Sydney doesn’t hibernate in winter: the cooler months herald some of the city’s most unique experiences. Rug up, step out and enjoy everything from festivals to whale watching — including plenty of crisp, sunny days.
Embrace the chill at more winter festivals
Roll up to a range of other magical festivals held throughout Sydney during winter. Watch Bondi transform into a winter playground during the Bondi Festival, held over 17 days in July, and embrace the world’s best filmmaking in June at the Sydney Film Festival. Enjoy weekends of frosty fun at the Darling Harbour Winter Festival in July, with food stalls, ice-skating and epic entertainment; or hit the outdoor ice rink at Campbelltown’s ChillFest in July.
Stay up late in a cosy bar
Warm up for a big night out at one of Sydney’s moodiest bars. Recline on a leather banquette in front of the fireplace with a gin cocktail in hand at Frank Mac’s in The Rocks, or descend into a late-night lounge bar for expertly shaken cocktails and a live music roster of jazz, new-wave and soul at Caterpillar Club. Head underground for a clandestine cocktail at Palmer & Co, also centrally located, and sample a taste of Sicily at subterranean Apollonia, hidden in the moodily lit basement of Hinchcliff House, just behind Circular Quay.
Settle in for a decadent meal
Retreat from the elements to experience Sydney’s renowned culinary creativity at some of the city’s finest restaurants. Take a quick trip to NYC via Clam Bar, a bistro inspired by the steakhouses of the great city, with classic cocktails and bone-in steak cooked over charcoal with all the sides you could want. Descend the spiral staircase behind a mysterious wooden door on Bligh Street in the city centre to the basement dining room at Hubert, where classic French fine-dining is de rigueur. Imagine you’ve stepped into a friend’s rustic country home as you linger over a long paddock-to-plate lunch at Fred’s in Paddington. Or tuck into one of Sydney’s best Sunday roasts by a crackling fire at the charming Glebe Hotel.
Be mesmerised by migrating whales
Marvel at the majesty of nature as whales put on a spectacular show in Sydney during the cooler months. Each year from May to November, more than 40,000 humpback and southern right whales make their way along Sydney’s coastline during their annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of the Pacific and back again. Watch in wonder from coastal vantage points such as North Head at Manly and the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, which traces the clifftops of the city’s inner eastern beaches. Or get up close to these giants of the deep on an action-packed whale-watching cruise from Circular Quay, Darling Harbour or Manly with the likes of Whale Watching Sydney, Oz Whale Watching, Ocean Extreme and Manly Ocean Adventures.
Seek warmth through wellness
Get a taste of Sydney’s renowned wellness scene via an array of restorative experiences ideal for the winter months. Warm up from the inside out during a calming infrared sauna session at Nimbus & Co or Slow House, both located at Bondi. Hop between the sauna, mineral spa, ice bath and steam room at Surry Hills’ slick new space Capybara. Try something different and bathe nude at Arisoo, women-only Korean-style bathhouses in Paddington and Chatswood. Float in the 20-metre indoor pool under a canopy of twinkling ‘stars’ following a decadent treatment at the subterranean The Day Spa by Chuan at The Langham. Or treat yourself to a decadent day of bespoke facials and body therapies at the two-storey Spa at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour.
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