• Three blue ducks, Bronte, wknds from 7:30-noon.
• Cornersmith (experiential) - 314 Illawara Rd, Marrickville, 8065-0844, 8am-3pm on weekends. Uber organic. Peach and cardamon jam. Order the ever-changing ploughman's lunch : always different and inventive.
• Bills, 433 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst, 9360-9631, daily 7:30-3pm. Ricotta hotcakes with fresh banana and butter infused with honeycomb hunks.
• Ruby's Diner, Waverley. Delicious breakies and coffee (esp the cappucino).
• Cafe Giula, Chippendale. Enormous blackboard menu with everything on it. Reco : French toast has tons on it and is delicious (banana, masrcapone, maple syrup), house-made bagels with creamcheese.
• Espresso Organica (Greek Breakie!), french toast baklava, haloumi BLT, greek baked eggs. 43 Majors Bay Rd, Concord, 9736-3222, www.espressoorganica.com.au.
• Popolo (Great breakie : Order salsiccia, little pan fried sausage nubbins; scrambled eggs with pecorino), 50 McLachlan Ave., Rushcutters Bay, 2011, 9361-6641, www.popolo.com.au, Mon-Fri from 6pm, Sat, Sun from 8am.
• Gypsy Espresso, Shop 6, 81 Macleay Street, Potts Point 2011, Open Daily 7am-5pm
• The Carrington (Spanish Breakie), torrijas w grilled bananas and churros ice cream, rancheros empanadas. 565 Bourke St, Surrey Hills, 9360-4714. www.the-carrington.com.au.
• Glick's Cakes and Bagels (Jewish Cafe & Breakie), classic boiled bagels, 173 Bondi Rd, Bondi, 9386-9949, www.glicks.com.au.
• Cafe de Lima, Marrickville, 208 Marrickville Rd, 9569-3331, www.cafedelima.com.au, Wed 9am-4pm, Thurs-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 9am-6pm.
• Little Marionette, Class A Coffee roasted on-site, 18 Trafalgar St
  
• Malaysian-style Coffee house with a huge range of kooky tea and coffee based drinks,594 Harris St, Ultimo, 9282-9883
  
• Mecca Espresso (Reputation for good coffee), 646 Harris St, Ultimo, 9280-4204, Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 8am-3pm.
• True Religion, 2 / 415 Darling St, Balmain, 9555-5339, Tues-Sat 6am-4pm, Sun 7am-3pm. Delicious bacon and egg rolls, panini and homemade muffins.
• The big breakie, Stanmore
• Brasserie Bread, 1737 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow, 1300.966.845, www.brasseriebread.com.au
• Taiwanese Breakie: Mother Chu's Taiwanese Gourmet, 4/86-88 Dixon Street, Our favourite breakfast find is the savoury soybean milk ($4). The beancurd is custard-like in texture, floating in clean soup stock, with hunks of fried bread with a big surprise hit of sweet vinegar. Google tells us this is quite a popular breakfast dish in Taiwan. Otherwise, Fried breadsticks dunked in soy milk is a cheap and fun breakfast option.
• Breakie : Al Aseel (Breakie : chickpeas w yogurt, flatbread, pine nuts, lebanese sausage), 189 Missenden Rd, Newtown, 02-9550-3194, http://www.alaseel.com.au.
• Kepos Cafe, 96 Kepos St (near Bourke & Eastern Distributor), Redfern, Sat/Sun 8am-3pm, Dinner Wed-Sat 6pm+.
• Central Banking Depot, 37-39 Erskine St, Sydney, 9290-2229. Delicious french baked goods. Reco'd : Spicy lamb and harissa sausage rolls, pizze (proscuito & ricotta), grandma cake, hazelnut & chocolate cake.

• Yellow Patisserie, 57-59 Maclay's St, Potts Point, 9357-3400
  
• Princess Coco (Caramel Sale and the housemade coconut marshmellows), Shop 123/158-166 Day St, 9269-0881. http://ww w.princesscoco.com.au
• Quay (8 Layer chocolate Cake)
• Boathouse on Blackwattle Bay (Chocolate pudding with Barley Ice Cream)
• Rockpool (Chocolate Bark - Choc shards with cashew and sesame praline)
• Bananarama at Universal, Republic 2 Courtyard, Palmer St, Darlinghurst, 9331-0709, www.universalrestaurant.com
  
• Chocolate Magnum at Four in Hand, 105 Sutherland St, Paddington, 9326-2254, www.fourinhand.com
  
