No preparation for the rains. No undercover areas. Difficult to take photos, minimal sakura…read moreblossums. No parking!

Ah Cherry Blossoms! Its worth seeing particularly if you have some interest in Japan or Japanese…read moreculture, and worth the trek out there for a picnic. But avoid this place if you dislike crowds - unless you go during the week, but because of where it is located it might be hard to visit unless you live nearby.

All you grandparents out there that do not know what to give the grand children for Christmas take…read morethem to Christmas Wonderland at the Sydney Showground. It was absolutely amazing, and extremely good value. We took our 4 girls aged between 4 and 13 there today & they loved it and said the best day ever Nan. There was Ice Skating and the snow room where you can make snow balls and have fun making a snow man and a snow slide. Unlimited rides for all ages Santa and a fantastic show with Penguins and dancers, and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and general Christmas tunes. There was also a Children's book reading The girls did not want to leave fantastic value & so well done. It really felt like Christmas and I would definitely recommend it. Don't miss this experience a must for the kids.

Once a year, the Easter Show comes to town. Prepare for mayhem, lots of kiddos, chaos and people…read more Crack open that piggy bank because you'll need every cent! At 40$ a pop for adults, entry is not cheap, but if you buy your ticket online, this includes train fare to Olympic Park. Oh and for clarification, this is SHOW is not one like going to the Lion King, its a giant carnival. One of the largest in the world with rides, cotton candy/fairy floss, games and live stock shows. If you plan on going, look up the schedule in advance if you're planning on catching any of the judging, sheering, or rodeo events. Bring a bottle of water or you'll get caught paying 5$ for "FRESH" lemonade - security is pretty laxed, as in if you bring snacks for your kids or a picnic lunch this may be OK, but there are so many good things to try there that you may not want to. I only say this bc you can easily go broke on the 5$/10$ this and that. I loved seeing all the animals and the open petting area, you can feed the sheep for 2$ a cup, watch the chickens roaming around the pens and even the 3 little pigs. There are Pavillions through out the Show for the animals, just make sure to follow the little blue paw print path and you're on your way. They have wash stations outside of each area which is good so you can make sure you're hands are germ free ( a must with all the food there is to try!) Next on the high ranking Pavillions was the Woolwoorth's show room with all the different foods to taste and purchase, amazing displays, and did I mention YUMMY food?! Wine and Oyster bar, desserts of every kind, candy and shopping. While I didn't buy any show bags, I learned what this craze is all about. Show Bags of all different themes are sold in their own pavillion. These large "party bag" like do's are sold on average for 20$ a pop and are filled with your choice of candy, brand named drinks, marketing and promo items, and or toys. Every kid I saw walking around had at least 2 or 3 of these things. I think the Show is a wonderful way to showcase Aussie agriculture, livestock and farmers beyond just the carnival rides and games, but there is definitely some room for improvement though I don't think there is a lack of attendees! Go check it out if you haven't, its something you have to do at least once, and just be prepared to be a big kid, get a little dirty and enjoy it for what it is.

Ah, the Easter Show! Held in Olympic Park, the Easter Show promises to show one and all a good…read moretime! Well, depending on what you like, that is. If you enjoy looking at enormous cows, llamas, and/or goats, the Animal Pavilion is the place for you. Just follow the pawprints helpfully painted on the ground. In the Animal Pavilion, you even get to feed baby goats/lambs! They are just about the cutest things ever. There's also the reptile pavilion, where you can hold a snake if you so choose! But beware the racist Asian snake-handler, who is unlikely to give you the time of day no matter how long you stand around, unless you are similarly Asian. There's also dog shows, where you can watch some of the cutest, fastest (and most disobedient) dogs compete in obstacle courses, with their sometimes exasperated owners. If you're more of a ride person, there's heaps of rides over on the other side of Olympic Park. The downside being, that they have the same old rides every year. So after the first few visits, it does get more than a little boring. There are also TONNES of shops selling fairly cheap fare! You can get anything and everything from jewelery to a massage! But at $30 entry, NOT inclusive of what you must spend on rides and food, it can get a little pricey. Still, it's a fun day out, and the rides only close at about 10 or 11, so it can be a fun night out, too!

Rosehill Races - Easter Saturday - being there with the 25,000 or so other racegoers for Golden…read moreSlipper Day. Apparently it's one of the biggest days of the racing calendar - a must see for over the top fashionista sistas. The highest heels and craziest fascinators you will ever see. Nowhere else do people wear these kinds of clothes - not weddings, not cocktail parties, not proms - it's crazy! The ladies go totally over the top to show off their 'racy fashion looks' (pun intended!). And the guys don't look so shabby either. Dashing in their suits and ties! So many beautiful people - it's a people watchers paradise. If you've never been to the horse races then you are missing out on a unique cultural event. So it was the Golden Slipper yesterday and I was there performing as Zelda Ukulele Performer at the Figtree Bar (which is right near the entrance of the train station) and what a fun vibe - the bar was packed all day. The 5-Seeds Promo gals and I were working up a great vibe and as the shadows of the day got longer the punters got braver and at one stage the whole bar joined in with me for a great old ukulele singalong to some of the more iconic songs such as 'The Gambler', 'Eye of the Tiger', 'Jolene', Baby (Justin Bieber's hit) and the anthem for the Y Generation 'What's Up!'. Lots of fun and you really get to meet some lovely friendly people - young and old from all over Sydney - it's a top day. So next time Golden Slipper Day rolls around jump on a train and join in the fun. You'll love this all-day party atmosphere.

Conveniently located next to the train station - literally, the entrance is on the platform - this…read moreis a pretty good way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Don your best suit (well, maybe your 2nd best, this isn't the Melbourne Cup!), have a few beers, aim to win some money with your betting bible in your inside pocket, lose miserably, few more beers, head home/to the pub. Sounds good to me. Although, the wait in between races can get a bit tedious, especially as the beers aren't cheap - but it's still pretty fun. It's a relatively old course, but on a nice, sunny day, you're not really bothered by that, as you spend most of the day outside. My last experience there was for our football end-of-season get together, and although it was busy, it wasn't crowded, so it made for a good, casual afternoon. Obviously it'll be much busier during the Sydney Carnival, but on any other Saturday, it'll be pretty relaxed. No reason not to look your best though!