We found a lovely little haven of tranquility right in the heart of downtown Sydney in the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Finished in 1988 as part of Australia’s Bicenterary, it was initiated by the local Chinese community to share in their cultural heritage. Using traditional forms of landscaping, architecture and garden design it does a wonderful job of recreating the natural form of nature - lakes, mountains, waterfalls and forests. One can sit on a rocky outcrop and watch fat happy carp sliding through the waters, dragonflys buzzing happily suspended in mid-air, or all manner of birdlife snoozing or catching some rays.

A gorgeous little teahouse waits at the end of your meandering walk, though I wished it were perhaps a little more “traditional” serving exotic ranges of teas etc. As it was, your usual cafe fare (and cafe tea) is available, although surprisingly there were three dim sum on offer. EG and I couldn’t resist kicking back with a steamer basket of siu mai and a chilled bottle of commercial iced tea (well, it was hot outside!). A nice escape from the bustling city.