• Custard Apple Snow Egg at Quay, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, 9251-5600, www.quay.com.au
  
• Toffee Apple Eclair at Adriano Zumbo, 296 Darling St, Balmain, 9810-7318, www.adrianozumbo.com
  
• 'Petits Fours' (plate full of little desserts) at Arras, 204 Clarence Street, CBD, (02)9283 1922
  
• Watermelon Granita at Spice Temple, 10 Bligh St, Sydney, 9221-4411, www.rockpool.com.au/sydney/spicetemple
  
• Victoire in Cammeray (North), 451 Miller St, 9929-3434, Mon-Fri 7:30-6pm, Sat 7:30-4pm, Sun 7:30-2pm. Delightful pastry, pies and bread.
• Sweetness the Patisserie in Epping, 38 Oxford St, 9869-3800, www.sweetness.com.au, Mon-Wed & Fri 8:30-5:30pm, Thurs 8:30-8pm, Sat 9-5pm. Ridiculously sweet sweets. Fruit jubes, caramel popcorn, etc.
• Pure Gelato (Tons of unique recipes), 30-32 Brighton Ave, Croydon Park, 9716-4488, 8am-5pm Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm Sun, www.puregelato.com.au/

• Tapavino, 6-8 Bulletin Pl, 9247-3221, www.tapavino.com.au, Mon-Fri 11am-11:30pm.
• Hot Toddy (hot tea/coffee alcholic drink) at Lotus Bar, 22 Challis Ave., Potts Point, 9326-9000, www.merivale.com/lotus
• The Hazy Rose(deco-style, black wallpaper, wooden booths, private ambience, good for dates), 1/83 Stanley St, Darlinghurst, 9357-5036
• 'Boteco' Cocktail Bar, Brazilian style (with snacks like cheese bread), 421 Cleveland St, Surry Hills, $$
  
• Stitch, 61 York St, Sydney, offers a whole menu of hotdogs as well as cocktails and jazz
  
• Grain Bar, The Four Seasons Sydney, 199 George St, Sydney, 9250-3118, www.grainbar.com.au, Mon-Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 10am-Midnight.
• Shady Pines Saloon, Shop 4, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst, Wild West Bar and top 2011 sydney bar)
• The Commons, 32 Burton St, Surry Hills, yummy bar snack and boutique beers
  
• Grandma's, 275 Clarence St (Basement), CBD, Punch of the Day
  
• Shirt Bar (where guys can drink and buy shirts at the same time!), Sussex Ln, 8068-8222, www.shirtbar.com.au
  
• Izakaya Fujiyama (Japanese-style Bar with bar snacks), 52 Waterloo St, Surry Hills, www.izakayafujiyama.com, Mon-Wed 5-10pm, Thurs-Sat 5-11:30pm.
• La Bodeguita del Medio, 125 York St (Opposite QVB), 9264-4224, www.lbdm.com.au, Cuban cocktail bar & music restaurant in old havana style.
• Jester Seeds, 127 King St, Newtown, 9557-7008, www.jesterseeds.com, Tue-Sat 4pm-12 midnight, Sun 4-10pm.
• Darlie Laundromatic (Silly place with food), Darlinghurst, 304 Palmer St, 8095-0129, www.darlielaundromatic.com, Tues-Sat 11am-11pm.
• 121 BC (Wine Bar!), Shop 4, Holt St, Surry Hills, 9699-1582, Mon-Wed 5-11pm, Thur-Sat 5pm-12 midnight.

• Curry leaf (Sri lankan), Mercure Sydney Hotel, 818-820 George Street, Sydney
• Becasse, Level 5m Westfield Pitt St, 9283-3440, www.becasse.com.au, $$, Yellowfin Tuna with Earl Grey Tea jelly and abalone ham (and what looks like Octopus!)
  
