With the weather warming up, you’re probably itching for a sunny break somewhere. Perhaps you’ll do the same old thing and head back to that sleepy beach town, quaint village or island resort. But, have you ever thought of a city holiday?
Our biggest cities are home to plenty of outdoor activities that’ll lift you out of your rut, exhilarate your senses and give you the reset you crave. Whether it’s hopping on a relaxing kayak tour, ziplining across incredible treetops or simply looking for a space to zone out amid spectacular natural surroundings, these spots have something for every mood. Best part? There’s hardly any travel time!
Sydney: Go with the flow
In and out. In and out. In most yoga classes, the rhythm you’re following is that of your own breath as it rises and falls. When you take a class with Yoga By The Sea – available at Bondi, Bronte, Manly and Freshwater – you’re tuned into a much more ancient rhythm. As you move through your asanas, the soft tidal murmur of water on sand washing in and out provides the most soothing soundtrack of all.
Sydneysiders love their beaches on a hot day, but there are plenty of other ways to get active on the coast. Start by lacing up your walking shoes. Saunter along the six-kilometre Bondi to Coogee coastal walk – Sydney’s most famous seaside stroll – or, for something much more challenging, try the Spit Bridge to Manly walk on the North Shore.
This 10-kilometre trail takes you past fabulous beaches, through bush and over cliffs. Don’t let the rough paths and steep stairs put you off. This walk combines beach and bush like no other (if you choose a quiet time, you’ll probably encounter a basking goanna or two along the way) and, after spending several hours surrounded by the exquisite blues and greens of the harbour and the trees, you’ll notice that your breathing has slowed and your brain has stilled.
But don’t just confine your adventuring to the land. Kayaking on the harbour waters offers a very different perspective of the city. Sydney By Kayak provides guided morning tours that include the thrill of paddling under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, plus a chance to explore quiet coves and bays. Or, learn to surf with Let’s Go Surfing at Bondi, which offers one-off classes, as well as six-week courses, so you can surrender to the rush that comes from catching a wave.
When is a maze not a maze? When it’s high in the tree canopy. At Treetops Adventure, which has several locations in Sydney, you can test both your physical and mental agility as you move through the aerial obstacles on the tree ropes courses, high above the forest floor. The ziplines deliver an extra dose of exhilaration.
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Snorkelling. Plunge into the serenity of the underwater world at one of the many snorkelling spots near the CBD, such as Clovelly Beach, which has abundant marine life, including the famous blue gropers. Just around the corner, the Gordons Bay Underwater Nature Trail is designed especially for divers and snorkellers to explore everything from colourful fish to reefs and kelp forests.
Melbourne: Feel free as a bird
Can your life really change in six minutes? For those prepared to leap into the unknown, the answer is yes. When you tackle your first skydive, the experience will be over in the time it takes to brush your teeth, but you’ll never be quite the same person again. Skydiving is a profoundly physical experience. Step out of that plane and a flood of new sensations comes rushing at you.
There is the shock of freefall, as you plummet down from 4500 metres above the earth, buffeted by the air; followed by the sudden joy of weightlessness as the parachute billows open and you experience the extraordinary sensation of being supported from above. The most lasting effects, however, are mental – the exhilaration of having faced your fears and overcome them.
Falling from the sky above St Kilda Beach with Skydive Australia may be glorious, but if you prefer your adventures with less adrenaline, then there are other ways to take in Melbourne from a bird’s-eye view. This is one of the few cities in the world where you can take to the skies in a hot-air balloon, and a trip with Global Ballooning is definitely an escape from the everyday. Be ready for an early start. The horizon will still be glowing in soft post-sunrise shades as your balloon ascends. The landscape beneath you will come to life as the sun rises higher: the lush green of the parks and gardens, the contours of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Albert Park racetrack, the sharp silhouette of the Eureka Tower.
Perhaps you’re more of a swan than an eagle? Then grab a group of friends and enjoy a floating picnic on the Yarra River with GoBoat. You don’t need a licence to drive these compact electric boats and there’s heaps to see, whichever direction you head from the Southbank departure point. You can even bring your dog. Rather leave the driving to someone else? No problem – sign up for a skippered experience with On A Boat.
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Cycling. Take a spin around the leafy suburbs or go further afield with the 29-kilometre Capital City Trail, which follows the Yarra River past the Royal Botanic Gardens before winding its way along the Moonee Ponds Creek and the Docklands. Or, enjoy a dose of salt air on the 18-kilometre Bayside Cycling Trail from St Kilda through Port Melbourne to Williamstown.
Brisbane: Rise above it all
Life is all about context. Take heights, for instance. Chances are that, at some point, you have spent a pleasant evening sitting at a rooftop bar, sipping a lemon lime and bitters and gazing out at a panoramic vista, without the slightest qualm. Now imagine this. You’re standing at a lower level – say, on a clifftop 20 metres above the ground – knowing you’re about to abseil down. Feeling calm and talkative? No, we didn’t think so.
Stepping out of your comfort zone and tackling something new can be challenging, but it also gives you a lift, both on the day and beyond. Brisbane offers lots of ways to challenge your usual boundaries, and the experience of abseiling down the Kangaroo Point Cliffs with Riverlife Adventure Centre is one of the best – and also one of the most surprising. You might be expecting a surge of adrenaline as you step off the cliff, but what may shock you is the intense sense of focus. Once you’re working your way down, hands moving down the rope, placing your feet carefully on the rock face, you’re fully absorbed in your task. As the rest of the world falls away, the experience can come close to a form of moving meditation.
For a high-altitude thrill with a difference, try the magnificent Story Bridge Adventure Climb. Instead of descending down ancient cliffs, the climb lets you admire one of our most impressive engineering works up close. The fear factor may be dialled down considerably, but it’s still a treat to see the city from a fresh angle as you walk up to the 80-metre summit, all the while learning about the city’s history.
Alternatively, you might prefer to let loose on some trails. Stretching across 1500 hectares, the forests, gullies and cascades of Mt Coot-tha and the adjoining D’Aguilar National Park are laced with a network of trails that can be tackled on foot, on mountain bike or even on horseback.
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The river. One of the city’s best playgrounds, the Brisbane River has much to offer, whether it’s going on a kayak tour with Kayak Fun, taking a stroll or cycling along the river walk loop, crossing at the Goodwill Bridge to continue on the opposite shore.
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