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Sunday, December 7, 2014

2014 Santa Fest at Darling Harbour

2014-santa-fest-at-darling-harbour

SANTA FEST!

For one magical month, Darling Harbour will be a sensational Santa-packed celebration bringing joy to the whole family.

When: Sat 29 Nov - Wed 24 Dec
Where: Darling Harbour, NSW, 2000

Prepare to be wowed this Christmas at Australia’s biggest celebration of all things Santa!

For one magical month, Darling Harbour will be a sensational Santa-packed celebration bringing joy to the whole family.

The wonder of Santa Fest kicks off with paddleboat rides on the bay from November 29. Put the big bang into your celebrations with fireworks over Cockle Bay every Saturday.

And there’s so-ho-ho much more! There’s Carols around the precinct, Santa Movies Under the Stars, a colouring-in competition for the kids and all the jollity of the Variety Santa Fun Run.

Santa Fest is big and beautiful - all part of making your Christmas celebrations in Sydney special.

We’re sure you’ve been good or we know you’ll try, so you better watch out and we’ll tell you why – Santa Fest is coming to town!

Make sure your Christmas in the city is Santastic!

Sydney New Year's Eve 2014 Transport Info

sydne-new-year's-eve-2014-transport-info

Sydney New Year's Eve 2014 Transport Info

Date: Wednesday 31 December
Road Closures Map: www.sydneynewyearseve.com/road-closures-public-transport/

On New Year’s Eve there are many ways to celebrate, one way to get around. With over 4,500 extra services, public transport is the way to go this New Year’s Eve.

Use the Trip planner to plan your trip with up-to-date train, bus, ferry and light rail information. You can also use one of the many real-time apps to track your service.

Trains
There are over 1,000 extra trains running on New Year’s Eve, but large crowds are expected so plan to get into the city early to get your spot for the fireworks.
Extra trains to the Sydney CBD and North Sydney will run from 14:00 to get you to your New Year’s Eve celebrations and back home again.

Please consider the the following information carefully when planning your night:
Circular Quay: Between 18:00 and 01:00 you will not be able to get off at Circular Quay station. You can walk to the harbour foreshore from Wynyard, St James or Martin Place.

Domestic Airport and International Airport: Between 01:00 and 05:00, trains leaving Central will not stop at Domestic Airport and International Airport stations.

Milsons Point: After the fireworks the only entrance to Milsons Point Station will be from Ennis Road (off Broughton Street). If you are walking up Alfred Street you will be asked to continue walking to North Sydney Station.

sydne-new-year's-eve



Buses
There are over 3,500 Sydney Buses services to get you to and from the celebrations, but extensive road closures will be in place and bus stops will be moved.
Temporary bus stops and diversions will be in place from 15:00 in North Sydney and from 14:00 in the CBD until 06:00 on New Year’s Day.

The following temporary bus stops will be in place for New Year's Eve:
In Sydney CBD
Stop locationBus routes
Elizabeth Street
near Park Street
Anzac Parade and Bunnerong Road services
Park Street
Randwick Junction, Coogee, Clovelly and Kingsford via
Gardeners Road (Route 343) services
College StreetBondi Junction, Bondi Beach, New South Head Road
and Elizabeth Bay services
Elizabeth Street
near Park Street
Inner West suburbs and Ryde via Pyrmont (Route 501)
services
George Street
near QVB
Pyrmont, Balmain and Victoria Road (except Route 501)
services
George Street
near Martin Place
Chatswood and Eastern Valley Way services
Castle Hill, Rouse Hill and Dural services
Carrington StreetMilitary Road and Northern Beaches services
Castle Hill, Rouse Hill and Dural services
Clarence StreetPacific Highway and Epping Road services
In North Sydney
Stop locationsBus routes
Miller StreetNorthern Beaches, Military Road and Eastern Valley
Way services
Pacific HighwayEpping Road, Pacific Highway and Chatswood services
Castle Hill, Rouse Hill and Dural services




















      While the Harbour Bridge is closed for the fireworks, all buses to Wynyard, the QVB and Railway Square will stop at North Sydney.