• Malay Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, Lunch, $, Shop 1, 50-58 Hunter Street Sydney
• Sake, contemporary japanese cuisine (sushi), 12 argyle st, the Rocks, $$$, 9259-5656
• Arras (inventive food, expensive though), relocated recently to 204 Clarence St, CBD. Contact : info@restaurant-arras.com.au
• Sushi e, Level 4, 252 George St., CBD, 9240-3000, Highly interactive experience for those with an adventurous streak. Merivale.com.au.
• Spanish Club, Lvl 1, 88 Liverpool St, Sydney, 9267-8440, www.spanishclub.com.au, Lunch 12 noon-3pm, Dinner 6-10pm. (Arroz con leche!!)
• Azuma, Japanese Restaurant (Recommended by Rob Muir), Ground Floor Regent Place Shopping, 501 George Street, (02) 9267 7775, http://www.azuma.com.au, $$.
• Lotus Bar (Delicous Hot Toddy), 22 Challis Ave, Potts Point, 9326-9000, www.merivale.com/lotus, Tue-Sat 6pm-late.
• China Lane, 2 Angel Place, Sydney, www.chinalane.com.au, Mon-Fri 12-3pm Lunch, Mon-Fri 6-10:30pm Dinner, Sat 5-10:30 Dinner.
• Xi'an Kitchen, Dixon House Food Court, corner of Dixon and Little Hay Street's Chinatown, (Spinach dumplings, Xian Pi - cold rice noodle with spicy oil - $5.80 - "very famous in China" and highly recommended, Pork rib noodle soup, Spicy hot oil seared hand ripped noodles - doesn't burn, pork and shallot pancake - have when baked fresh, Steam buns - wonderful when dunked into sauce from the Xian Pi above.), fantastic review.
• Sushi Nagashima, only open weekdays from 10am-3pm, upper level of the Hunter Connection food court, F12B / 7-13 Hunter Street, www.sushi-nagashima.com.au, Sushi Nagashima is one of the finest treasures in Sydney's culinary underbelly, the Tetsuya's of the food courts.
• Cho Dumpling King (Chinese), Prince Centre, Shop 6, 8 Quay St, Haymarket, 9281-2760, Mon-Sun 11am-8pm.
• Daily Noodle Fastfood (Chinese - Fresh Noodles), Shop QG11, Prince Centre, 8 Quay St, Haymarket, 9212-0338, Mon-Sat 11am-9pm.
• Izakaya Kasumi (Noodles on a Waterslide!?!), 12/2-8 Dixon St, Sydney, 9283-6678, Lunch under $6
• Yi Jia, Shop 42 / 1 Dixon St, Sydney, Northeastern Chinese, Meat wrapped in sesame leaves, dip in dry sauce, mantou / sweet doughy buns
• Caysorn Thai (Unique Southern Thai cuisine), Shop 106-108A, Lvl 1, 8 Quay St, Haymarket, 9211-5729, www.caysorn.com.au, Mon-Sun 11am-11pm.
• Kana Express (Korean Style Hotdog), 361 Pitt St, Haymarket.
• Shanghai Tang (Mix and Match Special - Like Din Tai Fung), 653 George St, Haymarket, 9281-0088.
• The Good Kitchen, 171 Forest Road, Hurstville, Tel : 9579-1688, French toast with peanutt butter?!?!, Hong Kong Style Cafe
• Malaysian Alice's Makan (used to be Thornleigh) - HBSC Centre Food Court (580 George St), on the corner of George and Bathurst Street, near Chinatown. Mon-Fri 9:30am-7pm only. Not open on the weekend. Try : Fried Radish Cake, Nasi Lemak, Prawn Soup Har Mee, Ice Kachang, Cendol, Pandan Coconut Sticky Rice Desert.
• Taiwan Yes is at 696 George Street, Hayarket/City. Next to Happy Lemon, near corner of Goulburn Street. Order : Braised Beef Noodle Soup (richer broth than the pork soup), Braised pork mince with rice (for lots of interesting and delicious stuff), Famous Taiwanese HM Sticky Rice Pork Sausage.
• Gumshara Ramen - Touted as the best ramen in Sydney. Eating World Harbour Plaza, Shop 211, 25-29 Dixon St, Haymarket, 0410-253-180.
• Ippudo - Famed for it's specialty, the luxuriously thick tonkotsu broth. Shop 5021, Westfield Sydney, Cnr Pitt St Mall and Market St, CBD, 8078-7020.

• Longrain(Pop-tastic takes on Thai classics), 85 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills.
• Izakaya Fujiyama, Shop G09, 38-52 Waterloo St, Surry Hills 2010, 02-9698-2797, http://www.izakayafujiyama.com.
• Bodega Tapas, 1/216 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, Tel : 9212-7766, Hella-loud, tapas den, accompanied by rock n roll swing, www.bodegatapas.com, Lunch Thu-Fri 12-230pm, Dinner Mon-Sat 6pm-Late, Polish-Argentine hefty pork and sweetbread cabbage rolls, fish fingers which are toasted sourdough topped with raw kingfish, cuttlefish and shavings of cured tuna.
• Bar H, stop and drop / casual dinner very inventive, 80 campbell st, surry hills, 9280-1980, www.barhsurryhills.com.au

