Welcome to 2009! Whether you're back at work or still on holiday we've got loads of goodies to help keep you feeling the summer love! Click here for a taste of what we've got...
Planning a holiday and want to go somewhere that rocks your socks and gets you humming to a whole new beat? Look no further than just across the ditch and head to Sydney! Sydney, or Siiiidneee if you put on an Australian twang, is a thriving mecca of different cultures and experiences. Known for its gorgeous beaches, varied cuisine and buzzing night life, this culturally-cutting edge city is the ideal holiday destination for the ultimate girls' weekend away with your best friends.
Getting There Keep an eye out for cheap deals, as travel centres and airlines often have greatly reduced flights. The trip will take you about 3 hours, so by the time the in-flight movie is finishing up you'll be touching down in Oz. A taxi from the airport to the city should cost around $30
Where to Stay As with any city, Sydney has a huge range of accommodation options, from backpacker basics to boutique hotels. A good site to check is www.needitnow.com, which advertises rooms in motels, hotels and serviced apartments at cut-price rates. If you’re after something different, you could try the MacQuarie Hotel, which offers pub-style accommodation with the novelty of its own micro-brewery!
Transport Sydney has an amazing bus service, and this is a fantastic option for your sight-seeing around the city. I recommend buying a prepaid 10 trip ticket, which you can use on any bus route. Prepaid tickets can be brought from most newsagents. If you fancy some travel that's more about the journey than the destination, try a ferry cruise around the Sydney Harbour. This is a great way to take in the city, and is especially beautiful done at night. Taking a train is a great choice if you're going beyond the city i.e. for a visit to the scenic Blue Mountains.
Shopping Want to indulge in some serious retail therapy? Then you've come to the right place! Sydney has enough shops to keep you and the girls pounding the pavements for days.
Paddington: A short bus ride from the city centre is the affluent suburb of Paddington. The main drag, Oxford Street, is lined almost exclusively with designer boutiques, interspersed with chic cafes. Paddington has some amazing stores, and is definitely worth a window-shop, but a spending spree here will dent your credit card! For a more affordable Paddington experience, check out the Paddington Markets. Held every Saturday, the markets are a treasure trove of stylish, yet reasonable priced clothing and jewellery.
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB): On George Street between the Town Hall and Market Street is a grand old shopping complex that is the antithesis of charmless fluorescent-lit malls. Split over several levels, the building houses over 190 designer label and specialty stores What's more, there are plenty of places to stop for a caffeine hit to keep your shopping stamina up!
David Jones: You can't go shopping in Sydney without going to David Jones. It’s a department store of the highest calibre, and the place to come for anything from gourmet food to a pair of Hollywood's latest must have jeans.
Bondi Junction: Bondi Junction is essentially a very, very big mall. While it doesn't have the glamour of QVB or David Jones, it does offer some cool stores that are not available in NZ. The sheer number and range of stops means that you're bound to find something (or many somethings!) that you just have to have!
Paddy's Market: While the ground floor is a bustling market of cheap bargains, on the upper levels there’s a shopping complex full of factory outlet stores. A good place to pick up some bargains! Check it out here.
Where To Eat The question is: what do you fancy? Turkish? Greek? French? Bistro or silver service? Sydney has it all.
For what some have said is the 'best Thai outside of Thailand', head on down to Spice I Am (88 Wentworth Av, Surry Hill). This place is one of those closely guarded locals secrets. The mains start at $14 (AU), which is absolutely incredible value for quality of meal you will get. I recommend the soft-shell crab if you're into seafood.
If you feel like a more up market dining experience, why not try Tabou, 527 Crown Street Surry Hills. The menu and service are authentically French, and this is a good place to unwind with a glass of good wine after a hard day soaking up the Sydney atmosphere.
For anyone who even slightly likes chocolate (i.e any sane girl!), Max Brenner Chocolate Bar (447 Oxford st, Paddington) is heaven in a cafe! This chocolate bar serves a huge selection of sweet drinks and desserts. The specialty is hot chocolate that is presented as warm milk, chocolate chunks over a tealight - unique and tasty!
Where To Grab A Drink King's Cross is one of the bustling nightlife hot spots of Sydney, but to make sure you truly take in Syndey's stunning nightline, consider checking out these two spots.
What better way to take in the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour than from the Opera House's own bar. The Opera Bar offers an intimate indoor area for enjoying a post-show drink, and an outdoor bar area to sip a cocktail, and admire the night time city-scape.
Another great place to start your night off and take in the view is the cocktail lounge at Cafe Sydney. The location is very near the waterfront, but close enough to head into King's Cross as the night heats up.
From climbing the Harbour Bridge to patting a Koala at Taronga Zoo, you won't be short of things to keep you entertained in Sydney. Armed with these essentials of where to shop, eat and drink, your trip to Sydney will be one to remember.
Freya Hill
Inspired to soak up all Sydney has to offer? Make sure you enter Riccadonna’s amazing competition to win a trip to Sydney for you and three friends! To be in the draw for this fantastic experience, all you have to do is purchase a specially marked bottle of either Asti Riccadonna or Riccadonna Ruby from participating stores, complete the entry form, attach your receipt and post to the address on the back! It's that easy! Click here for the competition terms and conditions.
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As with any city, Sydney has a huge range of accommodation options, from backpacker basics to boutique hotels. A good site to check is 
Paddington: A short bus ride from the city centre is the affluent suburb of Paddington. The main drag, Oxford Street, is lined almost exclusively with designer boutiques, interspersed with chic cafes. Paddington has some amazing stores, and is definitely worth a window-shop, but a spending spree here will dent your credit card! For a more affordable Paddington experience, check out the 
What better way to take in the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour than from the Opera House's own bar. 
Freya Hill