      NightRide bus services
      Night Ride services are operating on New Year’s Day to get you home.
      Buses will leave from the following alternative locations due to road closures:
      Routes N10 to N80 services run from Bathurst Street (between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets).
      Route N90 services depart from North Sydney.
      Route N100 services do not stop at Town Hall and Martin Place stations.
      Sydney Buses services will be operating to a Sunday timetable on New Year's Day.

      Hillsbus services
      Hillsbus will be running extra daytime buses into the City and North Sydney. A New Year's Eve timetable will be available closer to the event date.
      Due to the road closures in the Sydney CBD, City services depart from Clarence Street, Wynyard after 18:00.
      Hillsbus services will be operating to a Sunday timetable on New Year's Day, with additional late night buses.

      Ferries
      Sydney Ferries will run until the harbour exclusion zone commences. The last service time from some wharves is as early as 17:35, so plan your trip ahead.
      Ferries are expected to be very busy and are likely to reach capacity, so have a back-up plan in case services are full.
      After the midnight fireworks, extra ferries will run on some routes to get you home. However they are expected to be crowded and may be delayed if the harbour exclusion zone time is extended.

      Locations and departure times are as follows:
      F1 Manly Ferry service
      From Circular Quay00:40, 01:00, 01:30, 2:10,
      02:50, 03:30 and 05:00
      From Manly
      00:30, 01:30, 01:50, 02:20, 02:50,
      03:30, 04:15 and 5:45
      F6 Mosman service (does not stop at Cremorne Point)
      From Circular Quay01:00 and 02:00
      F5 Neutral Bay service
      From Circular Quay00:55, 01:35 and 02:15
      F3 Parramatta River service (special stopping pattern)
      From Circular Quay01:05 and 02:05
      Circular Quay, Milsons Point, McMahons Point, Birchgrove, Greenwich and Woolwich.
      Returning: Woolwich, Balmain East, McMahons Point, Milsons Point and Circular Quay.



        Cockatoo Island is closed to the public. Only customers with pre-purchased tickets (staying overnight) will be permitted onto Cockatoo Island. If you have a pre-booked ticket we strongly recommend you arrive at Cockatoo Island by 15:00 to avoid delays and large crowds.
        Garden Island Heritage Centre will be closed. F7 Eastern Suburbs ferry services will continue to operate, but will not stop at Garden Island Wharf.

        Some harbour wharves are currently closed as part of the Ferry Wharf Upgrade Program. For more information, see RMS Ferry Wharf Upgrade Program.

        Light rail
        Extra light rail services will operate every 7–8 minutes between 18:00 and 02:00.
        The last light rail service to Dulwich Hill will leave Central at 02:00 on New Year’s Day, and the last light rail service to Central will leave Dulwich Hill at 02:00.
        Getting home

        Large crowds will be leaving the Sydney CBD and North Sydney at the end of the fireworks, and you may need to leave from a different location than you originally planned.
        Staff will be on the ground to help direct you to your nearest transport location.
        Leaving a little later might mean you avoid the crowd, but plan your trip to make sure you don’t miss your ride home.

        Road
        There will be significant road closures and special event clearways in place in the Sydney CBD, North Sydney, Lower North Shore, Inner West and the harbour foreshore.
        The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed between 23:00 and 01:00.

        There are over 4,500 extra trains and buses running on the night, so consider the public transport options when planning your travel during New Year's Eve.

        For specific road closure information and changes to regular bus stops, including an interactive map, visit www.sydneynewyearseve.com. You can also call 132 701.

        Taxis
        The demand for taxis will be high on New Year’s Eve, so be prepared for delays and queues at taxi ranks. Please be patient and considerate of others while waiting for taxis.

        Taxi pick-up and drop-off may be restricted in some areas due to road closures.
        Secure taxi rank locations and operating times from Wednesday 31 December 2014 to Thursday 1 January 2015 are as follows:

        • Elizabeth Street, CBD: between Liverpool Street and Nithsdale Lane from 21:00 to 05:00.
        • Darling Harbour: the northern end of Lime Street between 22:00 to 04:00.
        • World Square: from 22:00 to 04:00.
        • Oxford Street, Surry Hills: from 23:00 to 06:00.
        • Bayswater Road, Kings Cross: next to Hugo’s Lounge from 21:00 to 06:00.
        • Darlinghurst Road, Kings Cross: next to the Empire Hotel from 21:00 to 06:00.
        • For wheelchair accessible taxis please call 8332 0200 to discuss your requirements prior to New Year’s Eve.


