A Long Weekend Guide to Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is back with an itinerary that’s bigger than ever in 2024.

Vivid Sydney has become an international sensation. While light installations from renowned local and international artists still create the centrepiece, this is now an all-encompassing winter festival, offering talks, events, live music, special food offerings and more.

Vivid Sydney guide 2023 — Narrow down the best of Vivid with this guide. (Image: DNSW)

To help you wade through the seemingly endless options, we’ve created the perfect three-day itinerary to help you get front-row access to the best of the festival, while avoiding the worst of the crowds.

Friday

6pm Head to Park Hyatt Sydney’s hatted restaurant, The Dining Room by James Viles . From 24 May until 15 June, the restaurant will transform its menu to one that pays homage to the essence of Vivid Sydney, while maintaining the imaginative, seasonal, sustainable cuisine the restaurant is renowned for.

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

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer unimpeded views of the Opera House as it lights up – this year, the iconic sails will be transformed by Julia Gutman and her take on Roman poet Ovid’s myth of Narcissus, Lighting of the Sails: Echo .

Vivid sydney guide, The Dining Room special menu — Enjoy Vivid Sydney while eating.

8pm After dinner and drinks, catch a short taxi ride over to the waterside pathways of Darling Harbour where you can watch free live music performances from DJs spinning dance mixes, to the rocky pop tunes of singer-songwriter Mallrat to the iconic Christine Anu. Check the full Tumbalong Nights lineup here .

Tumbalong Nights at Vivid Sydney — Enjoy free contemporary music over 12 nights.

After the show, take a leisurely stroll through the Darling Harbour section of Vivid’s Light Walk, which stretches a total of 8.5 kilometres from The Sydney Opera House to Central Station. Be sure to stop at Nest – an installation following the mesmerising mating dance of brolgas – as well as The Poem Booth – a machine hailing from The Netherlands where computers and humans interact to create AI poetry.

Vivid Sydney 2024 — This computer has a romantic side.

8pm Park yourself on a plush stool at The Bar to keep enjoying your Vivid Sydney lights while also choosing between an award-winning wine list or a locally-inspired cocktail.

Saturday

10.30am Begin your adventure at Cadman’s Cottage in The Rocks where you will meet Margaret Campbell for a Dreamtime Southern X Illi-Langi The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour . No matter how often you’ve visited Sydney, you haven’t experienced it like this before. Margaret, who will ask you to call her Aunty, shares a wealth of knowledge about the land you stand on and local Indigenous practices from long before colonisation.

Margret Campbell from Dreamtime Southern X — Join Aunty Margaret on a tour around The Rocks. (Image: DNSW)

2pm Get out and about, The Art Gallery of New South Wales in The Domain awaits. While the architecture is an artwork in itself, don’t miss a trip into The Tank – an underground room turned into an art exhibition. Or discover the latest exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art nestled along the waterfront of The Rocks.

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Northern Building — Explore the Art Gallery of New South Wales’ new building. (Image: Zan Wembley)

6pm Time to venture outside, joining the other Vivid Sydney revellers as they make their way around the years’ best installations within easy walking distance of Park Hyatt Sydney.

Customs House in Circular Quay will be lit up with the signature illustrations of Gumscape with Road and Creatures by Australian artist Reg Mombassa. Wander into First Fleet Park in The Rocks to celebrate human connection with the installation, Embrace .

A little further along, in Walsh Bay, discover the mindboggling mirror maze Shifting Perspectives and become part of the art in a new way.

Sunday

11.00am All good things must end, and it’s time to check out of your hotel and say goodbye to Vivid Sydney for 2024. But not before one last feast.

12.30pm Jump in an Uber and head to The Fire Kitchen at The Cutaway, which has returned this year after making its very successful debut in 2023. This food truck haven offers some of Sydney’s best cuisine – from the vegan offerings of Alibi to tender meat offerings fresh from the barbecue. Speaking of barbecues, stop and watch live cooking demonstrations by some of the country’s best grillers.

Newcastle’s vibrant creativity is evident everywhere, from a thriving live arts scene to an ever-growing offering for gourmands. Those with a hunger for new and exciting experiences should put Newcastle on their radar.

When it comes to consuming the culture of a city, digesting it (in the literal sense) is an appropriate place to start. But it’s not just a world-class wining and dining scene that’s on the menu (not to mention all the new restaurants in Newcastle ). Newcastle – just two hours north of Sydney – offers the perfect blend of arts, culture and culinary experiences that make it a prime destination for an extended escape. The city’s creative future looks even brighter with the reopening of the highly anticipated Newcastle Art Gallery on the horizon.

aerial of Nobbys beach in newcastle nsw — Newcastle offers the perfect coastal setting for the arts and delicious eats. (Image: City of Newcastle)

Given Newcastle’s compact size – many venues are within easy walking distance or a quick drive away – you can immerse yourself fully. From decadent patisseries to fine diners and casual coastal eats, here’s a fresh taste of Newcastle: where to eat, drink and soak up the coastal city’s good vibes.

