I Want to Ride my Bicycle...

From March 22 – April 19, the Sydney Variety Cycle raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity while you get yourself fit and tone up those legs, abs and arms. This annual event starts at Sydney and is designed to attract serious cyclists, passionate amateur fans of two wheels and businesses to raise as much cash as possible for the children’s charity….Variety.

Get ready to go the distance and spend a few days or a week from the get go, or you can really take the helm (or handle bars) and glide along the full 26 day excursion. The route goes from Sydney to Uluru which is a walloping 3800km. Enjoy the city to city cycles, two day cycles, daily cycles or the whole event.

Working alongside schools, hospitals and the general public, supporters can be involved in the large events such as the meet-and-greet with cyclists. Or you can just trundle along with your own group of fundraiser cyclist pals to get healthy and raise a bit of cash for Variety.

So far, the charity’s raised over $370,000 this year which is a really solid amount but if you get involved, maybe as a local or tourist wanting a different kind of adventure, you can sign up to their site and add to the charity pot. Or if your legs are a bit wobbly and your balance is off kilter, the website has links for you to sponsor a cyclist or group of participants…and even your own friends who have signed up.

For all you Sydney based cyclists, the route is listed on this page, starting at Pyrmont Bay Park which is a brilliant location since it’s a short ferry ride to an affordable Sydney hotel, Cremorne Point Manor.

The race starts at 8pm and so you’re good to go for a great day, week or 26 days ahead!

 

 

Holy Moly – The Holi Mahotsav Festival in Sydney

On the 21st to 23^rd March, the Holi Mahotsav festival celebrates the triumph of good over bad. This fantastically unique event proves that 10 years of a community event is in full swing as you rid yourself of your old baggage. In the literal sense, you can donate unwanted household items and start the New Year with zero excess baggage.

In the Indian tradition, during the Holi days of this festival, the objective is to remove yourself from clutter and start seeing colours of joy surrounding you, especially white and pure lights.

Attracting hundreds of artists from India and around the globe, the festival taking place in Darling Harbour is apt since there’s always a flow of people and naturally, water.

You can enjoy artists and performers show their talents in Sydney, enjoy sensational Indian vegetarian foods and check out the craft stalls.

Only a 12 minute car ride from one of Sydney’s affordable hotels, Cremorne Point Manor, you can optionally hop on a ferry and a few minutes ride late, you’ll be floating to this exclusive area, overlooking the Harbour.

Whoever says the best things in life are free is absolutely correct! The festival is free for all, is a great winner for attracting families, kids, groups of friends and tourists. As an added bonus, you can experience the event first hand as a volunteer, performing at the festival as an artist or promoting and selling your ‘it really needs to go’ home merchandise.

So if you’re heading to Sydney and looking to check out a truly unique three day celebration and be part of cleansing yourself of all things excessive in life, head down to the Tumbalong Park and Chinese Garden Forecourt in the Harbour. Remember that the more you offload, the more relaxed you’ll be at the Manor, sipping a glass of wine as the sun sets, with lighter shoulders.

 

 

Walk it off in Campbelltown

The Campbelltown City Walk on the 9^th March is a brilliant way to get fit, socialize and is hitting it’s 23^rd year anniversary. This is a 6km walk for fun or if you’re really into pounding the pavements, you can challenge yourself with the 11km endurance walk.

The cool part about the walk is that you can grab a group of friends, family members or work colleagues to join you. Even local sporting clubs get geared up for the big day that starts at the stunning Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.

The Walk also hosts a barrel draw set of prizes at the start of the race and at the presentation ceremony so not only can you stay fit but you can also be a winner!

As the event is family friendly, the event course takes place in the Gardens so it’s safe, scenic and hopefully sunny.

The website includes the details about getting your registration complete, for individuals and groups and the deadline dates for entry.  Chest numbers and shoe tags are included in the registration and after two decades of the Walk, the committee’s nailed the ease of registration to a fine art.

The gardens are a one hour drive south west from Cremorne Point Manor so if you’re thinking of visiting the city and looking for an affordable hotel in Sydney, look no further.

After a full day at the Gardens, making new friends, winning barrel prizes and learning how the shoe tag system works (it’s easy, trust us), head back to the Manor and put your feet up to watch the sunset and Harbour skyline. Put your best foot forward and have a brilliant day of exercise!

 

Top Gear heads to Sydney

On the 8^th and 9th^th March, Sydney’s the place to be where Top Gear Festival puts the brakes on all other entertainment. Only 45 minutes drive east of the city, this two day speeder of an event takes place at Motorsport Park.

This is actually ideal because you can stay in an affordable Sydney hotel and in moments, you’re on the M2 gliding you to the M7, direct to the Park.

For a full day with the family (yes, the event loves kids) the cost is only $160. If you’re planning to grab tickets with friends, a day’s worth of oogling over the best cars in the planet is a simple $69.

Remember those catastrophic three wheeler Robin Reliants? You may spot them on the field trying to play huge soccer between country teams. Then there’s the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One along with the Holden State Origin Car Challenge. This is where you can celebrity spot National Rugby League legends from NSW and QLD battling it out with challenges.

