Sydneysiders don't have to travel far this winter to get the real feel and taste of winter because we can all experience our own winter wonderland here in Sydney. Yes, you guessed it
The Australian Winter Festival returns to Sydney for its third consecutive year and will offer its most exciting line up yet.
Between 28th July and 14th August you can see a wide range of gourmet winter foods, some thrilling ice skating performances and participate in many other fun activities that the whole family will enjoy right here at the Sydney CBD's Cathedral square.
For those thrill seekers who want to take the plunge and put on a pair of skates, you can do so on Australia's largest open air ice skating rink measuring an impressive 1,000 metres squared. If skating isn't your thing, the Alpine Ski Hut is the perfect place to watch the action on the ice rink and enjoy the apres-ski experience.
Food-lovers can indulge in some of the most delicious dishes from over 20 winter-loving countries amongst the elegant interior while keeping warm beside a cosy wood fire. Choose from fifteen specially selected delicatessen-style food outlets or dine in the Alpine Ski Hut where professional chefs are cooking up a European feast just for you with the set menus that will showcase some of the world's most delicious winter-themed cuisine with traditional meals from all over Europe. Prices range from $8-$25 for main courses and $6-$15 for desserts. Click
here to view the menu.
After you have filled yourself up on food and wine you can sit back and enjoy the evening's performances. Every Friday and Saturday night Australia's finest ice skating performers will dazzle and inspire you with twirls, leaps and spins as they glide across the ice. If that's not enough to entertain you those thrill seekers who took to the ice can participate in the country's first Ice Blitz Challenge. What is a Blitz Challenge you ask? It is an action-packed relay race where competing teams race around the rink in the hope of becoming the Ice Blitz Champion. Sounds fun right?
If being out on the ice for too long makes you want to warm up and rest why not do so with some delicious chai lattes from the Lipton Chai Latte Lodge and its free. What more could you ask for?
But a festival isn't at its best unless you have music, and lucky for us the Sydney Winter Festival can provide us with Winter Festival Music Nights which has something for everyone from Classic Mondays to Euro Lounge, from New German Wave to our Ice Sk80s discotecque. From 6-10pm you have four hours to dance the night away. While your there don't forget to have a drink at The Cubic Light Bar. It is something worth checking out and it's a nice excuse to sit and relax.
So now to answer the question you've all been waiting to ask. Yes, this event is free however to access the ice rink it will require a ticket in which you would have to pre purchase online
HERE.
You can explore this whole experience more than once as your very own winter wonderland will also be taking over
Bondi Beach from 30th June – 17th July. You can have the very same experience twice this winter in two great Sydney locations.
Start planning your trip to winter wonderland. You will be crazy if you miss it. But remember to rug up as it is very cold on the ice.
