The Positive World Year in Review 2016

We researched extensively for positive Year in Review highlights and what came up: mostly negative, disasters, natural catastrophes and fake news. So we decided to give you a finale 2016 round up of the most incredible talk-worthy, notable events we could find. Ending December on a positive note is what our team at Cremorne Point Manor is all about. Enjoy what our planet discovered, created, invented and published during the past 365 days!

In January, water ice was confirmed on the surface of comet 67P while the Jason-3 Earth observation satellite is launched. On a separate, incredible note, researches demonstrate a new class of small, thin electronic sensors that monitor skull temperature and pressure, within the brain surgery realm. This melts away when no longer needed eliminating the need for additional surgery. Within this same topic, a successful head transplant on a monkey, by Chinese scientists, is reported.

The University of Southampton confirms a major step in creating 5D data storage that can survive (wait for it) billions of years.  Around the same time, paleontologists report the discovery of a pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex, giving more insight into the evolution of egg-laying and gender differences in this dinosaur.

Caffeine lovers: By Spring, the University of Southern California confirmed that drinking moderate coffee daily can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. While you’re sipping away, account that a quadriplegic man in Ohio performed complex functional movements in his fingertips after a chip was planted in his brain. And while you gulp that amazing fact, astronomers reported the discovery of Crater 2 - the fourth largest satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

By midyear, Dutch scientists announce that crops of four vegetables and cereals grown in soil (similar to that on Mars) are safe to eat. Who knew? And while we’re on hot news, NASA reported July 2016 was the hottest single month in recorded history (dating back to 1880). Even hotter news: the world’s oldest known fossils are claimed to have been discovered in southwest Greenland, dating back potentially 3.7 billion years.

Unless you were hiding under a rock, on 14^th November, the supermoon visited Planet Earth, the first full moon closest to us than any since 1948. It was huge! And keeping on the same universal realm, according to SpaceX program, human trips to Mars by 2022 are potentially possible.

We wish you a fantastic December full of celebrations and make that resolution to come visit Cremorne Point Manor in 2017 if you’re not already booked to stay with us this month. The views are also out of this world as you can see from our short video. Enjoy and pop that champagne cork – we have the best views of the New Years Eve Harbour fireworks!

Recap of 2016 With Cremorne Point Manor

This year has been quite the rollercoaster including our $1m refurbishment of Cremorne Point Manor! So now let us backtrack to great events we’ve blogged about in 2016 and see if you crossed these off your bucket wish list. If not, then you should consider planning travels to our NSW neck of the ‘southern hemisphere woods’ in 2017 and mark them in your calendar:

The Chinese New Year in January featured the Year of the Monkey. We’re now heading to the Year of the Rooster so beware of that (natural) early morning wake up call. Then there was the LGBT Bridge Climb event, with full rainbows adorning the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, followed by another topic completely unrelated: The Dog Lovers Canine Race. Did you bring your four legged pal with you to see if Fido wins the gold? If not, there’s time for training to gear up for 2017’s galloping festival. If you’re a Ben Stiller fan, you wouldn’t have missed our Dodgeball Launch party blog post in March – the rules are there to be broken and may the best wo/man slam the last ball.

If May was bringing you the pre summer blues, the Bondi Belly Laugh blog post was sure to warm your heart and if you were up for making your credit card cry with a thank you, the Kirribilli Market (thrifty spending) blog post ensured you’d not be melting your monthly statement when it was due for payment.

How about you fitness fanatics that love marathons? Team in Training will be back again mid next year for the Blackmores run. Six months is more than enough time to get those running shoes on and build up stamina. If the marathon is too much for you, we featured the Sprint & Splat Color Run festival where no one will judge you on whether you walked or galloped. They’d be more interested in exactly how many colours you were spray painted with, on the way to the finishing line.

