Where to explore Australia under city lights

Cities: busy, exciting, chaotic, inspiring; too much to do and not enough time. And that’s why we love ’em. To help you navigate your way through 2017, we’ve picked some WONDERFUL ways to enjoy the big smoke.

1. A cellar door in the urban sprawl

URBAN WINERY SYDNEY, NSW

Urban wineries are a cultural mainstay in Europe and New York, but the Urban Winery Sydney is one of the first of its kind in Australia.

A large-scale working winery in the city’s inner-west, the venture is the brainchild of Alex Retief, who wanted to offer Sydney city slickers a taste of the vine without a schlep to the country.

Try a tasting or one of the popular winemaker and chef dinners.

2. Shop like a fashion insider

MELBOURNE, VIC

Melbourne fashion designers Georgie and Alex Cleary of cult label Alpha60 share tips for the best retail therapy and food in their city:

“Search out World Food Books on level three of the Nicholas Building in the city but don’t be confused by the name; there are no cookbooks here.

Instead you’ll find a great range of contemporary art journals and limited edition artist books.

Then pop around the corner to Pieces of Eight, which specialises in super cool and interesting jewellery.

If you like jewellery and craft, you’ll love Craft Victoria.

Part gallery, part shop, it has an amazing array of artisan products including work by local potters and woodworkers.

Visit us in our new Flinders Lane store, Alpha60 at Chapter House.

“For food, Embla is a wine bar in the CBD by the renowned chefs from The Town Mouse. Don’t be put off by the laminex tables and bright lighting in the no-frills Chinese diner

Shandong Mama as the dumplings are authentic and delicious.

Meyers Place is one of the original laneway bars, over 20 years old – and still one of the coolest bars in town."

3. A taste of the tropics

DARWIN, NT

Darwin has some of the best markets in the Northern Territory, packed full of the best food and views in all of Australia.

Some of the best food to be devoured in Darwin is at its myriad markets, where cross-cultural influences, fresh flavours and stupendous sunsets and sunrises abound.

At the Rapid Creek Markets, Darwin’s oldest, you’ll find Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Sri Lankan and Filipino shoppers jostling for produce, while at the Nightcliff Markets you can linger a little longer over live music, good food and coffee.

Pick up some crafts or flowers at the Parap Markets or listen to buskers and other live entertainers at the Palmerston Markets.

The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets are a bit of a tourist trap, but once you’ve experienced that sunset you’ll understand it’s for a good reason.
darwin.nt.gov.au/explore/markets

4. Get to know the capital from a kid’s eye view

CANBERRA, ACT

The family that stargazes together, stays together, so take a night tour of the famous Mount Stromlo Observatory .

To cool off during the day, visit the historic art deco Manuka Swimming Pool, before filling young minds at the likes of Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, The National Arboretum parks and gardens or the National Museum of Australia; all of which make the capital a paradise for kids – meaning a happy holiday destination for parents, too.

Check out our guide to Canberra for families for more.

5. A heritage walk in the other West End

FREMANTLE, WA

An old port town and part of the Greater Perth region, the atmosphere and history of Fremantle is intoxicating.

The streets of its West End are lined with impeccably preserved Victorian-era buildings, and visitors can explore antique shops, book stores, heritage pubs and new cafes.

Take a dip at Bathers beach or Port Beach before visiting the Fremantle Art Centre for a performance or exhibition.

6. You won’t mind if this track work interrupts your journey

CARRIAGEWORKS, SYDNEY, NSW

You’ve seen a performance at the Opera House and a play at the Sydney Theatre Company, so next time you’re in Sydney venture a little further afield to the city’s inner-west and discover one of the best cultural venues in Australia – Carriageworks in Eveleigh.

7. Find moments of Japanese calm in the metropolitan madness

MELBOURNE, VIC

Melbourne might be our food, wine and coffee capital, but it also has some of the best Japanese bathhouses in Australia.

Weary travellers can soak and steam at The Japanese Bath House in Collingwood, which has been open since 1999 and underwent a slick refurbishment in 2015.

Men and women have their own bathing areas and everything is provided, including towels, soap, robes and shampoo.

For a more upmarket unrobing, try Onsen Ma at Meyers Place in the city.

It offers exquisitely serene designer baths as well as Japanese massage packages, as does the Japanese health space Sensu Spa .

8. Design dreams in our island state

HOBART, TAS

Hobart has some of the best seafood and wine in the country, but did you know it also has some of the nation’s best design stores?

Look a little further than the architectural marvel that is Mona and discover design treasure troves such as LUC for homewares and interiors, FIND Collective for contemporary jewellery and Handmark Gallery for Tasmanian art and craft.

9. Some coriander with your morning coffee?

BRISBANE, QLD

Ethnic breakfasts are one of the biggest food trends, and Brisbane dishes up three of the best.

Try West End Coffee House for Thai food with your morning latte.

Cook Em Clare hails from Isaan in Thailand and has a breakfast menu including Chinese leek dumplings and khao tom gai, an aromatic Thai rice soup with chicken and ginger.

PawPaw serves a south-east Asian menu including a Bali bowl and an Asian omelette, while Café Ó-mai specialises in Vietnamese breakfast dishes such as claypot-baked eggs with Vietnamese lemongrass pork sausage and tamarind sauce.

