Things to do in Sydney in May

In Australia, January 26 has very different meanings for different people. However you choose to spend it, we've picked out the main events taking place on the public holiday this Tuesday.

Many look to the start of a new year to kick off a health cleanse. If this is you, look away, because all these Sydney pubs and bars are starting 2021 by offering half-price discounts on all food and drink orders. Just make sure to book in advance, as venue capacities have been cut to one person per four square metres. 

Konnichi wa cobbers! Market City Japanese eatery Fugetsu is giving one of its most popular menu items a true blue makeover, just in time for January 26. In what may rank as one of the most unlikely culinary fusions ever attempted, the traditional Japanese pan-fried dumpling is getting remade with Australia's favourite breakfast spread.

There is schoolyard joy in a packet of supermarket sponge cake fingers dipped in chocolate and covered in desiccated coconut like wet feet in sand. But Sydney’s pastry standards are very high, so when you want your sweet treat to feel special, these are the patissiers going the extra mile when it comes to the humble lamington. 

Flickerfest has now been in existence for three decades, showcasing the best short films made internationally. In 2021, Flickerfest will celebrate by holding its screenings in the fancy surrounds of the Famous Spiegeltent, and a glam outdoor cinema under the stars in the Flickerfest festival garden on Bondi Beach near the pavilion where Flickerfest has always been based.  

No kidding, you can have an honest-to-goodness text convo with the gravestones of the Third Quarantine Cemetery, perched on the grassy knoll of Manly’s cliffside North Head Sanctuary. Erected in 1881 to inter the fallen bodies of Sydney’s then-smallpox epidemic, it’s safe to say that this particular burial ground has seen a lot. So it should have plenty to say.

Yve Blake’s joyous Australian musical about the agony and ecstasy of teen longing, Fangirls, is back by popular demand as the first cab off the ranks in Belvoir St’s 2021 season. Karis Oka steps into the lead role of Edna, a teenage girl obsessed with Harry, lead singer of global sensation boyband True Connection (The Voice contestant Aydan).

The Summer Garden Festival is a one-day mini festival that let's the Olympic Park community out to play. Bar and eatery Abattoir Blues will play host to a day packed with markets, live music and all-ages fun. Head down to experience the festivities and feasts amongst 100-year-old heritage buildings and gardens.

The show is the brainchild of dancer-turned-movie star Channing Tatum – who fronted up, stripped down, and sweated through both big screen outings. Set in the stunning, burlesque circus-like surrounds of the Arcadia, a  purpose-built upsized Spiegeltent, erected in the Entertainment Quarter, this dance extravaganza comes complete with a bar that doubles as a climbing frame.

You can spend a balmy summer evening outside on the grass, lazing on a bright orange picnic blanket, with a picnic hamper to nibble at as you take in the greenery of the Domain and sip on an Aperol Spritz at the Terrace's new pop-up picnic. 

Taking over the Royal Botanic Garden across three weeks this summer is a new, outdoor series which brings together all the things you want on a balmy January evening: live tunes, outdoor dining and glorious views of the Harbour. Oh, and G'n'Ts, all night long. 

Mov'in Bed is upping the ante on summer movie-going this year and transforming into Mov'in Boat, by bringing a fun (and socially distanced) floating cinema to the harbour. Kicking off on December 3, the water-bound season will run until March 21, 2021. 

Are you keen to try opera on for size but a little intimidated by the length of most shows and the often hefty price tag? Well, Opera Australia has just what you're looking for.Described as ‘opera but without the boring bits’, Great Opera Hits is a zippy 90-minute collection of all the most famous tunes you might not be able to name but will definitely know.

At Restaurant Hubert's latest offering, Jazz January, you'll be served a four-course French dinner set to the smooth tunes of live jazz music, every Monday to Saturday night throughout January. Head chef Daniel Pepperell will be comandeering the menu, which has been acclaimed by critics and drooled over by diners alike. The tunes will play from 5pm each evening, until the end of January.  

