10 Cool Places Within 10,000 Steps Of The Woolstore 1888 By Ovolo
Jayne Gorman
The Woolstore 1888 likes to make guests feel less guilty about indulging in all the goodies left waiting in their rooms and the hotel lobby. That’s why we’ve come up with a series about the cool sites you can see within 10,000 steps of the hotel. Last month we showed you how to nail your Fitbit Goals whilst staying at Ovolo Woolloomooloo and now we want to introduce to the star attractions, foodie hotspots and family favourites you can discover on foot from The Woolstore 1888.
1.The Star (800 Steps)
Image Courtesy of The Star
Just down the road from the hotel, Sydney’s The Star has all your dancing, dining and gambling needs wrapped up in one. At this sparkly entertainment complex you can dine your way around the world, from Japanese at Sokyo to modern Italian at Osteria Balla Manfredi, and grab some of Sydney’s best gelato from Messina to finish. If a flutter on the roulette wheel is not your thing then head to the day spa for some R&R or to the Sydney Lyric Theatre for some musical entertainment.
2.Coffee Box Espresso (450 steps)
You’ll find the best coffee in Darling Harbour perched handily on the end of Pyrmont Bridge, which joins the hotel’s side of Darling Harbour to the CBD. Run by a family of coffee-loving siblings, you’ll find a fab Flat White at Coffee Box Espresso and the homemade cakes by their Mama are great too.
3.Powerhouse Museum (1000 steps)
Image Courtesy of Powerhouse Museum
Stretch your legs and your brain by taking a walk to the Powerhouse Museum, which focuses on applied arts and sciences. Current exhibitions range from a recreation of CERN’s Large Hadron Collider to a celebration of the work of internationally acclaimed Australian fashion designer Collette Dinnigan.
4.Sea Life Aquarium (1000 steps)
At the other end of the Pyrmont Bridge you’ll find family favourite the Sea Life Aquarium where you can dive the Great Barrier Reef without getting wet and meet Aussie sharks without getting eaten! You’ll also meet dugongs, stingrays, jellyfish and seahorses as you walk the different habitat zones. Later this year you’ll also be able to get up a close to a colony of King and Gentoo Penguins.
5.Whale-Watching Sydney (1200 steps)
Image Courtesy of Whale Watching Sydney
If you’d like to see some of Sydney’s more impressive sea life, however, why not board a boat at Darling Harbour and chance your luck on a whale-watching encounter. A 2hr adventure cruise is one of the shortest options you can take to see whales in Australia and if you don’t spot a humpback or 2 on your first trip they’ll give you another go for free.
6.IMAX Cinema (1200 steps)
Image Courtesy of IMAX
Perfect for a rainy day, the IMAX at Darling Harbour is home to the world’s biggest movie screen. Making every other cinema look small you can watch a range of 2D and 3D new releases on the largest IMAX screen in the world and you might as well supersize your popcorn to go with it – you did walk here after all!
7.Bungalow 8 (2400 steps)
After a day of exploring Sydney by foot why not treat yourself to a cocktail (or 2) at the tiki-themed waterfront bar Bungalow 8. At this little taste of the South Pacific on Sydney Harbour Happy Hour starts at 4pm so it’s a perfect excuse to start the weekend early.
8.Shortstop Coffee & Donuts (2600 steps)
This much-loved café from Melbourne recently opened in Barangaroo, a regenerated area of Sydney Harbour that is quickly emerging as Sydney’s latest foodie hotspot. At Shortstop Coffee and Donuts they sell just what it says on the sign – great coffee and really good donuts. The specials rotate but you can expect up to 10 tempting frequent flavours to choose from including Boston Crème, Peanut Butter Caramel and Spiced Chai. (My personal favourite!)
9.Barangaroo Reserve (4000 steps)
Sydney’s newest nature reserve has transformed a once barren patch of land into a perfect picnic area. You get fantastic views of the Harbour Bridge from this waterside park and can expect to find events like Sculpture at Barangaroo pop up here throughout the year.
10.Sydney Bridge Climb (6000-10000 steps!)
If you really want to get to grips with Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge – and nail your 10,000k steps! – then why not climb it? On a Sydney Bridge Climb you’ll learn more about Sydney’s history, the daring way the bridge was made and get unparalleled 360 views of the harbour, all while wearing a rather unattractive boiler suit! Although it looks a little intimidating the Bridge Climb is in fact suitable for all fitness levels as it’s split into a series of gently sloping walkways and ladders. Standing at the summit of one of the world’s most iconic bridges is bound to put a tick in your bucket list!
Jayne Gorman is a freelance travel writer and award-winning travel blogger who blogged her way around 40 countries before her 30th birthday. Now Sydney-based you’ll often find her sniffing out the latest street art and sweet treats around the city.