Discovering NSW Australia

Hi everyone, last week I spent two amazing days with my friend and her husband who live at Avoca Beach. They were seriously the kindest hosts ever and they spoiled me rotten with their incredible hospitality! It was such an amazing time and I loved that we got to spend so much time chatting, catching up and reminiscing about old times. Do you know what added a touch of nostalgia to my time in Avoca? It’s the fact that my mum and my friend’s mum were once inseparable best friends and they got up to all sorts of adventures. They really were so funny together and I always remember them laughing and talking non-stop about anything and everything. The two of them shared good times as well as incredibly tough times. And I have to say that their friendship taught me a wonderful example of what a true friendship looks like. But sadly they are no longer with us so it was such a big reminder of how life constantly changes and how different things are now. I think that it’s really special to know that even though they are no longer with us, their memories live in our hearts. Furthermore, the friendship they shared still inspires and influences us even to this day. Where Is Avoca Beach? Avoca Beach is an amazing place that you would absolutely love! It is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales and it is famous for its stunning sandy beaches. Interesting Facts About Avoca Beach It is well known for its great surfing conditions and it attracts surfers of all levels. Avoca Beach is part of the beautiful coastal walking trail called the Bouddi Coastal Walk. This picturesque trail spans over 8 kilometres and it has truly the most beautiful views of the coastline, cliffs and native bushland. There is a gorgeous rock pool at the Southern end of Avoca Beach. People love to fish there as it is a great spot for casting fishing lines and catching Bream, Whiting and Flathead. Avoca Beach is a vibrant food spot and you can find a range of cafes, restaurants and eateries serving delicious food and excellent coffee. Everywhere you turn Avoca Beach is just surrounded by stunning natural beauty. The beach is hugged by hills and lush greenery. It is so peaceful and picturesque, the views really are quite breathtaking! My Fun Time At Avoca Beach I had the absolute pleasure of staying at my friend’s house in Avoca Beach. My friend and her husband have been working hard to renovate their house. And they have done an amazing job transforming it into a cozy and stylish haven. They both have a great eye for decorating and design. And stepping into their home is like stepping into a design magazine! Beautiful Walks We started off each day with a nice long walk. My friend’s house is a short distance along some beautiful bushland and it only takes about 10 minutes to get to the beach. I kept sending my husband photos of the beautiful beach and he kept texting back teasing me asking me when I was going in for a swim. Because he knows that I’m not really a beach person and I don’t like wearing swimming costumes or going in the water. But I’m totally happy walking along the beach in the middle of winter wearing five layers of clothing. Yep, I can do that no problem. And you know what? I totally loved it! After our walks, we would stop off for coffee and pastries. There were some really cute shops and an old-fashioned movie theatre. An Amazing Lunch On Friday we had lunch at a beautiful restaurant called Bells. The food was delicious and I ordered the calamari pasta which we enjoyed with fresh focaccia made on the premises. The place itself was lovely and had a really warm and welcoming vibe. Cozy Evenings In the evenings we sat by the cozy fire enjoying wine and cheese. We ate dinner in front of the TV and watched ‘Silent Witness’. Although it was a good show I found that after a couple of glasses of wine, the warm fire and a full belly I could hardly keep my eyes open! Eventually, I dozed off a couple of times but I managed to keep up with the plot. I had such a wonderful time with my lovely friends at Avoca Beach. The sun and the sea breeze made me feel so relaxed and their hospitality was amazing. I’m really looking forward to going back again when the weather gets warmer. In fact, I may even take my shoes off when we go for a walk along the beach and dip my feet in the water next time!            