The Imperial Hotel in Erskineville is once again serving up the goods with a special Drag'n’Dine production with added feathers and rhinestones. Glitz and Glam the drag show is tucked and loaded with classic Broadway hits, big jazz standards and campy dance showstoppers. To fuel you up for all that eleganza, the chefs at Priscillas restaurant have created a new summer menu.

The distilled essence of the agave plant takes over the heart of King Street as the Bank’s Beer Garden transforms into Burning Heart Tequileria for the summer. They are serving up cocktails by the glass or the jug, Wednesdays to Sundays through till February 17. Treat yourself to a classic Margarita or Paloma, or try the Bank’s signature Pineapple Tequila Sour.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why something being “the shit” oddly means good instead of poop, then Kenny is the prime example. Starting life as a popular and critical hit mockumentary co-written by and starring Shane Jacobson, it cast him as the eponymous porta-dunny installer. Now, we're pumped like a septic tank for Kenny's overflow onto the stage.

To continue through the 2020s in style, Luna Park is closing temporarily and giving the park and its signature smile a facelift. Before they close though, Luna Park is set to host a park-wide party of epic proportions.

James Galea’s Best Trick Ever teams him with mystical talents including YouTube sensation and shadow puppet master Raymond Crowe (Australia’s Got Talent) and slippery escapologist Helen Coghlan, who racked up a celebratory hat trick bamboozling Penn and Teller on their ratings smash Fool Us.

The Australian Museum is keeping its lights on this summer with a stellar lineup of eats, beats and exhibitions to explore after hours, and general admission is free. Every Thursday the museum will grant access to its fascinating collections, including summer exhibitions Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020 and Tyrannosaurs – Meet the Family until 9pm.

Thresholds is a collaboration between artists Julia Davis and Lisa Jones that peeks behind an innocuous green door in Elizabeth Street’s St James station and dives headlong into the abandoned labyrinth beyond. The exhibition is comprised of goosebump-inducing photography alongside large-scale drawings inspired by the artists’ explorations and a video installation work that allows you to travel through the long lost times of subterranean Sydney.

Calling all grown-up Disney fans, musical maniacs, and queen Elsa devotees – this one’s for you. Cork and Canvas is getting amongst the magic of Frozen the Musical’s arrival on the Sydney stage, with special sip and paint classes where you can whip up a painting of a scene from the blockbuster Broadway show. 

Sydney has some great public barbies in scenic spots around town, and it's the perfect time of year to get your grill on.

When the mercury rises in Sydney, leave the city behind and head for the hills. There's nothing quite like a relaxing swim in a cool, clear swimming hole surrounded by glorious nature, and thanks to the vast swathes of national parks and bushland just a stone's throw from the city, you won't have to travel very far to find such a dip. 

There's no reason your swim time should suffer when the sun isn’t shining. The Harbour City has several excellent indoor and outdoor heated pools which operate year-round, and after a lengthy shutdown as new safety protocols were hammered out, most of them have now reopened to the public. Here’s our pick of the best of the bunch you can visit right now.

Pack your picnic baskets, because Sydney’s favourite outdoor cinema experience is returning to Centennial Park. Settle in with a blanket and some snacks and enjoy a summer night out under the stars. Moonlight Cinema is on right through to April. 

Elsa and Anna bring the magic of Frozen to Sydney. The smash hit Disney animated movie was transformed into an equally in-demand Broadway musical, which now winds its way down to Australia from its original showing in New York. 

Waterworld Central Sydney is cooling things down at the Entertainment Quarter until January 26. Visitors will be able to zip down the multi-lane Epic Racer slide, go on an 80-metre water tubing ride, or just chillax in one of the wading pools. Ever wondered what it would be like to walk on water? Take a spin in the giant zorb cylinder and find out. Then for ultimate thrillseekers, there’s the Big Wave slide….

Dial up the heat with Winghaus by Bavarian's new three-month-long celebration of the mighty chicken wing. You've got 13 new flavours of wings to try: they range from the universally appealing, to the "turbo-charged". Taste-test the nacho cheese or garlic parmesan wings to start with, and then slowly ease yourself into the higher spice tiers.

