Outpost at Cockatoo Island

So, this restless vegan isn't so restless anymore. Actually, I'm trying my best to settle into Sydney, but the lack of employment prospects is doing it's best to thwart my plans. Being unemployed has one advantage - I can visit lots of Sydney sights without the weekend crowds getting in the way.

Last Friday, S & I headed over to Cockatoo Island to visit the Outpost street art exhibition. The island is heritage listed and contains the remains of the machinery from the shipyards that ran on the island until 1992.

This was my favourite work - it's a reproduction of the artist's childhood home.

Inside the house there was a video playing, showing the artist destroying these 3 Commodores.

There was also a huge exhibition of vintage & collectable t-shirts. It was visually very interesting.

The juxtaposition (love that word!) of the old machinery with the art was fantastic.

My other favourite exhibition was the Oi You! collection, featuring a number works by Banksy that have never been seen outside NZ. This was my favourite work in the collection.

After we checked out all the exhibitions, we climbed up to the top of the island, which contains loads more machinery and factory buildings as well as lots of examples of the other histories of the island - which has also been a convict prison, industrial school, reformatory and jail. The views are also pretty nice.

My favourite thing about the whole day was just wandering around, looking at all the old buildings and imagining what it would have been like in the past. I love that the government has the left the island as is, rather than pulling the old buildings down and trying to develop it into something else.

If you haven't visited Cockatoo Island yet, put it on your list - it's a really nice way to see a different view of Sydney.

Playing at Luna Park

A couple of weekends ago S & I decided to revisit our childhoods & head to Luna Park for the day. I only remember going to the Sydney one once when I was very young (although I have been to the Melbourne Luna Park a few times as an adult).

It's perfect weather and views like these that are making my decision on whether to live in Sydney or Melbourne very very difficult.

Our first glimpse of the slightly-creepy smiling entrance.

As soon as we walked through the gates I quickly regressed to childhood, skipping along & practically bursting with impatience to try all the rides!

I adored the clowns when I was young, but at $5 a go, decided to give them a miss.

The carousel is a beautifully-restored 1900 original, still with its 1904 organ.

The first ride we tried was quite sedate - the Ferris Wheel.

It's quite pretty with the harbour & bridge as a backdrop.

The views were amazing - this is looking over the park to Lavender Bay.

One thing the day brought home to me was just how old I'm getting - I actually got scared going down the slippery dip at Coney Island, the relatively sedate Wild Mouse rollercoaster had me gripping the carriage in terror and to top it off, the 'Ranger' pirate ship left me feeling ill for the rest of the day.

I had wanted to go on the Flying Saucer, but after watching it do it's spinning thing up into the air I gave it a miss & happily waved S off to some stomach-churning fun.

After we had squeezed as much out of our unlimited rides pass that my stomach would allow, we settled down for a beer at The Deck. It's got one of the best views in Sydney, and the prices aren't that bad, considering.

We couldn't sit around drinking beer all day, so soon it was time to say goodbye.

But not before one last shot of Australia's 2 most famous icons.

We decided to walk back over the bridge since I've never done it. Walking underneath the barbed wire feels a bit intimidating, but I guess that's what our world has come to these days.

At least there are views like these to distract you.

I had a great day at Luna Park - it's not cheap, but definitely worth the cash for your next Sydney adventure. If I eventually decide to live in Sydney, I'll definitely be getting an annual pass so I can enjoy unlimited fun all year round!

Coogee-Bondi Coastal Walk

The Bondi-Coogee Coastal Walk is pretty well known to Sydney-siders. When S & I had a Friday off recently we decided to give it a go, but in the opposite direction, because I had my eye on a vegan pie for lunch at Funky Pies in Bondi.

So, we got up early & got the bus to Coogee. It's my favourite Sydney beach, even under a grey sky.

After seeing so many Italian beaches that consisted of nothing more than a thin strip of pebbles, this sweep of white sand was quite beautiful to look at.

The walk is very easy - hugging the sandstone cliffs along the coast pretty much the whole way.

Sydney is so built up, it's easy to forget there are still places you can appreciate what it was like hundreds of years ago. Well, at least you could if you squinted & ignored the buildings along the rough coastline.

Shortly after leaving Coogee we reached Gordon's Bay - a pretty spot that seems to attract lots of fisherman.

Look - I captured another flying bird!

The next beach is Clovelly. It's quite small, but does have a lovely, free, ocean pool.

The Clovelly Bowling Club surely has the best view of any club in Australia.

And of course the Waverley Cemetary offers an eternal ocean view to a select few.

It really is a beautiful coastline, I can't believe I have never walked the whole thing.

Next beach on the list is Bronte.

Quickly followed by Tamarama.

And of course, finishing off with the (in)famous Bondi - probably my least favourite Sydney beach, despite (or perhaps, because of) the hype.

This walk was fantastic - I recommend you try it on a weekday outside of summer to avoid the crowds. It's not only a favourite spot for tourists, but for locals as well.

The Stats
Distance: 6km
Time: About 1.5hrs (but you could easily make it 1/2 a day if you wanted to wander off the track for a coffee in each suburb, or for a swim in warmer weather)
Difficulty: Easy-Medium - just for some of the steeper sections of steps towards the Bondi end of the walk.