Hey there friends! I’m super excited to share with you all about my visit to Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo. It’s that fun time of the year again when Vivid Sydney is back on for 2023. The annual festival of light, music and ideas held in the spectacular city of Sydney, Australia. Vivid Sydney Vivid Sydney is an event that transforms the city into an amazing wonderland full of creative light displays. All around the city, you can find iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and various buildings throughout the city illuminated with spectacular ever-changing colours and patterns. The whole city comes alive for a truly immersive and dazzling experience. I think that it’s a great way to draw people out of their cozy homes during the cold winter months. I don’t like the cold weather but it’s totally worth braving the cold, bundling up and stepping out for a fun night walking around the city. Wild Lights At Taronga Zoo Last year I went with my lovely friend to see the dazzling lights all around Circular Quay for Vivid Sydney 2022. But this year we went to Wild Lights At Taronga Zoo and I was just in awe the whole time! It really was such a fantastic night. We queued up for about 40 minutes outside the zoo, then as the sun began to set at around 5.20 pm they opened the gates and in we went. The first display I saw was a brightly lit koala right at the entrance. And then we walked along the beautifully illuminated pathways. The lights were just so pretty, it was a feast for the eyes! And I loved how we could hear soft captivating music and animal sounds as we walked along. It looked like the whole zoo was sprinkled with a dash of pure magic for the night. There were so many families with their children but it wasn’t as crowded as it gets in the city. So we got to really enjoy the light displays without bumping into everyone. I found the visit to the wild Lights at Taronga Zoo very relaxing. Magical Jellyfish I think that my favourite display was the underwater wonderland. There was a whole area filled with these amazing jellyfish and they looked like they were floating around all aglow in the most vibrant colours. Illuminated Bugs A giant cicada There were bees and bugs all around in the trees. So Many Native Australian Animal Displays Some kind of native Australian frog. Echidna A Dingo A Goanna It doesn’t take much to scare me and this fly was a bit scary. It made noises when you touched it! Tigers. More native Australian animals. The emu, possum and platypus. Gorillas Me with my mates the Gorillas! The way Taronga Zoo combines outdoor light shows with neon lights is truly one-of-a-kind and quite impressive. Using neon lights as decorations at events really amps up the fun and visual appeal. Imagine customising neon signs with your favourite animals—it’s such a personalised and fascinating way to decorate! These customisations not only enhance the ambience of a home or venue but also showcase individual taste and creativity in a uniquely artistic manner. If you are looking for a magical and illuminating adventure the Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo is an absolute must-visit! I made a short video of my visit to Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo so you can get a better idea of what it was like. I hope you enjoy it. Have a great day!      

Hey there friends! Woah Monday sure came around fast!!  I’m not feeling quite ready to let go of the weekend because it was such a fun birthday weekend! But I’m happy to be back again linking up with Holly and Sarah for today’s ‘Hello Monday’.Thank you so much for being here, I always appreciate you guys stopping by to have a read. Ok, so I have to confess that I don’t usually love celebrating my birthday. I’m pretty shy and being the centre of attention always kind of freaks me out. I’ll have to tell you about my wedding day someday! Plus there’s also the fact that getting older doesn’t excite me. Anyway this year instead of moaning about being a year older I decided to embrace all the celebrations wholeheartedly. And I’m pretty sure that it’s because after such a horrible 2022. I am learning that every minute on earth is a precious blessing not to be taken for granted. Birthday Weekend An Amazing Birthday Lunch! I decided that last week was birthday week and so this weekend was definitely going to be birthday weekend! And we kicked off the celebrations by going to The Grounds Of Alexandria on Saturday. This is one of my favourite places to visit and we hadn’t been there for ages. So when my husband asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday this was of course my first choice! I did a blog post about The Grounds Of Alexandria a while ago and you can read all about it here. If you’re ever in Sydney then I would say that this is one of the places that you really should visit! This time we didn’t eat in the cafe instead we ate in the restaurant called ‘The Potting Shed’. The Grounds has a big cafe and a restaurant where you can enjoy lovely meals. There are also different function areas