#1 Marvel at The Floating Forest

Located near Olympic Park, a short train ride from Sydney CBD, are some old shipwrecks – one of them with a difference. Definitely something to check out on your 482 visa. Over the years, the trees and bushes from the nearby mangrove swamps have taken root in the hull of the SS Ayrfield creating a mini-floating forest. While the tree ships look amazing all day, the absolute best time to visit them is sunset or sunrise when the golden light reflects them back beautifully in the water. Put SS Ayrfield in Google Maps to see where to go.

#2 Visit an Adult Fairground

Children might be allowed in Archie Brother’s Cirque Electriq until 8 pm, but after that, its big kids only as you drink hard-shakes topped with Tim Tams (a famous Australian biscuit), ride dodgems to your heart’s content and try and win enough tickets on the games of skill (or chance) as humanly possible. See more here.

#3 Spot the Sydney Seal

The Sydney Seal | Stilgherrian/Flickr

He’s totally wild so there’s no guarantee he’ll be there, but a New Zealand fur seal can be found lounging about on a set of steps just behind the Opera House. He’s so famous he’s even been in a Simpson’s cartoon. Look for the signs that say ‘Don’t Feed the Seal’ and you’re in the right place.

#4 Visit the Underwood Ark

Look down one of the side roads as you walk down Sydney’s busy George Street and you might do a double take. Way above your head, poking out the side of a building are some tree roots… wander down the road and you’ll realise it’s actually an entire tree suspended horizontally along an empty alleyway! Called the Underwood Ark it’s supposed to symbolise the old boat-building history of the area. Not sure if it does but it’s a good talking point. Find it at the junction of Dalley and Underwood Streets.

#5 Climb the Harbour Bridge Pylon

Sydeny Harbour Bridge | Jorge Láscar/Flickr

Everyone has heard about climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but fewer people know that you can get equally amazing views for a tiny percentage of the price if you climb the Pylon Lookout of the bridge instead. This costs just $15 yet still gives you an incredible 360-degree view of the harbour.

#6 Visit Wendy’s Secret Garden

Wendy’s Secret Garden | Teresa Parker/Flickr

When Wendy Whiteley’s husband died she threw herself into restoring the patch of land under their home – it’s now a quiet, peaceful garden with tiny fairies, old sinks and little silver owls among the hidden treasures scattered around for you to find in your own personal scavenger hunt. It’s a few minute’s walk away from North Sydney station or the Luna Park funfair which also offers the odd quirky thing to do – summer time sees them offering dining on their Ferris Wheel.

#7 Drink in a Viking Themed Bar

Where else, well in the Southern Hemisphere at least, are you going to get the chance to drink a beer from an old hunting horn or quaff cocktails containing bone broth, seawater or mead and honey? Mjolner is a super hip underground bar snuck behind a secret door between Sydney’s Redfern and Surry Hills. Should you also wish to feed your inner Viking, you can choose meat and cheese plates at the bar or go the whole hog (almost literally) with their carvery menu in the restaurant.

#8 Try a Silent Disco In The Street

Disco D Tours offer a one hour chance to dance your way around the historic Rocks area of Sydney, or more touristy Darling Harbour, grooving to sounds only you (and everyone else on your dance tour) can hear. Yes, at first it feels strange but you’ll quickly get over that and have the time of your life. From $35 a person.

#9 Hunt ghosts

Sometimes it seems that everywhere in Sydney has their own ghost but possibly the eeriest place you can visit to spot them is Q Station. This area, near Manly, is the old quarantine station where migrants suspected of possibly carrying disease were held before being allowed to enter Sydney itself. Obviously, a lot of those who came here never made that journey to Sydney and the site is said to be haunted by those left behind. You can tailor your ghost tour to your fear factor starting with just a few scary stories working up to full-on paranormal investigation. The truly brave can even sleep overnight in the old hospital on the grounds. Now, that is unusual.

Here’s a map of the spots mentioned above:

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Journalist Helen Foster runs Destination>Differentville – a travel blog aiming to find the quirky things to eat, see or do in a place.

See also: An essential guide to exploring Australia’s Beautiful North West

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Not every garden in the world is just well-shaped bushes and trees + fountains + benches. Sometimes gardens keep interesting stories, tell the tales of the Universe or provide inspiration for the paintings of famous artists. Choose your next fairy-tale trip in one of these stunning colorful spots.

Keukenhof, the Netherlands

Flowers in Keukenhof | ©Maria Angelova/203challenges

This garden sees seven million flowers, hand-planted every year. There are more than 100 varieties of tulips alone. Almost one million people a year visit the park. It is located not far from Amsterdam, near the town of Lisse. Open only March – May.

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Scotland

Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Scotland | John Lord/Flickr

If Alice’s Wonderland did exist, then it would certainly be in Dumfries, Scotland under the name of the Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Inspired by science and mathematics, black holes, DNA molecules and parallel universes, the architect Charles Jencks has created this unusual space as living proof that logic and creativity are not always mutually exclusive. The garden is private but usually opens on one day each year through the Scotland’s Gardens program and raises money for Maggie’s Centres, a cancer care charity named for Maggie Keswick Jencks, the late wife of Charles Jencks.

