Surviving and thriving on a family trip to Sydney

A lot of people tell you “good luck” when you say you’re going on a trip with your baby.

Although at times me and the hubby longed for our old life of wining until the wee hours, it’s surprising how much more you can get out of a trip when you go to bed at a respectable hour and plan activities to fill your days. We’ve never seen so much of Sydney and I’m happy to say it’s absolutely gorgeous!

 
 

Our itinerary was not for the faint-hearted, and on reflection you could have stretched it over a couple more days, but I do have lots of tips to share and a lot of great memories, which were captured, packed-up and brought back to Brisbane to put on the wall and remind us to go again soon.

The digs

Sheraton on the Park – “Ooh-la-laa” I hear you say, and you are correct. You don’t have to visit to see that it’s in a perfect location just opposite Hyde Park, and even though we don’t have a park view we still feel like royalty because of the super attentive and friendly team. After a considerate reminder from the concierge to let people carry my bags (“It IS a five-star hotel”), we really got into the swing of being looked after.

If you can stretch your budget, book on the Executive floors. The extra you spend on the room means breakfast in the Executive Club, which is quiet, respectable and no lazy continental – I’m talking smoked salmon, pastries, eggs, coffee, and comfy chairs with a view. You can also take advantage of evening canapés and drinks after a long day of shopping to kick start your appetite before dinner.

If you can’t manage an Executive room, the restaurant breakfast is also jam-packed full of goodness. Omelets on order are my favourite way to start the day, so I’m sold, but the big surprise for my husband is the dessert portion of the buffet. Stocked with ice-cream, waffle cones and bread-and-butter pudding, my small family may never again feel like they’re on holidays without this complete breakfast.
And just when we thought they were done with us, the Sheraton makes us feel special one more time when the sensational concierge gives our little Stevie a gift for being a terror in the foyer while we wait for our transfer home. I’m going to take it as a gesture because she’s cute, not an attempt to quiet her.

The transport

I don’t usually write about how I get from place to place, but with a baby it’s a logistic that needs to be considered. We’re lucky to use Instyle Limousines, who make most of our journeys a breeze. The drivers are friendly, punctual, and knowledgeable about the city. The baby seat is always set up and our bags and pram are taken care of.

On the few occasions we’re stuck on foot, it’s no problem to hail a van taxi, which all have car seats in the boot. All the Sydney taxis we use are clean and comfortable with excellent drivers.
Off road, we use Circular Quay as a hub and get the ferry. Sydney’s harbour is a jewel in the middle of an amazing city, and catching the ferry is a sensational way to be a part of it.

The food

Chiswick – Located in the Art Gallery of NSW, we instantly stiffen with the nervous tension all new parents feel when they walk into somewhere that looks stylish and modern (or is that just us?). We quickly relax as the staff set us up in a nice spot – not the back corner – with lots of room and a great view.
A glass of wine later and we happily feed our little rockstar Stevie popcorn prawns as we go crazy with the following flavor sensations: Globe artichoke, kohlrabi, oregano, orange, feta; Petuna ocean trout gravlax, fennel, mustard and dill; Chiswick steak tartare, smoked mushrooms and crisps (OMG YES!); and roasted trevalla fillet, zucchini and dill.
I love big flavours, but the combination of dishes blows my husband away. Each is rich, tasty and intense, but the stand out for me is the steak tartare. If you don’t order anything else, I recommend that.

Pop Up Picnic – Now, this was a big, pleasant surprise meal that we got to take with us to Taronga Zoo. The neat picnic arrives at our hotel in a delightful cardboard suitcase with our names printed on the top. We keep it closed so as not to spoil the surprise and are delighted with what we find when we unpack on a grassy knoll overlooking the harbour.
Complete with picnic blanket, the kit contains two extremely tasty baguettes, a delightful quinoa, courgette, feta and rocket salad, chocolate nougat, white chocolate yoghurt, a cheese and chutney selection, and bottles of still and sparkling water.