for wedding receptions and other big and small events. The Potting Shed was just amazing! I loved the whole atmosphere, the decor and the super friendly and attentive staff. And to top it off the food was just incredible! We’ve eaten at places before where it’s all about the atmosphere and vibe. But not so much about the food. Or the other way around where the food is great but the place is dull. The Potting Shed has both a really great ambience and incredibly delicious food. So much greenery everywhere! Fun Cocktails! Steve and I started off with some cocktails and they came served like this! Ha! Isn’t it just so cute!! Two pot plants with ice and the cocktail in a small watering can. For our entree, we shared some mussels with crusty bread in the most delicious sauce. Oh my gosh, the sauce was so good that I honestly just wanted to pick up the whole bowl and slurp it all up! But don’t worry I didn’t. For mains, we both ordered the Morton Bay bug tortellini. Moreton Bay bugs are a type of seafood that is native to the coastal waters of Australia. They have a sweet and delicate flavour which is often compared to lobster or prawns. I really wish they would take the word “bug” out of the name. Such delicious seafood shouldn’t be called a bug eeewww! I try not to think about it because it really tastes divine! Then we finished off by sharing a red velvet skillet cookie with mango and passionfruit and white chocolate sauce. Afterwards, we wandered around The Grounds looking at all the fun Disney displays. The theme until the end of April is celebrating 100 years of Disney. And The Grounds Of Alexandria has been turned into a neon fantasyland. I would love to go back at night because it must look even more spectacular when all the neon displays are visibly lit up. Verandah Bar After our long lunch, we went home and hung around for a couple of hours before we got ready to go out for the evening celebrations! We met up with our friends, another couple and headed to the Verandah Bar in the city. I wasn’t very hungry after such a big lunch earlier. But we all shared some arancini balls and a really delicious Butchers Board which had cheese, prosciutto, hummus, relish, flatbread and a whole lot more. The cocktail jug was great too. And the DJ was incredible, playing a great mix which kept us on the dance floor the whole night. Sunday Even after a big night Steve and I somehow still managed to get up bright and early on Sunday morning for swim club. The races started at 7.30 am and I helped with the timekeeping. Steve did quite well in his races and he was just so happy being in the cool water on such a hot morning. I enjoyed the beautiful view of the water and was perfectly happy staying dry. The races went on until midday and then we enjoyed a BBQ lunch. There was steak, sausages, chicken and a variety of salads. Oatley Amateur Swim Club sure do a great BBQ! In the afternoon Steve went to work and my family dropped in to wish me a happy birthday. My cousin and his girlfriend brought their baby Zila to meet our cat Sushi. Not sure if they’ll be best friends yet. They just stared at each other until Sushi got annoyed with Zila who was jumping around all excited. And then the deal breaker was when Zila went onto Sushi’s bed. Nope, she wasn’t impressed at all which really surprised me because Susi is the friendliest most chilled cat. But I guess everyone has their limits- even cats that are usually calm. We ordered pizza, I made a quick salad and then everyone sang me Happy Birthday! My lovely aunt surprised me with a delicious carrot cake. It was truly an epic birthday weekend! Getting up to go to work this morning was a

Hi friends! I am so glad that you are here today for this week’s Friday Favourites hosted by Andrea and Erika. This week I have quite a few Summer holiday favourites that I am excited to share with you on this fine Friday. Still Decluttering! I have been doing well trying to keep up with my mission to declutter at least one thing every day. Some days I have done more than others. But so far I’m pretty happy with my progress. I emptied out one of my drawers this week and I found Sam’s well-worn socks from when he was a baby!!! Aren’t they so small? Gosh, he’s over 6 feet tall now and he towers over me. It’s so hard to believe that he was once so tiny! Oh, my mama heart !! I certainly didn’t get rid of these little socks. Instead, I just tucked them right back in my drawer and I will keep them forever. I also have a pair of socks and a beanie hidden away that Luke wore home from the hospital….sigh! Fun Stationery I had to return a couple of things at the shops. So I made a quick trip into the city and of course, I couldn’t walk past this shop without going inside. Well, I actually did walk past and then I couldn’t resist so I went back. But I’m so glad that I did because they had a lot of things on sale at 50% off plus a further 30% off. I just love stationery so much!! And so I couldn’t resist buying some pens and notepads. I also bought this gorgeous advent calendar which was originally priced at $39.00 