Free Sydney Olympic Park Events

Throughout the year, Sydney’s Olympic Park hosts a wide range of events from sports, music and fashion. All these attractions cost a decent amount of cash so we’ve chosen a few coming up…that are free.  Not only will your credit card statement be lower than average but you’ll be entertained to the hilt. Here are a few of our favourites for you to check out, if you’re a Sydney local or visitor to NSW:

 

If the feathery type is your vice, you must add the last Sunday of every month from 10-11am at the Birdlife Discovery Centre. It’s all about free bird watching, mingling with like minded fluttery fans and trying to take a snap of that rare breed before it vanishes.

For kids who love insects, creepy crawlies and the slippery type, on the 3^rd June and 5^th August, the Bicentennial Park will host a Frog & Tadpole Study Group event. Learn all about these hop-alongs from their leg muscle leaping abilities to eye vision and natural habitats. The events take place from 7-9pm.

Sweeter than cupcakes may be a delicacy you can never resist. If so, you must sign up for the Cake Bake & Sweets Show from the 3^rd - 5^th June, 10am-5pm in the Sydney Showground. Sample, buy and hoard a few tasters while you stock up on the sugar, purely to keep your energy levels up…right? 

How about all you nature lovers? On the 28^th August from 10am-12pm, head to the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park and venture into a series of short walks on urban ecology. Learn about wildlife, nature’s incredible eco systems and the soil crawlies that regurgitate the land for plant growth. 

Later on this year (dates to be announced), are the free Kids in the Park & Sand Art Fun. These will most likely be scheduled during the winter holidays. The Park events will include everything you expect to exhaust the little ones, hoping they’ll sleep a good 12 hours that night (we can only pray). From games to attractions, food, exhibition stalls and rides, it’ll all be in abundance. The Sand Art is a brilliant way for kids to learn how to build, craft within team work and thrive off their innovation skills. With a huge pit of sand at their disposal, they’ll enjoy hours of fun from creating, completing, demolishing and starting all over again.  Remember to tweet the Park and our hotel with your kid’s outstanding sand results.

Only 38 minutes by car or 1.15 hours by bus, you can be back at Cremorne Point Manor.  Keeping with the free theme, chill out at our balcony overlooking the “doesn’t cost a penny” stunning views of the Harbour skyline. You’ll also keep your purse strings intact with the most affordable hotel rates in the area, at Cremorne Point Manor. Sometimes the best things in life are free…or budget friendly.

Bondi Belly Laugh on 1st May

If you’re heading to Sydney around the early part of next month, you must check out World Laughter Day at Bondi Beach on the 1^st May. Not only is laughing holistic, infectious and lowers blood pressure but it uses so fewer facial muscles than frowning…and it’ll start tightening up a potential six pack. If you have the latter, by the 2^nd May you may be leaning towards a 12 pack.

 

On this hysterical day, you can learn about the benefits of happiness, health and good ole tear jerker laugh…all through the power of yoga.

This free event is hosted by the Bondi Beach Laughter Club and at 11.30am, be ready on the beach for registration. Thirty minutes later the introductions, announcements and kudos speeches will take place.

From that time on until mid afternoon, you can take yoga sessions, laughter meditation (it’s hysterical – we’ve tried it), relaxation techniques, confirm positive affirmations and then bond over Bondi team games. There’s also an introduction about Laughter Yoga and the incredible benefits it gives to mind, body and soul. It’ll make your hair grow healthier, your nails stronger, reboot your major organs and ensure that chi is flowing like a river.

The yoga session is followed by drinks, meeting new people, reacquainting with long lost friends and an increased volume of high energy levels. You can book free event tickets through Eventbrite, listed on their website. All you need to do is bring a yoga mat or beach towel but if you don’t have that, then simply lay in the sand and let it absorb all the negativity & stress you’ve built up recently.

If you want to know more about how the Yoga Workshop will play out, here’s the scoop: The trainers will educate you on deep breathing exercises and the great multitude of benefits that laughter brings to your life. They include rhythmic clapping, grounding exercises and strategies on incorporating these in your everyday life.

Only a 30 minute drive or 2 hours walk with a short ferry ride, you can be back at Cremorne Point. Tripadvisor’s awarded us our fifth consecutive Certificate of Excellence. When you stay at Cremorne Point Manor, you’ll be laughing at our affordable rates compared to downtown hotel prices & revert into hysterics over our stunning view of the Harbour skyline…because it’s free to watch and you scooped one of the best visual spots. Now that’s worth a smile at least, which you can tweet to @cremornemanor and @laughnlivewell

Welcome Back VIVID Sydney

If you’re heading to Sydney in the next few weeks, it’ll be impossible to not see or hear VIVID Sydney between 27^th May and 18^th June. The annual return of lights, music and idea will be in full force and you’ll be hard pressed to find a city with such an incredibly inspiring series of installations as ours.

