Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres, said: “Sydney is a city of natural beauty, rugged coastlines, expansive parklands, and heritage buildings. It is a city ideal for adventure and exploring and I’m certain that the stories of the explorers featured at Trailblazers will motivate the adventurous spirit in visitors and locals.”
Inspired by the trailblazer’s featured in this exhibition, Destination NSW has prepared a list of five places that visitors should explore in Sydney this Summer.
- Collins Beach Waterfall
Collins Beach Waterfall is a little piece of paradise surrounded by bushland only 20 minutes from Manly Wharf. Nestled into Spring Cove, near North Head, it’s only accessible on foot or by boat. The best way to get there is to catch a ferry to Manly Wharf, and walk along the East Esplanade to Stuart Street. At the end of Stuart street past Little Manly Cove the track to the left leads down to the beach. With spectacular Harbour views you can stand in the waterfall and enjoy one of nature’s greatest showers. The waterfall is also the home to a colony of fairy penguins.
- Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is home to the world’s most concentrated collection of Aboriginal Heritage sites. Sydney OUTback offers wilderness and Aboriginal tours which include ochre painting and some of the most important rock engravings in Australia. The park is also a fantastic place to see native birds and wildlife and learn about shipwrecks, smugglers, pirates, escaped convicts and the National Park’s important role in World War II.
- Parramatta Park
Parramatta Park is a place the whole family can explore with heritage listed buildings, playgrounds for kids, and a range of great dining destinations. Standing in 200 acres of parkland in the park is Old Government House, Australia’s oldest public building. Visitors to the house can take a tour and enjoy a meal at Lachlan’s restaurant while soaking in the history of the colonial buildings, sandstone courtyards and gardens. At the Gatehouse Tea Rooms visitors can have high tea in one of the oldest High Tea venues in Australia. The park also features two playgrounds for kids one with a flying fox, slides, swings, and trampolines.
- Hawkesbury River
Just an hour north of Sydney is the spectacular Hawkesbury River. The Riverboat Postman is a way for explorers to take in the magnificent scenery of the river as well as take on the important role of delivering the mail and other daily essentials like milk, papers, and the odd bottle of rum to river residents on behalf of Australia Post. With entertaining and informative commentary from the local skippers it’s the perfect way to discover the history and beauty of the Hawkesbury with departures each weekday from Brooklyn Public Wharf.
- Barrenjoey Peninsula
The rugged beauty of the Barrenjoey Peninsula on Sydney’s northern beaches offers explorers the chance to visit unspoiled beaches, trek along picturesque walking trails and take in breathtaking views. Just an hour drive or bus trip from the CBD, Barrenjoey Lighthouse at Palm Beach is Sydney’s most northern point. Positioned 91 metres above sea level, the lighthouse can be reached by a 1 kilometre walking track to the top and offers spectacular views over Pittwater, past Lion Island to the Central Coast.
While in the area, explore nearby Bungan Beach, one of Sydney’s most undeveloped beaches. The 600 metre long beach north of Mona Vale is patrolled and attracts smaller crowds and the huge Headland to the North gives it a private feel.
Trailblazers: Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers lets visitors explore over 360 objects from historic explorers including Captain Cook and Sir Douglas Mawson, to modern day adventurers such as Jessie Martin and Tim Jarvis. An interactive app leads museum explorer’s on a scavenger hunt throughout the Trailblazers exhibition, which runs exclusively in Sydney until 18 July 2016.
Tickets to Trailblazers are available here.
Visit sydney.com for more information.
To download images, go to images.destinationnsw.com.au
Media contact:
Jessica Parry
Destination NSW
Tel: +61 (0) 2 9931 1135 /+61 (0) 439 143 566
E: jessica.parry@dnsw.com.au
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Caption: Lighthouse walk track at Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach photo credit Hamilton Lund, Destination NSW