Sophie Keegan Baum's Sydney

Tags

jewellery , sydney , Holidays , sophie keegan baum , city guide

Hamburg-based jewellery designer and mother of three, sophie keegan baum, is passionate about travel, in particular revisiting her childhood home in australia – that's no easy feat when you have young boys in tow. Here, her family-friendly guide to sydney 

“My favourite childhood memories of growing up in Australia are of wonderful holidays at the beach,” says the Hamburg-based jewellery designer Sophie Keegan Baum, whose annual Australian sojourn offers a fresh respite from the hustle-and-bustle of her family’s life in Europe. Mother to Max, Casper and Alfie, Keegan Baum says, “I love the vastness of Sydney’s beautiful beaches and I remember the freedom of spending long summers in bare feet. Now, it’s an absolute joy to see my three boys loving that same environment I grew up in.”

Her holiday rituals: To cure our jetlag, we walk to Macquarie Lighthouse at South Head to watch the sun rising and listen to the Australian birds that I miss so much, then we swim at Camp Cove Beach or head to Bondi to surf. It’s my absolute favourite way to start a Sydney day. Sydney Harbour is so unique and I can never get enough of it – we love to go boating with friends to secluded bays for picnics or take the ferry to the zoo. I’m also blissfully happy spending long days with the boys at the beach, taking walks to Parsley Bay Bridge in Vaucluse then storytime with my son Alfie at the local library, followed by fish and chips at Doyles in Watsons Bay. After a hectic life at home, I can’t think of anything better.

On traveling with children: Like any mother, I'm trying to make very conscious decisions to help shape my children’s lives and travel is definitely high on the list. I think it’s wonderful to take them out of their daily routines and comfort zones. I was very fortunate to have travelled extensively as a child, having an English father who often took us on his work travels to Asia and the Middle East, and I always found our adventures so fascinating. I know it influenced who I am today. 

"I visit Australia every year in the summertime – I made a pact with my husband about this when we got married. I’m blissfully happy spending long days at the beach with my boys."

"Travel is definitely high on the list. I think it’s wonderful to take [children] out of their daily routines and comfort zones."
  1. Her Aussie holiday to-do list:
  2. 1). A wake-up swim at Camp Cove Beach in Watsons Bay. Victoria Street, Camp Cove.
  3.  
  4. 2). Morning coffee and croissants from Il Dolce Dell’Amore. 103 New South Head Road, Vaucluse Tel: +61 2 9337 6280.
  5.  
  6. 3). Storytime at Watsons Bay Library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30am (for under 5s). Watsons Bay Library
 at The Tea Gardens,
 8 Marine Parade,
Watsons Bay. Tel: +61 2 9391 7999.
  7.  
  8. 4). Hide and seek at historic Vaucluse House followed by lunch in the tearooms. Wentworth Road, Vaucluse. Tel: +61 2 9388 7922.
  9.  
  10. 5). A late afternoon swim at Bondi followed by dinner at Maurice Terzini’s Da Orazio Pizza + Porchetta. 3/75-79 Hall St (enter via O'Brien St), Bondi. Tel: +61 2 8090 6969.
  1. 6). Organic burgers for lunch from The Side Door. 101 New South Head Road, Vaucluse. Tel: +61 2 9337 3063.
  2.  
  3. 7). A hunt through the Botanical Gardens, located near the Opera House, in particular its walled succulent garden. Royal Botanical Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney. Tel: +61 2 9231 8111.
  4.  
  5. 8). A tour of the Art Gallery NSW to take in a fabulous exhibit on the amazing jewels and hidden treasures from Afghanistan (running until June 15th). Art Gallery Road, Sydney. Tel: +61 2 9225 1744.
  6.  
  7. 9). Sunset dinner at Doyles On The Beach. 11 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay. Tel: +61 2 9337 2007.
  8.  
  9. 10). Lunch at Saké and then on to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Saké Restaurant & Bar, 12 Argyle Street, The Rocks. Tel: +61 2 9259 5656. Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, 140 George Street, The Rocks. Tel: +61 2 9245 2400.
  10.  
  11. 11). Chilli salt squid and a seafood banquet at China Doll. 6 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo. Tel: +61 2 9380 6744.
  12.  
  13. 12). A tour of Ali Yeldham’s wonderful Arthouse Gallery. 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. Tel: +61 2 9332 1019.
  14.  
  15. 13). A ferry ride to Taronga Zoo. Bradleys Head Road, Mosman. Tel: +61 2 9969 2777.
  16.  
  17. 14). Market day at Eveleigh Farmers’ Market at Carriageworks on Saturday morning (8am to 1pm). 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh. Tel: +61 2 8571 9099.
  18.  
  19. 15). A visit to White Rabbit Gallery, an incredible private collection of contemporary Chinese art. 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale. Tel: +61 2 8399 2867.
  20.  
  21. 16). A long weekend in Palm Beach, an hour’s drive north of Sydney, to visit: Cranky Fins for fun Mexican, margaritas and tapas. 1 Beach Rd, Palm Beach. Tel: +61 2 9974 1159; The Palm Beach Wine Co. for all holiday gourmet food essentials. 1109 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach. Tel: +61 2 9974 4304; Muskwood Studio for chic handmade Australiana wallpaper. Shop 3, 1065 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. Tel: +61 2 99 742 986; Mamapapa store, for a beautiful selection of kids and adults clothing and accessories. 11/20 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach. Tel: +61 403 948 823.

​

Meet the author: Jacqueline Lunn Previous Article Sophie Keegan Baum's Sydney Last Article