Pixar Putt supplies reams of nostalgic putt putt fun for those of us who grew up wishing our toys would come to life like in Toy Story, or imagining what it would be like to face Hopper and his gang in A Bug’s Life, it's a dream. The Disney Pixar-themed mini-golf course is sticking around until the end of January 31 due to popular demand.

Relive the brilliant story made famous on-screen by Judy Davis  and Sam Neil. Now you can see it come alive all over again on stage at Belvoir St Theatre thanks to a brand-new adaptation by Australian playwright Kendall Feaver (The Almighty Sometimes) and directed by Kate Champion (Every Brilliant Thing). The magnificent Nikki Shiels (The Sugar House, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) steps into Sybylla’s shoes.

To market, to market? Whether it’s the promise of brekky pho or the racks of vintage threads that gets you out of bed in the morning, these are the markets that we've been itching to get back to, with their local produce, creative wares and delicious snacks.

High-density urban living means that the ability to get away from our daily routines and be at peace in nature is more important than ever. We are lucky that even within Australia’s most populated city, there are plenty of places you can go to disconnect from it all. Here are some of the most secluded places to take a dip in and around Sydney.

Westpac OpenAir returns to Mrs Macquaries Point with the Opera House and Bridge as the staggering backdrop. You can see Eric Bana in Aussie thriller The Dry, catch Naomi Watts in emotional biopic Penguin Bloom, lush queer historical drama Ammonite, hilarious looking Irish romantic movie Wild Mountain Thyme, Australian Western High Ground and classics including Love Actually, Almost Famous, Thelma & Louise, The Devil Wears Prada and Pulp Fiction.

Art, science, history and ancient cultures meet under one roof at the purpose-built Chau Chak Wing Museum, whose collections are 150 years in the making. The museum combines three powerful collections from the vaults of the University of Sydney – including three ancient Egyptian mummies. The Chau Chak Wing Museum is open seven days a week, and entry is free.

The MCA is fully embracing the new normal, throwing the focus on Australian artists. It’s in this spirit that we get absolutely spoiled with a cracking retrospective of Lindy Lee’s exhilarating career. Lindy Lee: Moon in a Dew Drop celebrates the Australian-Chinese artist’s genius, nimbly dancing through four decades of jaw-dropping creativity crossing mediums and cultures.

Before Hamilton hysteria takes hold of Sydney, Tony Award-winning musical-meets-magic-meets-circus show Pippin takes over the Lyric Theatre. Pippin is the story of a young man who has to make a big call about what to do with his life. Follow in his hot shot dad’s footsteps, or choose his own adventure?

Looking for excellent food, sweeping Sydney water views, a high 'grammability rating and a touch of social seclusion? We've got just the spot for you. Walsh Bay's Pier One Hotel nailed it in winter with their 'Igloos on the Pier', and now they're back with a springtime edition. Your 'bubble' is a greenery-filled Garden of Eden-style oasis teeming with lush plants, plush cushions and chic décor.

If you're ready for some real drinks with your next weekend feast, look no further than the Golden Sheaf's new gin cocktail lunch bonanza. Choose from one of three cocktails to go with your bottomless lunch, two out of three are made with Bombay Sapphire's new Berry Bramble gin, a summery, fruity twist on the OG.

The late, great Australian artist Pat Larter rewrote the book on female desire and sexuality, throwing out hoary old conventions and busting stupid stereotypes. So much more than the muse of husband and fellow artist Richard Larter, Pat Larter Get Arted at the Art Gallery of NSW is the showcase she deserves. The first solo exhibition of her work to be hosted in a public art museum, it’s long overdue.

Whether you're looking to go for a run, walk your dog, have a sedate picnic or just take a break from your four walls, these are the parks to visit. They have sprawling open spaces, free barbecues and shaded spots to while away an afternoon or simply catch a break at lunchtime.