        For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit NSW Taxi Council.

        For more info & sources: http://www.transportnsw.info/en/transport-status/events/2014/12/sydney-new-years-eve-2014.page

        Tuesday, December 2, 2014

        Sydney Expecting 17 Million Tourists With Massive Line-Up of Events over Summer

        Last year more than 16 million visitors flocked to Sydney between October and March. Picture: Destination NSW
        Tourism is massive business in Sydney — last year’s 16 million visitors, from regional, interstate and international origins, stayed more than 48 million nights and added a whopping $8 billion to the NSW economy.

        There are a host of premier sporting events taking place in the city over Summer, including the Cricket World Cup, the AFC Asian Cup and the Australian Open of Surfing.

        These are in addition to the regular sporting smorgasbord that takes place in Sydney each season including a Test series against India, the Sydney International tennis and A-League matches.



        But it’s not just sport that tourists will be able to enjoy.

        Known the world over as throwing one of the best New Year’s Eve celebrations, Sydney will again put on an incredible fireworks display come January 31.

        There’s also Tropfest, the Sydney International Art Series and Dirty Dancing.

        “Summer in Sydney will once again give every visitor something to enjoy — from our beautiful beaches, fantastic food and wine, great shopping and of course our major events and festivals,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Troy Grant said.

        “With over 20 Sydney events supported by Destination NSW, covering everything from sports, arts, entertainment and lifestyle, there’s plenty to choose from.”



        EVENTS COMING UP IN SYDNEY

        • Cricket World Cup
        • AFC Asian Cup
        • The Extreme Sailing Series
        • Tropfest, Australia Day
        • AACTA Awards
        • Hurley Australian Open of Surfing
        • Sydney International Art Series and
        • Dirty Dancing

        Sunday, November 30, 2014

        Cirque Le Noir - Sydney March 2015

        cirque-le-noir-sydney-march-2015


        The Sydney premiere of Le Noir, direct from a sold out world tour will see for the first time ever, the Sydney Lyric Theatre transformed to seat audiences around a custom-built circular stage giving a spectacular 360 degree view of the performance and bringing the heart pounding action closer than ever before.

        World class acrobats, musicians, specialty acts and comedians are the centre piece of the production and will enthral audiences in this spell-binding theatrical journey. This production is surreal, beautiful, seductive and at times hilariously risqué.

        With incredible displays of balance, contortion, stamina, aerial artistry and death defying acts, such as the Colombian Wheel of Death, the skills exhibited by the cast of Le Noir is a show that audiences won’t want to miss.

        “Precarious and impossible in ways that defy the imagination...” – The Straits Times

        Exclusive Club Lyric presale now on! For details on how to purchase presale tickets email club@sydneylyric.com.au

        From 19 March 2015 for a strictly limited season

        Tickets: http://sydneylyric.com.au/index.php/whats-on/coming-soon/Le-Noir






        Sydney to host World Congress of Accountants 2018

        sydney-to-host-world-congress-of-accountants-2018

        Sydney has again outshone its competitors, winning the right to host 5,000 leading accounting professionals at the next World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) in 2018, an event worth $18 million to New South Wales (NSW).

        Business Events Sydney (BESydney), the NSW Government and a powerful contingent of Australian representatives supported the bid led by Alex Malley from CPA Australia, and Lee White from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, who together represent 200,000 business, finance and accounting professionals.

        NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Troy Grant revealed the win was announced at the 2014 World Congress in Rome recently.

        “This is the latest high-profile international event to be secured for the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney). It’s one of 18 international business events locked in for Sydney and NSW, representing a combined estimated economic impact of close to $150 million,” said Mr Grant.

        “Sydney is recognised globally as an international finance hub and business centre. It’s home to Australia’s strongest corporate, finance and professional services sectors - 16 of the 25 top accounting firms call our Harbour City home. In fact, more than 45 per cent (by revenue) of the top 500 companies in Australia are located in NSW,” Mr Grant said.  