 

The outdoor gallery of sensational lighting sculptures, contemporary music and the mouth gaping illuminated Sydney Opera House sails is going to be even more mind boggling than prior years.

Attracting now over 1.7 million visitors from around the globe, you can expect to view lights music and ideas coming from all angles around NSW. From installations such as ‘Is Data Killing Creativity’ to Robowars Sydney, the Creative Achievement Awards and Sculpture by the Sea, your brain will be in high gear from these ‘ideas’ presentations. 

Then there’s the music category. With the VIVID Lounge at MCA to Purple Sneakers 10^th Birthday, Soul of Sydney, Freda’s Tribute to the incredible Sade and Bjork Digital. Hover over each of the events on the website and you’ll see the location, price, starting times and dates. The site is so easy to navigate and you can also add ‘wish list’ events you’re tagging to attend, creating a jam packed calendar. 

A huge visual favourite is the ‘light’ elements of VIVID, the effects that cause cell camera overload. This year, you can expect to gape at the Mountain of Light at Martin Place, The Sound Bubble at Circular Quay, Lightshows 60s to Now at The Rocks and the most popular Harbour Lights at the Opera House. Also check out a widely hyped installation we’re really excited about: The Cathedral of Lights at the Royal Botanic Garden, alongside the Rainbow Dancers at the same location. Most of the light installations are free but a paid $11.95 rate for ‘Be The Light For The Wild’ will be taking place at Taronga Zoo and knowing the Zoo so well, it’s bound to be worth every penny. 

With 378 speakers lined up in various precincts, you’d think navigating nearly 2 million visitors would be a logistical nightmare. This is a drop in the planning bucket for the VIVID team – they have you fully covered. From trains to buses, light rail, by car, on foot and ferry, just click the ‘transportation’ tab on the website and you’re hooked up to a full routing schedule, including extra public transport laid out with thanks to the city.

Want to know the most spectacular viewing spots? It’s at Cremorne Point. Our hotel, Cremorne Point Manor, has the best views of downtown Sydney so grab that glass of vino, take the weight off your feet on our balcony and wow over how stunning the skyline looks. Our spot is one of the city’s most sought after and with a Certificate of Excellence for the 5^th consecutive year by Tripadvisor, our gem of a geographical landmark is a huge attraction. We’ll see you in May & June for ideas, music and lights!

ANZAC Remembrance Day

If you’re in Sydney on 25^th April, what better way to feel patriotic towards veterans than the ANZAC Day March. Honoring those who have served to defend Australia or related interests, this is a special day to pay respects for those who have suffered as a result of their service.

 

As a solemn event, the March starts at the corner of Martin Place and Elizabeth Street at 9.00am. The order of the March is confirmed as: WWII Navy, WWII Army, WWII Air Force-Navy, Army, Air Force Civilians supporting Australian Troops-Descendants of Australian Veterans – Commonwealth Troops – Allies. With specific rules in place, the March order is most likely to remain unchanged.

Travelling south on Elizabeth Street to Liverpool Street, the website map shows the exact route so you can visually see which points you’ll be viewing, the times and navigation criteria.

Marshalls will be positioned in specific areas to assist unit leaders, giving the eyes left command during the Act of Remembrance, observed as units pass the Anzac Memorial. During the command, hats must be removed and the right hand held over the left breast, remaining so until the unit is clear of the Memorial. Additionally, heads are to be turned towards the Memorial when passing. Banners and flags are to be dipped while Delta Force formations salute the Memorial as they pass by.

The website rules are specific so keep reading – we’re writing this verbatim to ensure respect for the ANZAC strict guidelines. Wreaths can be laid by Units but must be all completely laid down before 8.15am or after the March. Following the March, at 12.30pm the Commemoration Service takes place at the ANZAC Memorial at Hyde Park. National leaders will be attending this including the Premier of New South Wales and this year, cadets from The Scots College.

With a full day of remembrance, a sunset service will take place at 5.00pm at Cenotaph, Martin Place. It’s short yet brings a solemn and dignified conclusion to the ANZAC Day Commemorations.

If you were in the service and would like to March, you can contact the organisers to discuss additional details. Eligibility to March includes Services Members of the Returned & Service League of Australia. Descendants of veterans are also invited to March. 

2016 commemorates 100 years of ANZAC in Sydney so this March will have additional, milestone significance.  

As Cremorne Point is a short ferry ride from the Memorial, having a glass of wine overlooking the Harbour from Cremorne Point Manor would be an apt way to reflect on the fallen heroes. Raise a glass in their honour and a moment’s silence, thanking them for their sacrifice, in return for your freedom.