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KIDS
Wild Ropes at Taronga Zoo
Swing from the trees and enjoy breathtaking views at the new Wild Ropes adventure at Taronga Zoo. The treetop park presents more than 60 challenges over four different courses, including suspension bridges, rope climbs and zip-lines. With high ropes and low ropes options to choose from, participants will not only enjoy the adrenaline rush, but also observe Australian animals such as koalas, kangaroos and wallabies from a whole different perspective. Stunning harbour views are another perk of the course, on view for keen climbers as they travel 10 metres above the ground. The Wild Ropes course has been designed to have a low environmental impact and is aimed at encouraging people to reconnect with nature. Open to anybody older than 10, the course will especially be a hit with schoolchildren who want a bit of adventure in their summer holidays. Tickets are available for purchase separately or as part of a bundle pack with Taronga Zoo entry. Catch a ferry straight to Taronga Zoo from Circular Quay. Open daily, first session starts 9.30am, last sessions starts 3.30pm, Taronga Zoo, Bradley's Head Road, Mosman, adult $35, child $30, booking advised, 9932 4246, taronga.org.au/wildropes.
Consider the cassowary
Cassowarys have a reputation for violence. Cantankerous and aggressive, with a history of attacks against humans, they seem more likely to peck your hand than eat from it. But fear no more - the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo has a cassowary encounter on offer, where you can get up close and personal with these sassy birds. Guests will have behind-the-scenes access to the Daintree Rainforest habitat where Princess, the Sydney Zoo's southern cassowary, whiles away her days. After a thorough safety briefing from the cassowary keepers and an information session on "the world's deadliest bird", guests will have the opportunity to hand feed Princess. It's the only place in NSW where one can hand-feed a cassowary, and a unique opportunity to interact with the fascinating birds. Classified as a vulnerable species, there are less than 1000 cassowarys left in the wild, and the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo encounter is a great way to learn more - just be careful! Catch the light rail to Darling Harbour or a train to Town Hall and walk. Available daily, 12.30pm (times subject to change), WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Darling Harbour, minimum $2 donation, 1800 206 158, wildlifesydney.com.au.
Fun on the foreshore
Out west and looking for some school holiday fun? Head straight to the Parramatta River "foreshore", where the price is right and the boredom busters plentiful. There are plenty of free and paid activities for children of all ages, including floating Zorb balls, bike-riding, rowing on the river and a variety of workshops and performances. On December 30, children can enjoy the "Kids on Congas" workshop, where everyone gets their own drum and learns the basic rhythms, counting and drum rolls that will make them a conga pro in no time. Later in the day, they can meet JayJay the Balloon Guy at the balloon twister workshop, where they will learn to wrestle colourful balloons into animal shapes of all kinds. JayJay also has some magic tricks, jokes and other silliness up his sleeve - he's sure to be a big hit with the little ones. Several other workshops are on offer during the program, including a kite-flying session, an introduction to indigenous Australian music, and a space-themed engineering challenge. Catch a train to Parramatta Station and walk up Smith Street to the foreshore. Until January 23, 9am-3pm, Parramatta River Foreshore between Barry Wilde and Elizabeth Street footbridges, free and paid activities, 9806 5050.
SYDNEY
Yoga By The Sea
Take your love for yoga to the next level this summer with classes by the ocean. With three studios located along the stunning Bondi to Bronte walk, Yoga By The Sea offers a unique and beautiful yoga experience. Guests can enjoy the focus and relaxation that usually accompanies yoga while drinking in the sunshine and sea breeze. At the Bondi Icebergs location you can enjoy the sauna and pools as part of the class, whereas at Tamarama and Bronte you can enjoy herbal tea or fruit juice. Beginners, experienced and prenatal classes are available, with mats provided at all three locations. Say goodbye to your sweaty local gym and head to the coast for a yoga class you'll want to take over and over again. Various dates and times, Bondi Icebergs, Tamarama Surf Club, Bronte Surf Club, drop-in visit $18-$23, five-class pass $95, 10-class pass $180, 0411 336 476, yogabythesea.com.au.
Lazybones Lounge
If you are in the inner west and looking for some great live music, Lazybones Lounge is for you. This ultra-cool Marrickville venue is the home to live jazz seven nights a week and the perfect place for music junkies to get their fix. On December 30 it will play host to Money Killed Jonny, a psychedelic jazz and blues outfit, with Floyd Vincent & The Temple Dogs, The Rare Grooves, Existential Lego, The Double Shadows and the Aston Martinis all coming up in the next week. With a well-stocked bar and a tempting menu featuring pork belly sliders and South African street food "bunny chow", Lazybones is a great place to spend an evening with friends over the holiday period. Lazybones is also hosting a New Year's Eve party featuring blues band Stormcellar. Catch the 423 or 426 buses from Castlereagh Street or Railway Square and disembark on Marrickville Road, or catch a train to Marrickville Station and walk to the venue. Open nightly, Mon-Wed 5pm-12am, Thu-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 5pm-10pm, closed New Year's Day, Lazybones Lounge, 294 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, free/small cover charge on occasion, 0488 759 548, lazyboneslounge.com.au.
