The Sebel Pier One is the latest Sydney hotel to open its doors to dogs!

Rooms at the luxury hotel start at $225, and you can add an extra $60 for the privilege of staying with your pooch. Eleven rooms have been set aside for dogs: three heritage, six queen-sized waterside, and two king-sized waterside.

The hotel has a dog minding service for those times you want to see the city or have dinner without Rover’s company.

It’s a pricy proposition, but one that’s still sure to appeal to pet lovers who don’t want to leave their best friend behind!

Address: 11 Hickson Road, The Rocks
Public transport: The hotel is a short walk from Circular Quay train station and ferry wharf
Parking: Valet parking is available for a fee
Cost: Rooms from $225, plus an extra $60 for a dog
Website: http://www.sebelpierone.com.au/

Image source: Miguel Ugalde @ Stock.xchng

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

“Motorcyclists no longer have to pay for street parking and can choose between thousands of timed parking spots and hundreds of untimed spots. Many parking stations also offer discounted all day parking for motorbikes including the Goulburn St and Domain parking stations where it costs $5 to park securely all day,” said the City of Sydney Director of City Services, Gary Harding.

“The city of Sydney is committed to encouraging sustainable transport options including additional public transport, walking and cycling. Motorcycles are an important part of this mix as they can be more efficient than a car and create less congestion which is why we’ve developed a comprehensive strategy to support their use.”

Motorcyclists now don’t need to pay for parking meters in parts of the central business district, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Ultimo, and Redfern, but they still must comply with time restrictions.

If you want see exactly where the free motorcycle parking is, you can download a map (also free!) here!

Image source: Foraggio Fotographic @ Flickr

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

Chocaholics rejoice! Sydney now is getting not one, but two, Guylian chocolate stores!

The famous Belgian brand has just opened a store at Opera Quays, 3 Maquarie Street, Circular Quay and there’s another to follow at 91 George Street, The Rocks later this month. They serve those famous seashells alongside white chocolate crème brulee, decadent dark chocolate cheesecakes, and plenty of other tantalizing treats. You can wash them down with a selection of bubbly champagnes or Belgian beers.

The cafes are open daily from 8 am for those needing an early morning chocolate fix!

Image source: Wallie the Frog @ Flickr

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

Regular readers might have noticed I’ve been posting a little less than usual in the last few days. I’ve been busy! Busy-ness is always lots of fun, but it does mean blogging’s a little harder. Although luckily it does give me something good to write about when life settles down.

On Thursday I ventured into the city to head out to dinner with my husband and his work buddies at the Lowenbrau Keller. Many of us had never been, but it’s such a great venue for a casual get together.

The first thing that got me salivating was the menu. The first thing that got the boys salivating were the busty beer wenches. Swayed by my husband who spent a little time in Germany, we opted for the Oktoberfest special of Weis beer. The conservative folks in our party choose the 300 mL option, but my husband quickly chose the massive 1 L stein. It was a smart choice really – he sat on his all night where we ended up quickly reordering. It was just that good.

I settled on the pork knuckle, swayed by the promise of copious amounts of crackle. It delivered, with plenty of crispy crackle wrapped around the most succulent roast pork I’ve ever tasted. I devoured it, much to the amusement of the much slower-eating men in our group! I hate to think how many calories all that crackle contained, but it was just so good I don’t care. You just can’t go to a Bavarian restaurant if you don’t want to indulge. And with Bavarian portions rather than Sydney ones, the staff at the Lowenbrau make sure you do!

My husband ordered the mixed sausage plate. The mouthful I had was delicious, but that’s all I could wrestle from him. I think that says an awful lot about just how amazing it was.

After we’d stuffed ourselves and a had a few drinks we could better appreciate the oompah band. I even found myself dragged up on stage to help them perform “Eidelweiss” by ringing a cowbell, followed by an enthusiastic chicken dance. One of the men in our group then earned his stripes by winning the male beer drinking competition. The Lowenbrau assured us the beer was non-alcoholic, but he wasn’t so sure about that!

The bubbling atmosphere and kitschy Bavarian theme mean you probably wouldn’t seek out the Lowenbrau for a romantic night out. But for a get together with friends, I can’t think of anywhere better!

Trading hours: Daily from 9 am until late. Live entertainment starts at 7 pm every night. Late night dining runs from 11 pm to 2 am every Friday and Saturday
Location: Lowenbrau Keller
Address: Corner of Playfair and Argyle Streets, The Rocks
Public transport: Take a train or bus to Circular Quay. The Lowenbrau Keller is a short walk away
Parking: Limited street parking available
Cost: Average mains are $25-$30
Website: http://www.lowenbrau.com.au/

Image source: Vanessa Pike-Russell @ Flickr

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

Nestled in the historic Rocks district, Susannah Place Museum offers a fun day out for adults and kids alike.

