The Last Blog Post

 Sayonara Everyone.

 We have come to the end of our 8-week journey showing you around all of Sydney’s best Secret Spots. We sincerely hope you enjoyed all our blog posts and soon get to visit the destinations and enjoy the amazing and adventurous things Sydney has to offer. I think we can all agree that at the end of the day, it’s not only a pleasure but a blessing to live in such a beautiful city. Our group had a total of 6 members, who each shared around 4-5 of their personally favorite locations in Sydney. They all shared photos, videos, recommendations, and details about the location such as the address, facilities and personal notes regarding what to expect and what to be surprised with. The Vlog Our vlog was 2 minutes and 26 seconds long, and uploaded to YouTube. It included background music, transitions, rolling credits and video footage. Here is a description of group member’s contributions. We all blogged about a series of locations including Nielsen Park, The Gap Park, Rushcutters Bay, Fairlight Beach, and Parsley Bay reserve. Some members visited the places they posted about and also uploaded their own footage. For the Vlog, they helped to design the script, were actors or actresses and helped direct the vlog.

 Freya – Director / Actress

 Nelson – Editor / Actor

 Mitchelle – Music / Actress

 Claudia – Producer / Actress 

Maryam – Director 2 / Actress 

Thank you to all our followers on YouTube, and to all of the audience who read our blog. We hope we inspired you to get outdoors this summer and have a fun time.

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

By: Nelson Xie

Ku-ring-gai takes its name from its original inhabitants, the Guringai people, who were all but wiped out just after colonisation through violence at the hands of British settlers and introduced disease. It’s well worth reading Kate Grenville’s Booker-nominated The Secret River for an engrossing but harrowing telling of this story.

A pretty place to spend a day bushwalking, cycling or fishing, this national park is a great place to head when you want to get out of the city for a few hours.

Remnants of Aboriginal life are visible today thanks to the preservation of more than 800 sites, including rock paintings, middens and cave art. To learn more, enter the park through the Mt Colah entrance and visit the Kalkari Discovery Centre , which has displays and videos on Australian fauna and Aboriginal culture. There is a self-guided walk on which you can see swamp wallabies, bush turkeys, native ducks and goannas.

Addition information 

Address: Bobbin Head Rd, New South Wales

Phone: (02) 9472 8949

Reviews

"Great relaxing place that allows you to bring your own gas BBQ."

"Great recreation area with large children's playground (secure)."

"The Basin #Pittwater #Sydney a wonderful place for family fun in Sydney."

ami"

Wattamolla Beach

By : Claudia MacPhail

The ultimate day trip from Sydney as the weather starts to heat up-Wattamolla Beach in the Royal National Park.

Only an hour drive from the CBD, you won't believe the proximity of such a spectacular spot.
Its the perfect place for a swim, walk, or snorkel as the lagoon provides ideal conditions for families. The waterfall is a nice surprising feature as well for those who don't mind the adrenaline rush-take the  75m jump into the water.  In addition to swimming, there are plenty of walking tracks throughout the park if you feel like some leisurely exercise. Take in the views and enjoy a picnic lunch using the bbq facilities provided.

Note:
-Open 7:00am-8:30pm daily
-There is a park entry fee per vehicle
-Facilities included: Toilets, picnic tables, BBQ facilities, car park
-The beach is only patrolled by lifeguards during the summer, so swim at your own risk

Maccallum Pool Cremorne Point

By: Maryam Mandehgari

 A unique harbourside pool with heritage character and superb views, Maccallum Pool, is on the western side of Cremorne Point. Its waterside timber deck is an unparalleled sun bathing spot - especially on winter afternoons.

With a timber sunbathing deck and harbour views, this is One of the most mystical pools in Sydney. With sloping lawns and free entry, what better place to get out of the hustle and bustle of the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk for a change and find this turquoise beauty at a fork on the Cremorne Point walk.

It was originally just a rock pool created by local residents to form a safe harbour swimming hole. The architectural style of the current pool dates back to the 1920s and was restored in keeping with this heritage theme by the local council in 1985-86.

Additional Information:

Address: Milson Road, Cremorne Point NSW 2090

Reviews & Ratings:

-"Great pool to swim in or, have a relaxing time under the nearby trees" 4.5/5

-"This is a free pool and a real gift to those living close by. Nestled in bush on the harbour it is well maintained and long enough to complete laps. It was a pleasure to start my day with a swim in this pool." 4/5

-"A neighborhood gem. Tiny pool which is great for a quick dip after work. The pool is rather small so not ideal for doing laps but good enough for kids to practice swimming. Good spot to soak in some afternoon sun." 5/5

Little Bay Beach

 By Mitchelle Antonio

Little Bay is a secluded beach nestled between granite cliffs, south of the headland in Arakoon National Park. Pack your fishing gear for a day at the beach. There's the option for a leisurely lunch beneath the shade of the she-oaks at nearby Little Bay picnic area overlooking the ocean.On both the right and left hand sides of the beach, you have large rock shelves which are littered with a variety of stones, rocks and boulders and together make for many great photography opportunities. Some of these rocks or rock faces are quite massive and can also offer a vantage point of which to capture the beach from. There is also a very cute little rock pool there located on the right hand side of the bay, the beach has calm waters with low waves. 

How to get there?
Access to the beach is via the wooden stairway from the path that weaves near the Prince Henry Centre and through the gold course.

