Rosehill Racecourse (Golden Slipper Day)

Rosehill Racecourse (also known as Rosehill Gardens) is a divine setting, located in the heart of Western Sydney, right next door to Parramatta and situated on the Carlingford Railway Line for ease of access via public transport. They also offer car parking, but get in early as it fills up quick. Rosehill Gardens boasts a wide selection of versatile indoor and outdoor areas which can be designed to meet any event request, thus making it an ideal location for large dinners, exhibitions, conferences and product launches as well as horse racing of course.

Rosehill is one of the many venues that host the BMW Sydney Carnival, which is Sydney’s premier racing carnival and a world-class event held over six weeks in Autumn.This year it hosted races on the 6th of April which included the Tooheys New Golden Slipper which is rated as the worlds best race for 2YR Old Horses, boasting 3.5 million dollars up for grabs in prize money to the winner.

This year the race was hosted on April 6th of which I (Sam) had the pleasure of attending. It was an incredibly well run event with both men and women alike going all out with suits and frocks which only helped build the atmosphere, it was a very vibrant happening scene with people ranging from 18 all the way up to 80 year old's sharing a beer, a punt and a laugh. An optional expenditure was to splash out and get a more expensive ticket entitling you to entry into the Nova 969 social pavilion where you had your own table as well as 3 free drinks and lunch catered for, which my friends and I found to be the best option for the day and would thoroughly recommend to everyone for next time as it blended the best of both worlds; The excitement of having a gamble as well as the social scene.

Unfortunately there is some parking/traffic issues as well as the fact that if it rains you may well find yourself shoulder to shoulder standing inside watching on a TV so if the weather is poor before you leave home I recommend the Umbrella as a key item. Sunnies are also a must.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rosehill Racecourse and would thoroughly recommend others go and watch a race there at some point as it has great vantage points, great facilities and most importantly a great atmosphere. For more information about the venue itself head to: www.rosehillgardens.com.au/
For more information regarding the Golden Slipper head to: https://australianturfclub.com.au/SydneyCarnival/TOOHEYS_NEW_Golden_Slipper_Day_2013.html

Bantry Bay

Nestled on the border of Sydneys Northern Beaches Bantry Bay is one of Sydneys' best kept secrets. The Bay is framed by the three suburbs of Killarney Heights, Frenchs Forest and Balgowlah, and offers timeless beauty as it showcases Australias beautiful wildlife, it also has ancient Aboriginal rock carvings in various places around the Bay that add to the locations charm. Bantry Bay offers a range of activities such as bushwalking, fishing, mountain biking, kayaking or just relaxing to its beautiful views that extend across Middle Harbour and all the way to the City. It is an ideal place to get away from everything for a few hours as it involves a short bush walk to get to the Bay, which somewhat cuts it off from the outside world, but once you're there you are surrounded by a plethora of Sydneys' beautiful flora and fauna. There are a number of bush tracks people can use to get to Bantry Bay including the Cook Street Track (Killarney Heights), The Timber Getters Track (Balgowlah), And The Bluff Track (Frenchs Forest). The latter being my favourite as it boasts spectacular views of the Bay. Bantry Bay is one of Sydneys' last untouched pieces of paradise and because not many people know about it and it is not directly accessible, it is very uninhabited, allowing for a stress free environment for people to escape to. The pictures below are taken from a panoramic rock ledge on the Bluff track.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is a 6km walk showcasing various beaches, parks, cliffs and rock pools throughout Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Starting at Bondi beach the walk is a great way to experience some of Sydney's most beautiful beaches and parklands; it is truely a wonderland for anyone interested in photography. This is a great activity for a sunny morning as well as a great way to get some exercise. At times there are a few steep stairs, but mostly the walk is suited for people of all levels of fitness. If you are planning to do this walk, you should allow around 2 hours to complete the trip. There are various cafes along the way if you want to stop for a quick coffee or lunch, with Bondi also offering many dining options along its main parade. I recommend bringing your sunglasses and wearing sunscreen, as there is little shade offered along the coast. If you do not have enough time (or motivation) to complete the whole Bondi to Coogee walk, many people choose to walk to Bronte beach; which is about one third of the way to Coogee. When I completed this walk last week it took about 40 minutes to get from Bondi to Bronte beach, with this shortened segment containing the majority of the most spectacular views of the whole walk. I defiently recommend this activity as a great way to see some of Sydneys Eastern beaches whilst also getting active. The best part also being its free! (with the exception of having to find free parking in Bondi of course)

Kings Cross Hotel

Kings Cross is one of Sydney’s premier places when it comes to Sydney’s nightlife. The Kings Cross Hotel is located smack bang in the middle of the mayhem that is the Cross. With 6 different levels the venue is massive and can cater for any type of night you want to have out. It’s a great place to kick off your night in the Cross-, as it has nice outdoor areas where you can smoke/drink and look down at what is going on in the street.

In saying that I’ve often been guilty of intending to have a couple drinks there before hitting the clubs, and 4 hours later find myself still there enjoying another one of its many floors, all showcasing a range of different music types.

As entry is free (most nights) it is also a good place to retire to at the end of the night when you’re worn out by other clubs in the Cross, but you’re not quite ready to go home. All in all, because of its size and location the Kings Cross Hotel is a great place to visit whether you want to go out for dinner, have a few chilled drinks, have a rowdy night with friends, or you just want to tear up the DF.

For more information head to http://kingscrosshotel.com.au

The Star

The Star (formerly Star City Casino and prior to that, Sydney Harbour Casino) in Pyrmont, Sydney, is the second largest casino in Australia after rival Melbourne's Crown Casino. Overlooking Darling Harbour The Star sits at a prime location for vistors to look over the city of Sydney. If it fits your budget I definitely recommend staying at The Star. Its hotel service is fantastic. If gambling isn't your thing The Star offers multiple shows and bars/dance floors for the more adventurous. When visiting Sydney, The Star is a must see. For more information on what The Star offers head to - www.star.com.au

Opera Bar

Opera Bar

Opera Bar has one of the greatest locations in all of Sydney. Positioned right on the water front of Sydney Harbour and at the doorstep of the Sydney Opera House, the bar has spectacular views all around. This venue is perfect for when the weather is great, as a lot of the seating is outside (which is where you want to be with views like this). It offers both food and drink, although the cocktails are defiently a must have. I recommend the 'Dirty Carpet Disco' for the girls and a 'Honey Amaretto Sour' for the guys (both of these are the drinks pictured below). Opera Bar also has some great live bands that play every night, 7 days a week which really contribute to the atmosphere of the whole place. About a 3 minute walk from Circular Quay train station and ferry terminal, Opera Bar is easy to get too, and get home from. This is a perfect place to spend a clear, balmy night with friends whilst taking in the views of all the spectacular architecture which has made Sydney one of the most famous cities in the world.

To find out more about Opera Bar head to-

http://www.operabar.com.au/home

Future of Sydney Living

Welcome to Sydney Living!

This is a blog devoted to telling you all about the great places that Sydney city has to offer. Including clubs, bars, restaurants, tourist attractions and any place that we have been which we think is great. We will tell you where to find these hidden gems and why we think these places are defiently worth a visit.

Below is an outline of what our future blog will look like once we have gotten started.