Escape the heat and haze this holiday season
Following the cooler, albeit rainy, days of the monsoon season, we’re in for progressively warmer weather over the next few months. Soon stepping outdoors will feel more like stepping into a sauna or a pressure cooker. Instead of blasting the A/C all day long and racking up those electricity bills, how about a trip down under?
Australia’s location in the southern hemisphere means that it’ll start turning blessedly cooler when it gets unbearably hot here in Singapore. And with flights to Sydney starting from $618 when you fly with Singapore Airlines, there is nothing stopping you from planning your upcoming vacation right now. Here are some fun activities to include in your itinerary that you definitely can’t do here in hot and humid Singapore:
Credit: Holly Bradford; Capital Country Tourism
Huddle around a crackling fire
If you’re like us, you’ve seen all the movies and have dreamt of sitting by a fireplace with some hot cocoa to warm up during cold winter afternoons. Now you can make that dream come true. Many bars and pubs in Sydney have fireplaces installed and cranked up to the maximum when it’s cold outside. Grab a mug of something warm and bring a book for a toasty, enjoyable afternoon!
Credit: Destination NSW
Explore the café scene
We know you are self-respecting foodies who would never pass up the chance to indulge in great food. The good news is Sydney is full of culinary delights for you to sample. The café scene in Sydney has every kind of cuisine imaginable on offer. Many of these cafes also offer specialty coffee, and whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or not, you’ll be glad for something piping hot when you come in from the cold!
The Three Sisters at the Blue Mountains (Credit: RA Stanley Landscape Photography)
Hike without breaking a sweat
Winter is the best time to hike. Not only do you get your daily quota of cardio in, you also enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer, without breaking a sweat or dealing with mosquitoes or other bugs. The Blue Mountains region, just a short drive from the Sydney city centre, is one of the most popular bushwalking areas in the region, with plenty of walking trails of varying difficulty levels. With breath-taking panoramas, wilderness, waterfalls, and even ancient caves to explore, you could easily spend all your time in Sydney right here!
Credit: Destination NSW
Catch the migrating humpback whales
Every year between May to November, schools of humpback whales make their way north towards warmer waters from Antarctica, passing by the Sydney and New South Wales coastlines on the way. Now you too can catch these majestic creatures as they travel through, either by finding a good vantage point by the coastline with high elevation, such as at Bondi Beach, or by joining a whale watching tour. Be sure to download an app like Wild About Whales so you can keep track of the latest sightings and plan your whale watching adventure.
Vivid Sydney, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas (Credit: Destination NSW)
Watch the city light up
Winter in Sydney is always magical, in part because of Vivid Sydney. Happening from 26 May to 17 June 2017, this stunning annual event is the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, bringing together artists and designers from all over the world. You’ll get to check out light-art sculptures, grand projections on the sails of the world-famous Opera House, and cutting-edge sculptures along the harbour. It’s definitely one of the most enthralling after-dark experiences you’ll ever see!
Ready for your winter vacation? Singapore Airlines flies direct to Sydney 31 times weekly from $688. Book your tickets at singaporeair.com/Sydney now
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