Aztecs exhibition
Travel back to the Aztec empire at the Australian Museum this summer with an epic display of more than 200 artefacts and a number of multimedia shows. The Aztecs exhibition chronicles the dramatic story of the rise and fall of the Aztec empire, a rich and brutal story of the birth of modern Mexico. Guests will be able to step right in to the 500-year-old story and marvel at the extravagant possessions held by the Aztec emperors, learn about their sacrificial rituals and beliefs, and the ways of their society. On Thursday nights in January, head to the museum late for the Tequila Sunsets event, where you can sip Mexican-inspired beverages, enjoy Latin beats from a DJ and pay half-price admission. Tequila Sunsets is open on January 8, 15, 22 and 29. Catch a train to Museum, St James or Town Hall station - the Australian Museum is a short walk from all three. Open daily, 9.30am-5pm, The Australian Museum, corner College Street and William Street, Sydney, adult $24, concession/child $14, family $62, free for children under five, 9320 6000, australianmuseum.net.au.
Young Organist's Day
Stuck at work on New Year's Eve? Head to Sydney Town Hall in your lunch break for the Young Organist's Day recital, where brilliant players aged nine to 17 will blow you away with their talent. You will be enthralled by the young musicians as they strut their stuff on the famous Town Hall organ, which was the biggest in the world when it was built in 1890. This event is produced by the City of Sydney. Catch a train to Town Hall or any bus up George Street. December 31, 12.30pm-1.30pm, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, free, 9265 9333.
Get thrifty in Surry Hills
Find yourself staring wistfully into secondhand and vintage shops, wishing you were one of those people who could just piece it all together and look fabulous? Well, cheer up - help is on the horizon. This 3½- hour tour through Surry Hills will guide you though a variety of loved-and-left clothing stores, including classic op-shops, vintage specialists and boutique upcyclers. As you shop, you'll get tips from host Kelsey, who will help you spot features of quality items, give an educated opinion on why you should - or shouldn't - buy something with the intention of getting it altered, and explain the murky world of vintage sizing. Risk-taking is encouraged, and your helpful guide will assist you in figuring out what looks great with your current wardrobe and what should be left on the rack. All non-charity-based outlets will offer tour takers a 10% discount on the day. Tours coming up on January 10 and January 24, 11am-3pm (approx), meet Taylor Square, Surry Hills, $35, bookings essential, 1300 322 232, classie.com.au.
OUT OF TOWN
Swim with the dolphins
Sign up to frolic with dolphins off Port Stephens for an experience you will never forget. Operated by Dolphin Swim Australia, guests will be immersed in a moving pod of dolphins, enjoying a pod interaction in the open ocean. Snorkelling swimmers can keep up with the dolphins by being harnessed to the moving catamaran, as the dolphins encountered on the tour are more excited to discover humans who can swim along with their pod. Marine scientists will also come along for the ride, assisting with guiding the tours and conducting research on dolphin behaviour and populations. The Dolphin Swim Australia tour is the only commercially permitted wild dolphin swim in NSW and is suitable for confident swimmers aged seven and older. A 10% discount is currently on offer for all keen swimmers who book online before January 31, using the voucher code HOLIDAY2014. Various dates until May, 5.20am-10am, Nelson Bay Marina, Teramby Road, Port Stephens, swimmers $289, observers $60, bookings essential, 1300 721 358, dolphinswimaustralia.com.au.
Meroogal Women's Art Prize
Virtually unchanged from when it was built in the 1880s, the "Meroogal" house in Nowra has been handed down through four generations of women. This year, the Meroogal Women's Art Prize, currently on display in the house, asked women artists across NSW to use the beautiful abode as their inspiration. The artworks on display include Sharnie Shield's prizewinning artwork Collars in the Afternoon, a collection of printed paper collars designed to pay homage to the collars embroidered by the women of Meroogal. Linda Denning's Let your hair down and Nicolette Eisdell's oil painting depicting Meroogal's drawing room are also on display. There's plenty of history to be found in the house itself, as well - the belongings of the Thorburn and MacGregor women, who maintained the house for decades, are on display, with books, ornaments, diaries, journals, recipes and more to be seen. The garden grows plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, evoking the sense of sufficiency and hospitality that has emanated from Meroogal for years. Open Saturdays until January 24, 10.30am-3.30pm, Meroogal, 35 West Street, Nowra, adult $8, child $4, family $17, 4421 8150, sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/meroogal.
Summernats Car Festival
Calling all motorheads, car enthusiasts and people who like their vehicles fast and furious - the Summernats Car Festival in Canberra is the place for you. Up to 1800 cars will converge on Canberra's Exhibition Park over the four-day vehicle bonanza, which will see burnout and driving competitions take place alongside stunt spectaculars, fireworks and more. Several retail exhibitors will be on hand for those who want everything from good quality parts to collectors' memorabilia. Music is also on offer at Summernats, with Havana Brown appearing alongside headliners Bliss and Eso on Friday January 2. Australian hip-hop artist Illy will headline the Saturday night concert, which will also feature a fireworks display. Started by Chic Henry in 1988, Summernats has grown over the years and now attracts a crowd of over 100,000 people from all over the world. Dubbed a "celebration of the street machine lifestyle", Summernats is considered the best place to party for machine devotees in January. Parking is available on site and several Canberra buses service Exhibition Park. January 1-4, Thurs 5pm-11.30pm, Fri 8.30am-midnight, Sat 8.30am-1am, Sun 8.30am-5pm, Exhibition Park, corner of Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell, four-day pass adult $130, child $45, one-day pass adult $35-$75, child $10-$25, family $75-$170, 6241 8111, summernats.com.au.