and then reduced to $10.00. But with a further 30% off I bought it for $7.00. Yay!! Inside each little box, there is a small decoration for the Christmas tree. I have put it away and made a note in my diary/planner of where I have stored it so I don’t forget where it is. Even though it’s ages away I’m already excited to start opening it once we hit December. Wedding Anniversary Another summer holiday favourite this week is that Steve and I had a fun staycation to celebrate our anniversary. Our actual anniversary date is tomorrow but Steve works on the weekends so that’s why we went away midweek. We’ve been married for 33 years! Woah that is a long time!! While we were away we enjoyed some beautiful views and a delicious dinner. Exploring Sydney On Wednesday I had a really fun time exploring Wendy Whiteley’s secret garden. It’s such a magical place and you can read all about this really great Sydney tourist spot here. Just in case any of you ever come and pay us a visit Down Under. Make sure you put this on your list of places to visit! The gardens are indeed very beautiful but they are also very steep and so there’s a lot of going up and down stairs. After I had just finished conquering some major stairs I stopped and looked at my watch. I covered quite a lot of distance in 26 minutes! Luna Park After I visited the beautiful gardens I walked on over to Sydney’s Luna Park. It’s free to go inside but once you’re in then you need to buy tickets for the rides. I just wandered around and took a fun trip down memory lane. When I was little this was where my parents would bring me sometimes. This is the main entrance and I remember being small and absolutely terrified of going in through that scary mouth. My mum would carry me in as I closed my eyes tight hoping to make it to the other side in one piece. Delicious Banana Bread We had a couple of really cool days earlier in the week. Perfect for baking! So I made some delicious banana bread. And I got the recipe from Kim’s blog ‘Life As Kim’. She shared this really great recipe which was so easy to make. Easy recipes are my absolute favourite! It turned out moist and yummy so I will be making it again for sure. Especially as we always seem to end up with bananas that look like this. Making banana bread is a great way to avoid wasting bananas that have gone too soft to eat. You guys really need to try this fantastic recipe for banana bread. I bought this lovely soy candle from Kmart based on my lovely friend’s recommendation. It smells amazing and looks just like the fancy ones that I have paid over $30.00 for in the past. The good news is that this one was only $10.00. Major bargain!! And that just about wraps up my seven summer holiday favourites for this week. It’s been another great week doing some fun things as well as grabbing a couple of good bargains. I’m really enjoying my summer holidays and I am hoping that the next couple of weeks goes by real slow! I hope that you all have the best weekend Happy Friday!

Hey everyone I’m so glad that you have stopped by today because I am excited to share with you all about my visit to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden. I always say that it is fun to play tourist in your own home. And so a couple of days ago I did just that. And I went to Lavender Bay in Sydney to visit Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden. I had such a lovely time and I took some photos that I want to show you. While I was visiting the gardens I also learnt a bit about Wendy Whiteley and how these beautiful gardens came to be. Wendy Whiteley Wendy Whiteley is the former wife of the prominent Australian artist Brett Whiteley who passed away in 1992. She is a famous cultural personality. And she was fundamental in establishing the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills Sydney. Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden These days Wendy Whiteley is famous for her work restoring and landscaping an area of rundown land outside her home in Lavender Bay. It’s interesting to note that the New South Wales Rail Corporation actually owns this land. And even though it has spectacular views of Sydney Harbour. Over the course of many years, it had just been left to turn into nothing more than a dumping ground full of weeds and rubbish. Wendy Whiteley spent many years using her creative and artistic spirit to lovingly restore this derelict land. And she has succeeded in creating what can only be described as a spectacular magical garden. And reports even say that this labour of love cost her millions of dollars of her own money. A Magical Place As you weave in and around the garden you will spot benches, tables and chairs. These make perfect cozy spots to gather for picnics. There are also areas where you can lay out a rug, and lie down. Then spend time enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by the dazzling variety of plants. You will also have so much fun spotting the colourful but very shy birds who have made this garden their home. It is just breathtaking and I loved exploring and taking in all the scenery as I made my way around. I felt like a kid in a storybook as I walked around Wendy Whiteley’s secret garden. It’s quite steep so going down is a breeze if you make sure to hold on to the rails. Just in case you might slip. But going up was quite a challenge and it made me think that I should definitely do more exercise! It was well worth going up all the stairs though. And it was really nice to see locals and tourists having a wonderful time exploring just like I did! Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden Here Are Some Other Articles About Beautiful Sydney That You Might Like To Read Visiting Beautiful Sydney Shopping In Sydney Vivid Sydney