Additional Information
Address: 4R Coast Hospital Rd, Little Bay NSW 2036
Phone: 1300 722 542


Reviews and Ratings
1. "Nice area for a walk, and discover a beach if you haven't been there a lot."
2. "I love the cove and the scenery here"
3. "A real gem out of wind safe swimming and diving good location for rock fishing people do over night camping on beach while ocean kayaking down the coast has amenities i say best beach in eastern suburbs"

Pylon Lookout

By: Maryam Mandehgari

Offering some of the best views of the city, at the top of the south east pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the Pylon Lookout. 

Climbing the stairs to the Lookout provides a walk-through history of the building of the Bridge.

With 200 stairs, 87 metres above sea level and 3 levels of exhibits, there is a great deal to be learnt about the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its history, construction, the men who built it and the vision of the chief engineer JJC Bradfield to be discovered. 

The Pylon Lookout is a must-see while in Sydney providing a panoramic view of the City of Sydney, North Sydney, east towards the heads of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Circular Quay.

To get to the Lookout you must firstly climb the stairs to access the pedestrian footpath. The stairs are found just north of the intersection of Cumberland and Argyle Streets. Once on the footpath the Pylon is approximately 500 metres north.

Additional Information:

Address: Cumberland Street (on the Harbour Bridge).

Reviews & Ratings:

-"Spectacular and stunning view up the lookout, well worth the money and the climb." 5/5

-"Great location to take the whole city in." 5/5

-A must visit vantage point for all visitors! Instead of spending a lot of money on the Bridge climb, this is a much cheaper alternative while the view is just as spectacular." 4.5/5

Milk Beach Vaucluse

By: Maryam Mandehgari

With white sand and aqua water, this perfect little flat water cover for relaxing and swimming looks over pretty much the whole of Sydney, including the breathtaking harbour.  This small beach is a true miracle and secret that it has been so kept under wraps. Often described as one of Sydney's secret beaches, Milk Beach is a picturesque location situated in one of Sydney's Eastern suburbs, Vaucluse. 




On weekends you will find families picnicking (there is a small undercover awning for this purpose), walkers taking in the beach whilst completing the Hermitage Foreshore Walk. It is the perfect venue to sit back, relax, sunbathe and watch the seaplanes take off and land in nearby Rose Bay. Access to Milk Beach is somewhat limited, however, it can be accessed via Public Transport, boat or limited off-street parking is available. 

Additional Information:

Address: Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse, NSW 2030

Reviews & Ratings:

-'Great view of the city, can even see the harbour bridge from the beach, very relaxing and peaceful beach. the beach itself is small with lots of rocks, great to go for a picnics.' -5/5

-'Such a beautiful place to view the cityscape and get away from the hustle and bustle. Beach is small and not very busy. Some nice little walks nearby too.' -5/5

-'The popular beaches like Bondi have quite rough seas however Milk Beach offers very calm water, affordable fish and chips and a fantastic view across the bay to the harbour.' -4/5

Gordons Bay

By: Mitchelle Antonio

Gordons Bay is located north of Coogee Beach and is 11 km from Sydney's CBD.  This bay is secluded and yet one of the best places to go snorkeling in Sydney as it is well protected from waves which ultimately result in aqua blue crystal clear water and a calm beach.

 The bay's clear water, abundant native flora and its rocky terrain will make you feel like you've visited Italy's Cinque Terre.


Please note:
Gordon's bay can be difficult to access by car so it is best advisable to park your vehicles at the headland car park and walk down. On your walk down be sure to walk from one side to another in order to see the full beauty of the spot.

Additional Information

Address: Gordon Bay, Clovelly NSW 2031

Phone: (02) 9399 0999 Randwick city council

Restrictions: No dogs allowed and no alcohol

Reviews and Ratings

1. Just go and enjoy - easy to get to by train. Very beautiful and world class. Don't miss it if you get to Sydney.

2. Gordons Bay located Near Coogee Beach ( about 1km) is good snorkeling point.

Rushcutters Bay Park

By: Freya Daver

Rushcutters bay is located in Darling point and is a wonderful park that extends along the bay area. It has facilities such as a car park, and is large enough to cater for sports such as rugby, cricket, and soccer. It is also a wonderful place to enjoy an evening jog or share a picnic with your friends and family on a sunny say. It has a lovely walkways for a scenic stroll, and additional facilities such as a Kiosk, exercise station, public toilets and large shady trees. Grab a coffee, walk your dog or play a friendly game of touch footy.

Additional Information

Address: New Beach Road, Darling Point NSW 2027

Phone: 9391 7000 – Woollarah Council Number

Timings: Open 24 hours. Dogs allowed on leash only between 3:30pm to 10:30 am.

Reviews and Ratings

·      

“   "Lovely place which is dog friendly, and that makes it easier for a family day out”

·      “I love having my morning run along that path, overlooking all the boats”

·      "Great place to sit and read, bring your dog, get some exercise."

·      "Good place for workout, group games or just a stroll."

Auburn Botanical Gardens

By: Nelson Xie
The Auburn Botanic Gardens is a place of natural beauty where people can learn more about horticulture, birds and native animals. Otherwise it is best known for its Cherry blossoms.

(Sakura) festival which blossoms only once a year for about two weeks during August to September. (Auburn city council, 2015)

Ideally it is the perfect place for a small group of friends for a picnic, barbecue or overall just to lay back and relax.

Additional Information
Address: Chisholm Rd & Chiswick Rd, Auburn NSW 2144
Phone:  (02) 9391 7000
Hours: 9am to 5pm Weekdays and 9am 6pm on Saturday and Sundays.


Reviews and Ratings

"There is BBQ place so good to cook foods and convenient free parking 5/5"

"A five minutes walk from my house in Chisholm Rd. Lovely environment 4.5/5"

"Great Place for Photography and some relaxing time with friends family 5/5"