An art-lovers guide to Sydney
Sydney has a lot more to offer than just surf, sand and selfies at the Opera House. Sydney is a hub of the creative industries with enough galleries, art exhibitions, theatre shows and hip restaurants to give Melbourne a run for its money.
Galleries galore
The Museum of Contemporary Art is a must-visit gallery for any discerning art fan. Highlighting the best pieces of art that Australia art has to offer, the collection of 4000-plus works captures a wide range of art forms including painting, photography, moving image, as well as strong holdings of pieces created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
With a prime location in the heart of Circular Quay and a cracking bookshop and cafe, you won't regret an afternoon spent exploring these blissfully air-conditioned halls.
Take a quick taxi ride to the hipster-friendly suburb of Chippendale and pay a visit to The White Rabbit Gallery. Founded in 2009 by Kerr and Judith Neilson, the gallery houses one of the world's largest collections of contemporary Chinese art.
With more artworks in its collection than the gallery has room to display at one time, two new exhibitions are held every year. For the complete experience, join one of the gallery's regular free tours led by the extremely informative and engaging floor staff before taking the time to sit back and relax in the tranquil Tea House.
While you're in the neighbourhood, wander over to Sydney's contemporary multi-arts centre, Carriageworks, and take in renowned German artist Katharina Grosse's latest piece of work, The Horse Trotted Another Couple Of Metres, Then It Stopped.
The epic canvas was created using 8000 square metres of artfully draped, spray-painted fabric, resulting in an immersive, psychedelic world of swirling colours. I'd seen a few pictures of the installation online, but that didn't stop my jaw from hitting the floor when I first laid eyes on the mammoth artwork. Wander through the folds of fabric and stop to appreciate the glorious juxtaposition of the harsh industrial warehouse's rustic form with the soft, swirling fabric.
Hot tip: take the lift to the second level of the gallery and peer down at the installation from above.
So, about the Opera House…
A selfie outside the Sydney Opera House will look great on Instagram, but nothing compares to a night spent actually taking in a show inside the iconic building itself.
The venue boasts six different performance venues of all shapes and sizes and with performances scheduled nearly every evening, it's the perfect opportunity to nix the iPhone (photography isn't allowed for most performances) and take in a live show. This is one bucket list-worthy experience you won't regret.
Where to stay
I stayed at Pier One Sydney Harbour and from the minute my taxi pulled up at the front door, I knew I was in for a treat. Situated in a refurbished over-water warehouse adjacent to Sydney Harbour Bridge, the 189-room boutique hotel is a hot spot for locals and tourists alike, thanks to its prime location - my morning run included a loop around the Sydney Opera House - as well as its popular restaurants and events venues.
My room was spacious and perfectly styled in keeping with the hotel's nautical theme. The soft, cushiony bed and window seat - complete with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge - made this the perfect place to relax at the end of a long day spent exploring the city.
On the hunt for a quick and tasty meal? Look no further than The Kerrigan, the hotel's waterfront grill and smokehouse - the woodfired pizza and juicy burgers are not to be missed.
Don't have much time to see all the sights? You only need to take a 10-metre stroll from the concierge desk to get a postcard-worthy shot of both the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Have you been to these places?
Written by Natalia Didovich. Republished with permission by Stuff.co.nz.
The writer travelled to Sydney courtesy of Destination New South Wales.