By July, Cremorne Point Manor was featured in Expedia’s Australia blog and that made our team happy campers! On that note, did you read our September blog post about Paws & Pals Adventure Weekend? Grab that waggy tail and meet other locals & tourists while you spend time with nature in more of a clamping fashion. Yes, we actually encouraged you to turn off that smartphone button and hug a tree while your BFF watered it.

Then it came to the last trimester of the year with Campbeltown’s ghost stories (they’re true, we believe it) and the annual Horror Film Festival just before Halloween. With a swift topic switch, we moved right to the magical history of Australian Christmas traditions in a two part blog series. For locals, it’s worth the read to discover why and how certain traditions were created, and also accelerate you for a year end full of celebrations.

And now we’re about to embark on our last blog for the year so stay tuned…. 

Telluride Mountain Coming to Sydney in February

We’re sure you’re inundated with Christmas and New Year activity celebration plans so we’re jumping right to February 10^th as a date to lock in your Sydney diary. It’s something to look forward to in 2017 so you can speed right through murky January and be inspired by Telluride MountainFilm:  a festival of stories, ideas, people and aspirations all focusing on incredibly advanced solutions for our potentially livable world in the future.

The festival runs a series of high energy movies, all narrated to follow the topic of adventure. Nonfiction movies will focus on climbing, political & social justice issues, the environment and culture. These amazing documentaries run way ahead of the average docudrama as they bring together narrations by global figureheads – from change makers, to visionaries and award winning athletes.

Each festival around the globe, Sydney included, will feature gallery walks, outdoor programs & presentations, interactive talks and open-discussion free community events.

The Aussie leg of the festival’s world tour will be launched at the St George Open Air Cinema. With a mind-blowing, visual backdrop spanning the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Skyline and Opera House, the festival will take you to new adrenaline heights. Telluride Mountain Fest tickets will be on sale from 12^th December and it’s a first come, first best-seating set up. The prices have not been published yet but if you check their ticket page and love what you’re seeing, remember to follow the festival through Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, back to Sydney again and get your tickets for the Hayden Orpheum Cremorne Picture Palace (right by our Cremorne Point Manor Lodge)…then through Queensland and Wollongong.

From December spinning to May (with Australia slap bang in the middle), other tour destinations include the good ole USA and New Zealand. Since 1979, the festival has been one of the most beloved in the docu movie circuits and has been quoted as ‘excitement, energy and anticipation to explore and take on the world.’

So book your Cremorne Point Manor accommodation and not only can you enjoy the festival in February, but also return to our Manor for the nearby March screening. And if you think it can’t get any better, take a look at our short hotel video. After the movies, sit back on our guest balcony and enjoy the Harbour skyline again while you work on Plan B to improve Planet Earth. No big feat and no major pressure on your shoulders, right :D

Chinese New Year Celebrations

From January 27 to February 12^th the Lunar New Year Festival will feature over 80 events for one of NSW’s most glorious and globe attracting festivals: Sydney’s Chinese New Year Celebrations. Most of the exhibitions and entertainment are free, alongside seeing the hugely popular Dragon Boat Races in the Harbour. Boats are 12 meters long with up to 20 paddlers and the drums will be banging as they speed to the finishing line. Want to know the full Chinese New Year scoop? Let’s get started!

This is the city’s 21^st anniversary and for 2017, the Year of the Rooster will ensure you’re up at the crack of dawn to check out the massive Lunar Lanterns, representing all animal’s in the zodiac. Attracting over one million people, the Sydney event is the largest outside of China. So if you want to find your animal zodiac, remember to scout around the lanterns and hunt for the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, money, dog, pig and obviously the crème de la 2017 crème….rooster. 

Last year, major landmarks were illuminated red, the Chinese symbol for luck and prosperity. To date, the organizers are yet to promote the full line up schedule but we do know there will be a ton of pop up food festivals, street food markets and a city swaddled by Chinese lanterns.