The vibe of the top-to-bottom refurbishment of Sydney Tower’s top floor, now home to the loftiest cocktail lounge in the city, is not so much a nod to the ‘60s as it is a full-throated power ballad to the kitschest, campest, most swinging design trends of the age. Sitting 83 storeys above street level, Bar 83's transformation is something to see.

You might think that the difference between a park and garden is just a matter of semantics, but in truth, they’re different spaces. Parks are all about activity and versatility – they can become whatever we need them to be. Gardens on the other hand offer carefully curated experiences.

Do you love cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off, scones with jam and cream and tiered plates of petit fours? Sydney is obsessed with high tea, and with good reason – we know how to bake a good scone. Once you pair them with beautiful harbour views, like at the Mosman Barracks, or cultivated gardens at historic Vaucluse House, and throw in a cheeky glass of Champagne – you've got yourself an aspirational afternoon of leisure.

Hello Auntie's luxurious bottomless brunch at its Darling Sqaure eatery is designed to have you feeling like you've spent beyond your means. Feast on a menu of delicacies like bo tai (aged beef tartare with caviar) and ca hoi tai (cured salmon with crème fraiche, tamarind gel and Jerusalem artichoke) – all for $70 per person. There's only one sitting each Saturday, between noon and 2pm.

When the sunny season kicks in, crowds flock to Sydney's most famous sandy stretches, but with well over 100 beaches to be found in and around the city, there are plenty of secluded shores to choose from if you'd prefer to sunbake with minimal human contact.

For a sizable chunk of 2020, the nicest view most of us could hope for was the one through our living room window. So, since we’re allowed to roam free across the state once more, we reckon it’s about time you levelled-up your vista. Just cop an eyeful of these breathtaking sights in and around Sydney, then start planning your next day trip to behold them IRL.

There is a wealth of purpose-built climbing gyms all over this fine city sporting some of the best facilities in the country. Go grab a buddy and start scaling those heights.

Clay Sydney’s new Enmore studio offers chilled-out one-off workshops suitable for total beginners as well as short courses covering wheel-throwing, hand-building, firing and glazing techniques for the clay-curious. If you fancy learning the basics while throwing back a bevvie, the wine and clay night might just be up your alley. 

If you haven't visited this Darlinghurst Museum, it's about time you did. There is a misunderstanding that the Jewish Museum is only meant for Jewish people to visit, or only of interest to WWII buffs. In reality, the museum’s mission is to make history accessible through the lens of the Jewish experience, and in doing so, help us to understand our present. Check out new exhibitions like Jews from Islamic Lands while you're there.

There are plenty of opportunities near Sydney for novice hikers to experience the great outdoors without trekking too far from civilisation. In the national parks that sit on the city’s fringes, you'll find several wonderful hikes that are perfect for those who prefer a relaxed amble to a major expedition.

International borders look set to remain sealed until at least next year and restrictions on interstate travel are still in effect for much of the country. Fortunately, there's a wealth of great getaway options right here in New South Wales ready and waiting to receive eager holidaymakers. 

Yes, you have to wear an unflattering grey jumpsuit – but if climbing the fourth-longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world is a should-see for out-of-towners and visiting celebrities, then it’s an absolute can’t-miss for locals.  

The fine artists from Cork and Canvas are inviting us back into the studio again. That’s right, you can dip your brush and wet your whistle in public once more at their Crows Nest and Darlinghurst sip and paint studios.

Sometimes you just want to exchange your everyday for an alternate reality where plush robes come hand-laundered to your door. We have rounded up some of the most luxurious hotels in NSW for you to escape the rigours of modern life with on a truly indulgent vacay. 

Follow your traveller's instinct and get away for a day to one of our best day trips from the city – featuring quaint villages, seaside hangouts and mountain escapes. Around a two-hour drive or a scenic train ride away, you'll find yourself rambling through eucalyptus gums, gazing out over gorgeous ocean cliffs, or watching the world go by in a sleepy village. 

Here are some of the best outdoor fitness stations from across Sydney, which you can access 24-hours a day and completely free.