Weekend (Escape) in Goulburn

The grand inland city of Goulburn was once a mere stopover for many road trippers, but is now a destination in itself, layering contemporary food and wine experiences upon a rich and colourful rural heritage.

An effortless two-hour drive from Sydney will find you in the heart of Goulburn, surrounded by ornate heritage architecture dating back as far as 1830. Blend the past seamlessly with the present and you have a charming modern city with a wise, country soul. You may be surprised to find what Goulburn has to offer as one of NSW‘s major rural centres and emerging weekender destinations.

SATURDAY

Rise and Shine

If you’re not eating at your accommodation, The Roses Cafe right on leafy Belmore Park is a popular choice. The family-run, cosmopolitan deli-style cafe is a classy dollop of up-to-date service and delicious food with a nod to tradition. There are great vegetarian options, too, such as the sensational granola with seasonal fruits or smashed avo’ with Danish feta and lemon on sourdough.

Shoppers’ delight

Shopping Goulburn Somethign Special — Browsing the boutique wares at Something Special in Goulburn.

Saturday morning is the perfect time to stroll the busy streets and pick up a local bargain from one of the vintage or specialty boutiques, all within an easy walk. Stores such as Your Home Matters and Something Special carry a wide range of gift items and specialty homewares that will remind you of this charismatic region, while Baxter Boots & Shoes has a wide range of footwear to suit the whole family. Yes, all located right along bustling Auburn Street, the beating heart of Goulburn.

Kids will love the Goulburn Adventure Playground.

Any youngsters can work up an appetite at the Adventure Playground in Victoria Park. Swing, climb and crawl your way around the course. You can bet there weren’t playgrounds like this when you were growing up!

To market, to market

The leafy Belmore Park, Goulburn in the heart of the historic city.

A perfect venue for local artisans and producers, Goulburn hosts a variety of markets, one being the Rotary Parkside Markets held on the second Saturday of the month in Montague Street between the heritage-listed Goulburn Court House and Belmore Park, right in the centre of town. You’ll find stalls offering quality local arts, handicrafts, fresh produce, plants and flowers.

Public Art, Goulburn — The walk between the Visitor Centre and the Regional Art Gallery is dotted with works of public art.

Indulge your senses

Choose from any of the character-laden pubs along, or just off of Auburn Street for a hearty lunch. The Southern Railway Hotel serves Aussie pub food in one of Goulburn’s oldest pubs. If a late lunch is more your style, the Goulburn Soldiers Club offers a number of dining options.

Experience the past

Discover fascinating stories of Goulburn’s eclectic history with a Self-guided Heritage Tour (maps are available at the Visitor Information Centre ) and see such buildings as the heritage-listed Court House designed by the famous colonial architect James Barnet. Completed in 1887, this spectacular edifice took more than two years to build and cost the equivalent $3.5 million today.

Goulburn Court House — The heritage-listed Court House designed by the famous colonial architect James Barnet.

The Old Police Station, now an amazing second-hand book store, stands next door, while historic pubs and dainty heritage homes in the regional city date back almost 200 years.

Post Office Goulburn — The opening of the Goulburn Post Office in 1881 was such a cause for celebration it was declared a public holiday with parades of schoolchildren, mounted police and other dignitaries.

Whilst enjoying the fresh air and leafy surrounds, the beauty of Goulburn’s enviable rural location delivers in abundance – and there are plenty of ways to breathe it in. Cycle any of the dedicated pathways or power-walk some or all of the four-kilometre-long Wollondilly River Walkway .

Dinner Delights

You’ll be ready for dinner after such an odyssey, so why not spoil yourself at one of Goulburn’s premium eateries. The Tattersall’s Hotel offer a great alternate to pub dining: try the local, free-range chicken menu with Franks’ Hot Sauce. Stay and kick on with cocktails and live music.

Rest your head

Choose to retire for the night in one of Goulburn’s varied accommodation options: from boutique to B&Bs or branded. The Best Western Plus serviced apartments and superior rooms are just 600 metres from the CBD. If you want something closer to the night life, the new Abbey Motel will change your mind about old-fashioned ‘motels’. The charming motel was recently built on the grounds of the century-old former St Patrick’s Technical College.

Abbey Motel Goulburn — The new Abbey Motel will change your mind about old-fashioned ‘motels’.

SUNDAY

Sun Up

Sunday is a day for exploring by car. Grab an early breakfast at The Park Cafe [and make a visit to the poignant Rocky Hill War Memorial and Museum for best views of the city. Recently awarded the Tripadvisor 2020 Travellers’ Choice Award, which ranks it in the top 10 per cent of tourist attractions worldwide, the military museum is a must.

If you haven’t worn out your walking shoes, why not add the Public Art Walk to your program and examine the 40 or so items of accessible art on the streets of Goulburn. The public art program bounds way outside of the safety of the gallery and brings contemporary art into the everyday experience of moving around Goulburn. Note that the gallery itself is closed on Sundays.

Russel Lane, Goulburn — Add the Public Art Walk to your program and examine the 40 or so items of accessible art on the streets of Goulburn.

Cafe culture

Find yourself in one of Goulburn’s bourgeoning foodie scene eateries. Here you can enjoy high quality, fresh, regionally grown produce or varied exotic cuisines, paired with a range of local cool climate wines.

Grit Cafe, Goulburn — Sample the region in one of its many eateries.

Grape Escape

Take a road less travelled and venture south to Yarralaw Springs Wines . This unique straw-bale winery crafts award-winning wines from six classic varieties. To the east is Bungonia Creek Wines set overlooking the beautiful Bungonia Gorge: sample the wines and experience the no-dig permaculture gardens.,

Full Steam Ahead

Paddle Boarding Goulburn — Paddle boarding on Wollondilly River in front of the Goulburn Historic Waterworks.

The days of steam locomotives may be over, but the glory of the mighty mechanisms are alive and well in Goulburn. The Victorian ‘Age of Steam’ was a defining era of history and you’ll see the past come to life on ‘Steaming Days’ at the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum located on the picturesque banks of the Wollondilly River. Just out of town and accessible on foot as part of the Wollondilly River Walkway . A perfect spot for a picnic basket lunch.

Fishing Weir Gourlburn — Fishing from the weir in front of Goulburn’s Historic Waterworks on the Wollondilly River.

All the world’s a stage

Established in 1891, Goulburn’s Lieder Theatre Company is the longest-running theatre company in Australia. See a live performance in the historic theatre as a fitting finale to your glittering weekend in Goulburn.

Make Goulburn your next road trip or train weekend destination and let yourself be surprised. However, you may need more than one weekend.

For more information on things to do and see in Goulburn, visit www.goulburnaustralia.com.au/

Farmstay Goulburn — A farmstay in Goulburn, less than two hours from Sydney,

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.

Weekend Escape in Goulburn