• Vietnamese : Great Aunty Three Vietnamese Street Food, 115 Enmore Rd, Enmore, 9519-2886, www.greatauntythree.com
• Ha Noi Quan (Vietnamese), 346B Illawara Rd, Marrickville, 9559-1637. Go for the pho, stay for the deep-fried quail.
• Momofuku Seiobo (Plain rice congee with earl grey tea, konbu doughnuts), The Star, Lvl G, 80 Pyrmont St., Pyrmont, www.momofuku.com
• Kopitiam (Malaysian), 594 Harris St, Ultimo, 9282-9883.
• Eiger Swiss Restaurant (Swiss Fondue), 552 Paramatta Rd, www.eigerswissrestaurant.com.au
• Bar Lazio Restaurant, Rozelle (delicious food but not crazy ambience), 656 Darling St, (02) 9818 1356.
• Quattro Pasta (fresh pasta) - 85 Reynolds St, Balmain, 9810-9125, website, Tues-Sun 6-10pm
• Polish Club, Theatre Restaurant, 73 Norton St, Ashfield, 9798-7469, www.polishclub.net.au, Fri-Sat 5-10pm, Sun 1-9pm.
• Aphrodite Restaurant (Cyprus Community Club), 58-76 Stanmore Rd, 9557-1256, www.cypruscommunityclub.com.au, Lunch Tues-Sun 11:30am-2pm, Dinner Mon-Thurs 6-8pm & Fri-Sun 6-10:30pm. Try the Kleftiko (Baby Goat).
• Tacu Tacu, El Amigo (Peruvian Milk Bar), 35e Ross St, Glebe, NSW, 0402-938-007, Closed Saturdays, Open from noon on Sundays.
• Cornersmith (Chorizo Scotch Eggs - pork, spices, and polenta), 314 Illawara Rd, Marrickville, 02-8065-0844.

• The Stuffed Beaver (Canadian Poutine), 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi, 9130-3002, Mon-Wed 5pm-12 midnight, Thur-Fri 4pm-12 midnight, Sat 12 noon - 12 midnight, Sun 12 noon - 10pm.
• Popolo, 50 McLachlan Ave, Rushcutters Bay, 2011, 02-9361-6641, http://www.popola.com.au.
• El Topo, Bondi (only place in sydney to serve fried crickets) - Level 3, The Eastern Hotel, 500 Oxford St, Bondi, Tel: 8383-5959, www.eltopo.com.au, Tues-Sun 6pm-late.
• Ayam Goreng 99, Indonesian, Anzac Parade, Kensington, Quick, easy, indonesian goodness
• The Three Blue Ducks, Cafe by Day and restaurant by night. Beachside. ex-tetsuya chef, all about fun, 141-143 Macpherson St, Bronte, 9389-0010, www.threeblueducks.com
• Mie Kocok Bandung ~ Indonesian - Maroubra, Mie Kocok Bandung is at Shop 1, 108 Maroubra Road, Maroubra. Phone (02) 8347 2322. miekocokbandung.com.au
  The noodle dishes are the pick here, fried croquettes Yamien with beef balls (baskso or baso) - $8.50 - and an extra soy egg ($1). This is our favourite dish here, awesome. Sop buntut - oxtail soup - $9, Lo Mie Bandung - $10 - thick beefy noodle soup. Delicious!
• Sinma Laksa House, 3/391 Anzac Parade Kingsford, Must try : Marmite and Singaporean Crabs, Butter Prawns (Reco'd by Sean)
• The Apollo (Salty Lamb Ribs), 44 Macley St, Potts Point, http://www.theapollo.com.au.
• Fratelli Fresh (Best Fruit & Veg in the City), Tues-Thur 4-5pm, 7 Danks St, Waterloo, 9699-3161.
• Kokoroya, Japanese - Sushi, Lunch and Dinner, $$$, 665 Anzac Parade, Maroubra
• Java, Indonesian, Lunch and Dinner, $$, 151 Avoca St Randwick
• Aseana Food Village (Burmese), Shop 1, 149 Alison Rd, Randwick, 9399-7010, www.aseanafoodvillage.com
• Panama House, 251 Bondi Rd, Bondi, www.panamahouse.com.au , Daily 7am-11pm. Great Breakie : Huevo Rancheros (Spiced Black Beans, smoked salsa, poached egg, and chipotle hollandaise with a tortilla and Bloody Mary). Sticky ‘New Orleans’ baby back ribs too !
• Kokoroya Japanese Sushi Dining (Maroubra), Shop 1&2 665-667 Anzac Parade. TEL: (02) 8347 2226. Open 7 Days.
• Sinma Laksa House, Kingsford (Nothing fancy, but delicious!), Tel : 02 9313 7663. Urban spoon reco.

