The Summer Guide to Sydney 2019–20
Slap on your sunscreen and get out there — clear blues, secluded bush spots and ice-cold beers await.
Summer in Sydney is nothing short of glorious. It's sunny mornings, steamy afternoons and evenings that stay bright and burning long after you've escaped the office. It's gold-coloured sunsets at Clovelly, Friday afternoons at Freshie, post-work picnics at Redleaf and eating chips by the surf at Cronulla. We could go on, but you get it: summer is a jump-out-of-bed-in-the-morning time to be in Sydney.
But, hey, we're spoilt and sometimes we forget just how damn special this time of year is. That's why, together with BATI and RATU by Rum Co of Fiji, we've put together the Summer Guide, a shortlist of the best this city has to offer December through March. Go from rooftop bars to beaches to backyard barbecues to secluded bush spots in Sydney and beyond.
So whether you're drinking piña coladas by the beach or putting away a dark and stormy a cool corner of a beer garden, go forth and frolic. Summer is the ultimate Sydney pop-up and it waits for no one.
The essentials
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The 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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The 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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The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney Right Now
The only way is up at these sky-bound bars, where crisp drinks and yummy snacks come with a generous pour of fun in the sun.
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The Best Things to Do in Sydney This Week
Brave the death-defying challenges of Luna Park's new 'Squid Game' attraction, cheer on your favourite cricket team at The Thunder Derby and nail your Christmas shopping at Carriageworks' mammoth markets.
What to do
How to make the most of the weather
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NewsThe Ten Best Ocean Pools in Sydney for a Dip This Summer
Head to these stunning ocean pools to enjoy Sydney's best beaches, safe from rips and sharks.
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NewsEight Outdoor Weekend Activities to Do in Parramatta and Its Surrounds
Uncover an abundance of natural beauty in Parramatta, the dynamic river city.
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NewsFive Epic Multi-Day Hikes to Conquer Near Sydney
Pack a tent, water and lots of snacks and walk your way through the most beautiful parts of NSW during these multi-day hikes.
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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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NewsThe Seven Best Out-of-Town Ocean Pools Near Sydney for 2024
Jump in your car (or on the train) and head to these coastal swimming holes free from rips and sharks.
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NewsThe 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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NewsFive Sydney Seaside Walks for When You Need to Pretend You're on Holidays
From one of the oldest national parks in the world to a lighthouse on the northern beaches.
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NewsSydney's Best Beaches for When You Want to Play Games with Your Mates
These sandy spots have plenty of space for games, whether you want to play some volleyball, a few overs of beach cricket or just throw a frisbee around.
Where to fuel up
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GuideSydney's Best Dog-Friendly Bars, Restaurants and Cafes for 2024
All of your friends — most importantly, those furry ones with four legs — are welcome at these friendly haunts.
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NewsSydney's Best Boozy Bottomless Brunches for 2024
Swap your morning muesli for a mimosa and your sunrise coffee for an espresso martini.
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GuideThe Best Places to Get a Hearty Vegetarian Feed in Sydney for 2024
Meat may be off the menu, but there's still plenty of flavour to be found.
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GuideThe Best Places to Buy Next-Level Cheese in Sydney
These spots see your cheese dreams and raise you with toasties, coffee and wine for a very gouda grocery trip.
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NewsThe Icebergs Terrace Has Transformed Into a Lush Pop-Up Bar Overlooking Bondi Beach for Another Summer
For the second summer in a row, you can head outside to sip cocktails and eat snacks from the Icebergs Dining Room and Bar's kitchen.
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NewsThree Summery Rum Cocktails to Make the Next Time Your Mates Come Round for Drinks
These refreshing drinks only require a few ingredients and can be thrown together without raising a sweat.
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NewsA Bunch of Gin and Tonic Gardens Are Popping Up Around Australia This Summer
Mix, match and experiment with making different varieties — including at the DIY garnish stations.
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NewsThe Dolphin Is Selling Ten-Litre Casks of Orange Wine to Take Your Summer Picnics to the Next Level
You can also grab a drop of this sustainably farmed natural wine from one of the giant casks in-house — or at Icebergs Terrace and CicciaBella.
