Travel

Accommodation

Near the action

All three venues sit within a 15-minute radius of each other on the lower north shore and northern beaches. Staying in this pocket means you're close to everything and will actually see a bit of Sydney beyond the CBD.

Manly Pacific$$$
Right on Manly Beach. The obvious choice if you want to wake up to the ocean. Book early.
The Albert Mosman$$$
Closest to the wedding venue at Athol Hall. Boutique, easy walk to good restaurants and the ferry wharf.
Wildlife Retreat at Taronga Zoo$$$$
If you want something genuinely unique and don't mind a bit of a splurge. Yes, you sleep at the zoo and get harbour views from bed!
Peppers Manly Beach$$$
A quieter alternative to the Pacific, also on the beachfront. Slightly more boutique feel.
Cremorne Point Manor$$
Harbour views, heritage building, genuinely lovely. A bit off the beaten path in a nice way.
In the city

If you'd rather be based in the CBD, you can't go wrong with the usual suspects: Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Fullerton, W. The Park Hyatt is the classic Sydney harbour view hotel that tends to be on every international visitor's radar. For anyone who wants to really go for it, Capella Sydney is the one.

Airbnb

Worth considering if you're travelling as a group or planning a longer stay. We'd point you towards Manly or Freshwater for a beachy holiday vibe, or Mosman if you want to be close to the venues and well-placed for the city too.

Getting Around

Uber / Didi
The default. Both work well in Sydney and you'll use them for most venue transfers. Worth downloading Didi too as it's often cheaper, but there are fewer around.
The Manly Ferry
Technically transport, genuinely one of the better things you can do in Sydney. 30 minutes from Circular Quay to Manly Wharf through the harbour. Take it at least once, ideally at sunset. The Mosman ferry (F4) also runs from Circular Quay—a shorter trip, and it stops at Taronga Zoo Wharf if you feel like a visit.
Buses
Better than their reputation. Accurate on Google Maps, decent frequency, and you can tap on and off with your debit or credit card.
Car Rental
Only worth it if you're doing regional day trips. Parking around Manly and Mosman is genuinely painful, so don't bother with a car just for getting around the city.
From the Airport
You're landing at Kingsford Smith, which is on the south side of the city. An Uber or Didi straight to the northern beaches or lower north shore will run about $60–90 and take 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. If you're staying in the CBD, it will be around $30–60.

Eat & Drink

Mostly our locals, with a few others we venture out for.

ApolloGreek Potts Point
Our favourite Greek spot. Must-orders: saganaki (fried cheese with honey) and taramasalata.
Baker BleuBakery Double Bay
Arguably Sydney's best bakery. Worth the detour for the bread alone.
BancoBar & restaurant Manly
Neighbourhood bar and restaurant. Great cocktails, great service, can't go wrong with the menu.
Barrel One / Skittle Lane / SwayCoffee Manly
Go-to coffee spots in Manly.
BustaItalian Manly
Fun Italian. Great pasta and cocktails.
Cafe NicheBreakfast Mosman
Classic healthy-ish Aussie brekkie spot. Low-key and good.
Cafe PaciSmall plates Newtown
Small plates worth the trip. The ox tongue taco and king prawns are both excellent.
CibariaItalian Manly
Beachfront Italian with fun vibes and delicious pastas.
GildasSmall plates Surry Hills
Great small plates and very OG shady acres vibes — Hong Kongers, you know.
Girdler'sBreakfast & brunch Manly
A lovely spot for breakfast or lunch. Great drinks and excellent buckwheat crepes.
Hugo'sDinner Manly
Wharf-side spot with great harbour views. Get the Yamba king prawns and try one of the pizzas.
JB & SonsBurgers Manly
Solid burger in the heart of Manly. Usually a good buzz.
MamakMalaysian Haymarket
Our favourite roti place. Get the original roti canai.
MargaretSeafood Double Bay
Neil Perry's Double Bay spot. Fab seafood, great room, solid all-rounder.
MapoGelato Newtown
Better than Messina.
Morrison's Oyster Bar & GrillSteak & seafood CBD
Does oysters, meats and seafood exactly right. A reliable one.
Norma's DeliDeli Manly
Amazing New York deli-style sandwiches, salads and more. Even worth the gluten intake for Sasha.
Palmo Artisan AcaiAcai Freshwater
The bougiest acai bowl you'll ever buy.
Pocket PizzaPizza Manly
Super popular, great pizzas. The Manly location gets crowded — Brookvale and Neutral Bay have the same menu with shorter queues.
RollersBakery Manly
The bougiest croissant you'll ever buy.
Ruby Lane's Whole FoodsBreakfast & brunch Manly
One of our go-to weekly breakfast spots. Solid food and great drinks — both coffee and non.
The White HorseBar & restaurant Surry Hills
Renovated pub turned sleek restaurant and bar. Great food and drinks.

Making a Trip of It

If you're flying this far, you may as well make it count. Here's a rough guide for a week or two beyond the wedding, depending on what you're after.

Destination Sun & Surf Food & Wine Adventure Drive Notes
Blue Mountains
NSW
 ✦ ✦✦ ✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ Perfect day trip or overnight from Sydney. 90 mins west.
Hunter Valley
NSW
 ✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ Australia's most accessible wine region. Easy 2hr drive north.
Palm Beach
NSW
 ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ The northern tip of the peninsula. A 45-min drive up through the northern beaches — stop at Freshwater, Dee Why and Avalon on the way.
Byron Bay
NSW
 ✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ Iconic. Best for a few nights, not just a day trip. 8hrs north or a short flight.
Gold Coast
QLD
 ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ — Easy flight from Sydney (~1.5hrs). Good if you want guaranteed sunshine.
Whitsundays
QLD
 ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦✦✦ — Best Australian sailing and reef in one place. Worth the longer flight (~2.5hrs).
Great Barrier Reef
QLD
 ✦✦✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ — Fly into Cairns (~3hrs). Non-negotiable if this is your one trip to Australia.
Melbourne
VIC
 ✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦ — The food and coffee capital. Completely different vibe to Sydney. Worth 3–4 days.
Margaret River
WA
 ✦✦✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦ — World-class wine, great surf, stunning coast. Fly into Perth (~4hrs) then drive south.
Tasmania
TAS
 ✦ ✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ ✦✦✦✦ Underrated. Wild landscapes, incredible food scene. Short flight (~1.5hrs).
Uluru
NT
 ✦ ✦ ✦✦✦✦✦ — A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Best seen at sunrise or sunset. Fly into Ayers Rock (~3hrs).

Good to Know

Visa / ETA
For our international guests coming in from Hong Kong, US or UK, you will likely need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before arriving in Australia. It takes about 5 minutes to apply online via the Australian ETA app and costs AUD $20.
Weather
December is the height of Australian summer! Expect lots of sunshine, warm evenings and the occasional afternoon thunderstorm. Sydney weather can be unpredictable even at its best. Pack a light layer just in case, but mostly pack sunscreen.