• Korean Fried Chicken (double fried, extra crispy) – Beschino, 41 Beecroft Rd, Epping, 9869-8188, Mon-Sun 11am-11pm.
• Yumcha, Sea Treasure, Crows Nest, 46 Willoughby Road.
• Fourth Village (Fruit & Veg), 5a Vista St, Mosman, 9960-7162
• New Shanghai, Chinese - Dumplings, Lunch and Dinner, $, 427-441 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
• To's, Malaysian Chinese, Lunch, $, 3/181 Miller Street, North Sydney
• Lao Village, 1-3 Anzac Ave, Fairfield, 9728-7136. Crunchy fried rice, Lao pork sausage, lao beef jerky.
• Japaz (Contemporary Tapas), 165 Wycombe Rd, Neutral Bay, 9904-0688, www.japaz.com.au

• Sunil's Cuisine (Sri lankan), 280 Pennant Hills Rd, Thornleigh, (02) 9481 8241
• Athena's deli (South African), St Ives, 213 Mona Vale Rd, 213 Mona Vale Rd, St Ives, Sydney

• Mado Cafe (Stretchy Turkish Ice Cream and Kazandibi Rice Pudding), 63 Auburn Rd, Auburn
• Albee's Kitchen, Malaysian Chinese, Lunch and Dinner, $$, 282 Beamish Street Campsie
• La Paola (Chilean Hotdogs, three milk cake), Unit 1, 9 Barbara St, Fairfield
• Pho An(supposedly best Vietnamese noodle soup in Sydney), 27 Greenfield Pde, Bankstown
• Banoful (Bangladeshi), Shop 2, 23-25 Frederick St, Rockdale, 9599-9579, Make sure you order the Fuchka!
• Alice, Malaysian, 262-264, Pennant Hills Rd, Thornleigh, $, 9489-8288, www.aliceskuih.com.au
• Tuong Lai Vietnamese Restaurant, Cabramatta, 3 Belvedere Arcade, 9727-2650, Daily 830am-6pm.
• Tan Viet (Golden crisp chicken with egg noodles), 3/100 John St, Cabramatta
• Le Montreal Shack, Wollongong, Tel : 0409 190 798. See Facebook page for the menu, and general website - though it was broken when I last visited it.

• Kambozza(Burmese Mohinga Soup (usually eaten for breakie but can also be enjoyed for lunch/dinner), great sweet & salty salads), 1 / 115-125 Church St, Parramatta, 8677-4195, Tues-Sun 10:30am-9:30pm
  
• Circa Espresso (Baked Eggs with Sujuk served in a frying pan), 21 Wentworth St, Parramatta
• Malaysian 'Temasek', 71 George St, 9633-9926
  
• Hand-pulled Chinese Noodles 'Hong Fu' (good dumplings), Shop 26, 48-50 George St, Parramatta, 9891-1225
  
• 'The Roxy' Californian Spanish, 69 George St, Parramatta, 9687-4221, www.theroxy.com.au
  
• Carne station (Korean BBQ), Parramatta, Shop 1, 100 George St, (02) 9633 5788
• Charcoal mine (Korean BBQ), Parramatta, 454 Church Street, North Parramatta, (02) 9630 3299

• Classical Thai Cravings(weird shopping centre, amazing food such as little pork belly dumplings, khao tod – crunchy rice pucks with fermented pork sausages and fresh salad with coriander mint and peanuts), Shop 3-7, 1 Pioneer St, Mittagong, 4872-3007, www. classicalthaicravings.com.au
• Breakie : Biota Dining (soft maize, mushrooms, sage and parmesan), Kangaloon Rd, Bowral, 02-4862-2005, http://www.biotadining.com.au.
• Blue Mountains, Katoomba : Wayzgoose Cafe, flowerpot scone. Paragon Cafe, get scones.

