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.

Dodgeball Launch Party Comes to Sydney

You’ve seen the movie, now experience dodgeball first hand on the 4^th April for their launch party! This free event is the country’s biggest ‘sports’ extravaganza of its type taking place at Fairfield Youth & Community Centre, 55 Vine St, Fairfield, Western Sydney.

Punch off is at 6.30pm and if you’re a master at slamming balls or have no clue how it works, this is the game to participate in. Wear comfy sports clothes, closed shoes and get those fists ready to whack a ball into the opposing team. What a way to finish an April Monday, right?

 In August 2010, this annual game kicked off by a young sports fanatic who wanted to up the ante in the sports’ish world. Joe is his name and within a short time, convinced his sister Holly, to help create the best team they could find. Since Sydney was more focused on other traditional sports activities, the market was ripe for the intrigue picking and shortly, a league of 12 teams formed. 

Today, the league is the biggest in NSW with actual rules, referees, training (who would believe it?) and a strong social following. Hosting Australia’s largest dodgeball community, if you’re a Vince Vaughn, you’re more than welcome to hone your amateur skills and become a potential Ben Stiller pro. It’s ridiculously easy to grasp but quite hard to become a master at. On the bonus side, dodgeball provides incredible cardio exercises alongside building your coordination skills and twinkle toe maneuvers. 

Each week the events are hosted, with teams slamming each other into oblivion…or on their knees, elbowing each other to hit the ball right back to where it came from, and falling flat on their faces in the process. Therefore, the launch party is bound to kick off with a blast of balls coming your way, thick, fast and from all corners of the opposing team. 

The dodgeball rules are clearly stated on the website so you can warm up your eyeballs with a good, yet concise and easy read. You need at least 3 players to make a team so you can either rally your own or be more sociable and request to join an existing group. Check the website for more details. 

As Cremorne Point is only an hour’s drive west from Fairfield, it’ll give our hotel guests time to get their brainpower and winning strategy into gear during the ride. Also work on your winning dance moves during the journey because you never know, your team could be returning by glory road victory to Cremorne Point Manor. If you’re staying with us and have the dodgeball bug, let us know so we can cheer you on your journey. And let the games begin…

Dog Lovers Canine Race

We initially read this as a ‘nude’ dog race which appeared oddly enough to blog about. With a second look, the Great Nundle Dog Race was still worthy of writing about. Taking place on Sunday, 1^st May, this annual event takes place on the Nundle Recreation Ground and for more than 20 years, has expanded their entertainment programme, now attracting over 1000 visitors each year. 

 

Two decades ago, it comprised a race between working dogs owned by two local cockles attracting locals. Today, the extensive event now includes jumping castles and face painting…for adults, not four legged pals. Along with food stalls, local merchandise and bringing together the community of all ages, this is an event not to be missed. You can cheer (or bark) on canines in novelty races that include high jumps, best dressed best friend and the doggy derby. Designed for working dogs, we can only hope these four paw entrants will keep their pads firmly on the winning line, unlike some dogs we know that have the attention span of a goldfish.

As a great fundraiser event for the Nundle Public School Parents & Citizen Association (P&C), it attracts families and their BFF’s from as far as Sydney and North Coast. Primarily because it’s literally barking mad and tons of fun to watch. 

Originating in 1979, two farmers waged a bet about whose dog was fastest. From a few screams, rants and gallops, the foundation for the event was laid. The farmers took this pursuit further and as members of the P&C Association, 20 years later, it officially became an annual fixture attraction.

Even though the main races are for working dogs, if you have a well trained companion, you can enter them into the Stumpy’s Circular Dog Derby or bring them down to sniff other attending furry friends. Watching the main events are a hoot though. Some gallop off to chase friends, other spin in circles and the ones that actually keep focused and sprint in the right direction, have a chance of winning the main prize. Look out for the Steeplechase event, a large crowd pleaser where dogs bounce over bales of hay, focus on getting filthy and having a rare ole time without parental supervision.

Remember to book your accommodation at Cremorne Point and while you’re staying at Cremorne Point Manor, let us know if you’ll be spending the night (caravanning or camping) at Nundle. We’re a good near 5 hours away from the event location but the scenic drive will be so worth it. Also note that if you’re visiting NSW with your dog, our nearby sister hotel, Glenferrie Lodge is pet friendly. With a stunning, private garden, you can spend a few days after Nundle to train Fido with a few tricks you learned at the event, at our Lodge. Or maybe start with sit, stay and don’t chew slippers. Puppy steps…