10. Step into the private world of an art obsessive

THE DAVID ROCHE FOUNDATION,
ADELAIDE, SA

If you love quirky house museums of the super-wealthy, such as the Frick Collection Museum in New York, you’ll adore The David Roche Foundation collection in Adelaide.

Roche was an avid collector of decorative arts, and his collection spans two centuries of European design – from French Rococo to the Fabergé of Russia.

Housed in his original residence, Fermoy House, and a new adjoining building, IT offers a fascinating insight into Roche’s life and passions.

Why settle for another landlocked weekend away when you could spend a thrilling few days sipping cocktails poolside with friends and family, taking in a Broadway-style musical, and having once-in-a-lifetime adventures—all without leaving Australia?

Royal Caribbean’s summer 2025/26 season packs all the excitement and variety of a cruise holiday into a new lineup of weekend getaways. There’s something for everyone on board, from your mum who just wants to relax at a spa to your adrenaline-junkie mate who is keen to skydive in a simulator on the deck. With two world-class ships making debut voyages from Brisbane and Sydney, there’s never been a better time to plan the ultimate short getaway with a Royal Caribbean Australia cruise.

Why cruise?

Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruises cruising from Australia. — The ultimate adventure, close to home.

On a short cruise holiday, you’ll set sail with zero planning stress, booking drama, or traffic woes, knowing your itinerary is jam-packed with fine dining and adventure (or relaxation, if that’s more your vibe). And everyone’s needs will be catered to, from your parents to your gourmand partner to your toddler niece. All main meals* and most onboard activities are seamlessly included in your fare, from Royal Caribbean Entertainment to the Adventure Ocean® Kids’ Club.

The ship

Boy rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak on Royal Caribbean Weekend Cruises, excitement, thrills, effort, challenge, fun. — Scale new heights at sea with onboard rock climbing.

Sailing from Sydney for the first time, Anthem of the Seas® is an award-winning ship. It boasts 360-degree views from its thrilling North Star® observation capsule – the tallest viewing deck on any cruise ship, anywhere, stretching an astonishing 91 meters above the ocean. And it offers tailored adventures for families and friend groups alike.

Thrill-seekers can on the FlowRider® Surf Simulator, or try out the bumper cars. For those looking to chill, relax poolside at the adults-only Solarium with a cocktail in hand. Experience some culture and show-stopping entertainment with a Broadway-style production of We Will Rock You.

Or set sail aboard Voyager of the Seas® , making her debut voyages from Brisbane this summer with a turbo-charged slate of activities, including mini golf and ice skating, as well as The Perfect Storm℠ – a three-storey high-speed waterslide.

Onboard activities

meal at giovannis on a royal caribbean ship — The onboard dining scene is legendary.

Royal Caribbean’s onboard dining scene rivals what you’d find in any top global city, bringing top chefs and inventive flavours from around the world right to your ship’s deck. From Japanese sushi bars to old-world Italian joints, late-night cafes, private room service and five-course, white-tableclothed Chef’s Table culinary journeys, there’s something to suit every mood and palate.

For those craving relaxation, the Vitality℠ Spa and Fitness Centre offers a full menu of massages, facials, hair and nails, teeth whitening and even medi-spa treatments to plump skin and smooth wrinkles. Not to mention state-of-the-art gym facilities. Or take in the pristine views at the adults-only Solarium, a serene retreat space featuring tranquil pools and whirlpools.

Meanwhile, the thrill-seekers in your group can pack more adrenaline into three or four nights than most holidays do in a week. Royal Caribbean’s signature RipCord® by iFLY® skydiving simulator* delivers the singular rush of a freefall without ever boarding a plane. And the 12-metre-long FlowRider® surf simulator lets everyone from beginner boogie-boarders to advanced shredders catch a wave without ever leaving the deck. Launch yourself down a multi-story waterslide against a backdrop of ocean views or grab the whole crew for Battle for Planet Z℠*, a glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience. Top it all off with rock climbing, ice skating, pickleball, or a game of basketball on the sports court.

When night falls, the drama amps up with a slate of award-winning shows: We Will Rock You, the Queen musical playing on board Anthem of the Seas®, or Ice Odyssey, a dazzling and futuristic spectacle performed on Voyager of the Seas® ’ very own ice rink. Or bar hop before catching some live music, a comedy show, a silent disco, an outdoor film night, and so much more.

Where can you sail?

people snorkelling on a day trip with royal caribbean cruises — Snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef.

Departing from Brisbane, take a four-night getaway to stunning Airlie Beach, Queensland on board Voyager of the Seas®. Along the way, spend time immersed in Airlie Beach, where you can take a Segway tour, hop on a glass-bottom boat and try an ocean rafting eco-adventure. Book a Shore Excursion and take a trip to the Whitsunday Islands for snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, or hike to secluded beaches in Molle National Park.

If you prefer to depart from Sydney, hop on board Anthem of the Seas® for a five-night holiday to Hobart, Tasmania. You’ll spend time docked in Hobart experiencing Tasmania’s other-worldly beauty and famous culinary scene, from hikes and horse rides on Mount Wellington to strolls through the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to winery tours in the countryside and up-close encounters with Tasmanian devils.

Days at sea are a chance to create your own adventure and savour it all, from the ships’ astonishing breadth of dining experiences and activities to the serenity of the open seas to unhurried moments with loved ones – the most memorable part of any holiday.

Book a short getaway that everyone will love (and don’t compromise on forever memories) at RoyalCaribbean.com.au.