If you’re a huge fan of Aryton Senna, then you’re in luck. He’ll be featuring his MP4/4 which was raced in the 1988 Formula One championship.

Obviously it’d not be a Top Gear extravaganza if Jeremy Clarkson wasn’t showing up. He’ll be there! Alongside legends including James May, The Stig, Craig Lowndes and Daniel Ricciardo.

When you think the line-up is extraordinary, also remember that six of the world’s most powerful engines will go head to head for the King of the Track title in the Ultimate Speed Showdown. This includes the TeamF1, TeamSuperbike, TeamV8, TeamGT3, TeamWorldTimeAttack and TeamWRC.

Wheel (pun intended) be expecting you’ll need a relaxing evening, overlooking the Harbour sunset from Cremorne Point when the sun goes down. Get revved up and start your engines!

Get Surfing for the Awards, Sydney

If you have a huge romance brewing 13^th February brewing, don’t presume we’re mentioning Valentine’s Day incorrectly. It’s the Australian Surfing Awards and this annual event is a huge extravaganza in Sydney that surfers love.

Commencing in 1985 by the Australian Surfriders Association (now called Surfing Australia), the awards honor the greatest achievers each year. Incorporated into the Hall of Fame, the surfers who have made the most significant contribution to this fantastic industry and sport are given the honors.

So if you’re a boogie boarder and only hit the surf twice a month, then you’re out of luck. But on the plus side, the Award recognizes the broad spectrum of individuals and organizations in a variety of categories. It doesn’t mean that you’re potentially in the running if you dabble your feet in the sea. It does though, honor all the individuals from event planning, media, travel, new initiatives and all things related to the sport.

Maybe you’ve taken incredible photos of surfers while the battle the waves? Or you’re a business that’s greatly supported the industry over the past year? All those movers, shakers and wet suit participants that truly have changed surfing, are recognized.

The Harbour will be buzzing around this time of the year, as thousands gather to see everyday surfers in action, while the adrenaline heats up in the city. Looking for affordable accommodation in Sydney? Then Cremorne Point Manor is the best resting spot, especially since it overlooks the Harbour so you have prime viewing of local and international surfers, before and after they celebrate the awards and ride the biggest wave of the year!

 

Feather Boas and Mardi Gras Recap

We featured a blog post a few weeks ago that touched on Mardi Gras but we’d like to dedicate a whole post to this incredible festival. From the 9^th February to 1^st March, the whole of Sydney grabs their LGBT rainbow hot pants, t-shirts and flags to celebrate equality. Millions of visitors from around the country and the globe head to the city to bond, reunite, make new lifelong friends and dance until their feather boas shake with pride.

Alongside the parade and a multitude of colourful parties, there’s also the Sydney Mardi Gras Harbor Party on the 22^nd February and the finale showdown on the 1^st March.

On the 9^th February for launch day, there’s a big festival in Victoria Park that cannot be missed.  You can bring picnics, hang out with friends and family, parade your dog wearing a pink bandana and let your kids gallop around on a multitude of entertaining rides.

On the 22^nd February, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, get your groove on and dance right through the night to world class DJ’s and performers. This is a big extravaganza so if you’re glamming up the wardrobe, maybe wear sneakers so you can last the evening without sore feet. It’s a simple tip but well worth noting!

Since the Gardens are situated near the famous Harbour, if you’re looking for an affordable hotel in Sydney during the festival, remember that Cremorne Point Manor is just a five minute hop, skip and jump away by ferry from the Harbour. So you can enjoy the best of both the hype of the festival and the tranquility at the Manor, just across the water.

Finishing off with a mass flurry of parties, parades and more dancing on the 1^st March right through to the next day, if you’ve survived the largest LGBT party in the Southern Hemisphere, we take off our rainbow hats to you. Well done!

 

Get Fit with the Annual Sun Run

On the 1^st February, Sydney sprints into action…literally. The Summer Fun Run takes the city by storm with thousands of joggers and sprinters on the 6.74km run. They race by Dee Why and Manly Bay and this year, they’ve added a new 10km course. This will spin runners around the Northern Beaches and a sure bet to burn off those extra Christmas calories that just didn’t melt away this month.

The beauty of the run is that it’s geared towards expert runners, joggers and the few that would rather walk the course, in a more relaxed fashion.

If you’re looking to be a budding 2014 philanthroper, there are over 800 charities you can raise funds for. Have friends and family donate towards your cause and when you reach the finishing line, everyone’s a winner.

Teams have raised over $6500 and individuals around $2500 so everyone really get into the fundraising and galloping race for the 1^st of next month.

The views are incredible and there are a multitude of major cheering points to keep the runners adrenaline at top notch. These include Queenscliff Beach, South Curl Curl and Manly Life Saving Club to clap at the finish line and pat backs with runners (located at Wentworth Street).

So if you're visiting and looking for an affordable Sydney hotel, naturally Cremorne Point’s low rates are at the ready. Only a short ferry ride to the Harbour and an 18 minute drive to Manly Bay, you’re already near the action.

On your marks, get set, and go!