Blog

The Festive Season has already begun and all the decorations and huge Christmas Trees can be seen here and there in the City. If you are one of the lucky ones to visit Sydney during this holiday season, why not experience Christmas in Summer, Sydney style!

Let's start with a few special FREE events of the season to warm you up.

Thu-27-November

Martin Place Children's Christmas Concert

@ Martin Place 18:00 - 20:30
Celebrate the lighting up of the Christmas Tree (20m tall!!), with Santa himself and the Australian Girls Choir. (The Christmas Tree will be displayed until 25-Dec.)  

 

Christmas on the Green

@ Hyde Park Noth 18:00 - 20:30
Relax on the lawn and enjoy the live broadcast of the lighting up of the Christmas Tree at Martin Place on a huge screen. Carols by St.Mary's Cathedral Choristers, and wait for Santa's appearance on his sleigh! Don't forget to bring your picnic basket! 

 

Sat 29 November - Wed 24 December

Santa Fest

@Cockle Bay & Darling Harbour, Palm Cove, and Village Green
Come and join in the biggest gathering of Santas you've ever seen. Celebrate Christmas with lots of fun! Fantastic fireworks every Saturday from 21:00, and carols take places in various locations untill Christmas Day. There is a NEW floating Christmas tree suspended in the air (!) to be spotted in Palm Cove, together with some fun activities such as Paddle Boat Rides (tickets available for purchase) around floating Santas in Cockle Bay, and Christmas Movie Nights Under the Stars (Fridays & Saturdays) at Village Green throughout December. For the event's ditails visit official website.

 

Sun 7 December

Annual Variety Santa Fun Run

@Darling Harbour  08:30 - 

Join other hundreds & thousands of Santas (and his little helpers with paws) running for a good cause!  For more Information & registration click HERE.  

 

Thu 11 December - Christmas Eve

Christmas Carols by The David Jones Staff Choir
@ Elizabeth Street Store, Level 7. (Excluding Sunday) Performing daily from 09:00 to 09:30.
Hear the wonderful voices of David Jones Staff Choir.Christmas Eve Performance will be at 8AM.

Once again, Sydney Olympic Park is going to be packed with action for 3 days with the Sydney NRMA 500 V8 Supercars street race.There will be four manufacturers fighting for the title of the most contested championship finale of the modern era. This event will take place from the 5th to the 7th of December 2014.
For any further details, please visit the official site.

Melbourne Cup fever is here again. This is one of the most anticipated events in the country, and one of the best regarded thoroughbred races in the world, stopping a whole nation to watch its main race (Group 1), which takes place at 3pm on the first Tuesday of November every year. This year it will be held on the 4th of November.

This event started in 1861 becoming one of the most significant events in the Australian social and sporting culture. Everybody wants to participate in one way or another, whether it is at work, the pub, the race course, everywhere, it is a national event with betting taking place throughout the whole country. Today with its prize money & trophies, it makes it one of the richest horse races in the world.

Socialites, politicians and Australia's rich and famous attend the Cup. This is a carnival where people love to show off their fashion, from the elegant to the ridiculous, all in good spirit.

Through time there have been a number of champion horses thrilling the spectators with their achievements, as well as with stories of endurance, controversy, tragedy, scandals and heroism. A good example is Black Caviar, an Australian mare who was named the Wold Champion Sprinter in 2010, 2011 & 2012, with a success record not equalled for over 100 years. She retired on 13th of April 2013 undefeated after winning 25 races.

The Melbourne Cup is all about racing, betting, fashion, bubblies and partying.

For further information, please visit the official website: http://melbournecup.com/  

 

Celebrate the arrival of 2015 in style! Welcome 2015 in the best seat, cruising through Sydney Harbour one of the three world renowned most beautiful harbours in the world.

 

We offer a range of special NYE event cruises. Most of them provide an average of 5 hours cruise, in addition to it, some come with a deluxe 4 or 5 course dinner in reserved seating, a gorgeous Las Vegas style dinner show, cocktails & canapés, seafood, international cuisine buffet, dance floor & live band / DJ, or family & group goers favourite B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own) style cruise….. The choice is yours.  

 

Party along and enjoy the spectacular views of Sydney Harbour, cruise among famous vessels as part of the Harbour Light Parade. Set in a prime position for the world famous fireworks display, in front of the iconic Harbour Bridge at 21:30 and midnight to welcome 2015 with a BIG BANG!

