Wendy Whiteley's Secret Garden - free entry

How to get there:

Wendy Whiteley's (Brett Whiteley's widow) Secret Garden is in Lavender Bay, North Sydney. 

Please respect the place, as well as Ms Whiteley privacy.

Closest ferry wharf is Milsons Bay (Luna Park)

Walk along the Lavender Bay coastal trail (Peter Kingston Walkway) until you get to the railway overpass

Climb the stairs, look for the distinctive 4 storey house next to the huge Moreton Bay Fig

Once a wasteland on public land, this garden is open to the public. There is a visitor book to sign.

The garden is filled with places to sit. There is a network of paths following the steep banks.

The end of the garden

North Sydney Public Art Trail "The Comic Walk"

The trail begins behind Luna Park (closest ferry is Milsons Point). Some of the art works (all on pedestals) are hidden amongst scrubs and grasses.

Keep your eyes peeled for Norman Lindsay's The Magic Pudding, Pat Sullivan's Felix the Cat, May Gibbs' The Gumnut Babies, The Banksia Men and Ginger Meggs.

Lavender Bay

Dorothy Wall's Blinky Bill 

Michael Leunig's Teapot and duck

Arthur 'Art' Barton - 'the Rembrandt of Luna Park' - responsible for the funfair's artwork for 35 years

Peter Kingston Walkway, with Coney Island/Luna Park in the background.

Sydney Hilton vs Sofitel Darling Harbour - How do they measure up?

1. Location

Sofitel is right on the Light Rail, close to ferry wharves; but Hilton is more central - Queen Victoria Building, Pitt Street Mall, Town Hall metro station .

Sofitel has the views (if you pay extra for a Darling Harbour facing room)

Sofitel Darling Harbour

Hilton's central location - some rooms have harbour views

2. Club Lounge Access
 Sofitel's top floor Club Millesime is spectacular but the food and beverage offered during "Evening Canapes" is disappointing compared to Hilton's Executive Lounge.

Club Millesime Evening drinks 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Hilton's evening canapes - prawns, salads, hot dishes, antipasto

Hilton lounge - fresh bread

Hilton's executive lounge - afternoon tea

Generous 'top ups' in the bar (unlike Sofitel)

Hilton's lounge during evening drinks (6 p.m. - 8 p.m.)

Hilton has several sections in their lounge, feels more intimate

3. Breakfast

Hilton's Glass restaurant. Breakfast. Incredible range of buffet dishes plus a la carte. Sofitel's breakfast looks meagre by comparison.

4. Rooms
Sofitel's rooms are over furnished and seem cramped. The lighting system is poorly designed, no indirect lighting. The night light is more dazzling. Many rooms have the bed right up against the open planned bathroom.

Sofitel King Room

Hilton's "Relaxation Room" is spacious and well designed.

5. Swimming Pool/Gym
Sofitel's (infinity) pool is outdoor and barely heated. There are pleasant views across Darling Harbour/Cockle Bay. The gym is on the same level.
Hilton shares a huge gym and lap pool with Fitness First in the Basement level. There are poolside saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzi. Mornings can get busy with the before-work crowd.

Verdict: Hilton wins in all categories.

The only positive with Sofitel's lounge is the 'no kids under 12 years' policy during evening drinks period.

Sydney Harbour's Secret Beaches - Athol Beach

Athol Beach is a 9 minute walk from the Taronga Zoo ferry wharf. There is no parking, hence no crowds. The crowds from the ferry either queue for the chairlift (to the zoo) or enter via the lower entrance. No one seems to notice the track to the beach (off the Bradley Head trail).

Athol Bay, with Taronga Zoo ferry wharf in the background

The Best (Short) Walk in Sydney? Taronga Zoo Wharf to Bradley's Head

The coastal walking trail starts at the lower entrance to Taronga Park Zoo, winding through Sydney Harbour National Park. There is a picnic ground amongst the fortifications on the hill above the HMAS Sydney I Memorial Mast. 

You can continue on to Chowder Head via Taylors Bay (add an extra 60 minutes including stops).

Wave as the Manly ferry passes Bradley's Head

Found a friend on the trail near Athol Hall

HMAS Sydney I  Memorial Mast

Fortifications date back to the 1840's

The closest beach to Sydney CBD

Lavender Bay is in North Sydney. It is a 5 minute ferry ride across from Circular Quay.
A coastal walking track leads from Milsons Point ferry wharf, past Luna Park to a small beach (Qubaree Park) with spectacular harbour views.