The museum is actually a terrace of four houses which date back to 1844. The houses were occupied by working-class Sydney families from that time to 1990. Today the museum allows us to see how average people lived in the city throughout history.

The many layers of paint, wallpaper, and floor coverings tell us much about the tastes of the occupants, and the way these changed over time. The buildings still have the original brick privies and open laundries, which are believed to be some of the oldest surviving washing facilities in Sydney.

Museum entry is by guided tour only. They run every half hour, so you’ll never be left waiting too long for one to start.

Trading hours: Open weekends 10 am to 5 pm, and daily in January and NSW school holidays. Tours depart every 30 minutes from 10 am (except at 1:30 pm when there is no tour). The last tour of the day is at 4 pm
Location: Susannah Place Museum
Address: 58-64 Gloucester Street, The Rocks
Public transport: Catch the train or ferry to Circular Quay. The museum is a five-minute walk away
Parking: There is metered street car parking
Cost: $8 for adults, $4 for concessions and children, $17 for families
Website: http://www.hht.net.au/museums/susannah_place_museum

Image source: Charlotte in Australia @ Flickr

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

Now everything old is new again, with the announcement that Rockpool is back.

“After much deliberation, and having taken a good long hard look at what our customers want, and what we want … and what is good for us all, along with our wonderful suppliers, my business partner, Trish, and I have decided on a return to the Rockpool of old. Rockpool classic.”

The funny thing is, most of us will barely notice the changes. Rockpool Fish was never really as cheap and cheerful as we were promised, so I don’t think its demise is any great loss. If we’re going to pay those inflated prices, I’d at least prefer it to come with a five-star dining experience. It’s good to have Neil back doing what he does best.

Trading hours: Open for lunch Mondays to Fridays and dinner Mondays to Saturdays
Location: Rockpool
Address: 107 George Street, The Rocks
Public transport: Rockpool is a short walk from Circular Quay train station and ferry wharf
Parking: Secure parking is available at 121 Harrington Street, 155 George Street, and at the Clock Tower Square
Cost: Mains from $35
Website: http://www.rockpoolsydney.com

Image source: Gadgetgirl @ Flickr 

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

Before I became the blogger you all know today, I worked for an educational software company. That passion for children’s education has never left me, so I’m always thrilled to hear of events which help kids learn while they’re having fun.

So I was excited to read about the Children’s Storytelling in The Rocks. The Four Seasons is a fairly unlikely setting for such an event, but good on them for getting on board.

The sessions are hosted by prominent children’s authors who share their latest books with the crowd of young fans. Afterwards the kids get a chance to meet their hero, and enjoy a delicious themed afternoon tea!

The events are hosted regularly, so keep an eye on the Four Seasons website to see what’s coming up. Anna Fienberg will appear on Saturday 12 July from 2 pm to 3:30. She’ll read her popular story, Tashi and the Phoenix.

It sounds like a really great way to inspire reluctant readers and to reward the littlest bookworms!

Dates: Next session is on Saturday 12 July
Times: Next reading starts at 2 pm
Location: Four Seasons Hotel
Address: 199 George Street, The Rocks
Public transport: Catch a train to Circular Quay station. The hotel is a five minute walk from the station
Parking: On site parking is available for $33
Cost: $28 for kids and $30 for adults
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com/sydney/

Image source: iophoto @ Stock.xchng

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

More than 20 of Australia’s finest coffee roasters will be brewing up a storm, and you can sample some of their delicious drinks for just $1 each. You won’t find prices like that at your local Gloria Jeans!

You can also learn how to recreate these yummy treats at home with the latest equipment, demos, and discounts at the Domestic Coffee Machine Expo.

But if you’re after something a little bit naughtier I suggest heading to Chocolatiers’ Boulevarde. Even the name is indulgent, and so are the goodies you’ll find there! How do chocolate covered strawberries, cute cupcakes, and delectable fudge sound? And that’s just for starters!

The Teas of the World and Turkish Spice Bazaar showcases are also sure to draw a crowd.

This fun free festival sounds like the perfect way to beat those winter blues!