Looking for some cheap and fun school holiday activities. Then look no further because here is a list of some really fun activities that will be sure to keep the kids entertained without breaking the bank. Cheap And Fun School Holiday Activities VISIT AN ART GALLERY OR MUSEUM Take your kids to visit an art gallery during these school holidays. Looking at art will boost their creativity as well as open their world to endless creative possibilities. Many art galleries will also run some fun and educational activities for free during the school holidays. Do a bit of research and find an art gallery that offers this and make a day of it. Museums are a great way to keep the kids entertained during school holidays. Once you pay the admission fee you can spend the whole day exploring. Fun and interactive museums like The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney also offer school holiday activities. The great thing about museums and art galleries is that you can visit them on days when the weather is either too hot or too cold to enjoy and outdoor activity. GO ON A PICNIC Get the kids to help you pack a picnic lunch and visit your local park. You can also take some ball games or a frisbee and enjoy some good outdoor exercise. GO ON A NATURE HUNT Pack some snacks and water bottles. Then take your children for a nice long walk around your neighbourhood to collect nature. Before you set off you can talk to your kids about some of the things that they might want to look out for and possibly collect. And make a list of these things. For example rocks, twigs, flowers that have fallen off trees or plants, leaves, pinecones etc LOOK FOR INSECTS Grab some insect-hunting essentials like bug catchers, binoculars and magnifying glasses. You can find a whole world of insects in the garden. And children will be mesmerised for ages as they look out for some tiny creatures HAVE A MOVIE NIGHT Clear the loungeroom floor and get comfy and cozy with some beanbags, cushions and pillows. Then make some popcorn and ice cream sodas to enjoy while you watch a fun movie. This is a great activity to do with young children as they will enjoy staying up later than usual. And it is also a perfect activity to do with your teens. GO TO THE BEACH If you are a beach-loving family then the beach is a great place to spend the day. Pack some sand toys, sunscreen and sun protection. And remember to keep everyone safe by swimming in between the flags. ORGANISE A PLAY DATE WITH SOME FRIENDS AT THE LOCAL PARK Other parents will also be looking for cheap and fun things to do in the school holidays too. So why not go ahead and meet up at the local park for one big playdate? The children will have the best time playing with each other and the parents can also enjoy some fun conversation. Best of all nobody will be left with a messy house to clean up afterwards. HAVE A WATER FIGHT You can find some cheap water guns and water balloons at the two-dollar shop. Who doesn’t have a great memory of an epic childhood water fight? COOK Cooking is such a fun activity with an enormous amount of educational benefits for children. And it is a very cheap school holiday activity that your children will certainly enjoy. You and your kids can bake a nice sweet treat for afternoon tea or you can make something that everyone will love eating for dinner. PLAY WITH HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH Playdough is another activity with amazing learning benefits that will keep your kids entertained for hours. Best of all you can combine this activity and the cooking activity for a win/win!! You will find a fantastic recipe for the softest playdough ever here. LEARN TO DRAW If you have a keen drawer or a child that needs a confidence boost when it comes to drawing. The school holidays are the perfect opportunity to develop this skill. You can find an amazing variety of drawing tutorials aimed at children on YouTube. Drawing together is an excellent way for your children to see the benefits of developing a new skill. HAVE A CRAFT DAY Pull out any craft items that have been hiding away in the cupboard and spend the day getting creative with your kids! You can also raid your recycling bin and use cardboard boxes to make some amazing box constructions. DO SOME SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AT HOME Go online and look up some cool science