Romantic breaks: Sydney

Anna Smith

Where to stay
The Vibe Hotel North Sydney is a fresh, modern hotel with fabulous views of the water. It's also a great place to treat your loved one - and yourself: their Glamorous Nights packages include cocktails, makeover vouchers, breakfast and that all-important romantic extra: a late check-out. The package is $209 a night; regular room rates start at $150. www.togahotels.com.au.

What to do
With its stunning scenery and sunny weather, Sydney is a beautiful city to explore on foot. Take a stroll over the iconic Harbour Bridge, saunter through the famous botanical gardens, have a romantic picnic near the Observatory on The Rocks and gaze at the stunning views of the city. And why not surprise your loved one with a trip to a performance at the Opera House? A good excuse to go dress shopping, if ever we heard one...

Where to shop
Paddington and Oxford Street are Sydney's most well-known shopping areas, but if you're feeling the strain of the pound-dollar exchange rate, head for one of Sydney's fab outdoor markets - they're almost as fun for men as women. On Saturdays, hipsters flock to boho Glebe to browse through stalls selling vintage clothes at a fraction of high street prices. You'll also find up and coming designers and jewellery makers selling reduced stock.

If you happen to be in Sydney on the first Saturday of the month, don't miss the market in Surry Hills, which has more of a cool-car-boot-sale vibe and prices to match: we found one retro stall selling two dresses for $30. And with hip hand-printed t shirts and piles of rare Cds, there's no chance of your partner feeling left out.

Eating, drinking and nightlife
Bungalow 8 on the harbour is a fab spot for cosy lunch and Sydney's many Thai restaurants are the best places for Thai food outside of, well, Thailand. A drink at the Opera Bar is a must, and the nearby Slip Inn has a lovely beer garden where you can watch the sun go down.

After sundown, get your glad rags on and try to make it past the door at Ivy Pool, an LA-style club for Sydney's most glamorous couples. Zeta (Snoop Dogg's fave), Ruby Rabbit and The Lincoln all offer hip ways to part with your cash, and Sex & The City's Jason Lewis had a party at The Loft when he was in town.

Where to get away from it all
Slip away to the Blue Mountains for a few romantic nights in Wolgan Valley, Australia's first conservation based resort. The Heritage suites have custom-made king sized beds and private pools surrounded by a garden of native plants and shrubs - heaven! If you make it out of your suite, you can visit their Timeless Spa or go horse-riding in the stunning 4,000 acre valley once frequented by Charles Darwin himself. The cost for a Heritage Suite is from £1,132.65 per room per night. http://www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/wolgan-valley/en/

Getting there
Emirates Airline operates 14 flights per day from the UK to Dubai, where you can take a convenient connecting flight to Sydney. Prices start from £837 per person for Economy or £3262 for Business Class, which we can seriously recommend if you're flush: there's nothing like a flat-bed, noise-cancelling headphones and a few glasses of champers to get your romantic break off to a good start. If you're lucky enough to be in Business on the Airbus A380, you get your own private soft drink bar and huge seat-back screens. For more information and to book visit www.emirates.com/uk or call 0844 800 2777.