A visitor to Sydney is really spoilt for choice since there are many places to see and beaches to visit. Sydney is busy and packed. However Sydneysiders love to live outdoors. Many beaches and reserves have been developed to cater to this. Sawmiller’s reserve is off the beaten path.

If you want to take a break from the hustle & bustle of the Sydney concrete jungle, then head for the easy access perfect rejuvenation picnic spot. Sawmillers Reserve is that idyllic locale that boasts of a little water-side park inclusive of a ship-wreck. The good part is that most locals are either not aware of Sawmillers Reserve, or are just not interested in this enchanting spot practically next to Sydney Harbour. This reserve is a less known but lovely place for a person to de-stress and relax.

Over the years, Sawmillers Reserve has become more of a scenic spot for destination weddings. If you would like to get married at a beach, Sawmillers Reserve is a very good choice for you. It is charmingly designed by Harry Howard and Barbara Buchanan. The lovely terraces, the beach front make a romantic venue to exchange vows with your loved one. The terraces lead to a shipwreck and this makes for a wonderful photo for your wedding album.

The view from Sawmillers Reserve is truly enchanting, so do not forget to tote along the camera and even a pair of binoculars. It is a safe bet that most locals do not even know about this enchanting little spot on Sydney Harbour. Situated right next to the waterfront in close proximity to West Crescent Street, French Street and Blue Point, Sawmillers Reserve overlooks the sailboat-filled Berrys Bay and on a clear day one can see upto Balls Head, with views of the city skyline and tree-dappled Harbour Bridge as well as the terraced, hilly streets of Balmain and Birchgrove across the Harbour.
There is a playground and also a tree house for children. The children can also wander around the wood play area. It is a wonderful venue for people to enjoy a quiet holiday with their families and children.

Sawmillers Reserve is open 24 x 7 which eliminates all botheration of adjusting the day and the time to suit your schedule. It is centrally located. One can drive down in their own vehicle, or take a bus from the North Sydney Station, or land up at McMahon’s Point Ferry Wharf and take a short walk to the landmark spot.

Hikes and Cycle Treks around Sydney include Sawmillers Reserve as one of the stops, and even a starting point or ending point since it is centrally located.

Sawmillers Reserve

Munro Street – McMahon’s Point
2320 – The Lower North Shore
NSW

For additional information:

The Rocks Visitors Centre

West Crescent Street
Sydney 2004
Australia

Tel: 61 02 9255 1788

Have you ever wondered how amazing it would be to watch a movie, snuggled under a warm rug with a basket of goodies, under the starlit Sydney sky? There is just the right place for you to take your loved one for such a beautiful experience.

The St George Open Air Cinema offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbor and the Opera House. As you take in the lights of the Harbor, many a times you’ll be more inclined to watch Harbor Bridge than the movie itself. It is considered as the top location by the tourists.

Located at Fleet steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point in downtown Sydney the Cinema, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, this beautiful open air cinema offers good mix of new and old Hollywood flicks. There is a restaurant and a bar which offers food and drinks till 6:15 pm every night but bringing outside food is not allowed.

It is advisable to book your tickets in advance as it is the most popular outdoor cinema in Sydney. Sometime you do get tickets on site but there is always a queue. Tickets cost around $20 AUD. The screening starts at sunset with the spectacular Sydney skyline in the backdrop.

Over 200 metered parking spaces is available on Mrs Macquaries Road and discount parking is also available at Enacon Parking Cathedral Street Car Park, at the southern end of Cathedral St adjacent to Cook and Philip Park which is just 10 minute walk from the cinema. One can either take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens to reach the place or catch a bus or a taxi which is easily available.

Visit The St George Open Air Cinema for an amazing cinematic experience. It is a perfect way to spend a fine summer evening.

Sydney’s Moonlight Cinema

Located at Belvedere Amphitheatre in the gorgeous Centennial Park, Sydney’s Moonlight Cinema has a relaxed picnic style atmosphere where you can enjoy a good Hollywood’s classic, contemporary or latest releases with family& friends. The place has been a favorite for night entertainment with the locals for last 12years.

Though the place does not offer the spectacular view like St. George cinema but it has many advantages like bringing your own food, alcohol and picnic rug. Even a well behaved dog is allowed. The food stalls on site also offer a large variety of snacks etc.

One can watch good old and new movies in about $15 AUD. For AS$30 you can get a glass of beer and a special bean bag to relax. What more can one ask for? You can reach the venue by catching any of buses from the city or by a taxi. There is ample parking space available on Oxford St and also limited parking within Centennial Park on Carrington Drive.

So get into the holiday spirit for a special night at the Moonlight Cinema.

Starlight Cinema at North Sydney Oval and the Open Air Cinema at Bondi Beach are some other options for open air cinemas.

Ask most tourists to name the capital city of Australia, and expect many to answer that it’s either Melbourne or Sydney, but rarely someone will say ‘Canberra’. For information of the readers, Canberra is a well planned city with a somewhat idealistic location in a valley near a lake (Lake Burley Griffin) and is surrounded by green hills. In fact, it is also fondly referred to as the ‘bush capital’ because a huge chunk of the surrounding land is a ‘green-belt’ no construction area denoted as national parks or nature reserves. Ideally, and from tourism point of view, if you do plan a visit to Canberra, then try to make it in the month of March. And if perchance you can make it on the third Monday of March, then you can actually partake in the festive occasion of ‘Canberra Day’ held each year same time to celebrate the birthday of the city. This ten-day extravaganza includes a Mardi Gras parade, a whole lot of local displays of the arts and the culture, including an abundant variety and combination of local music and food. And if you are not able to make it within those ten days, do not despair. In Canberra, the entire month of March is festival time, and one should try not to miss the huge and popular, National Folk Festival.

The capital city is not very densely populated, has a wonderful commercial hub, and besides the Parliament House that is required to be based in the capital city, it is also home to the National Library, the National Gallery, and the High Court of Australia. Let us start our tourism jaunt by look at two of the interesting attractions.

Parliament House

Constructed in 1988 on the peak of Capital Hill, the Parliament House is for all practical purposes a ‘new’ building with a totally modern construction. It is placed strategically in the midst of a 23 hectare garden, and one unique feature is that the entire roof-top of the Parliament House is actually grass-covered and on which one is permitted to take a walk. The Parliament House is naturally the focal building of Canberra where the elected members deliberate on and take major decisions that govern the entire country. The walls of Parliament House are adorned with some classic and modern art that the visitors can stroll and view and if one is lucky enough, that is if the parliament session is in progress, there is also the opportunity to actually observe from a visitor’s gallery the deliberations of the members during the ‘question hour’.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is a virtual treasure-trove of art, housing more than 70,000 rare works that encompass right from the local contemporary Aboriginal art and craft to the exquisite range that covers practically all the old masters of Europe. The National Gallery is undoubtedly home to the finest modern as well as classic art collection in this part of the southern hemisphere. The National Gallery is practically a must see stop-over for art-lovers, and one can even recommend not missing the Jackson Pollock ‘Blue Poles’.