my ultimate guide to Australia

what to do, where to eat and where to stay in Sydney, Byron and Dunsborough

My favourite place. There’s something that has always been so magic to me about Australia. The first time I visited I was 19 and I decided almost immediately I would live there at some point. 5 years later I moved.

I lived in Sydney for 2 years between 2014-2016 and had one of the worst and then one of the best years of life (all very transformative anyway - must be due to my Astro Cartography). I lived in Bondi (with a 3 month stint on a horse farm in the outback, a story for another time) but have been back 5 times since I left to visit friends, and I was there most recently this past Christmas break - and did a whistle stop tour of Sydney, Byron and Perth / WA, from which these recommendations come from. This newsletter includes my favourites coffee spots and restaurants, links to where we stayed and my favourite beaches and what good things you can do in each place!

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N.B. this is a *long* post so to see it all please click through to the Substack site or app as it won’t display it all within this email.

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Sydney

Our first stop, and the place that makes me cry from happiness when landing into (yes, really, although maybe it’s also the end of a 24 hour flight). I love how outdoorsy life can be here. I tend to stay in Bondi as that’s where I used to live and often stay with friends there, however this time also stayed in a rented flat for a bit, which was in a great location and had everything we needed for a very good price.

Eat & Drink:

Porch and Parlour - I used to work in this beach cafe so it’s always a favourite. It’s changed owners since I was there but they still do a great coffee and breakkie bowl.

Williams Street - I love this spot in Paddington that feels like a relaxed wine bar with share plates, just super high quality food. Great for chatty dinners.

Banana Blossom - just off Hall Street in Bondi this place does the best Tokyo Chicken noodle salad. I used to get this so often when I lived there as I used to live right at the end of the road!

Bondi Fish - a classic spot right on the beach, great for post beach long lunches and dinners with fish and chips, sashimi, oysters… all the beachside goods in a lovely atmosphere.

Da Orazio - Pizza, pasta, margaritas = YES. Great for big parties and taking children too.

Totti’s - a newer one for me but it’s become a fast favourite. It’s an Italian that does great charcuterie boards and share plates, delicious wine and cocktails - all in a beautiful space. Great for girlie dinners and long catch ups.

Catalina Rose Bay - I had never been here before and finally went this trip as it’s so well known, I wasn’t sure what to expect and if it would be more hyped up than necessary but the food was *incredible*! It’s over the water and you have a view of the bridge, great service and really good wine.

Things to do:

Coastal walk - waking up early with the sun and walking from Bondi to Bronte beach to have a dip in the ocean pool there is always the start of a good day. Surrounded by nature, moving my body, in awe at the sheer size of the ocean and waves, watching surfers from the top of the cliff, friendly people saying hello, getting an ice coffee and making it to your reward of a fresh dip in one of the most beautiful rock pools can’t really be topped.

Icebergs - a Bondi institution! Probably the most iconic place that I’m sure you will have seen images of the swimming pool in the ocean on Bondi. There’s lots of rock pools you can use for free but this one is more of a lengths pool and part of a gym so you need to pay $10 for entry but you can sit there all day (although please sit in the shade too in AUS!). It also has a fancy dining restaurant above it and a terrace for drinks and it’s such a lovely spot to go to at sunset, too.

Picnic at Tamarama - Tamarama is a fairly small beach but it has some great rocks (pictured below) that make for the perfect later afternoon / sunset picnic spot. We did this on Christmas day and it was such a nice way to end the day. You can pop for a swim - the rocks create lots of little shallow rock pools too if you don’t want to dive in to the big waves - and you get a lovely view of the sun setting back over Sydney (the sun sets

Botanical Gardens - this is such a lovely way to walk up to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House through a sea of green and well, the actual sea right by you. It's magic and you can park right by it, and you’ll also be right by the art gallery so it’s a lovely spot. especially if you’ve never been before. My fiancé had never been to Australia before and this was such a lovely afternoon for him to see more of the classic spots you want to tick off along with a little bit of culture too.

Favourite beaches: Cape Cove, North Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, Palm Beach

Eastern Beaches in Sydney

Byron Bay

I have ended up going to Byron Bay each trip I’ve done to Sydney over the past 9 years, as one of my best friends lives here so I always go to visit her. It’s such a lovely lifestyle and pace of life here - very slow and health focused (for the most part ;). You do need a car here as even if you’re staying right in ‘town’ you want to be able to go and explore the hinterland and other beaches.