1. Pastry cafes in Newcastle

pastries next to a pastry box from crumb cafe in newcastle — Lean into Newcastle’s pastry renaissance at Crumb. (Image: Jemma Donkin)

Pastry is having a moment, with a quietly booming scene led by CRUMB, the brand-new pastry cafe in Lambton led by legendary Gareth Williams (of Covered in Crumbs, EXP) and Ben Richardson (Autumn Rooms). Gareth describes his style of food as ‘creative chaos’. Enjoy that abstract artisanal approach over a savoury chorizo, bechamel, cheddar and poppy pastry, or a layered mortadella and pesto mayo croissant sandwich.

Meanwhile, Leibe European Pastries, Pekárna, Union St Pastry and Praise Joe also have their own flair and loyal followings. While Liebe European Pastries is famed for layered German pastries such as Franzbrötchen, Pekárna’s signatures (like cardamom pastries) are tethered to Czech traditions.

Head a few blocks west to Wickham, where Union St Pastry is the pinnacle for lovers of European-style viennoiseries, such as croissants and Danishes. A getaway to Newcastle also looks pretty fabulous with a mega brownie or chicken little toastie from Praise Joe .

2. Destination dining

Blanca resuarant in newcastle nsw — Step inside Mediterranean-inspired eatery, Blanca. (Image: Destination NSW)

Life looks pretty peachy from a table at the breezy Mediterranean-inspired eatery Blanca , which would not be out of place in Mykonos – when it swooped into the Honeysuckle Precinct a few years ago, it caused heads to swivel. Say yasou to mezedes of crudo di mare and sheftalia and grilled Abrolhos Islands’ octopus.

One may also fantasise about being back in Europe – specifically the 10th arrondissement in Paris – at Frenchie , the oh-so-French bistro that offers Euro-chic elegance with an inventive Australian flair. Indulge in the Date Night set menu, available every Thursday.

Peregrin is another stand-out. Listen to the sound of the ocean from the rooftop terrace, and order a Summertime Sour during aperitivo hour. Followed by the yellowfin tuna with pickled cucumber and market fish. And brand new on the scene is Papalote – a joint venture from the incredibly talented owners of Humbug and Flotilla serving up tasty Mexican classics.

3. Casual coastal cafes and kiosks

people swimming at Newcastle Ocean Baths — Follow Newcastle’s coastline for stunning views and tasty eats. (Image: David Diehm)

What better way to soak in Newcastle’s legendary coastline and stunning beaches than by visiting its casual coastal eateries while on the Bathers Way?

Enjoy hot chips and scallops on the sand at Swell Kiosk Bar Beach . Or a housemade sausage roll after a morning surf at Newcastle Beach, thanks to Southy Canteen , which is open from 6am.

Bring your furry travel companion to Sunnyboy Kiosk for a piccolo and puppuccino with views out to Dixon Park Beach. Try light eats, like acai bowls, or more substantial meals like nasi goreng at Blue Door in Merewether. Do a few lazy laps at Merewether Ocean Baths (the largest in the southern hemisphere) before tucking into swordfish skewers and salad at Merewether Surfhouse .

You can also watch the ocean compose a bit of magic from your perch at The Kiosk Newcastle Beach , where a matcha latte looks even better with the beach fresco.

Pause between eats to take in the iconic Newcastle Ocean Baths and Bogey Hole – perfect for a digestive swim or scenic picnic spot.

4. Hatted restaurants in Newcastle

couple eating at Flotilla newcastle — Flotilla serves up delicious meals. (Image: Destination NSW)

In recent years, Newcastle’s restaurant scene has evolved to include venues that have elevated the city’s reputation for culinary excellence. In addition to its cafes and kiosks, there’s now an exciting wave of hatted favourites putting Newcastle on the map.

Humbug is the epitome of Novocastrian dining; the mafaldine with brisket and beef cheek braised in Pedro Ximenez is emblematic of what the owners aim for here. Flotilla neatly knits the Newcastle wining and dining scene together, with young gun Josh Thurston showcasing the art of cooking proteins and produce over fire.

Bistro Penny is another sophisticated, hatted dining destination in Newcastle. Order the barbecued king prawns swimming in a saffron broth and the oxheart tomato salad.

5. Newcastle nightlife

Bartholomew's small bar in newcastle nsw — Stop by Bartholomew’s for a drink. (Image: Destination NSW)

As the sun dips in the west, so the city of Newcastle’s nightlife springs to life. Maru Hi-Fi is the next-gen small bar that’s redefining a night out in Newy – the sleek space serves great cocktails and embraces Newcastle’s alt attitude. Next door, Jams Karaoke & Bar is also bringing the vibes.

If a small bar in a grand old building is more your style, check out Roxanne , Bar Mellow and Bartholomew’s .

Start planning your Newcastle culinary coastal getaway this summer at visitnewcastle.com.au.

Your Vivid Sydney guide to the perfect long weekend

Vivid Sydney is back with an itinerary that’s bigger than ever in 2024.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

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