Stevie’s favourite part of lunch was the box…

My husband the builder loves that the box can also be used as a table with a hollow middle section to keep all of our food. Just awesome! We’ll definitely get one of these again.
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Beach Club – As a new parent it’s terrifying for me to think that I might fall out of touch with what’s cool, so I’m chuffed when we find ourselves in what feels like a Sunday hot spot. The stylish renovation oozes casual cool, and I hope just a little will rub off on me while I’m here. To our delight the hip crowd also caters for families, and our heartbeats ease when we see little tables and chairs, colouring in pencils and pads, and lots of space. If only Stevie knew how to colour…

Unfortunately she chooses this final lunch to have a meltdown, but with the help of attentive staff who are happy to keep her entertained we manage to sample quite a lot of their delectable menu. Namely, the sensational paella, killer soft-shell crab sliders with jalapeno sauce (if you went to Sydney for these alone it wouldn’t be a wasted trip!), awesome sticky lamb ribs, and tasty garfish fillets with cucumber, chili, edamame and yuzu dressing. Just when we think we should jump on a plane and get home before our jeans split, we give in and share a plate of brioche sliders with salted caramel ice-cream. Sorry, bikinis – summer is going to have to wait a few more weeks.

The activities

Pop to Popism – The Art Gallery of NSW’s current exhibition is bright, colourful, fun, interesting, and surprisingly easy to take Stevie along to. She enjoys strolling the wide hallways on her wobbly legs, while we enjoy having a happy baby with a full belly from Chiswick and the opportunity to see awesome art like Andy Warhol’s Triple Elvis.

Royal Botanic Gardens – It would be a crime not to have a stroll through these beautiful gardens after visiting the Art Gallery, so that’s what we do. The views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are the icing on the cake to a naturally beautiful setting, and the size and age of the trees is unmatched by Australia’s other city gardens. It’s the perfect place to relax, get a bit of sun and enjoy a gorgeous afternoon in Sydney.
Taronga Zoo – Parent or not, I think I’m the most excited about the zoo. Again, the location makes this an experience to remember, with Taronga not only being a sensational zoo but having amazing harbour views to boot. My highlights are the seal show, the bird show, and the cable car to the top of the park. Stevie’s highlights are the elephants, the sun bear, and the box our lunch comes in 😉

Sydney Aquarium – If you’d prefer to focus your animal viewing on sea life, you don’t have to go any further than Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour. There’s great quizzes to entertain and educate the kids as they walk through and start dreaming of a career as a marine biologist. The dugongs, munching on a constant supply of lettuce, are particularly impressive, and the underwater walkways provide views of stingrays that show how strangely human they look from underneath.
Madame Tussauds – Nothing is more social-media-worthy than a pic with a celeb, and an afternoon at Madame Tussauds will give you enough Instagram material for a decade. Haven’t you always wanted to give Alf Stewart a nipple cripple, or sing with John Farnham? No? How about ride on Miley Cyrus’s wrecking ball or answer Obama’s phone? From world leaders to sports stars, from religious figures to royalty, if they’re famous they’re here and waiting for you to #selfie with. OK, Stevie didn’t get it, but…

The Rocks Markets – A must-do if you’re in Sydney on a Sunday! Even with nothing on the Rocks is an impressive and historic part of the city that’s worth exploring, but the markets add even more life and colour. With so many stalls you can pick up almost anything, from jewellery to chocolate-coated strawberries, as well as all the Sydney souvenirs you need for the family at home.

Add in a couple more dinners and that’s our trip – action-packed and no room for error. Thankfully we have a very obliging and well-travelled 10-month-old who takes it all in her stride and lets us soak up more of Sydney than we’ve done in previous trips. All in all we come back to Brisbane a little tired, absolutely satisfied, and approximately 5kgs heavier.

Kirk travelled as a guest of Destination New South Wales.

Do you have any tips for travelling with kids? Tell us in the comments!

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