The Dragon Boat racing has become an institution of China for over 2000 years and classified as an international sport. Taking place around Cockle Bay Wharf in Darling Harbour, the crowds will be multiple layers knee deep, cheering on the racers. Once you’ve screamed yourself hoarse, you can head into Darling Harbour for the Chinese Garden of Friendship. There will be a multitude of workshops, tours and demonstrations taking place, to educate you on the Chinese culture and history over this two week period. And if you want music to your ears, the Chinese Chamber Music Festival will entertain you with melodic tunes from both international and local artists within the gardens.

Tai Chi classes will be available or try out acrobatic lion dancing (a symbol of good luck and fortune). If a tad of peace and quiet is required, the traditional tea ceremony in silence may be your calling. And for kids’ entertainment, they can learn how to make rooster inspired puppets in the Monkey Tales attraction…and take them home for keeps! There are admission fees for garden entry: from $6 for adults, $3 per child (under 12’s) and family, concession and senior packages.

Take a ferry ride over that same race water in the Harbour and within 10 minutes, you’ll be at Cremorne Point. The only time you don’t want to be seeing red is if you check Cremorne Point Manor’s accommodation availability too late…and we’re booked up! 

Prepare for a Field Day on 1st January

 We’re not even into the glorious month of December, where everyone is frantically searching for overpriced gifts, drinking too much eggnog and praying that extra piece of Christmas cake doesn’t turn into a few extra lbs on the stomach – oh what joy! Our Manor is getting booked up fast for next month as we have the best views of the New Year’s fireworks from Cremorne Point. But how about making plans now for the 1^st of January when the mayhem dies down and the hangover rises up: Since you’ll be staying at our affordable boutique Sydney hotel, why not go the extra resolution mile and start New Year’s Day with a splash?

When we’re talking about a splash, we really mean a ‘get your 2017 adrenaline on the right energetic and healthy track’ type of event! Field Day Sydney is the place to be and located at The Domain, this event is now in its umpteenth year of success. Launching in 2002, the organisers decided to bring in the New Year with a bang: in the sun, enjoying the grassy gardens and smothering you in heart pumping indie, hip hop, house and electronic music. The festival is for ages 18+ and 2017’s line up is a who’s who: from Alison Wonderland to Booka Shade, Childish Gambino and Giraffage and around 30 other artists bringing a hippy hippy shake smile to your January face. That’ll burn off the December body weight for sure.

Tickets are $140 with VIP prices at $190. The entry cost may sound steep but remember, if you’re going to be celebrating the fireworks from Cremorne Point Manor, you’ve saved yourself a bundle on 31^st December entertainment costs elsewhere in the expensive downtown district. And what better way to bring in 2017 than dancing through the day and evening. Also account that the event organizers are serious about environmental preservation with their sustainability policies, energy consumption, water usage and waste management. They guarantee you’ll have a great time while also paying forward to our planet so expect to see a mass array of recycling facilities. Dance on the grass, not on trash – that’s the new motto we just made up that perfectly describes Field Day. And your entry price helps Fuzzy Entertainment (the organisers) to donate trees to Centennial Parklands and Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.

The grounds will have a fully licensed bar (including non alcoholic drinks), alongside a flurry of food stalls to keep your energy levels on high alert. They’ll also offer free water, always a lovely H2O benefit, and bundles of merchandise for sale. If you’re a delicate musical wall flower, free earplugs will be available. 2016 is nearly SO last year and 2017’s Field Day should now already be on your calendar.

Meet Your Four Wheel Hero This December

One of the year’s coolest festivals is the MotorWorld Sydney event from the 1^st to 4^th December. An event for all the family, it brings together the best interactive car enthusiasts passion of motors with a huge ‘I must be involved’ magnetic pull: you can test drive one of your heroic cars on the track, road or off-road circuit! Compare brands, models, the feel of the car, how you + the machine bond and if the pedal to the metal gives you the rush you were always praying for. Alternatively, you can check out those wish list cars through a series of demonstrations during the event if a test run is maybe a bit too much for you. Thinking this was the highlight of the event, there’s more:

When you buy tickets on the website, you not only confirm to participate in this first ever mega test fest, giving you priority access to the cars (remember that spots are limited) but…this event is most likely the world’s biggest test fest, and the first to collaborate with both the public and media (journalist) reviews. There will be around 10,000 test drives from over 100 cars through the four days.

