Discover Your City in Style

Staycation. Vaycaytion. Playcation. Whatever you want to call it. With interstate and international travel not what it once was, “aycation” is being the tip of tongue, as “unprecedented” was in 2020. Designer hotel collection, Ovolo Hotels across Australia, have elevated their guest experience for those looking to find solace in the lay of local land, looking to rediscover home and #HolidayHereThisYear.  

Ovolo introduces Suite Ride, a collaboration with contemporary brand, Genesis.   

Each Ovolo will have a Genesis G70 sports sedan in residence until the end of April this year. Guests who book direct have the chance to reserve a Suite Ride, a 4-hour complimentary drive to anywhere your rediscovery of wanderlust leads, available from 8.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 5pm – that’s uncommon luxury and effortless.   

Sydney  

• Discover the Eastern Suburbs and the pristine beaches that awaits. Go mainstream with at Bondi, Tamarama or Bronte Beach or Red Leaf, Lady Martins or Milk Beach.  
• Seeking sea breeze, but not the sand? Pack a picnic and settle into the North Bondi Grassy Knoll, an unassuming hill sloping up from the far north end of Bondi Beach. It’s the scene of every wonderful summer, embodies the perfect beach experience without the sand.  
• Located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, the Entertainment Quarter, known to Sydneysiders as EQ, is Sydney’s iconic entertainment, dining and leisure precinct. From weekend Markets, Cambridge and Sydney Vegan Markets, the Moore Park Driving Range, arcade, bowling or cinemas, EQ has date night and family fun covered.  
• Head over the bridge and chill in Kirribilli with start the day at Celsius Coffee for gorgeous café fare or The Botanist for boujee pub vibes from midday onwards. Pre or post bite, explore Sydney’s worst kept secret, Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden and the sculptures to uncover. 
• Chippendale is an industrial area turned creative hub, with cool art galleries, global dining & Central Park Mall. Chill out and get some rays on the Chippendale Green, go wine tasting at Handpicked Wines’ urban cellar door and eat and drink your way down Kensington Street.  
• It’s easy to skip Dee Why beach and, just to the south of it, Curl Curl beach, but that’s precisely the reason why they deserve your attention. These popular spots don’t come with the crowds of Manly or Palm Beach but are still wonderful locations for surfing, swimming and relaxing on the soft white sand. 
• You’ve seen it before, whether it’s from a car advertisement or Instagram post, Sea Cliff Bridge is a section of the famous Grand Pacific Drive, which starts just south of Sydney and stretches down the coast of New South Wales. Built in 2005 to replace a dangerous section of road that was prone to rockfalls, the new S-shape road stretches out over the ocean and seemingly floats off the coastline as if it’s magically weightless. 
  
  Pack a picnic as there are a few small park areas on either side of the bridge where you can stop and take it the sights.   

Canberra 

• Spend the afternoon around art, culture and wonder at the National Gallery of Australia. Currently holding residence is Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London, it is the first time in its near 200-year history that the National Gallery, London has toured an exhibition of works internationally. 
• Canberra is home to nearly 80 embassies and high commissions. Most are in the suburb of Yarralumla. Take a leisurely drive and see traditional and modern architecture from many countries. 

Melbourne 

• Start the day with a coffee and lunch at St Ali, with an atmosphere that comes from people getting excited about the product they’re offering, which is great coffee and food! 
• Take a wander through South Melbourne Market, the quintessential village Market. 
• Then head to the beautiful Botanical Gardens to take a stroll. 
• End the trip at Starward, Melbourne-made whisky fully matured in local wine barrels for a delicious, bold flavour. 
• Round out your weekend with some fresh air and a healthy dose of nature by heading out for a Sunday splash along the Yarra at the Fairfield Boathouse! 
• Then head to Aunty Peg’s in Collingwood for some seriously great (much needed) coffee in an industrial setting. 
• After the caffeine hit, make way to Heide Museum of Modern Art to check out a unique combination of art, architecture and social history. 
• To wrap up, go to Moon Dog Brewery, a craft beer brewery featuring a funky bar in an industrial space, plus a vintage van with yummy pizza for lunch. 
• Take a drive down to Brighton Beach and check out Dendy Street Beach with its 82 colourful beach boxes! 
• Head to the Milk the Cow Fromagerie for an afternoon snack, they have over 180 different cheeses from all around the world in their 6-metre long cheese cabinet, expertly curated and cared for by their team of cheesemongers! 
• If you’re after an afternoon beverage and some live music, The Espy will have you covered, located on the shores of the pristine St Kilda shore. 
• Then head to St Kilda Pier – check out the penguins at sunset! 

Brisbane  

• Hit the slopes in Brisbane this summer at St Lucia Golf Link’s mini golf course, with nine holes, the course is complete with a full license meaning you can bring a refreshing beverage to accompany you along the way. 
• If you’re after a cool down by the water, the beach and river aren’t your only option in Brisbane. ‘Water’ is open this summer at GOMA, sets to spark conversation on the challenges facing this precious resource with immersive experiences and small art forms. 
• The Genesis G70 is great but for those REALLY want to burn some rubber, hit over 150 tracks and drive 450 cars at Cannon Hill bar, VR motorsports. Australia’s No. 1 virtual race experience can bring you to the racetrack, in a comfortable relaxed venue that anyone can enjoy hanging out in.  
• Sandgate is vibrant and historic seaside village located below the Redcliffe peninsula. It was a popular seaside destination for Brisbane’s colonial settlers in the late 1800s. Its rich historical past is a feature of the area today, with many homes and buildings reflecting the classic architectural styles of this bygone era. 
• Burleigh Heads, or simply Burleigh to locals, sits like a cool comma between Surfers Paradise to the north and Coolangatta to the south. It’s a picturesque punctuation mark along the Gold Coast and most definitely somewhere to pause.  
• On a day when it might be a little choppy everywhere else along the Coast, you can bet your bottom dollar there’s a protected corner at Burleigh in which to dip. Even strict landlubbers will adore this destination for the Burleigh Heads National Park which wraps around the headline like a fashionable head scarf, offering views of the ocean on the left and a number of walking trails and wildlife to experience. 
   
  The Burleigh foreshore is home to towering fragrant pine trees characteristic of the coast and in this parkland there are plenty of places in which to picnic or barbecue. This is also an ideal spot for regular art and craft markets, where you haggle and forage along the foreshore with the ocean shouting encouragement in the background. Absolute oceanfront dining exists here where you’ll swear the fish on your plate has jumped straight out of the water, and there’s a burgeoning funky café culture in these parts. New designers are also starting to pepper the shopping areas and an amble along here won’t disappoint.