Sydney Opera House Summer Playground: Why Sydney is destination sexy this summer

This January, Sydney's most iconic landmark, the Sydney Opera House, is hosting a vintage harbourside fairground to celebrate all things carnival.

The Summer Playground pop-up, on the Western Broadwalk, features plenty of shade and deck chairs to soak in the sensational waterside views. A giant sandpit has been planted with its own jetty for the kids, a Coney Island pop-up bar has opened for the bigger kids, and a fiery line up of entertainment has been sourced.

There is a a virtual reality rollercoaster for those who dare, cocktail classes for the aspiring bartender and an abundance of DJ's and musicians to set the scene for the warm nights. The faux grass and eclectic umbrellas help to transform the boardwalk into the perfect destination for summer lazing, making you wonder why this isn't a permanent fixture.

The pop-up cafes show snippets of New York with feasts keeping in the festive theme. The menu features gourmet hot dogs, slow-roasted pork burgers and black bean nachos. For those after something a little sweeter, the toffee apple or fairy floss are a popular option. To wash it all down the bar offer a list of summer cocktails and wine for the ultimate refresher.

If tea is your beverage of choice then there is the option of The Funatorium: The Mad Hatters Tea Party. The show, designed for children, (and ending January 22) features Playschool's Monica Trapaga, who leads this cabaret with an array of circus and acrobatic acts.

For those wanting to embrace the heat, the nation's sexiest cabaret Club Swizzle should be an absolute no-brainer. This two-hour show (ends January 29) is an outrageous, sizzling explosion of colour, acrobatics and comedic acts is set around a cocktail bar with a live band. Think dim lights, sensual sights and an audience where anyone and everyone becomes a part of the action. Murray Hill guides you through the hottest speakeasy in town – and no two shows are the same.

The Summer Playground is on the Western Broadwalk and Western Foyers of the Sydney Opera House and will run until January 29, opening from 10am until late, seven days a week. For tickets to Funatorium: The Mad Hatters Tea Party and Club Swizzle, see sydneyoperahouse.com