Colour your grey matter in Sydney

Creativity is one of the things that Sydney does best and from May to June, the city will be turning on the lights, exploring new ideas and painting the city in a new coat of colours for a series of exciting new events.

Vivid Sydney Festival will light up the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Circular Quay and the city centre from 26 May to 14 June. The biggest international music and light festival in the southern hemisphere features four exciting new events - Luminous, Creative Sydney, Smart Light Sydney and Fire Water.
 
Sydney will once again show that it’s a striking canvas for exploring fresh and innovative ideas. Not only is it one of the most visually stunning cities in the world, Sydney is also endowed with a wealth of creative talent that will inspire you during this action-packed time.

Find out more about what Vivid Sydney has to offer.

Sydney Dining

Sydney’s talented chefs love to be creative and, with an abundance of fresh local produce at their fingertips, why wouldn’t they be? If it’s art on a plate you’re after Quay, the 2009 Gourmet Traveller and Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year is a good place to start.  Stunning views over the harbour to the Opera House are matched by exquisite food and service.

Sydney’s eat streets also offer plenty of dining choices and are just a short trip from the city centre. Head to Newtown for Thai food, Leichhardt for Italian, Marrickville for Vietnamese and Haymarket for Chinese dumplings and yum cha.  Inner city Surry Hills and Darlinghurst are popular dining spots if you’re after cool bars, funky fit-outs and creative food.

Sydney Nightlife

During the Vivid Sydney Festival there will be plenty of evening activities. An absolute must is the free ‘Light Walk’ where stunning light installations will be placed by the harbour from the Sydney Observatory, through The Rocks and around Circular Quay, finishing at Sydney Opera House.

En route stop to enjoy some of Sydney’s ‘don’t miss’ attractions and activities. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge at twilight for the best view of the city lights, drop into the Sydney Observatory to gaze on the southern hemisphere sky and finish with a White Opera cocktail at Opera Bar overlooking Sydney Harbour.

Sydney Lifestyle

There’s no shortage of ways to discover new creative talents in Sydney. Take a photography tour through The Rocks, learn bread-making at an artisan bakehouse or take a dance class at the Sydney Dance Company.

Sydney is a city of creative villages, each with its own distinct personality, fashion scene and tastes. Wander through Waterloo’s new design hub, pyd, before lunching at Café Sopra in Fratelli Fresh. Discover up-and-coming fashion designers and quirky one-off shops along King Street in Newtown or head to Gleebooks and Sappho in Glebe to delve amongs the shelves. Stock up on cool jewellery at Metalab, fabrics at Tessuti and designer homewares and collectables at CheeSoon Fitzgerald, all in Surry Hills.

Out and about in Sydney

Sydney is a great city to explore on foot. Head for Bondi to walk the track between Bondi and Bronte beaches where you can surf, dive and swim. Or explore bushland, secluded bays, harbour beaches and lookouts on the Manly to Spit Bridge walk. At Royal National Park south of Sydney, a one- hour walk from Bundeena along Jibbon Beach and the coast, passes Aboriginal rock carvings or head north to Palm Beach and discover beautiful Barrenjoey lighthouse on the headland.

Art and culture in Sydney

Sydney’s art galleries provide an abundance of creative inspiration at any time of the year. Now is a good time to visit the Art Gallery of NSW to see the portraits in Australia’s most controversial art prize, the Archibald Prize. The gallery stays open late on Wednesday evenings for Art After Hours which features talks and workshops from visiting artists. You’ll be seeing spots after the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Yayoi Kusama: Mirrored Years exhibition which includes everything from painting, collage, sculpture, installation and film. At the Brett Whitely Gallery in Surry Hills, you can take a live drawing class in the very studio where the acclaimed artist painted some of his best known works.

Other exciting events are also on offer with something for everyone from music to dance, sport and film. Take in Guys and Dolls and Chicago, or cheer the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium, be inspired by the latest international films at the Sydney Film Festival or meet award-winning writers from Australia and around the world at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. For more information visit www.sydney.com

Terms and Conditions

*Fares are economy round trip fares, and exclude government-imposed taxes, fees and the 9/11 Security Fee (collectively between $USD100 to $USD250 depending on itinerary). Prices are in US dollars and include applicable fuel surcharges. On sale from midnight (PST) 31st March until midnight (PST) 30th April (unless sold out earlier) for travel from 1st April 2009 to 9th December 2009. Fares are current as at 23rd April 2009, are subject to availability and may vary until ticketed. Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Available only for instant purchase online and are refundable ($500 refund fee applies). No stopovers are permitted. Connecting flights between Sydney and other Australian domestic ports are operated by Virgin Blue Airlines. Any Australian domestic travel can be booked through Virgin Blue http://www.virginblue.com.au/. Tickets purchased through the Guest Contact Centre cost $15(USD) more. A minimum stay of 4 nights is required.

^Prices are “from” and in US dollars, per person, twin share and subject to availability, currency fluctuations and change without notice. Airfare is V Australia International Economy class. Price is based on departures from Los Angeles. Add-on fares available from other US cities. US/foreign taxes and fees, including September 11th security fee, is not included and is approximately $USD100 to $USD250 depending on itinerary. Seats are limited and airfare is subject to change due to fare increases and fuel surcharges. On sale from midnight (PST) 31st March until midnight (PST) 28th April (unless sold out earlier) for travel from 1st April 2009 to 9th December 2009. Strictly subject to availability. Blackout dates apply. Pricing is ‘from’ and pricing will depend upon your travel dates. Down Under Answers will customize this vacation to suit your style, taste and budget. Contact us on 1866 908 1242 for our complete terms and conditions and to book your vacation.

~Offer valid with any international air ticket to Australia, excluding those originating in New Zealand. Airpass must be booked before arrival in Australia and/or New Zealand, and inbound flight details must be provided at time of booking. Airpass is not available to tax residents of Australia or New Zealand. A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 flights can be booked per Airpass. Prices quoted are minimum prices, in Australian dollars, current at 17 April 2009 and are subject to change without notice. Prices and airfares are subject to availability, and available fares may be more expensive than minimum fares quoted. Restrictions apply to changes to your Airpass itinerary after you arrive in Australia and/or New Zealand. International flights operated by Pacific Blue. For full details of Airpass, including Airpass fare rules, go to virginblueairpass.com