The trail back to Luna Park

Quibaree Park, Lavender Bay - popular with the local bush turkeys

The Best Coastal Walks in Sydney - from Manly or Watsons Bay

If you have done the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, here are three lesser known walks.

1. Manly - North Head National Park
Start at South Manly, continue past Shelly Beach onto North Head trail. Proceed through old artillery stations, barracks to North Fort and Fairfax Lookouts (views to South Head and Sydney Harbour and skyline). Trail loops back via boardwalks to Manly. Total return distance from Manly is 5 - 7 km, depending on the trail you choose and side trips to tour fort and artillery stations.

2. Watson's Bay - The Gap - South Head
Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay (via Rose Bay). Try to ignore delicious smells from Doyle's fish and chips on Watsons Bay ferry wharf.
The Gap is 700 metres west from wharf). If travelling June - September, bring binoculars for whale watching. Follow tourist boats below.
South Head National Park walk is as spectacular as North Head but shorter distance. Follow signs from Watson's Bay ferry wharf. Walk past sheltered Camp Cove and Lady Bay (nudist beach) to get to 470 metre South Head loop. Great place for a picnic on rocks near Hornby lighthouse (bins provided before loop starts).

3. Manly - Freshwater Beach
Walk north, the length of Manly Beach to Queenscliff Beach, cross bridge, climb up, through suburban streets to Freshwater Beach (better surf than Manly).

Sydney public ferries are cheaper than private operators. All leave from Circular Quay

View looking back to Manly and Freshwater Beaches (from North Head trail)

North Head - views of Sydney skyline

Free maps of North Head available in boxes along the trail

South Head and historic Hornby Lighthouse

Freshwater Beach

Which is the best Sofitel in Sydney? Sofitel Wentworth vs Sofitel Darling Harbour

Sofitel Darling Harbour was opened late in 2017. The Wentworth was opened late 1966. It is basically style over substance with these two Sofitels.
Although the new Sofitel is architecturally impressive, Sofitel Wentworth is the classier establishment - better service, food/beverage and location.

Sofitel Darling Harbour 
PROS

• 35 storeys (although floor 13 and 14 left out)
• 50 metres from the Light Rail stop (Convention Centre)
• 5 minute walk to public ferry terminal (Pyrmont)
• Infinity pool with views over Darling Harbour

CONS

• If your room faces north or east (meaning the view rooms, at an extra cost), it is very hot. We stayed in winter, also. The air conditioning temperature is set too high and is motion-activated, stay still for 60 minutes - it switches off. Hence you can wake up to a sauna in your room.
• Low floors (10 or below) can have views of car parks and surrounding buildings (south or east facing rooms).
• Lighting system in the room is 'all or nothing'. There is no indirect lighting. The overly bright nightlight in the bathroom would keep any person (sleeping on the bathroom side of the bed) awake, unless he/she wears a blindfold.
• If you are staying in the club lounge (Club Millesime is $150 extra, unless you have Accor Platinum status), expect tiny pours of wine by the staff (almost wine tasting size). If a beer is poured for you, the stubby isn't even emptied, so you get 3/4 of a glass. Go figure.

Sofitel Wentworth

PROS

• Exceptional service, better trained staff.
• 5 minute walk from Circular Quay (ferry, train, light rail, Opera House, The Rocks)
• 5 minute walk to Botanical Gardens
• 10 minute walk to Pitt Street Mall
• Club Sofitel staff pour a wine or a beer as you would yourself at home. Better range of evening cocktails/canapes.
• Quality of food superior to Sofitel Darling Harbour, in restaurant as well as in the club.
• First 3 levels of rooms facing courtyard have opening doors (Juliet balcony) - a boon for smokers.

CONS

• No spectacular views
• Because it is a 60's hotel, shower over bath in standard rooms (most of hotel rooms).
• Standard rooms are small (under 30 sq metres).

N-E view from Club lounge on level 35 (Sofitel Darling Harbour). The vaulted ceiling is spectacular.

The view is dazzling (automatic blinds are activated to shield some of the sun).

Club Sofitel at the Wentworth (Level 5)

Afternoon tea at the Wentworth (Club Sofitel)