How to get out of the city
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NewsTen Incredibly Epic Australian Beaches You Need to Swim in at Least Once in Your Life
We've got some of the most idyllic white-sanded and blue-hued beaches in the world — and these are the ones you should add to your bucket list.
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GuideSydney's Best Out-of-Town Restaurants, Cafes and Bars for 2024
From regional fine diners to country bakehouses to garden gin distilleries, these are the spots to plan a day trip — or a whole weekend away — around.
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News
The 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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NewsTen Incredible Australian Islands for When You Want to Get Off the Mainland
You don't need to travel to Bali or Thailand to have an island holiday — these adventurous and relaxing spots are just off the coast of Australia.
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NewsTen Extremely Australian Big Things Worth a Detour on Your Next Very Long Road Trip
Giant watermelons, potatoes and lobsters named Larry might sound ridiculous, and they are — but that doesn't stop them from being among our most loved landmarks.
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GuideSeven Cafes to Seek Out When You're Road Tripping Down to NSW's Shoalhaven
If you like a good out-of-town cafe, the south coast is brimming with them — from healthy harbourside brunch spots to small specialty coffee bars.
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GuideNSW Cellar Doors Where You Can Spend an Afternoon Drinking Wine
From the vineyards in the Hunter Valley to the rolling hills of the Southern Highlands, these wineries are prime for wine tasting and a long Sunday lunch.
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NewsEight Things to Eat, See and Do on a Day Trip to the Central Coast
Escape the city grind for coastal hikes, kayaking adventures and lots of fresh seafood.
Where to stay cool
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream This Month
Spend your couch time watching Rashida Jones navigate a sci-fi mystery in Japan, Nicolas Cage face a post-apocalyptic future and a gripping Australian romance-scam thriller.
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in June
Spend your couch time watching the delicious return of 'The Bear', Glen Powell playing a fake hitman and Lily Gladstone's latest excellent performance.
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in April
Spend your couch time watching Andrew Scott step into Tom Ripley's shoes, a shattering docuseries about Nickelodeon's kids TV hits and Colin Farrell as a PI.
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in March
Spend your couch time watching Adam Sandler in space, a stunning Oscar-winning documentary, girl group-fuelled sitcom hilarity and Noel Fielding's latest show.
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in February
Spend your couch time watching the new 'Mr & Mrs Smith', one of this year's Oscar Best Picture nominees and a stellar new space thriller.
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NewsTwelve Films and TV Shows You Need to Stream in January
Spend your couch time watching an Oscar-nominated true tale, the 'Boy Swallows Universe' TV series and the stunning return of 'True Detective'.
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NewsThe Ten Best Day Spas in Sydney
Check into a Roman-style pool or treat yourself to a massage followed by a long, long lunch at Sydney's best day spas.
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GuideThe 30 Best Underground Bars in Sydney Right Now
From secret speakeasies to low-lit cocktail lounges and even a viking-themed tavern, some of Sydney's best drinking can be found underground.
How to relive the best of the year
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NewsThe 11 Best Books of 2020 to Read This Summer
Use your time off to get deep into the winner of this year's 2020 Miles Franklin Award or a gripping memoir on the dark reality of Silicon Valley.
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The Ten Best Books of 2019 to Read This Summer
Use your time off to get deep into this year's Man Booker Prize winner and a timely nonfiction work on Australian bushfires.
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NewsThe Ten Best Films of 2019
This year we reviewed close to 150 films — and this devious South Korean masterpiece and hard-to-watch Australian thriller are among the absolute best.
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Which bars and restaurants to hit
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Bathers' Pavilion
Balmoral's historic beachside spot has scored a makeover and a terrace champagne bar.
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The Boatshed La Perouse
Go for a dip then down oysters a plenty at this beachside cafe in La Perouse.
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Ciccia Bella Italian Osteria - CLOSED
A fun Italian restaurant in Bondi by Acme's Mitch Orr and Icebergs' Maurice Terzini.
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The Cumberland
This Manly cocktail bar is hidden behind a fridge — with 250 different whiskies, creative cocktails and plenty of snacks.
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Babylon Rooftop & Garden Bar
A luxe kingdom of meze, cocktails, slow-cooked meats and 300 wines atop Westfield Sydney.
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The Boathouse Hotel Patonga
Here, you can enjoy vibrant fare — from breakfast through dinner — and frozen watermelon margaritas right on the water.