easy access to bathrooms and cafes.

Read more about visiting Cathy Freeman Park.

Wentworth Common

A hidden gem inside the sprawling Sydney Olympic Park, Wentworth Common is a quiet, grassy park with wetlands, a playground and picnic facilities.

Wentworth Common is easy to find, with a car park directly outside, off the main road (Marjorie Jackson Pkwy). It’s often overlooked, making it a lovely spot for those seeking solitude.

Read more about visiting Wentworth Common.

Newington Armory

Visit the world heritage-listed Newington Armory in Sydney Olympic Park. The former Royal Australian Navy armament depot is now a place to enjoy cycling, art, picnics, wildlife and history.

The Newington Armory was built from 1897 by the Royal Australian Navy. It was designated as a world heritage site on 14 January 2011. What was once an industrial military site is now an arts precinct with a theatre, outdoor amphitheatre, artist studios and an exhibition space, as well as a place to cycle/scoot, picnic and play.

Read more about visiting Newington Armory.

Fagan Park, Galston

Fagan Park in Sydney’s Hornsby shire is a 55 hectare park with themed gardens, playgrounds, historic Netherby Cottage and an Eco Garden to explore.

Fagan Park is particularly beautiful in spring, with a stunning selection of cherry blossoms in bloom, and in autumn where the deciduous trees around the lake are in full colourful glory. One of our favourite Sydney gardens, Fagan Park is a special spot that the locals have kept hidden for way too long.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is Australia’s second-oldest national park. It has stunning water vistas, beaches, rainforests, mangroves and Aboriginal heritage sites.

Read more about the America Bay track within the park.

Western Sydney Parklands

The Western Sydney Parklands covers a whopping 5280 hectares. It includes:

Plough and Harrow park

Plough and Harrow has a fantastic playground, 22 electric BBQs, parking for over 200 cars, 24 picnic shelters, a pond with ducks and other water birds, public bathrooms and a cafe/restaurant: Amoretti’s.

Read more about visiting Plough and Harrow park.

Lizard Log park

This beautiful green space features a nature-themed playground, scenic walks, cycling tracks and a dam.

Read more about visiting Lizard Log park.

Bungarribee

The newest park in the precinct, Bungarribee, opened in March 2017 – a 200-hectare recreational facility that gives locals plenty of wide open space to play, cycle, scoot, walk, run and even walk their dog at one of Sydney’s largest off-leash dog areas, the Warrigal Dog Run.

Nurragingy Reserve

Nurragingy Reserve is a lovely spot to picnic, with designated picnic and BBQ areas, several modern playgrounds including a water play area near the Wren picnic shelter and the Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens, which features a traditional gateway, stone bridge, pavilion and waterfall gazebo.

Read more about visiting Western Sydney Parklands.

Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is one of Sydney’s most historic places. In the centre of the park is Old Government House, which, along with the surrounding pack, is one of 11 sites that form the Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property. The park is also notable for its Aboriginal heritage: Evidence of Aboriginal occupation from over 200,000 years ago has been found there.

Sydney-siders have been enjoying Parramatta Park for recreation for a long time – it became a public park in 1858 – making it one of the earliest designated public parks in the world.

Inside Parramatta Park are also two playgrounds, a creek and the Gatehouse Tea Rooms.

Read more about the Domain Creek Playground.

Centennial Parklands, Randwick

This 360 hectare precinct includes Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queen’s Park. The Parklands are listed on the NSW Heritage Register.

The largest of the three parks that make up Centennial Parklands, Centennial Park is one of Australia’s most famous parks, and a haven for inner city families to ride bikes, horses (there are several horse riding stables located in the park as well as pony ride on weekends), picnic, play and explore. The park features ponds with ducks, formal gardens, statues, playgrounds and picnic areas.

Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden

The Ian Potter Children’s Wild Play Garden opened in Centennial Park in October 2017. The 6500sq m nature-based play area features a 7m-high climbing tower, wooden bridge, water play area and an open play area where kids are encouraged to use sticks and natural materials to make their own shelters, artworks and games.

Get more info on visiting the Ian Potter Children’s WILD PLAY Garden here.

Read more about visiting Centennial Parklands.

Barangaroo Reserve

Barangaroo Reserve is Sydney’s newest park, located on the north-western tip of Sydney’s Central Business District. What was once a flat strip of concrete that was used as a container wharf has been transformed into a six-hectare waterfront parkland on Sydney Harbour, with 6,500 sandstone blocks placed along the foreshore and 75,000 100% native trees, shrubs and plants.

Read more about visiting Barangaroo Reserve.

Blue Mountains National Park

The Blue Mountains National Park was founded in 1959. It encompasses a whopping 156,000 acres and is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. There is so much to see in the National Park including plenty of spectacular bushwalks that include stunning waterfalls. Scenic World is a popular and easy way to experience the Blue Mountains aboard Scenic World’s Skyway or Cableway.