Sydney‘s most iconic hotel to host exclusive dinner with top chefs

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
hero media
Join a one-night-only Park Hyatt dinner celebrating the past and present.

Sitting across the water from the world-famous Sydney Opera House, Park Hyatt Sydney is so much a part of a walk around Darling Harbour that it’s almost an icon of itself. A stunning stay at any time, a special dinner event to mark Park Hyatt Sydney’s 35th birthday is about to sweeten the deal for epicureans.

On Saturday, 28 June 2025, a special five-course anniversary dinner will be held in The Dining Room to celebrate the hotel’s culinary legacy, thanks to a rare 10-hands collaboration.

The Dining room main meals
The Dining Room by James Viles has been hatted for its innovative dishes.

Revellers can expect a seasonal five-course menu (a free-flowing wine menu) curated by not one, but five top chefs who have each shaped the hotel’s gastronomic identity, the past and present will join together for an outstanding result.

Those chefs include the creative force behind the restaurant’s current concept: James Viles, executive chef Tyson Gee and executive pastry chef Callum Liddicoat. They’ll be joined by two guest alumni: Anthony Mussara, who has since led acclaimed venues including Stokehouse Melbourne and held senior roles with the Van Haandel Group and Scott Pickett’s restaurant group, and Alessandro Pavoni, now the chef-owner of a’Mare, Ormeggio and more.

And to make the night a feel-good event, a percentage of proceeds will be donated to Heart Research Australia, a cause personally significant to Pavoni.

Park Hyatt Sydney's 35th birthday, The Dining Room
The Dining Room provides a stunning backdrop.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

How to book

Tickets are $435 per person and can be purchased via Humanitix, or by calling +61 2 9256 1661. Limited seats are available, so get in quickly.

Special stay packages

Park Hyatt Sydney
Admire the Sydney Opera House from the comfort of your suite.

Those wanting to turn dinner into an overnight event can book one of two new accommodation packages to accompany the celebration (and receive an exclusive anniversary book).

The 35th Birthday Package Stay includes a two-night stay, a table for two at the birthday dinner, a bottle of Taittinger Champagne and a welcome gift on arrival and more.

Or, opt for the Post-Birthday Getaway Package for an overnight stay, $250 food and beverage credit to use during the stay, bottle of Taittinger Champagne and a welcome gift on arrival and more.

Visit parkhyattsydney.com for more details and to book.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Australian Traveller

Australian Traveller

View profile and articles
elysium manly wellness suite terrace with sauna
Sydney

A private sauna with a sea view: inside Elysium Manly’s new wellness suites

A beachfront stay in Manly offers a welcome chance to recharge, with enough indulgence to make it feel like a proper holiday.

Read more
View of Sydney Harbour from Cockatoo Island at sunrise
Sydney

Sydney’s best NYE view can cost $208 a night – if you win a ballot

A free ballot decides who stays on Cockatoo Island this New Year's Eve. It closes soon.

Read more
This tiny mark in my hotel room opened a window into Sydney’s past
Sydney

This tiny mark in my hotel room opened a window into Sydney’s past

During a stay at Hotel Woolstore 1888, two strangers separated by more than a century forge an unexpected connection.

Read more
Lilypad Palm Beach
Sydney

This Sydney EV road trip ends in a luxury floating villa stay

This city-to-coastal drive from Sydney to Palm Beach ends with a stay at one of Australia's most unique accommodations.

Read more
hero media

7 Lake Macquarie secrets the locals don’t want you to know

Credit: Beau Pilgrim

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
    Continue
    An untapped side to this popular holiday spot is hiding in plain sight.

    Laidback Lake Macquarie draws in holidaygoers and day trippers with its casual coastal allure and raw beauty. But even though it’s just 90 minutes from Sydney, most visitors have only scratched the surface of what this region has to offer.

    Foodie hotspots, quaint towns, tranquil waterways and compelling art are all waiting to be discovered. You just need to know where to find them.