experiments that you can do at home during the school holidays. There are a great variety of kid-friendly experiments that only require regular household items. VISIT A BOTANICAL GARDEN Spend the day exploring a botanical garden where you and your children will discover an oasis full of living plants. You will see a collection of extraordinary plants and you can have fun trying to pronounce some of the unusual names! The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney also runs some fun school holiday activities that you might want to check out. MAKE A KITE Spend the day making a simple kite and then get the kids to burn off some energy by going to the park and flying it. GO BOWLING Go to your local bowling alley for a few hours of fun. Some bowling alleys offer competitive holiday deals that you can take advantage of to keep costs down. TAKE A TRIP ON A FERRY A great way to see some sights is to take a trip on a ferry. Riding a ferry is such a memorable and thrilling experience that children will remember forever. VISIT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY The library is a great resource to visit regularly. Local libraries also offer free school holiday activities such as movies, storytime as well as art and craft activities. Libraries are warm and welcoming spaces

I have decided to put together a spring bucket list because I am just so excited that it is finally spring!! I am so overjoyed that I can hardly contain my excitement. It is so lovely to feel the weather just starting to feel warmer. Of course, because it’s early days and we are only just coming out of winter. There have been some days when the temperature has really plummeted. And it has thrown us back into those cold wintry days. But here in Australia it is officially Spring from the 1st of September to the 30th of November. This just makes me super happy! What I Love About Spring Well, I guess the first thing I love about spring is that it means it’s not winter anymore. I did try extra hard to embrace winter this year. And I even put together a list of winter essentials. Because after all there are some really nice things about winter that I do enjoy. Things like being all wrapped up in a nice cozy blanket, drinking delicious hot drinks like chai tea or hot chocolate, and of course eating all that delicious comfort food. But I’m one of those people who feel the cold very easily. A friend of mine sent me this funny meme one day and it sums me up perfectly! Another thing that I love so much about spring is that the flowers start to bloom everywhere. It’s like they have been waiting for that burst of warmth too so that they can come out and show off their gorgeous colours. Even the birds are chirpier in the mornings. And the days slowly start to feel longer because the sun starts to set later in the evening. Yes, there is just so much to love about spring. It is also such a great feeling to put away all the chunky clothing and come out of winter hideaways. Spring inspires me and so that’s why I have put together this spring bucket list. Here are some fun ideas and suggestions that you might like to try when you hit spring. 1. Enjoy A fun Picnic There is nothing more invigorating than feeling the sun on your face! So why not go ahead and find a sunny picnic spot and put together a delicious picnic basket to enjoy with some friends or family? You can go to a local park or make a day of it and go for a drive to discover a new place that would be perfect for a picnic. It is just the best feeling to see the lovely flowers blooming, feel the warm sun, and enjoy the fresh air. 2. Find A Local Spring Fair As soon as spring arrives you will easily find a variety of fairs in your local area. I visited a local spring fair last weekend and I had such a fun time exploring the different variety of stalls. As well as sampling some of the food that they had on offer. It’s great to get out and enjoy the fun atmosphere that you find at a spring fair. 3. Spring Clean Your Home With the excitement and buzz, that spring brings to your mood. Why not go ahead and take this perfect opportunity when you are feeling motivated to get stuck into some spring cleaning? I like to declutter regularly but I have to admit that I feel much more inspired to do this in the spring. 4. Visit A Farmers Market Warmer weather means a bigger variety of fresh produce. So it’s a great time to visit a local farmer’s market and stock up on some delicious fruit, and vegetables as well as farm-fresh dairy and eggs. 5. Go For A Walk Along The Beach As I have mentioned before I am not much of a beach person. But I have added a walk along the beach to my spring bucket list. I find that I really do enjoy the scenery and the sound of the waves as well as the fresh air. 6. Visit The Zoo Spring is probably the best time to visit the zoo because of the weather. It’s warm but not too hot like it is in the summer months. So you won’t feel all hot and sweaty after a big walk around the zoo. 7. Plant Some Flowers Or Herbs I have to admit that I am not really much of a gardener. But every year I do like to take a trip to Bunnings and buy some flowers to plant in my courtyard or front garden. I also seem to have more success with herbs than I do with vegetables. So planting flowers and herbs is definitely on my spring bucket list. 8. Put Away Your Winter Clothes Spring means that it’s time to put away those heavy coats and thick jumpers. Do a wardrobe changeover and take out the lighter clothes that you haven’t seen in months! I still like to make sure I keep a jacket handy for those cooler spring days and nights. 