• Breakie : Hamptoms Home Living, 180 Latrobe Tce, Paddington, Qld, 07-3367-2002, www.hamptonshomeliving.com.au.
• Breakie : Marmalade & Soul (Caramelised orange and olive cake), 162 Queens Pde, Fitzroy North, Vic, 03-9486-2740, www.marmaladeandsoul.com.au.
• Breakie : Snags and Sons, 749 Newcastle St, Leederville, WA, 08-9228-3008, www.snagsandsons.com.au.
• Breakie : Farm Gate Market (Masaaki's hand rolls), Cnr Elizabeth & Melville Sts, Hobart, Tas, www.tasfarmgate.com.au.
• Breakie : De Clieu (Pork Neck Roti!!), 187 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Vic, 03-9416-4661, http://www.sevenseeds.com.au.
• Breakie : Who's Your Mumma (Sticky pork Paratha with fried egg), Cnr Wray Ave & South Tce, Fremantle, WA.
• Breakie : Willow & Spoon (Voodoo Chicken), Shop 2, 28 Samford Rd, Alderley, Qld, 07-3113-3810, http://www.willowandspoon.com.au.
• Breakie : Spice Temple (Guangxi pork slider), Riverside at Crown, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank, Vic, 03-8679-1888, http://www.spicetemplemelbourne.com.au.
• Breakie : Silo Bakery (Black Breakfast), 36 Giles St, Kingston, ACT, 02-6260-6060, http://www.silobakery.com.au.
• Breakie : Lonsdale Street Roasters, (Cuban slow-roasted pork panino), 3/7 Lonsdale St, Braddon, ACT, 02-6156-0975.
• Breakie : Uyghur Restaurant (Chochura, Tangritah), 112 Grote St, Adelaide, SA
• Melbourne - Izakaya Den (sushi bar, set lunch menu @ $18), 114 Russell St, Melbourne, 03 9654-2977, website
• Melbourne - Akakochin, housed in a renovated cargo shed and festooned in red lanterns, 33 Dukes Warf, South Warf, 9245-9900, www.akachochin.com.au
• Canberra : Me & Mrs Jones - Great for breakie. http://www.mmjones.com.au.
• Canberra : Soju Girl(Japanese Tapas and Southeast Asian), 41/43-45 Northbourne Ave, Canberra, 6257-5328. http://www.sojugirl.com.au. Mon-Fri noon-11pm, Sat 2pm-midnight.

• Rum raisin cookies
• Corn cakes w sour cream, drizzle balsamic vinegar and sweet chili sauce for breakie w large Parmesan flakes and rocket
• Ameretto ice cream (w mascarpone base)
• Chilli Pan Mee (w Lisa G)
• Zebra Cheesecake

Snorkel with Whale Sharks (Apr-July, Exmouth, www.exmouthdiving.com.au)

Snorkel with Minke whales (Exmouth too but I think timing is different).

South West Rocks - Grey Nurse Shark Cave!

Great White Shark Adventure in Adelaide

Lady Elliot Island, QLD South, South Tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Famous for its Manta Rays

Take a short haul flight from Bundaberg or Hervey Bay in QLD. There is a smalleco-friendly resort on the island. Basic but clean and practical. Island is far from the coast, has no run-off from rain as coral structure absorbs any rainfall. Visibility is often between 20-30m. All resort dives are boat dives ('using small dive tenders'?), apart from night dives which are shore dives. Great snorkeling here too. Reef sharks, large groupers, eagle rays, turltes, cow-tailed rays. An est. population of 40 mantas are resident in the waters around Lady Elliot. Good dive sites : "Achor Bommie" and "Lighthouse Bommies" for manta cleaning stations, plus 'Severence Wreck' a two masthead sailing boat that sank in 1998.

Fiji (Go see the 'Natia Bay'! - Not famous for the diving though)

Vanuatu - Espiritu Santo, famous for wreck diving (SS President Coolidge) but also has blue holes and above ground rainforsts and waterfalls. SS President Coolidge is the largest most accessible shipwreck in the world. Other good wreck dives there : USS Tucker, the Henry Bonneaud, and especially Million Dollar Point. This island during WWII hosted the largest military base in the pacific outside of Honolulu. After the war, the US dumped everything in the water. Million Dollar Point is the dumpsite dive site (Trucks, Forklifts, tyres). Some good views for snorkelers too. Visibility usually between 10-25m. Best place to stay during trip is "Deco Stop Lounge" and arrange diving with "Allan Power Dive Tours". Getting there : Fly to Port Vila, Vanuatu. Then take a short 1hr flight to Espiritu Santo.

Lord Howe Island - Plus it's beautiful & pristine relaxing island. A little surgy usually though.

Island Bar (Feb-Mar only), www.theislandbar.com.au, Wed+Thur+Sun Noon-7:30pm, Fri+Sat Noon-9pm. Narrowing timing also available in April.

