The Summer Guide to Sydney 2016/17
Slap on your invisible zinc and get out there. Blue skies wait for no one.
Well folks, it's that time of year again, when the rising mercury sends us outdoors en masse, pumping our concrete playground with an energy of revelry and renewal.
The spirit of summer is a celebration of what it means to be alive. We rediscover our joie de vivre with sandy toes, burnished skin, barbecues by the beach, and one too many frosés.
But with so much going on at this time of year it's hard to know where to begin, and what is supposed to be some well-deserved chill time can become a full-blown panic attack. So, what do you do when overwhelmed with options?
Welcome to the Concrete Playground Summer Guide, a shortlist of the best this city has to offer over the next three months, from rooftop bars to beaches to picnic spots to outdoor dining and much more. You'll never be without access to the best of everything, because the year's too long and summer's too short to waste time on the mediocre.
Now slap on your invisible zinc and get out there, blue skies wait for no one. Summer, we salute you.
Summer eats and drinks
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NewsThe Best Japanese Restaurants in Sydney
From high flying modern diners to long-loved, no-frills eateries.
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GuideSydney Breakfast Spots to Try
Rise and shine, Sydney — brunch, coffee and breakfast cocktails await you at these cafes.
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NewsTen Ways to Spend the Australia Day Public Holiday in Sydney
Attend a morning ceremony, join a protest, brush up on your history and really appreciate Australia's natural beauty.
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NewsThe Sydney Festival 2017 Eats Guide
Grab a bite before the show — within walking distance of your venue.
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NewsThe Ten Best Australian Craft Beers of 2016
Negroni IPAs, hibiscus sours and barrel-aged doppelbocks. Try 'em all.
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NewsAustralia's Best Locally-Made Icy Poles to Cool Down with this Summer
Sunny Boys, move to the back. These local pops, blocks and poles do summer right.
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Outdoor adventures
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NewsThe Ten Best Ocean Pools in Sydney for a Dip This Spring
Head to these stunning ocean pools to enjoy Sydney's best beaches, safe from rips and sharks.
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NewsThe Five Best Waterfalls Near Sydney You Can Swim Under
Don't stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to — nor the crammed Sydney beaches.
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NewsThe Ten Best Bike Rides In and Around Sydney
From leisurely city bike rides to stunning bush climbs, here are Sydney's best spots to glide around on two wheels.
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NewsThe Ten Best Spots for Whale Watching on the NSW Coast
Grab your binoculars, some snacks and a little bit of patience and head to these prime whale spotting locations.
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The Most Idyllic Swimming Holes to Visit Around Sydney This Summer
Don't stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.
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NewsThe Best Day Trips from Sydney to Take This Summer
Blowholes, bush walks, cycle trails and vineyard picnics are only a short drive away.
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NewsSix Ways to Squeeze the Last Few Drops of Summer Out of the Season
We can't stop the seasons from changing, but we can keep prolong the end of summer with after-work swims, outdoor movies and sleeping by the beach.
Beach needs
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NewsThe Ten Best Secret Beaches in Sydney For a Secluded Spring Swim
Beat the crowds this sunny season with a trip to these more secluded sands.
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NewsThe Ten Best Beaches in Sydney
From napping under palms on the northern beaches to snorkelling in the turquoise waters of a protected marine reserve, these are ten of our year-round go-to Sydney beaches.
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NewsThirteen of the Best Snorkelling Spots in Sydney You Should Bookmark for Summer
Escape your landlubbing worries under the sea.
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NewsSix Great Beach Umbrellas for Your Shady Picnic Set-Up
Protect yourself from those UV rays with these collapsible canopies.
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NewsThis Pristine Blue Paradise Has Been Named Australia's Best Beach for 2018
This far north Queensland island beach has topped a list of 11,761.
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NewsEight Summer Eskies That Take Beverage Cooling More Seriously Than Most
Don't settle for warm beer.
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NewsA First Look Inside Sydney Festival's Massive Ball Pit 'Beach'
We came, we saw, we cannonballed.
Backyard shenanigans
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NewsHow to Make Beetroot-Cured Kingfish With a Former Tetsuya's Chef
A former Tetsuya's chef shows us what to do.
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NewsHow to Make Big Poppa's Next-Level Pasta from Scratch
Try the steak tagliata and semifreddo dessert too.
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NewsGive Your Party a Killer Theme with Help From Luke Lucas of Lifelounge
Take your afternoon party to the next level with help from an accomplished creative director.
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NewsCraft Some Killer Backyard Decorations with Paper Artist Benja Harney
A burger pinata, some sandwich bag bunting and a lantern made of streamers. This summer, paper your backyard.
Air-conditioned adventures
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NewsThe Most Luxurious Boutique Hotels In and Around Sydney
Whether you're vacationing or staycationing in Sydney, these hotels will have you sleeping in soft linen, eating in fine restaurants and relaxing in big spa baths.
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NewsTen New Australian Films You Need to See In 2017
A Muslim rom-com, Martin Freeman braving the apocalypse, and Dev Patel in everything always.
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NewsTen Sustainable Hacks For Keeping Cool Without Air Conditioning This Summer
Fill up the ice bucket, buy a spray bottle and put your sheets in the freezer.
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NewsTen Films You Need to See in 2017
Long-awaited Blade Runner and Trainspotting reboots, Sofia Coppola's newbie and Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut.
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NewsConcrete Playground's Top Ten Movies of 2016
From moody South Korean thrillers to whimsical Hollywood musicals, these are our favourite films of the year.
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EventRogue One: A Star Wars Story
The first in a long list of upcoming Star Wars spinoffs is packed with nostalgia and explosive action.
Out-of-town getaways
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NewsThe Ten Best Beach Camping Spots in Australia
Wake up to the sound of waves at these incredible beachside campsites across Australia.
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NewsThe Eight Best Places to Go Glamping in Victoria
All these luxury Victorian glamping experiences are under two hours away from the Melbourne CBD — so you can easily have your weekend wilderness adventure and goose-feather down quilt, too.
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NewsThe Best Places to Go Glamping in NSW
All these luxury NSW glamping experiences are under two hours away from Sydney's CBD — making it all too easy to have a weekend wilderness adventure in total comfort.
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NewsHow to Road Trip the Coral Coast in Seven Days
Take a scenic drive to see dolphins, sharks, reefs, beaches and one of Australia's most famous rock formations.
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NewsA Road Tripper's Guide to Central West NSW from Bathurst to Parkes
One trip, three stops and many local produce feasts are in order at beautifully repurposed historic buildings.
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NewsEight Australian Yoga Retreats to Help You Achieve Your Most Flexible Zen
Practise your back bends in Byron and your downward dog in the Daintree.
Summer events
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EventSydney Hills Outdoor Cinema 2018
See a movie under the stars from your own bell tent or king-sized bed.
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EventAustralia Day in Parramatta
A huge 15-hour celebration with live music and the Hottest 100 in Parramatta Park.
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EventGoat Island Sounds 2017
Sydney Harbour's Goat Island is set to go off with the return of its Australia Day holiday festival.
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