Sydney's Darling Opens Next Month

The Darling hotel in Sydney, a new five-star hotel set to open next month, has joined Worldhotels.

The hotel features 171 rooms and suites overlooking Sydney Harbour with panoramic views of the city skyline, the iconic Harbour Bridge and distant Blue Mountains.

The top floors feature two-bedroom penthouse suites designed by renowned LA designer, Lawrence Lee, with floor-to-ceiling harbour views, bespoke furniture, fireplaces, media rooms, butler service and private VIP arrival.

The Darling is part of a $860 million refurbishment and extension of one-of-a-kind entertainment destination The Star, with the entire complex re-orientated to face the harbour. In addition to the existing hotel and apartments, The Darling brings total rooms and suites at The Star to over 650 across three towers.

Along with The Darling, the entire complex incorporates over 20 new restaurants and bars, a shopping area and fully refurbished casino which is expected to open from mid-September onwards.

The new restaurants, bars and cafes feature renowned Australian and international chefs including David Chang, Teage Ezard, Stefano Manfredi, Adriano Zumbo, Flying Fish & Chips and Golden Century. The hotel is also home to a Japanese restaurant called Sokyo, from Chase Kojima, formerly with Nobu restaurants.

A day spa with 16 private rooms is set to deliver pampering to highest levels. An extensive array of Asian and European inspired treatments includes an indulgent hamam, the Turkish variant of a steam bath, sauna or Russian Bath. The spa will be run by experienced international spa operator, Jeanette Haua.

The Darling's general manager Drew Schlesinger said, "We are pleased that The Darling is teaming up with sister hotel Star City Hotel & Apartments of Echo Entertainment and Worldhotels. This is going to be an exciting partnership that attracts more local visitors and international travellers to our complex The Star."

(Source: accommnews.com.au)

Kids Hit Play Dirt for $12m - Darling Harbour Sydney

It’s every kids ultimate delight – a 4000sqm playground costing $12 million in the heart of Sydney.

Based on the concept of water play, a massive revamp of the southern quarter of Darling Harbour has transformed it into a fun-filled park for kids – part of a larger development, The Darling Quarter, which will also have a selection of restaurants and bars for parents to enjoy.

WILDLIFE Sydney - September Animal Update

Guests will be taken on an amazing Australian journey as they travel into Australia’s most famous and travelled locations.

Walking through eight iconic Australian habitats, this Australian Animal Adventure takes on average 1.5 to 2 hours from start to finish and will see visitors encounter Australia’s most loved and feared animals as they travel to Kakadu Gorge, The Outback, Gum Tree Valley, Daintree Rainforest, Butterfly Tropics and more.

See koalas, kangaroos, wombats, bilbies, snakes, butterflies, birds and one of the world’s largest crocodiles, Rex!

Experience world-class interactive displays and discover incredible walk-through habitats in the beating heart of Sydney.

Koala Encounters

Home to Sydney’s cutest collection of cuddly Koalas, WILD LIFE’s dedicated Koala habitat is located on its scenic rooftop.

Relax with a drink at the rooftop cafe, and then meet the koalas! Koala Encounters invites you to pat one of these iconic animals, and purchase a photo of yourself with the Koalas, perfect for making your friends and family jealous

Wallaby Cliffs

Take a hop back in time at Wallaby Cliffs! This diverse terrain of jagged cliffs and grassy plains is home to only the toughest, most well-adapted Australian animals.

Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies use their tails for balance as they scamper among the escarpments, while Hairy-nosed Wombats amble around munching grasses and finding shelter down deep burrows.

Butterfly Tropics

Take wing to the Butterfly Tropics in Australia’s Tropical North, with distinct wet and dry seasons, warm temperature and lush greenery and billabongs all year round.

Be amazed at the diverse range of animals living in the Butterfly Tropics, with beautiful butterflies, vividly coloured snakes and frogs amongst the foliage, and turtles and crocodiles gliding through the water.

Daintree Rainforest

Located in Queensland, the Daintree Rainforest’s habitat has been replicated at WILD LIFE Sydney and is home to tropical, humidity-loving creatures like the spectacular Double-Wattled Cassowary – the most dangerous bird in the world, which is also listed on the endangered species list.

Rainforests are the most ecologically diverse places anywhere on the planet, with unique, beautiful and sometime bizarre plants and animals including Red-legged Pademelon, Boyds Forest Dragons, and a colourful array of birds.

The Outback

Freezing cold nights, blazing hot days and shrub-dotted red sand as far as the eye can see... it can only be one thing, Australia's iconic Outback!

Australia’s outback is one of the most extreme habitats on the planet. Far from a barren landscape, the Red Centre is teeming with plants and animals including the iconic Red Kangaroo, Emu, Frilled-neck Lizard and more!

Kakadu Gorge

Marvel at the endless variety of the Northern Territory’s Top End landscape, ranging from deep gorges and grasslands to floodplains and estuary flats.

Kakadu Gorge is home to freshwater turtles, beautiful birds and the Saltwater Crocodile- the largest reptile on Earth!

WILD LIFE Sydney is also home to the Gum Tree Valley and a Nightfall habitat, which takes visitors on a trip into the after-dark, nocturnal world of bilbies, quolls and sugar-gliders.

CLAWS invading SYDNEY AQUARIUM

This month, CLAWS will be invading Sydney and taking over the streets...literally. Before these aquatic crustaceans crawl their way into Sydney Aquarium, they'll be wracking havoc on our city - making a few surprise appearances at several highly classified locations. Be ready for some colossal crustacean discoveries! Commencing 5 September, Sydney Aquarium will play home to Giant Tasmanian Crabs including Bruce who clocks in a hefty 10kg! The spectacular new creature feature will also see the arrival of the largest crab in the world, the Japanese Spider Crab, who will be unveiled for the spring school holidays.

The CLAWS are coming! Like us at www.facebook.com/sydneyaquarium

Some Cool CLAWS Facts...

* Crabs and lobsters have teeth in their stomach.
* Crabs have three sets of jaws.
* Most crabs walk sideways because their leg joints have limited movement - their legs face to the side. Spider crabs are the exception and are able to walk forwards as well.
* After losing a claw, a crab can grow it back.
* The crab is one of the oldest species on earth. The horseshoe crab dates back over 200 million years and is a living fossil. The Japanese Spider Crab also belongs to the oldest crabs and can live for one hundred years or more.
* Crabs are crustaceans (Crustaceans are creatures that do not have a skeleton on the inside)

Sydney WILD LIFE World Reopening in September

To coincide with September school holidays, WILD LIFE Sydney will reopen from 13 September, at Aquarium Wharf. Visitors to WILD LIFE Sydney will be taken on an amazing Australian journey as they travel into Australia's most beloved famous and traveled locations.

This Australian Animal Adventure will see guests encounter Australia's most loved and feared animals as they travel to Kakadu Gorge, The Outback, Gumtree Valley, Daintree Rainforest, Butterfly Tropics and experience interactive displays, inspiring and entertaining daily shows, captivating daily feeding sessions, enhanced state-of-the-art walk-through habitats and come face-to-face with Australia's'a largest kangaroo, the world's deadliest bird and the monster croc, Rex!

www.wild-life.com.au

Quality Apartment Accommodation available at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour

Sydney Tourism News and Information: Darling Quarter set to open in September

Sydneysiders and tourists will soon be able to enjoy the new Darling Quarter precinct in Darling Harbour as the eagerly anticipated project prepares to officially open on Saturday 24 September.

Sydney Tourism News and Information: Darling Quarter set to open in September