Camping Package (premium economy @ $85 per night, or DIY @ $45). Island Bar closes in the Winter. http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au.

Day out at Luna Park with Crazy Friends

Curling, Sydney Ice Arena, 11 Solent Circuit, Baulkham Hills, www.sydneyicearena.com.au .

• Milsons Point Loop, 7km / 2h 45 mins, Ferry Stop Milsons Point
• Visit Scotland Island in Pittwater - True beauty is the community: a charming collection of artists and like minded folk, and you need to take a short ferry ride to get there. Catch the Church Point Ferry, 1858A Pittwater Rd, Church Point.
• Hickson Rd, Timeout suggested route
• Neutral Bay to Kirribilli, 3.5km / 1h 45 mins, Ferry Stop Neutral Bay Wharf
• Cremorne Point to Shell Cove, 3.5km / 1h 45 mins, Ferry Stop Old Cremorne Wharf
• Visit the Wetlands
• St alban's

• Inner West, Creeks Ride (Whites Creek, O'Dea Reserve on old Camperdown Velodrome on Ross St)

• Philip K Dick : The day Mr computer fell out of his tree (short story), Dr Bloodmoney, Valis and one of his non-sci fi books "Confessions of a Crap Artist".
• William Gibson : Neuromancer & Pattern Recognition
• Carl Stephenson : The diamond
• The power of now (recommended by Marc E)
• Makers

Alternatively try...

Taste Food Tours
www.tastetours.com.au or call 1800 819 633.

Or even...

Sydney Fish Market, Cooking Classes & Tours
Classes : Sushi Sashimi Workshop (!) or Early Morning Behind the Scenes Tour
www.sydneyfishmarket.com.au, 9004-1111.

Chocolate Classes

• Sydney Chocolate School, Building 21, 1110 Middle Head Rd, Mosman, 9960-6540, $150pp and up. http://www.sydneychocolateschool.com.au
• Zokoko, choc-making process from bean and bar, unit 3, 84-90 Old Bathurst Rd, Emu Heights, 1300-965-656, http://www.zokoko.com.au, $90pp.

• 2nd Thurs of every mth (check to confirm), Marrickville Foodz and Toonz, Addison Rd Centre, 142 Adison Rd, 6pm+
  
• Summer Fridays, North Sydney's Twilight Food Fair, Civic Park, 200 Miller St, 5:30-9:30pm
  
• Summer Fridays (from Nov), Rocks Market by Moonlight, Lanterns music and stalls, from 5pm.
  
• Every Friday, Chinatown Night Market, Dixon St, 4-11pm
  
• First Sat of the Month, Pyrmont Growers Market, Pyrmont Bay Park, Pirrama Rd, 7-11am
  
• Every Sat, Paddington's Fringe Bar Markets (vintage and design clothing), 106 Oxford St, 10am-5pm
  
• First Sun of the Month, Eveleigh Artisan Market, Carriageworks, 243 Wilsons St, 10am-3pm
  
• Every Sun, Bondi Market (for ahead-of-the-game fashion), Bondi Beach Public School, 10am-5pm
  
• Weekend Fishmarket, go very early (ie. 6 or 7ish) for a tour of the fish brought in that morning.

• Fruit & Veg: Galluzo in Glebe, 187 Glebe Pt Road, 9660-2114, Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, regularly has very unique items. Lemonade fruit anyone?
• Fruit & Veg: Fratelli Fresh in Waterloo, 7 Danks St, Waterloo, 9699-3174, www.fratellifresh.com.au, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 9am-4pm
• Fruit & Veg: Fourth Village Providore in Mosman, 5a Vista St., 9960-7162, www.fourthvillage.com.au, Mon-Fri 7am-6:30pm, Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 7am-5pm

• Venue 505, Surry Hills, 280 Cleveland St, www.venue505.com
  
• Funky Cafe, Newtown, Kings St @ Church St
  
• Red Rattler, Marrackville, 6 Faversham St, www.redrattler.org
  
• Dirty Shirlows (psych, dubstep, prog), Marrackville, www.myspace.com/dirtyshirlows
  
• General Store (art gallery + The Silent Hour), Darlinghurst, Lv 1, 77-83 William St, www.the-general-store.net
  
• 'No Fixed Address' series from Joe Hardy (rotating gigs in a new location everytime)
  
• The Gate @ Pablo & Rusty's Cafe, Epping, 42 Langston Pl, www.thegatepresents.com
  
• Camelot Lounge (used to be Qwirkz)

