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Overview
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule.
We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Sydney. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine.
This week, practice your downward dog in the Botanic Gardens, go for sunset bowls by the sea and try the world's oldest burger. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here.
All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
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Start your week right with a morning yoga session in the Royal Botanic Garden. Housed in the Calyx, the attention-grabbing, UFO-shaped public space that landed in the gardens last year. The classes run between 7.30 and 8.30am and cost $20. Offering a sweet escape from the bustle of the city, these Hatha yoga sessions are the perfect way to inject some calm into your Monday morning. Plus, you’ll still have enough time to grab a post-session shower and coffee before landing at your office desk all zen-ed out, and ready to tackle the week. If you’re one of those yoga buffs who just can’t make it out of bed that early, swing by for the lunchtime session (12–12.50pm) instead.
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Escape the office in time for a game of sunset bowls at Clovelly Bowling Club. Perched right on the cliff overlooking the sea, the bowlo is the perfect place to soak up the last rays of afternoon sun and ogle a glorious summer sunset next to the ocean. Round up the workmates for a $15 (per person) game of barefoot bowls, which also includes a beginner’s lesson if needed. Hot tip: stop by the supermarket on the way there to pick up some meaty treats. The club provides free barbecue facilities for bowls players.
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Looking for a new burger adventure to spice up your hump day? Make your way to Xi’an Biang Biang in Chinatown to try their rougamo. This ancient meat sandwich dates back to 221BC, making it the world’s oldest hamburger, sandwich, pie or whatever else you think this exciting dish most resembles. The version served at Xi’an Biang Biang is made from a disc of pastry stuffed with pulled pork, which has been stewed in soup for hours. The result: crispy, crunchy goodness paired with meltingly tender meat. Prepare to be more than impressed.
Image: Letícia Almeida.
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There are few things more civilised than having your friends over for pasta that you made with your own adult hands. It’s one of those tasks that feels impossibly complicated, but once you learn a few simple techniques, you’ll be fanging fettuccine like the CEO of Barilla. Why not invest in your fancy, adult life and sign up for a pasta making workshop at Cornersmith in Marrickville with Chef O Tama Carey (of Berta fame). Over a glass of wine and a selection of delectable Cornersmith treats, you’ll learn how to make two styles of pasta and some tasty seasonal sauce that can be easily recreated at home to thoroughly impress your pals.
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If you’re in the mood for the gritty raucousness of old-school New York City this Friday, look no further than CBD favourite Frankie’s Pizza. Smash some cheesy pepperoni slices from the pizza parlour out front before swinging through the saloon doors into the delightfully dingy bar behind to catch a live gig. This is the kind of place where the light comes from pinball machines, drinks are served in plastic cups and gig bills cover a substantial portion of the wall space — settle in for a night of rowdy live entertainment.
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Forget about spending this Saturday cleaning. The creative powers that be didn’t come up with daffodils, blue skies and the like so you could stay indoors burdened by brooms and brushes. Instead, take full advantage of your precious weekend with a cheeky day trip to the Blue Mountains. Catch the train to Leura, a quaint little village that feels worlds away from the bustle of the metropolis. Sweet tooths will want to make a beeline for The Candy Store, an iconic lolly paradise in the Leura Mall Arcade. Expect speciality treats, old-school delights from your grandparents’ childhood and international confectionary. Once you’ve had your fill of sweet treats, have a poke around the many shops, where you’ll find unique fashion, antiques and other delights. Wrap up the day in Katoomba, with dinner at Scenic World’s EATS270, where you’ll get uninterrupted views over Jamison and the Three Sisters, with a killer Angus beef burger.
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Shake up your Sunday routine with a bushwalk around Georges Heights in Mosman, from Chowder Bay through the former military barracks and on to Obelisk Beach. Along the way, stop off at Georges Heights Lookout for sweeping views of Sydney from Manly to Vaucluse to the CBD. This is also the site of a former WWI military lookout and hospital, so you’ll be able to explore the remaining historic structures. Continue along the path and head up to Frenchy’s Cafe to refuel with some French-Aussie fare like quiche and goat’s cheese salad. Finish your trek at the nearby Obelisk Beach — one of the only legal nude beaches in the city — for some swimming and sunning. Despite its cult status, this secluded spot is usually rather tranquil, so it’s the ideal spot for a post-walk skinny dip with more stunning views over Sydney Harbour.
By Yelena Bidé and Quinn Connors.