About Briar
Briar Jensen is a Sydney-based freelance travel writer. Her blog covers travel tips, reviews, insights and inspiration, travel accessories and gadgets.
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The Hawkesbury River is made for mucking about in boats, whether it’s a kayak or runabout, cruiser or houseboat. It’s the Secret River depicted by Kate Grenville’s book of the same name and it twists and turns on itself endlessly. It’s also a peaceful river, well most of the time, except for when the ski races are on! #hawkesbury #hawkesburyriver #wisemansferry @visitnsw #boating #riverlifeI hate it when daylight savings ends. But we are making the most of a beautiful sunset up the end of America Bay in beautiful Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park listening to the waterfall behind us and ducks quacking as we watch the sun disappear behind the hills. #bliss. @astw_inc @nswnationalparks #hawkesburyriver #boatingPhu Quoc Is Vietnam’s largest island, but it’s closer to Cambodia; known for its beaches, over 50% is forested national park; and it produces fish sauce, pepper and pearls. It’s #vietnam minus the incessant scooters of Saigon or the hubbub of Hanoi. To learn more about this island read my story in the latest issue of @vacationsmag on sale now. @astw_incCobham Hall, the sandstone home of Solomon Wiseman (see previous post) now forms part of the Wisemans Inn Hotel, aka the Wisemans Ferry pub. The front portion of the upstairs section has been stripped back to expose historic construction techniques and decorated with period furniture to make a small museum with excellent information open weekend afternoons. This little village has a lovely gallery @ferryartists a great little restaurant @busbyscaferestaurant with escarpment views, a grocer-Café and accommodation with a golf course and pool @retreatatwisemans making it an excellent weekend getaway. Not forgetting the #hawkesburyriver of course. @visitnsw #wisemansferry #theriversjustthebeginningMeet Solomon Wiseman, pioneer, inn keeper and ferry master, after which this tiny town on a bend in the Hawkesbury River is named. He is the inspiration and main character of Kate Grenville’s novel The Secret River. I loved learning more about him and the area in Grenville’s companion book, Searching for the Secret River, which describes her research. And the ferry service he started is still going! #wisemansferry #kategrenville #hawkesburyriver @visitnswWhat’s around the next corner? Kayaking up Webb’s Creek, off the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry I couldn’t help but think of Kate Greenville’s book The Secret River. How remote this must have felt for the early settlers. Thanks to @hawkesburyhouseboats, who also hire kayaks and runabouts, I was able to explore the creek for a couple of hours in the company of ducks and a white-faced heron. So what’s around the corner? More of the same! #hawkesburyriver #ilovesydney #kayaking #astw_inc- My Tweets
Category Archives: New South Wales
Toe-tapping retro fashion fun in the Blue Mountains
Love retro fashions? Like a bit of toe-tapping on the dance floor? Enjoy lingering with friends over delicious regional food and wine? Then you’ll love the Roaring 20s Festival. Held in Sydney’s Blue Mountains this year’s event takes place on … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Events, Fashion, festivals, Food & Wine, New South Wales, Sydney
Tagged Blue Mountains, Blue Mountains Vintage Cadillacs, Charleston Challenge, Charleston for Charity, Charlotte Smith Collection, Charlotte Smith Fashion Collection, Dress up, fashion, festivals, Food and Wine, Hydro Majestic, Hydro Majestic Long Lunch, Plate Up, retro fashion, roaring 20s, Roaring 20s fashions, Roaring 20s Festival, vintage cadillacs
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Sydney’s QVB turns 120 – share your story to win
Since moving to Sydney 20-odd years ago I’ve come to love the elegant Queen Victoria Building, which occupies and entire city block. But like many of the shoppers and commuters that pass through her colonnaded walkways and underground passageways, I’ve … Continue reading
Do Sydney’s Great North Walk one leg at a time
Fancy tackling the Great North Walk from Sydney to Newcastle, but don’t have the time to do the full 260km in one thru-hike and/or a bit nervous of getting lost along the way? That’s exactly how I felt. Billed as Australia’s … Continue reading
Posted in Australia, Events, Great North Walk, Hawkesbury, National Parks, New South Wales, Travel, Walking
Tagged Day hikes, day walks Sydney, Great North Walk, national parks
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Event: Sydney Tomato Festival Royal Botanic Garden
Love tomatoes? Then mark the Sydney Tomato Festival in your diary for this weekend 20-21st February 2016 – to be held at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. I didn’t realise Sydney had a Tomato Festival, so I’m disappointed to know I’ve … Continue reading
Last weekend for Bondi sculpture walk
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, finishes this Sunday 9th November. So it’s your last chance to see the exhibits, the work of 109 artists. We visited the exhibition this week, together with some friends from New Zealand. As my girlfriend … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Attractions, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel News & Events
Tagged Bondi, Sculpture by the sea
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Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi – on now
It’s on again – Sculpture by the Sea Bondi opened Thursday 23 October and runs until Sunday 2 November. I love Sculpture by the Sea – intriguing, whimsical, inspiring and challenging exhibits set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour, along the Bondi … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Travel, Travel News & Events
Tagged Bondi, coastal walk, family fun, interactive art, Local events, Sculpture by the sea
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Gift an experience: 10 Sydney experiences to inspire, excite and thrill
Can’t think of a gift for that special someone? Then give them an experience they will remember long after the Christmas tree has dropped its needles. Here are ten Sydney experiences for the grandkids to the grandparents, the adventure-lovers to … Continue reading
Posted in Adventure, Animals, Australia, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, Segway, Sydney, Travel, Travel Accessories & Gadgets
Tagged animal parks, family fun, Hawkesbury, jet boating, sailing, Segway, sydney, travel
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