Sally is one of Tourism Australia's Friends of Australia and carries a FLIP to record any moments she has down under.....
A stormy morning at Bondi Beach turned into a stunning afternoon as we walked past the fishing club at Ben Buckler Point to look down over the other side of the headland at the rocks.
Flying Fish restaurant on Jones Bay Wharf is an unforgettable combination of quinessentially Sydney harbour views and brilliant modern cuisine. It should not be missed - here is a peek at the walk down the end of the wharf to the restaurant, and the tasting menu from mid-2011:
the Icebergs pool by Peter Wallace, Sydney Australia
A short video below of the perfect tea at the Boathouse, Palm Beach NSW Australia
The Boathouse, located in the old Barrenjoey boathouse on the Pittwater side of Palm Beach, is everything you want a cafe to be. Surrounded by lush plantings with casual dog-friendly outdoor areas to lounge in the sun, protected, friendly bar and table seating inside and simply the best coffee in Sydney, if I could live at the Boathouse I would.
I discovered the Boathouse last summer on a trip back to Palm Beach, and now I have experienced it in the chill of winter - outside still has sheltered spots but a seat inside at the rustic communal bar table makes you want to grow roots and stay. How many coffees can you drink in a day? It took me and my sister Poppy one poached egg with bacon on thick soy and linseed toast, one "bowl" of bircher, granola, rhubarb compote and yogurt, 2 coffees each and a hot chocolate before we thought it was probably time to reluctantly give up our seat to the waiting masses.
I discovered the Boathouse last summer on a trip back to Palm Beach, and now I have experienced it in the chill of winter - outside still has sheltered spots but a seat inside at the rustic communal bar table makes you want to grow roots and stay. How many coffees can you drink in a day? It took me and my sister Poppy one poached egg with bacon on thick soy and linseed toast, one "bowl" of bircher, granola, rhubarb compote and yogurt, 2 coffees each and a hot chocolate before we thought it was probably time to reluctantly give up our seat to the waiting masses.
Australian photographer Hamish Te-Me has spent years perfecting his stop motion photography of city beat boys in Melbourne and Sydney. Here is one of the pictures, titled "Paul", that he presented after me at the Sydney Design Week Pecha Kucha late last year.
Latteria is a tiny slot in the wall of Victoria Street Darlinghurst that serves the best coffee and Italian-Oz attitude in Sydney (for pure Italian head for Frattelli Paradiso on Challis Avenue just a few blocks towards the harbor). I have been drinking coffee on the timber stools of Latteria since it began as Parmalat more than 12 years ago. The original design of floor to ceiling stainless steel and fridge cabinets on one side and spun aluminium tables on the other was the vision of interior architect Danny Venlet. Executed in 1993 it is one of the few Sydney cafe interiors to remain unchanged - actually I cant think of any others!
Owned and run by brothers Pino and Tommy (below) and their childhood mate Vito you can sit at the outdoor tables all day and watch some crazy streetlife (particularly good the morning after Mardi Gras) or hold your meetings inside like I do.
You can find Latteria on Victoria Street Darlinghurst next to Coluzzi and diagonally opposite Tropicana cafe and the Fire Station.
Owned and run by brothers Pino and Tommy (below) and their childhood mate Vito you can sit at the outdoor tables all day and watch some crazy streetlife (particularly good the morning after Mardi Gras) or hold your meetings inside like I do.
You can find Latteria on Victoria Street Darlinghurst next to Coluzzi and diagonally opposite Tropicana cafe and the Fire Station.
One of my favourite views of Australia - the shores of Pittwater from a boat's point of view. I love the boulders and I love the light. Always reminds me of early Australian Impressionist paintings.
Early last year I was in NSW, driving to Cessnock and missing my kids back in California. It was a beautiful driving day - I love the cliff banks either side of the highway with the road just cleft through....and I love a road trip singalong. This is is retro (like most of my picks) - with a personalized bit to my girls, and some great scenery out the window.
Broome on the West Coast of Australia. One of my favourite places: vivid red sand, vivid blue sea, one of the most beautiful sunsets you will find anywhere, deserted beaches, a fascinating cultural brew and the biggest salties (salt water crocodiles) you can even dream up!