    1. Most visitors don’t make it to the western side

    Explore beyond the western side. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    While there’s no harm in walking the well-worn path in this idyllic pocket of the world, the area west of Lake Macquarie is defined by stretches of ancient rainforests and quaint towns with a more local feel. Toronto is the largest town on this side and features a golf course and sailing clubs, while peninsula-based Wangi Wangi is fantastic for bushwalking and swimming.

    2. There’s a booming arts scene

    Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG
    Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG.

    Lake Macquarie is a must-visit destination for creatives. Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG; this modern gallery is set on a five-hectare sculpture park and showcases a free rotating program of exhibitions and events, with a strong focus on contemporary Aboriginal art. In Wangi Wangi, explore the Wangi Owl Trail, which includes Dobell House, the preserved home of prolific artist Sir William Dobell. And enjoy live music every Saturday evening at the recently renovated Toronto Hotel.

    3. It’s a nature lover’s paradise

    three people swimming in lake macquarie
    In and out of the water, find a natural paradise. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    Lake Macquarie is a playground for nature lovers. It’s home to Australia’s largest saltwater lake, a 110-square-kilometre haven for swimming, fishing, boating and sunset views. Another oasis is the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, a 761-hectare protected reserve with wildflowers, Second World War heritage sites and spectacular views to Pulbah Island. The upgraded Toronto baths, complete with jetty decking and netting, make for a sheltered spot for a refreshing dip, while the Awaba Mountain Bike Park gives adrenaline junkies their fix.

    4. The dining scene is unbeatable

    8 at Trinity lake macquarie
    Treat yourself to 8 at Trinity.

    Gourmands are well looked after in Lake Macquarie. At Emerson’s on the Lake in Toronto, the modern Australian fine dining menu spoils seafood lovers with the freshest ocean produce and stunning lake views. Sitting on Trinity Point’s waterfront, 8 at Trinity is another standout offering, serving Mediterranean fare in an open-air setting. For a more relaxed affair, the microbrewery trail lets craft beer enthusiasts sip on inventive brews from The Yard, Lake Mac Brewing and Bread & Brewery.

    5. There are hidden coves and waterways

    kayakers on lake macquarie local secrets
    Get out onto the lake. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    There’s no better way to experience Lake Macquarie than directly on its waters, and in doing so you’ll discover a world of hidden coves and secluded waterways. Jump in a kayak for a tour with the friendly team at School of Yak and paddle to Cockle Creek, Awaba Bay, Green Point and Fennel Bay, discovering underwater life along the way. Or go all in and stay the night on one of Lake Macquarie Houseboats’ spacious vessels or hire a BBQ pontoon boat for the day from Lake Macquarie Boat Hire to enjoy a feast in the sunshine while admiring the marine life and picturesque waterscape.

    6. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise

    ll blue wren sitting on a tree branch
    Keep an eye out for local birdlife. (Credit: Walter Coppola)

    Twitchers are in for a real treat as hundreds of fascinating bird species such as Australian pelicans, black swans, white-bellied sea-eagles and superb fairy-wrens call this area home. Take a self-guided tour around top spots including Bird Cage Point and Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area (near Morisset) or be guided in a clear-bottom kayak through the waterways with Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures, observing feathered friends as you go.

    7. The lake has islands

    sail lake macquarie
    Charter a boat to see Lake Macquarie’s islands.

    Hop on a private boat, kayak or charter around the lake to discover the plethora of small islands peppered around Lake Macquarie. The largest is Pulbah Island, a 69-hectare nature reserve home to goannas and sugar gliders with secluded beaches. Sandy islands such as Spectacle Island and Pelican Island have a tropical lagoon-like look to them as they sit in the tidal path of Swansea Channel, which filters the sand and creates a pristine environment. Stop by for a dip and a picnic.

    Start living like the locals at visitlakemac.com.au.