And there’s even more…Test drivers can also be part of the CarAdvice test team. The website explains more information about this but it includes the public test drivers determining best categories of the cars on show, including the best compact SUV, best performance car under $60k and reviewing 4WD cars in the Dirt Drive on gravel tracks. You may be checking out firsthand the newest Tesla Model S or end up with the glory of all glories: Jaguar F-Pace. Who know what car you’ll be test driving. And here's something to think about...

Entry prices are a reasonable $49 per day or $110 for a family pass. This includes access to all event activities, the Holy Grail test drives, live demos, competitions, entertainment for the family, live music and an outdoor cinema. Parking is free so that’s an extra bonus. And if you really want to end 2016 with a splash, for $290 per day, you can be a member of the VIP Grid Club, that features free food, drinks, priority access to the Sports Car Super Sessions and access to the Sun Deck.

There are many ladies day events including the Mamamia Women’s Choice Award, Ladies Day Exclusive Drive Experiences and Ladies Day Cocktail Party. We’re not sure why there are so many events for women aside the obvious: women always make the final decision on the next car purchase!

The event is located at Ferrers Road, Eastern Creek, NSW and it’ll only take you 50 minutes to drive there from Cremorne Point. Then return back to our stunning Cremorne Point Manor, switch the car for leg therapy and take a hike around our sensational walking trails. The cars, the speed and the motors at the festival will be phenomenal but the ride of your life will absolutely be from the adrenaline, as you view the most incredible Harbour skyline from our spot of the city.  

A History of Aussie Christmas Traditions

Last week, we wrote a blog post about way-back-when Christmas in Australia’s historical moments defined how Aussies celebrate the latter part of December. Now onto the second and final part of memory lane, it’s good to know how tradition has served the country well during gift giving season.

With the southern hemisphere providing a warm summer down under during December, a senior historian confirmed this sunny Christmas style reverts back to the mid 1800’s. Early British settlers pined for home with snow filled streets but had to make the most of the warmer climate. Dr Brown (senior research fellow in the Australian National University’s History Program) confirmed that “from very early on, Christmas in Australia was a secular festival and about family; it focused on the outdoors, on recreation.”

Dating back to mid 19^th century Britain, he says, Queen Victoria (or rather her husband, Prince Albert) seemed responsible for introducing the Christmas tree. This was in England in the 1840’s, yet the tradition was of German custom. Maybe you didn’t know this but at this same time, Christmas cards were also introduced. The overall focus was on family values, sentimentality and childhood.

Obviously Christmas existed way before then but was usually celebrated in church by way of sermons. Only until the 19^th century did it become a public holiday and a family occasion outside of the church.

So even though the Aussies were greatly influenced by this British Christmas soiree, new Aussie locals decided to add a different flavour…literally. Around the 1950’s Aussies gave out Christmas cards with Santa pulled by a kangaroo instead and then headed to the bush, cutting down big swags of leaves (usually eucalyptus), tying them around the house.

Ham and cockatoo pie swiftly became the norm, as a staple alternative to the great British Christmas meal. Another long term custom included bringing local flora and eating local fauna.

Having an outdoor Christmas in the summery December, over the past century, is standard and the Aussies believe that it’s a ‘golden summer,’ with many of their heritage British traditions simply being tweaked to accommodate the climate and natural resources.

This year, if you’re celebrating Christmas in Sydney, not only do we encourage you to head to the beach and spend the 25^th making snowmen sandcastles, but also enjoy some healthy Vitamin D on your skin while you sit back on our veranda overlooking Cremorne Point, and chomp on that ham & cockatoo pie. You’ll enjoy a holiday season that’s upside down, back to front and now reading this…it absolutely makes sense.  What a wonderful way to spend the holiday with us at Cremorne Point Manor!