Date: Sunday 6 July
Times: 10 am to 5 pm
Location: The Rocks
Public transport: The festival is a short walk from Wynyard and Circular Quay train stations
Parking: Secure parking is available at 121 Harrington Street, 155 George Street, and at the Clock Tower Square
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.therocks.com

Image source: Malina @ Stock.xchng

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

The upper storey of a bar is an unlikely place for a four-star restaurant, but that’s exactly what you get at The Orient Hotel. So leave the bad Bryan Adams covers and crowds downstairs and treat yourself to a great meal.

We hadn’t made a booking, a bit of a mistake on a Saturday night, but thankfully the accommodating staff found us a table. We knew we’d only have it for an hour and a half, but after sneaking a peek at the menu we figured it’d be worth the rush.

The menu promised plenty, and it took some time for me to settle on the grain fed Angus beef with mushroom sauce. My husband ordered potato gnocchi with a duck ragu, while my old schoolfriend Bree settled on chicken breast supreme. It’s hard to find a wine which will happily accompany chicken and steak dishes, but the light T’Gallent pinot noir did nicely.

My steak was perfectly medium rare, and so tender. The tasty sauce with chunky mushroom pieces was a real treat. My husband devoured his gnocchi, but not before I stole a delicious sliver of duck. Bree was also thrilled with her chicken dish.

We could have happily loitered and polished off another bottle of wine and some dessert, but time was not on our side. It’s a shame really. The Orient Hotel is such a great place to catch up with friends over some amazing food, I definitely would have loved to stay longer. Maybe next time.

Trading hours: Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week
Location: The Orient Hotel Restaurant
Address: 89 George Street, The Rocks
Public transport: The pub is a short walk from Circular Quay. Catch a train or ferry there
Parking: Limited street parking available
Cost: Mains from $18
Website: http://www.orienthotel.com.au/

Image source: Superciliousness @ Flickr

Post from: The Sydney Traveler

I’m not exactly the fittest girl in the world. I like to count a trip to the grocery store as exercise, and I tend to avoid breaking a sweat. Yet somehow I found myself sitting on a bicycle for the first time in at least a year on Saturday.

My husband Steve and I were signed up for a ride with Sydney Bike Tours, an exciting new local tour company which promises to show you the sights the green way. Forget piling into a cramped tour bus, or traipsing around until your feet hurt. This bicycle tour offers a whole new perspective of the city, whether you’re a tourist or a local.

The rain which plagued Sydney all week had me feeling nervous, but the skies were a brilliant blue as we neared Sydney Bike Tours’ headquarters in The Rocks. We were introduced to our guide Andrew, who expertly paired us with the perfect bike, a protective helmet, and a fashionable fluro vest. The bright yellow attire made us look a little like council workers, but I soon got over the shame.

Andrew gave us a little time to adjust to our bikes and then we were off to enjoy The Rocks, Bridge, and Bay tour. We travelled around the historic streets of The Rocks, stopping every now and then to admire the sights and learn more about the heritage buildings around us. Then it was time to enjoy every tourists’ favourite Sydney spot, the Harbour Bridge.

I must admit, I have a love-hate relationship with the bridge. It looks great from a distance, don’t get me wrong. But I hate the traffic. I hate the nerves that come with never being quite sure which lane I need to be in. But taking it all in from a bicycle is a different kettle of fish. The bike lane is safely to the side of the cars, so you can focus on your ride and those amazing views. It’s also all downhill from the halfway point, which is bags of fun.

Once we were over the bridge we got to see how the other half live with a trip to Kirribilli. Our Prime Minister wasn’t home, but it was still a thrill to peer in the gates of Kirribilli House and Admiralty House next door. From there we wound our way down to Luna Park and Lavender Bay before taking that iconic bridge back to the city.

Before I embarked on the ride I wasn’t sure how I’d manage three hours on a bike. At about the halfway point I was wondering whether I’d make it. But I got my second wind, and was incredibly proud of myself. The ride is mostly flat and there are plenty of stops, so anyone who’s even half fit will probably fare a lot better than myself! There’s added incentive to get to the end as the tour concludes with cold beers at the Orient Hotel. What’s more Australian than that?

Sydney Bike Tours run The Rocks, Bridge, and Bay, Sydney Explorer, and Wheels and Meal rides. Call (02) 9252 5505 to book one today!

Trading hours: Tours run daily.
Location: Tours leave from the Sydney Bike Tours office in The Rocks
Address: Shop 120, Clocktower Building, 35 Argyle Street, The Rocks
Public transport: Take the train or ferry to Circular Quay station. The Sydney Bike Tours office is a short walk away
Parking: Limited street parking available
Cost: Tours cost from $49
Website: http://www.sydneybiketours.net.au

Image source: own photo

Post from: The Sydney Traveler