9. Decorate Your Home With Flowers Welcome spring inside your home with some lovely colourful fresh flowers. You can cut some from your own garden or buy some from a supermarket or florist. Spread them around your home in a variety of fun vases or jars. 10. Enjoy A Pedicure Now that it’s spring you will probably be reaching for those cute sandals. Make sure your feet are ready and treat yourself to a relaxing pedicure. I think that soft pastel colours just scream spring. So I’m pretty sure that I will be choosing a pastel pink when I go for my next pedicure. 11. Go Shopping For Spring Clothes Spring is also a fantastic time to go through your wardrobe and donate anything that is still in good condition. Then you can enjoy a fun day shopping for some new spring clothes as a reward. This might just be one of my favourite things

Hi, friends I thought that for today’s post I would take you with me while I went shopping in the city of Sydney on Sunday afternoon. The Sydney CBD is full of great shops to fit any budget. Here you will find luxury designer shops as well as more budget-friendly alternatives. I love going shopping in the city. It is quite small when you compare it to some of the other major cities in the world.  But the upside is that most of the shops are well within walking distance. The city also has some very beautiful historical buildings that have been lovingly restored as well as modern shopping malls and arcades. So come along with me today and enjoy a fun afternoon shopping in the city of Sydney. Town Hall I live about 30 minutes by train from the Sydney CBD. So I jumped on the train from the station that is the nearest to my home and then hopped off at Town Hall station. This station is right in the heart of the city and when you come out. The first thing you see is The Sydney Town Hall. This beautiful building was built from 1869-1890 and it was renovated in 1992. The Town Hall is a heritage-listed building and it is the home of the chambers of the Lord mayor Of Sydney. It also has council offices and venues for meetings and functions. See the steps, that’s where I used to meet my friends when I was a teenager. School holidays always involved fun trips into the city. And the Town hall steps are where we would always meet up. The Queen Victoria Building As you walk along George St The Queen Victoria Building is just across the road from The Town Hall. This is another building that fortunately got saved from being knocked down and was restored to its former glory instead. Here is The statue of Queen Victoria herself sitting right outside the Queen Victoria Building. I love The QVB as we all call it. It is full of some of my favourite shops like Country Road I bought my husband a polo shirt for Father’s day from Country Road The Daily Edited (tde.) The Daily Edited or tde. sell luxury monogrammable leather goods. I bought a cute leather hand sanitiser case that I had my eye on for a few months. T2 kikki.K kikki.K has the cutest stationery and I went inside looking for a new diary. I wanted a mid-year diary but they didn’t have any so I just enjoyed a quick browse. The QVB has so many beautiful windows and historical features Myer After visiting The QVB I headed along George St and then crossed the road to Myer. Myer is an Australian department store where you can find clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, electrical, and homewares. Myer has everything that you would expect to find in a department store. Pitt st Mall I then headed over to the Pitt st Mall. It’s called a Mall but it’s more like an open space with shops on either side. I stopped to watch some street performers. They were so entertaining and I wanted to stay longer but I was on a shopping mission. Pitt st Mall always has some very talented street performers wowing the crowds. Westfield Sydney Shopping Centre Even though the city of Sydney has most of the major shops within walking distance. I always find that I do lots of steps when I go shopping there! Westfield Sydney is just along the Pitt st mall opposite Myer so this is where I went next. It has so many shops, so I quickly browsed and snapped a few pics to show you. Westfield Sydney is also where you will find the famous Sydney Tower Eye which is the tallest building in Sydney. I have been right up to the top where you get a birds-eye view of the city. There’s also a restaurant in Sydney Tower which has an amazing view and it’s on my list of places where I would like to eat. The Strand Arcade After Westfields, I walked over to