        CEO of BESydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith said, “The last time Australia hosted this highly sought-after congress was 1972 in Sydney. To have it return to our shores some 40 years later is testament to the strength of our professional services industry and global reputation.”

        “The majority of events already secured for ICC Sydney sit within the professional services sector and will play an important role in providing opportunities for global collaboration, trade and investment,” Ms Lewis-Smith said.

        ICC Sydney CEO and AEG Ogden Group Director of Convention Centres, Geoff Donaghy said he was pleased the group’s global experience could provide an added degree of confidence when attracting events for ICC Sydney.

        “Having successfully hosted the World Congress of Accountants in Kuala Lumpur in 2010, it is an honour to again be entrusted with this prestigious event. In 2018, we look forward to hosting a uniquely Sydney experience for Congress delegates in what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting convention venues to come to market.

        “The NSW Government’s decision to invest in infrastructure across the city is certainly underlining Sydney as the destination of choice for international business event decision makers,” Mr Donaghy said.

        The NSW Government has committed to significant investment in Sydney’s financial sector, including the A$6 billion development at Barangaroo to create a world-class base for international banks, financial and professional services companies. This major development was a key selling point in the bidding process, as were the brand new conference facilities, and will ensure Sydney continues to be one of the best places in the world to meet.

        The quadrennial World Congress of Accountants aims to foster global unity and collegiality among professional accountants. Previous congresses have been held in Rome (2014), Kuala Lumpur (2010), Istanbul (2006), Hong Kong (2002), Paris (1997) and Washington DC (1992).

        Source: http://www.incentivetravel.co.uk/news/australia/23545-sydney-to-host-world-congress-of-accountants-2018

        Thursday, November 27, 2014

        Sydney Festival 2015 - The Kitchen Show

        sydney-festival-2015-the-kitchen-show
        Photo credit: KR Vinayan

        Sydney Festival 2015
        From the creator of the MANGANIYAR SEDUCTION, we welcome THE KITCHEN

        A show about the healing power of cooking, The Kitchen is a sumptuous, multi-sensory spectacle of arresting sights, smells and sounds, culminating in something for your taste buds too.

        In The Kitchen, a man and woman connect in a wordless drama exploring the ritual of cooking. As the couple prepares payasam, a traditional Indian dessert, letting the fragrant aromas waft over you, 12 drummers provide a vigorous soundtrack on copper mizhavu drums. As this trance-inducing meditation reaches an intoxicating boiling point, it’s your turn to take part in the performance.

        In 2010, Indian director Roysten Abel wowed Sydney with The Manganiyar Seduction. Experience his return to Sydney Festival with this flavoursome fusion of folk traditions and theatrical celebration.

        Commissioned by Sydney Festival, Auckland Festival and Holland Festival.

        Duration: 75mins no interval
        Where: Seymour Centre York Theatre
        Address: Corner City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale
        Tickets: Sydney Festival Online Bookings or call 1300 856 876

        Source: http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2015/the-kitchen?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=websiteclicks&utm_campaign=kitchen




        Swan Lake 2015 - The Australian Ballet @ Capitol Theatre Sydney

        swan-lake-2015-the-australian-ballet-at-capitol-theatre-sydney

        After standing ovations in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, The Australian Ballet returns with its most popular ever production. Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake is a classic reimagined for the 21st century, charged with sensuality and heartbreak. Murphy sets the passionate love triangle of Odette, Prince Siegfried and the Baroness von Rothbart against Kristian Fredrikson’s magnificent designs – massed swans, a darkly sparkling lake, regal ballrooms – and Tchaikovsky’s achingly beautiful score. An overwhelming emotional experience and a dazzling feast on stage, this is Swan Lake as you’ve never seen it before.

        After a sell-out season in Melbourne in 2013, this powerful production returns to Sydney for the first time since 2008. This is the company’s most popular and most loved production in history and has elevated the company to international acclaim.

        “The Australian Ballet puts fire into the Lake.” - Le Figaro, Paris





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