This was published 3 years ago
Staycation in Sydney: Six Sydney VIP experiences with serious 'wow' factor
By Ute Junker
Beached with My Sydney Boat Tours.
As your boat draws into the bay, it's the green that hits you first: the emerald-green waters, and the verdant green of the bush fringing the beach. It's only after you have absorbed that, that you notice what really sets this beach apart from most others in Sydney: there is no-one on it.
Store Beach, on Manly's North Head, is accessible only by boat, which makes it a great place to play castaway. Visiting celebrities love it, according to Scott Bear, part of the concierge team at the Park-Hyatt Sydney. "They know about Bondi Beach, but they love discovering these smaller beaches," says Bear, who often arranges private boat trips around the harbour for his VIP guests. "Our guests know about the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, but it's these amazing local experiences that they really enjoy."
So if you left it too late to book a stay at Byron Bay or Noosa this year, see your own city from a different angle with these VIP experiences.
Coming in to Cottage Point by seaplane.
SET SAIL ON THE HARBOUR
You don't need a yacht of your own to discover hidden beauty spots like Store Beach. My Sydney Boat's private charters of its fast (and stable) 37-foot Axopar sports cruiser make a day on the harbour surprisingly affordable. Get together a group of 10 and the $1480 fee for a three-hour jaunt breaks down to less than $150 each, or $50 an hour. Owner Mark Dalgleish says that surprises are guaranteed. "There is always something that crops up," he says. "We often see dolphins out near the heads; just yesterday at Chowder Bay, we saw three fur seals sitting on the steps there."
The Pier One Cabana.Credit: Anna Kucera
GET LUNCH OFF TO A FLYING START
From Pippa Middleton to Brad Pitt, visiting celebrities make a beeline for the Cottage Point Inn on Pittwater, drawn not just by the food but by the tranquil bush-fringed setting that makes the city feel very far away. Dial up the wow factor by catching a sea plane there, drinking up spectacular views along the way before touching down on the water right beside the restaurant. From $565 per person for a three-course lunch (beverages not included).
traxxsydneystaycation
SLEEP WITH THE KOALAS
We have always known that the animals at Taronga Zoo have one of the best spots to slumber at night – who wouldn't have sweet dreams with those harbour views? - and now you can join them. Guests at the five-star Wildlife Retreat enjoy not just unlimited zoo access and exclusive animal experiences but also a three-course dinner and the opportunity to bed down next to the koalas or kangaroos. The Ultimate Retreat Package starts at $597 per night for two adults.
See taronga.org.au
THROW A WATERFRONT POOL PARTY
Channel a Miami vibe with a private pool party for 15 of your nearest and dearest in the Cabana Suite of the harbourside Pier One hotel, which comes complete with its own plunge pool. It's the most glamorous way to chill out in summer, and rates for a 2.5 hour session start at $200 hire fee plus $200 minimum spend of food and drinks. Dining options range from hampers to barbecues; you can even order up your own private chef.
See pieronesydneyharbour.com.au
HARVEST YOUR OWN PEARL
It's one of the best-kept secrets in town: the pearl farm that is just 45 minutes drive from the CBD. Sign up for a three-hour private tour of Broken Bay Pearl Farms and in addition to learning how to grade pearls, you'll head out onto the water and harvest a pearl yourself (yes, you get to keep it). Throw in a picnic lunch – oysters included, of course – and you have an unforgettable day out. From $500 per person, or $985 per person including sea plane transfers.
TAKE TO THE WAVES FOR A DINING SEAFARI
Why choose just one waterfront restaurant for lunch when you can spread out the experience over three different venues, with water taxi transfers to take you from one stop to the next? The Deckhouse dining seafari starts with a water taxi transfer to Watergrill in Abbotsford for entrees, before heading on to Deckhouse in Woolwich for mains. Dessert is at Flying Fish in Pyrmont. Menu choices include rock oysters, barramundi and braised lamb with caponata. A minimum of six guests is required. From $350 per person.
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