• Classic-style Bowling @ Manhattan Super Bowl - Cadillac lounges, hotdogs and bowling. 549 Gardeners Rd, Mascot, www.msb.com.au.
• Camping & Hiking
• Learn reggae and salsa double beat Paula rhythm on djembe
• Volunteer
• Sing with a band (The jazz workshop Australia, Big music, Kings cross open mike live band)

• Melbourne : Check out the Woodfrog Bakery in St.Kilda
• Explore the Tingle Forests (Walpole-Nornalup National Park's Valley of the Giants, 280 miles south of Perth, www.calm.wa.gov.au
  
• Broken hill with jen (10 hour drive)
• Camping - Knife's Ridge - star gazing, 30 mins
• Canberra - ethiopean restaurant
• Noosa diving
• Brisbane : cloudland pub in fortitude valley, arch with shrubbery dockside,
• Townsville --> Maggie island, QLD
• Philippines & Taiwan
• Camping on Fraser island with Alicia (mega dunes!)
• Larapinta Trail in Central Australia is one of the best walks down under (vast flood plains, barren ridgelines (West MacDonnell Range), rocky outcrops and narrow canyons). Start the trail at Alice Springs and trek from camp to camp staying in stylish semi-permanent campsites, enjoying helpings of bush tucker. 8-18 KM walk per day. Includes sights such as Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge, Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm, Mount Sonder @ 1380m high). 6 day guided trek, World Expeditions.

• Japan, Sanja Matsuri Festival in Tokyo, inspires drumming, whistling, and shoving (hmm?) but also hauling shrines through the streets.
• Thailand, Phuket Vegetarian Festival, 10 days in late Sept / early Oct, Beauty pageants, fairs, lots of food, religious devotees known as 'the soldiers of god' pierce themselves with swords, spears, even fish.
• Thailand, Phi Ta Khan Festival, June. A parade with young men dressed up as spirits to accompany a sacred image of Buddha and to taunt villagers. Also features masked dance contests.
• Hong Kong, Bun Festival, On Cheung Chau island, 12km south of the mainland, every May. Sweet Bun towers, several stories high... need I say more?
• Sri Lanka, Womad / Festival of the Drums
• Visit Live Volcanos (I'd like to see molten lava during the day and at night) - 1) Mt Cotopaxi in Ecuador, 2) Mt Bromo in Indonesia (30 min climb to the top, Indo's most visited crater), 3) Mt Pacaya near Guatamala City, 4) Mt Santa Maria and Mt Santiaguito most dangerous in Guatamala, 5) Mt Kilauea is the most active in Hawaii
• Carnival in Trinidad & Tabago, Port of Spain, 2 days before Ash Wed.
• Hanoi, Vietnam
  Cafes & Street Food
  • Banh Cuon Gia Truyen, 14 Pho Hang Ga, Hoan Kiem District. Delicious rice flour pancakes.
  • Bun Bo Nam Bo, 67 Hang Dieu, Hoan Kiem District. Beef and noodles.
  • Bun Cha, 1 Hang Manh, Hoan Kiem District. BBQ'd Pork and Spring Rolls with Noodles.
  • Bun Cha Hang Nga, end of the alleyway, Dong Xuan Market. BBQ pork and noodles.
  • Cafe Giang, 39 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem District. Fabulous egg whip coffee - coffee with meringue folded through it.
  • Pho Huyen, 31 Chau Long, Ba Dinh District: pho bo (beef) and pho ga (chicken), served with qua (doughnuts) for dunking.
  Markets :
  
  • Chau Long Market, Ba Dinh District
  • Dong Xuan Market, Corner Dong Xuang & Cau Dong, Hoan Kiem District
  • Hom Market, Corner Pho Hue & Tran Xuan Soan, Hoan Kiem District
  Street Food Tours
  • Hanoi Cooking Centre
  Restaurants :
  
  • Au Lac House, 13 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District
  • Green Tangerine
  • La Badiane
  • La Verticale
  • La Beaulieu
  • Pots and Pans
  • Quan an Ngon
  • Spices Garden
• Turkey
  • Mount Ararat
  • Desert (see persian ground jays, gazelles, the rare asiatic cheetah, in sometimes leopards in the mountain areas)
  • Istanbul's Iconic Architecture : Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia
  • The Mausoleum of Maussolios
  • The Temple of Artemis
  • Cappadoccia Region, famous for Goreme's Fairy Chimney rock formations (balloon excursion option)
• Iran - Yadz, historic Isfahan, home to marvellous Imam Square and the world heritage ruins of Persepolis.