my favourite arcade, The Strand Arcade. It is just so beautiful and it is full of some cute little shops. David Jones Then it was time to hit my favourite department store, David Jones. It is an upmarket department store and it was recently renovated and now it looks just so luxurious! I’ll have to go back in Spring because they always have the most amazing fresh floral displays throughout the store. Every floor of the David Jones store features both international and Australian designer labels. The Food Hall is probably my favourite part of David Jones. It is full of delicious food and everything is just so beautifully presented. They also have dine-in options too. I can never seem to leave without paying a ridiculous amount of money for some pastries or sweet treats. That’s ok as I don’t go there too often. Heading Home As I walked back towards Town Hall station to get the train home. I walked past the State Theatre so I took a few photos to show you. This is a heritage-listed theatre and it was built between 1926 and 1929. It’s very fancy and ornate inside. It was closed so it was hard to see but when it is all lit up it’s very beautiful. I took my mum to see Shirley Maclain perform here a very long time ago. It took me about a five-minute brisk walk back to Town Hall station. I hopped on the train and checked how many steps I had done in about three hours. 13556 steps!! So that was my Sunday afternoon shopping in beautiful Sydney.Thanks so much for coming along with me and I really hope that you enjoyed the quick tour! You might also like to check out a previous post about visiting Sydney that you can find here. Happy Monday!     Linking up

It was a gorgeous winter weekend in Sydney. The sun shone brightly and the skies were a crisp brilliant blue. It was not very cold either and we reached temps around 19-20C. I know that many people who live in much colder climates would consider these to be summer temps. But for us Sydneysiders, we still think it’s cold so we wear our coats and winter jackets. Because the weather was just so beautiful I was keen to get out and about. So on Saturday my lovely sweet friend and I went to The Museum Of Sydney to see an exhibition called ‘Walking Through A Songline’. The Museum Of Sydney Up until Saturday, I had no clue that this museum even existed! I got it all confused with The Australian Museum which is also located in the city. Anyway, after some initial confusion mainly on my part, we found it thanks to my friend who is way better at navigating her way around the city than I am. The Museum Of Sydney is really small. Here you will find only two floors of exhibits. But it is full of so much interesting history that I am quite happy to go back again another time. The small modern museum is built around the remains of the first government house in Australia. The exhibits are all about the origins of Sydney and extend right through to what’s going on in Sydney today. Walking Through A Songline This exhibition was the main reason why we visited the Sydney Museum and I have to say that I really loved it. Walking Through A Songline is a multi-sensory digital installation held in a darkened round theatre where you can just stand, watch, and enjoy. There really wasn’t much seating available other than a couple of long cushioned seats. But that was fine because the whole experience only went for about ten minutes so we watched it twice. Furthermore, because it runs on a loop, you could just walk in at any time. Walking Through A Songline is an immersive light experience. Beautiful light projections recreate the experience of walking through a songline. Songlines, Dreamtime, And The Seven Sisters A songline is a navigational track that maps out the routes of ancestral spirits as they make their way across Australia and link significant sites and locations. Aboriginal Australians use songlines to explain their stories, values, knowledge, and laws. A Dreamtime story is how Aboriginal Australians describe the creation of the universe and humans. Therefore Dreamtime is the basis of Aboriginal religion and culture. The Seven Sisters refer to the ancestral beings who descended on the earth and were trailed by a group of men. So ‘Walking Through A Songline’ is all about a Dreamtime story featuring the footsteps of the Seven sisters. How they navigated their way across Australia as they were being pursued by a group of men. I put together this short video so you could see some of the beautiful images. The music on the video is not the original but there was a lot of background noise so I added this soundtrack to it. I hope you like it!   Walking Through A Songline was really a beautiful experience and I am so happy that I went. It was such a great way to get a small glimpse into Aboriginal culture and beliefs. There is so much to learn and so much that I don’t know. I am so glad that I found this small but very important museum. Some More Fun Things About Sydney You can find some more articles about beautiful Sydney here and here.   ********** Linking up with Holly and Sarah Sharing on