 

No obstacles or need to walk through massive crowds to find a vantage spot. No doubt you would be in the best seat in town! (And being envied by all the spectators on the banks.)

 

The best seats are sold fast! For enquiries and bookings, please contact us by clicking here.

 

Summary of NYE Cruises 2015

All the details vary depending on the vessel & package;

Date: 31-December-2014

Departure:  19:00 – 19:20

Disembark:  0:45 – 1:45 am

Boarding & Disembarking Location/s: King Street Wharf or Circular Quay

Prices:  Varies

Dress Code: Smart casual – Cocktail/Evening attire. Depending on the vessel & seating.

 

Image courtesy of Sydney Showboat & Australian Cruise Group.

The Winter Festival is back in Sydney, and for the first time it will be held at Darling Harbour offering a central location for all the community. 

Since 2009 it has grown to become Australia’s biggest winter event.
For a month Darling Harbour will be transformed into a spectacular winter park, offering a variety of activities such as open air ice skating, a snow pit, snow slide, floating icebergs, igloos, a glittering frozen forest, frosty fireworks, etc.

To treat yourself you will be able to enjoy the traditional winter refreshments as well as a gourmet winter cuisine.

The festival will take place from the 13th of June to the 13th of July, and it will have activities for everybody, children and adults.
For further information please visit the official website:

 

http://thewinterfestival.com.au/ 

From the 23rd of May to the 9th of June once again Vivid Sydney is back!

3D light projections will light up our beautiful city every night from 6pm to 12 midnight in wonderful colours, as well as holding a festival of local and international music, and public talks & debates from leading creative thinkers from around the world.
For further information, please visit the official site.

 

These photos below are taken during Vivid Sydney in the past. Look for more photo updates in the album in our Facebook! (www.facebook/PatricksFriendlyTours)  

 

             

   

YOU IMAGINE WHAT YOU DESIRE.

Countless artists and their work will gather in Sydney for the 19^th Biennnale, which is one of the largest contemporary and visual art festivals recording around 500,000 visitors in 2012.

The works include several performative projects which will be presented in & around Sydney CBD. The venues include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), etc, as well as two heritage-listed sights: Cockatoo Island, a former prison and shipyard, and a former rail yard Carriageworks famous for large scale installations.  

The Biennale goes for three months, not only the exhibitions but with an accompanying program of artist talks, forums, guided tours and family days.

Dates: Friday 21-March to Monday 6-June 2014

Fee: FREE

Inquiries: Phone (02) 8484-8700

Website: www.biennnaleofsydney.com.au

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 "Lord Mayor's Inclusion Program" - Access programs for the 19^th Biennnale

There will be special presentations for visitors with wheelchairs, blind or visual impaired, hearing impaired in some locations during the Biennale. The venue provides audio-description tours, Auslan-interpreted tours, or a tour in easy-to understand English. 

Dates & Times depends on the venue and booking required. Please refer to the event’s website, go to “TOURS” and look for tours with "Lord Mayor's Inclusion Program".

Hylozic Series: Sibyl Project 2012 by Philip Beesley. Courtery of the artist.

The country’s biggest celebration of the year. Australia day which is celebrated on the 26th of January, is the anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip’s arrival with the First Fleet of 11 convicts ships from Great Britain at Sydney Cove, who with the raising of the British flag marked what was to become a great nation. This day celebrates all what has been achieved and made us proud as a nation, and helps us to think on how we can make it an even better place for the new generations to come.
There will be events taking place all throughout the country, with many attending organised community events, and others getting together with familiy and friends but all with the same purpose, to celebrate all whats good about Australia & being an Australian, a united nation that strives to better itself.
In New South Wales alone, there will be over 5000 events taking place.

For further information please visit the official site for Australia Day.

“BOOK NOW, SEATS AVAILABLE FOR JANUARY 2014”

Date: 25 of January 2014.
Tour: DT1, Blue Mountains & Wildlife Park with or without lunch.
For more information regarding the tour please click on the following link:
http://patricksfriendlytours.com.au/dt1-blue-mountains-wildlife-park-tour.html  

Our operating dates/hours during the holiday season;

Wed 25 December – Closed

Tue 31 December – No City Sights. Other tours & services - operate as usual. (Because of road closures for Sydney Harbour & Darling Harbour NYE Fireworks, we might not be able to provide pickups & drop offs from/to your hotel. We will advise your most convenient location.)

 

Thank you all for your support throughout the year. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe & prosperous New Year!!