BY ANGELA FAIRHURST
Sydney and its state of New South Wales, where you can have significant adventures that preserve and enhance the places you visit, are numerous. Indulge in these eco-experiences, and you’ll benefit both from your travels and your positive impact on the environment.
GARDENS IN THE SKY
Explore Sydney’s cutting-edge rooftop farms, lovely vertical gardens, and secret natural sanctuaries perched high above the hustled city streets.
A world-renowned vertical garden by Patrick Blanc is located at One Central Park in Chippendale, which consists of 35, 000 plants cascading down nearly 17 stories ( 164 feet ) of lush greenery. It’s a living tapestry that masterfully combines architecture and nature, making the building’s front end a distinctive industrial landmark. Although you can’t climb it, it’s undoubtedly worthwhile to cran your neck downwards for a better view. Pro tip: The best views of the garden are those that are taken from the street level. www. centralparksydney .com
Rooftop Bees and Native Gardens, located in Sydney’s most recent eco-friendly precinct, are where bees happily make fresh honey that you can taste in the nearby cafés below ( and enjoy delicious pastries and dishes ). Native plants are chosen properly to increase biodiversity and maintain building air quality. Even though you can’t immediately go to the rooftops, Barangaroo’s exploration becomes a little sweeter when you learn that there are humming hives and lush gardens above the city streets. www. www.barangaroo.com
Paddington Reservoir Gardens has the feel of a secret oasis nestled among the country’s oldest sandstone arches and worn brick walls. What was once a forgotten reservoir has turned into a beautiful rooftop garden filled with local plants and greenery. You’ll start to notice soft water trickling outside, soft leaves rustling, and you’ll find yourself slogging through the great stone walls. In the heart of west Sydney, it’s an unforeseen sanctuary that locals adore but that the majority of visitors not discover. Grab a snack in the gardens for an enjoyable afternoon of outdoor relaxation. Entry is complimentary. www. cityofsydney. nsw. gov. a/parks/paddington-reservoir-gardens
Also, Sydney’s renowned clifftop trails highlight regional climate initiatives like native plant restoration and marine protection zones, as well as offering sea views and salty air. Along the way, some guided walks also include stopovers on the beaches or eco-education, giving you the impression of being a part of something bigger.
ECO-FRIENDLY CULINARY ADVENTURES AWAIT
Discover Sydney’s delectable zero-waste restaurants and markets, where sustainability and cooking creativity are combined.
The American Food Culture Walking Tour from Eventually Sydney takes you through vibrant neighborhoods in Sydney, stopping at restaurants and markets that emphasize sustainability and support small, local businesses. Along the way, you’ll discover Australia’s attractive food culture and how the city approaches sustainability in creative ways, including reducing food waste and farm-to-table dining. www. Ultimatelysydney .com . aau
A buzzing café called Single O in Surry Hills serves coffee with a twist, which is made up of oat bran and wheat flour. You can sip your toned white, which is a rich espresso that is topped with velvety steamed milk, and next snack on the cup itself to make it a zero-waste moment during your break.
Yet better, leftover coffee grounds in these communities are given new life in community gardens, making your morning coffee-topping excursion both guilt-free and eco-friendly. www. Singleo.com . aau
A contemporary vegetarian restaurant called Yellow in Potts Point happily displays annual produce from local farms and skews plant-based dishes. The multi-course tasting menu is sophisticated and carefully prepared, with an emphasis on sustainability and low-waste cooking. The warm, uncluttered dining room offers a sophisticated, relaxed dining experience that is also appropriate for Sydney’s environmentally conscious food scene. www. www.yellowsydney .com . aau
The Source Bulk Foods ( multiple locations ) invites you to completely disregard packaging. Fill your reuseable containers or bags with everything from directly roasted nuts to gourmet chocolates and granola to bins full of. Shopping around is a tactile treat thanks to the aromatic spices, satisfying jars, and relief from knowing there is no waste.
www.thesourcebulkfoods.com.au
Locals who care about where their food comes from are a staple at the Carriageworks Farmers Market in Eveleigh. The market, which is housed in a wonderfully restored rail yard, offers small-batch fare, zero-waste pantry items, and plant-based treats. It’s also a fantastic place to meet local artisans, meet farmers, and support businesses that place sustainability at the center of everything they do. www. Carriageworks .com . aau
ECO-FRIENDLY ESCAPES
If adventure and wilderness are more your thing, then head out beyond Sydney and into other cities in New South Wales to unwind in the eco-friendly spirit while staying in eco-friendly lodgings set among some of the region’s most spectacular landscapes.
Only a few minutes from the immaculate beaches on New South Wales ‘ south coast, Paperbark Camp offers luxurious safari-style tents hidden among eucalyptus trees and local bushland. Wake up to bird calls, take in the clean southern air, and savor gourmet meals made with local ingredients.
This camp wonderfully combines luxury and sustainability with being solar-powered and deliberately designed. www. Paperbarkcamp.com. . aau
You can sleep beneath the stars in one-of-a-kind, open domes at Bubbletent Australia in Capertree Valley. These eco-friendly bubble tents, which are set in a quiet valley close to the Blue Mountains, have stunning views and little to no impact on the environment.
It’s the kind of night you’ll forget, falling sleep star-watching and rolling over to the sunrise as it sweeps across the valley. www. bubbletentaustralia.com
The ideal retreat for nature-lovers who seek comfort is at Nightfall wilderness camp in Queensland, New South Wales ‘ neighbor to the north. Beautiful tents positioned in this solar-powered eco-camp will take you through the landscape of the ancient rainforest. Relax on your personal deck while listening to the creek’s soft roar on guided nature walks, spot wildlife on guided nature walks, or sleep knowing you’re leaving the smallest footprint behind. www. www.nightfall.com . aau
Make sure to choose eco-certified lodging wherever you go to ensure responsible practices, and check with prospective accommodations about their sustainability initiatives before booking.
SYDNEY’S Stability SNAPSHOT
Sydney and New South Wales have idealistic sustainability goals that aim to minimize their impact on the environment while making it simple for visitors to enjoy the cities. By 2035, Sydney aims to have no carbon footprint by investing a lot in renewable energy sources like solar and wind farms. Electric ferries can then slowly glide across Sydney Harbor, offering scenic rides without emissions or noise. With an expanding fleet of energy buses and fresh metro lines, public transportation is even becoming more environmentally friendly.
As part of Sydney’s round economy efforts to reduce waste, you’ll find reusable water stations and community composting hubs throughout the city. Also, New South Wales has a significant emphasis on wildlife conservation, with eco-tours and programs that offer travelers practical ways to get involved and help the local ecosystems.