Miracle Garden, Dubai

Miracle Gardens, Dubai | Srilatha Sharma/Flickr

It is hard to imagine that the biggest flower garden could appear in the middle of a desert, but for years now Dubai has been showing the world it is a land of paradoxes. Dubai Miracle Garden spreads over an area of 72,000 sq. m (775,000 sq. ft) and features more than 45 million flowers, 4 km (3 mi) of passages and walkways among the flowers, and a 1 km(1,000 yd) flower wall.

Monet’s Garden, France

Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France | David Alexander Elder/Flickr

If you’ve seen the painting with the lilies by the French artist Claude Monet and you wish to see it in real life, visit the artist’s house just outside Paris. Water lilies blooming or not, sitting in the garden of the father of Impressionism is like becoming part of one of his paintings: the Japanese footbridge is just before you, the house and the garden have been restored to their appearance from Monet’s time. 

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If Italy is your passion, you are about to discover a few incredible, but not overly popular locations.

Follow us along these destinations, recommended by the Italians themselves, to uncover a secret – even the hearts of the largest and most popular cities can hold hidden gems!

A peek through the Aventine Keyhole

The Aventine Keyhole in Rome, Italy

Atop of the Aventine Hill in Rome, you will discover an unexpectedly beautiful view. Approach the locked, covered in greenery doors of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, to find a decorated keyhole. Looking through the keyhole will reward you with a remarkable view of St. Peter’s dome in the Vatican. You will see it framed by a tunnel of trees.

Temple of Valadier

Temple of Valadier, Italy

This octagonal temple, inside a mountain cave, is located in the city of Genga (the region of Marche, about 65 km away from Ancona). It was commissioned by Pope Leone XII and named after its architect.

Chamois

Chamois, Italy

Have you ever heard of this Italian town? It is the highest altitude municipality in the Aosta Valley region, and the only city in Italy unreachable by car – you can take a cable car or walk. This means one thing and one thing only – complete serenity and incredibly beauty.

The Bridge on Gaiola Island

The bridge of Gaiola Island, Italy

The island is located near the shores of Naples and is famous mostly for being cursed. Still, nobody can deny that the thin stone bridge, connecting the two sections of the island, is impressive.

Vicolo dei Lavandai, Milan

Vicolo dei Lavandai, Milan | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

At the heart of this charming town, by the shores of the Naniglio Grande Canal, you ll find a corner, where time has stopped its course long ago. This is Vicolo dei Lavandai, meaning “The Alley of Washers” – even today you can find an archaic washing machine here.

Discover more unusual things to do in Milan.

The Bell Tower of Curon Venosta

The bell tower in Curon Venosta, Italy

This odd bell tower rises above the water… with no church attached to it. The reason is that in 1950 the city of Curon Venosta was submerged in a man-made lake, called Lago di Resia (Reschensee in German). During the winter, the lake freezes over and you can walk to the bell tower. Curon Venosta is located in the North of Italy, near the borders with Switzerland and Austria.

Discover more stories about submerged churches.

Garden of Ninfa

The Garden of the Ninfa, Italy

About 80 km outside of Rome, you will find a true gem – gardens with water canals, medieval ruins covered in roses, exotic greenery. You can visit between April and November. More information can be found here.

Burano

Burano, Venice, Italy

If you ll be visiting Venice, don’t forget to drop by the most colorful island in the lagoon – Burano, often skipped for other locations in Venice (maybe because of romance).

Read more about ITALY.

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What is the best thing about this place is that it is located in the very centre of Milan but it is rarely included in the routes of the tourists.

Milan, as any other big tourist destination, has lots of secret places, which it keeps only for the most curious travellers. Such a little, green secret you will find just a few streets away from the La Scala Opera House, on the back side of the popular Brera Gallery – this is the Botanical Garden of Milan (Orto Botanico di Brera).

The Garden is part of the University of Milan, while a walk through it is like a stroll in someone’s yard in the country. From their very beginning the alleys lead you through sweet-scented herbs – basil, thymus, salvia, oregano – each with its own name-plate. You can simply walk down the alleys, gently rub the leaves between your fingers and breathe in one scent after the other.

© Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

After the herbs, here come the vegetables and the flowering bulbs (in spring). There is a table with metal chairs where you can rest under the shadows in a hot summer day. There are also benches, blooming shrubs, as well as one of the oldest Ginkgo biloba trees in entire Europe.

History at a glance

This place has a centuries-old history. In the past the garden was used by the students in medicine and pharmacy – established back in 1774 at the order of Austrian Empress Maria Teresa. Earlier, there was a green spot of the Society of Jesus at this place.

Bonus: Every Thursday (except on bank holidays) there is a brief tour with a guide from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The tours are organised for small groups of up to 10 people and only after advance reservation on infobrera@unimi.it.

Useful information: The Brera Botanical Garden is situated right behind the Brera Gallery, on 28, Brera Street. It is free of charge. Working hours: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (with a break between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.); Saturday – from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; Sunday – closed.

Here’s a map:

Read more about ITALY.

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