Cutting-edge fashion, chic hotels, beautiful beaches... yes, Sydney really is the perfect destination for the ultimate girly escape! With it’s many beaches, just minutes from the buzz of the city, you and the chicks can mix business with pleasure, spending the morning whale-watching before getting down to the serious bizz of bargain-hunting in the afternoon.

Take a stroll around Oxford Street and Paddington, the hip shopping zones where Sydney’s fashionistas splurge on the hottest trends – chic boutique Belinda on Victoria Street, stocks a plethora of designer labels including Stella McCartney and Donna Karan. After flexing your credit card, there are plenty of pubs and ethnic eateries near Victoria Barracks, or cafes near Paddington Town Hall.

Pop down to Manly Beach for a spot of sunbathing and the chance to spot some of Australia’s aquatic stars – pods of dolphins are often seen playing in the waters just off the bay all year round, while whales can be spotted in the cooler months.

Rejuvenate yourself with a stop-over in the Lotus Spa, on Oxford Street, where luxurious package treatments start at Dhs400 – which’ll put you in the perfect frame of mind for a buzzy night out in Darling Harbour!

While you’re there...

Tipple tour
Hunter Valley is not only wine country – it’s a full-on experience where you can do everything from hot air ballooning over the incredible landscape to sampling locally made cheeses and getting up close to kangaroos. It’s famous for its grape bevvies though, and we recommend getting booked on a wine tour to take full advantage!

Eat like a star
Jess and Ashlee Simpson recently grabbed a pizza in posh nosh eaterie Glass Brasserie in the Sydney Hilton, while Kate Bosworth,
Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake like grabbing brekkie at Sydney’s early-morning institution, Bills – find them in Darlinghurst, Surrey Hills
and Woollahra.

Get climbing
If you’re feeling particularly active, take a tour with BridgeClimb across the city’s iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. The 3.5 hour climb takes you to the summit of the 134m high bridge to offer some of the best photo-ops in town – and we highly recommend the dawn and dusk climbs!

Walk with the animals
Taronga Zoo is one of Australia’s finest, with exhibits that allow you to discover the country’s indigenous fauna from both land, air and sea – such as the platyus and the koala, sea lions and parakeets. Build up the courage and you might be able to get up close and personal to one of their more scaly inhabitants!