Andrew Grune grew up in Sydney, Australia, and has lived in Tokyo, London and Berlin while working in the fashion industry. After returning home in 2019, he is now making images and writing books. Evi O spent her childhood in Surabaya, Indonesia, and is now living in Sydney, Australia. She divides her time among running her own design studio, practising art and walking in nature.
Today, Andrew and Evi are on the blog to answer a few of our questions about their new book, Day Trip Sydney – the perfect book now that Sydney has opened up! Read on …
Evi O & Andrew Grune.
Please tell us about your book, Day Trip Sydney!
A&E: Day Trip Sydney is a collection of 52 curated nature adventures all within 120 kms from the CBD of Sydney.
What inspired you to write this book?
A&E: Day Trip Sydney was a product of Covid, in that we were doing a lot of bush walks before pitching the book as travel interstate and internationally wasn’t possible. However, it has given us not just an escape into nature, but also a newfound appreciation of Sydney, it is absolutely full of treasures.
What tips do you have for people looking to reignite their nomadic spirit in the midst of lockdown?
A&E: Obviously they need to buy a copy of Day Trip Sydney! People may find that a lot of the destinations may be closer to home than they think. Some of the trips we did were during lockdown and we saw barely any people at all, and best of all, walking is exercise and is essential! We found that getting out into the bush was not only great for us mentally but physically we felt great too.
A lot of the destinations in the book are probably only suburbs away and we made effort to avoid the obvious favourites. Some of the trips we did were during lockdown and we barely see any people, and best of all, walking nature is exercise, and an essential! We would also suggest going on car rides with your best playlist, it does it for us.
What do you love about Sydney?
A&E: It is just so vast and there is a natural gem in every corner you explore. They’re there, you just need to want to find them. We feel like we could write another book of fantastic day trips in Sydney.
What’s your favourite trip featured in this book?
A&E: Evi’s favourite is the Clover Hill Trail in Macquarie Pass National Park, it has no tracks and feels like pure wilderness, and there are not one, but four beautiful waterfall rewards, with one looks like a natural Zen temple.
Andrew’s is the Figure 8 Pools in Royal National Park, the journey is filled with variety, think colourful rocks, wide plains, the ocean, sculptural rocks and best of all, we encountered a pod of dolphins when we did our walk. It’s all magical in its own way.
What’s the most underrated trip featured in this book?
A&E: We’d say perhaps Cockatoo Island. It’s a great mix of history, scenery and industrial decay. A rusting artefact of Sydney’s industrial maritime past. Stepping off the ferry you immediately feel as if in you are a complete other place and time. As you walk around the island you will encounter vast abandoned warehouse, strange machinery and long winding tunnels. It may not be for everyone but it definitely needs to be experienced.
What do you hope readers will discover in Day Trip Sydney?
A&E: A new appreciation of the paradise that we live in and often take for granted.
Any last tips for would-be daytrippers?
A&E: Plan ahead, but don’t plan too much, leave a lot of room for surprises.
And finally, what’s up next for you?
A&E: Melbourne, and then Australia and then the world. We are doing it ☺
Thanks!
—Day Trip Sydney by Andrew Grune & Evi O (Thames & Hudson Australia) is out now.
Day Trip Sydney
52 Nature Adventures
With a trip for every week of the year, Day Trip Sydney takes you to mountains, waterfalls, swimming holes, forests, coastlines, urban parks, Aboriginal cultural sites, historic architecture, hidden spots and more.
Each adventure includes directions by car or public transport, a map showing walking routes and facilities, and a guide to trip highlights. There are trips for everyone - families, solo adventurers, furry friends - all within 120 kilometres of the city centre. Escape the urban chaos with a leisurely stroll through beach-side sanctuaries, swim beneath waterfalls, wander through tranquil coastal rainforests, or hike in the majestic Blue Mountains...
Comments
No comments