Five Reasons to Stay in Sydney this Long Weekend

in partnership with

The October long weekend is nigh upon us, and you've probably already begun daydreaming of plans to leave Sydney. Now's the time to ditch that  idea. We've partnered with Mastercard to help you make the most of your long weekend, here's a handful of reasons why Sydney's the place to stay.

THERE ARE SO MANY NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY

Hubert, Kittyhawk, Mercado, Hacienda – they're just four of the many incredible restaurants and bars that have popped up in the CBD this year. Take advantage of the slightly less busy CBD and use your four day weekend to tick off the restaurants you've had your eye on for a while.

IT'S THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP

How long have you been putting off visiting the Kiama blowhole? This gift from mother nature is great, but it's not the best thing about driving 90 minutes south of Sydney. Kiama is backdropped by green, rolling hills, and it has good coffee, good food (particularly good burgers), and good accomodation. Fill up the tank, follow our itinerary, and hit the road.

YOU CAN GO ON A PROPER BIKE RIDE

The Prospect Reservoir and Orphan School Creek track is 29km, and an entirely off-road loop that soars through several high points and offers cracking views of Greater Western Sydney. There are Instagram opportunities aplenty. If you're there on Saturday, pause at Prairiewood and visit the 600 stalls that make up Fairfield Markets.

GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A STAYCATION

Be a tourist in your own city for the weekend. Book a room at one of Sydney's lovely, luxury hotels (we're looking at you, Shangri-La) and explore the city from a prime location. Or, put on a hotel robe, head down to the hotel spa for some spa treatments, then go back to your room and order some room service. Spending the night sleeping in crisp hotel sheets, and returning to your room the next morning to find your bed made can sometimes feel like a holiday in itself.

YOU CAN GO BEHIND THE SCENES AT ROCKPOOL

If you prefer to eliminate the possibility of surprise wallabies from your fine dining experience, Mr. Perry's Rockpool Bar and Grill is running pre-dinner tours through its wine cellar, giving connoisseurs of plonk the chance to revel in one of the most varied and impressive wine collections in the country. There's no tasting included, but don't worry, you can do that at the table.

Visit priceless.com to see a Sydney long weekend itinerary from @beesbeesxthree, and more priceless experiences in Sydney exclusive to Mastercard cardholders.

Words: Matthew Abotomey, Jasmine Crittenden and Kelly Pigram.

Top Image: Hacienda