december-2010

Manly and Taronga Zoo photo: TNSW
DURING THE
JOURNEY THE BAYS
AND BEACHES
OF THE EASTERN
HARBOUR UNFURL
THEIR LOVELINESS
boutiques and chic cafés, not to mention
some of Sydney’s best hairdressers. But this
leafy suburb has plenty for the whole family to
enjoy, including its own harbour beach.
Tell me more: If you’re looking for a day
trip with your gal pals, Double Bay is hard to
beat. With leafy streets, alfresco dining and
gorgeous boutiques, the area’s European
vibe begs you to spend a couple of leisurely
hours browsing. Start the day off by booking
yourself in for a cut and colour with one of the
area’s acclaimed hairdressers, such as Andrea
Connolly or Joh Bailey, before stopping for a
cup of coffee in one of the cafés nearby. Then
it’s time to hit the shops. Start at Transvaal
Avenue for stylish homewares and style queen
Belinda Seper’s eponymous boutiques, then
head down Cross, Bay and Knox Streets to
explore the boutiques there.
If you have the kids in tow, your fi rst stop will
be Redleaf Pool, with its netted harbour pool
in a garden setting. Refuel in the courtyard
of the Golden Sheaf Pub, before browsing
through the great children’s stores in the area:
Oscar & Friends for books, Rainbow Puppen
for old-school toys, and all things fairy at As if
by Magic.
TARONGA ZOO
What’s there: Australia’s most scenic zoo
is having a baby boom, so now is the perfect
time to talk to the animals.
Tell me more: If you’re into cute and cuddly
baby animals, Taronga Zoo is the place to
be. The newest arrivals include baby Asian
elephants, a baby pygmy hippo called Kambiri,
and even two baby koalas. There’s also a
new exhibit devoted to Tasmanian devils,
explaining how a fatal disease has wiped out
60% of the world’s Tasmanian devil population
in just 10 years, and a renovated giraffe exhibit,
where visitors can feed the giraffes every day
between 1.45pm and 2.15pm. Add in the bird
show, the seal show, and a regular calendar
of talks by zookeepers talking about their
charges — which includes everything from
gorillas, elephants, big cats and koalas — and
you have a fantastic family day out.
MANLY
What’s there: It’s the mother of all ferry trips:
a half-hour journey during which the bays
and beaches of the eastern harbour unfurl in
all their loveliness. However, the real point of
taking a trip on the Manly ferry is the fun you
can have when you get to the other end.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Manly is lined with
great walks; stock up at Transvaal Avenue;
Taronga Zoo is a Sydney must-see; Oceanworld
Manly will make a splash with the kids
Tell me more: Manly has a number of
beaches: the sheltered harbour beach at the
ferry dock, the stretched-out surf beach at the
other end of The Corso, and tranquil Shelly
Beach, tucked away in a leaf-fringed bay at
the other end of the surf beach. Kids also love
the giant waterslides at Manly Waterworks.
They’re right next door to Oceanworld Manly,
where you can come face to face with sharks,
giant stingrays, turtles and other marine life.
DECEMBER 2010 89