Places to explore when you want to be alone

By HOPE PRATT

There’s a time for everything and I like time alone. It’s a time to recharge, to think and ponder life. It’s a time to appreciate quietness or get lost in a story, in music, or whatever one desires.

With the busyness of today and the sporadic work schedules we can get caught up in, it’s easy to get lost in the rush of living – not allowing ourselves to be present or consider what’s in front of us where we are.

A little solitude or time to yourself can help you enjoy the little moments we tend to miss. So here is a guide to some quiet activities to do around Sydney that may help you wade through the chaos and allow you to get lost with yourself.

Wandering Galleries

I have always preferred to explore galleries solo. You can move through the space at your own pace, stopping where and when you want, and going where you’d like without being steered by the awkward conversation of “where should we start?” Instead, you can wander and stop and look and watch. You have time to sit with each piece or move if it doesn’t move you.

The Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) is the perfect place to do this. The first time I went I was about twelve years old. I remember looking up at the sandstone pillars, walking through the tall beaten-bronze doors, and onto the marble floors and being met with the wide expanse of the space.

From the wood floors of the classics wing to the more refined tile of the contemporary 

exhibits, the AGNSW is a lovely place to get lost in the works of yesterday and today.

In my opinion, the best time to go is on a Wednesday night for their Art After Hours sessions. It’s more intimate, yet it feels much more grand. It’s quieter too and the perfect time to put in earphones and listen to your favourite music as it takes you through the exhibits. They also offer workshops and live music at this time if you’d prefer to do something tactile.

Address: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney
Fee: Free Admission
Hours: Open daily, 10am – 5pm, until 10pm Wednesdays
www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

If you want something quicker but more intimate, The White Rabbit Art Gallery offers a stunning collection of contemporary Chinese works. Compact but intentionally and thoughtfully curated, The White Rabbit is perfect for a half day of wandering. There is also tea and dumplings available at the Teahouse located on the ground floor. It’s the perfect bookend for your gallery adventure.

Address: 30 Balfour Street
Chippendale
Fee: Admission is free
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm
whiterabbitcollection.org

Book Cafes 

Two of my favourite things are books and coffee; enter: book cafes. They’re perfect for a rainy day when you want to get out and do something, but also want to stay cosy and dry. Sydney has some great local options for those of us who want a good coffee and to feel at home in a thousand stories.

Sappho Books, Bar & Cafe is in the heart of Glebe brimming with second-hand books. It’s warm and vibrant, with a rustic design and open courtyard that adds to the cosy atmosphere of the area.

In the evening, the bar opens up and there’s an opportunity to enjoy live music or poetry from local artists. Otherwise, you could show off your own talents. Held on the third Tuesday of every month, Open Stage nights are a chance to try new material, put yourself out there, or flex your creative skills in a new way.

Address: 51 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Bookstore: Monday – Thursday 10am – 6pm, Friday 10am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 8pm, Sunday 10am – 3pm
Cafe: Daily 10am – 4pm
Bar: Wednesday – Saturday 6pm – 10pm
www.sapphobooks.com.au

Nestled in an alleyway off Oxford Street, Ampersand is an intersection of community and stories. It’s designed to make you feel like you’re sitting in an old-school library; you’re surrounded by shelves laden with books with a plush armchair as your seat. This gives the shop its intimacy, like you’re being enveloped by the pages.

Spanning three floors, Ampersand has more than 30,000 books to choose from, leaving you plenty of opportunity to go home with your next read. However, if you’ve found your bookcase is getting too cluttered, they also purchase quality second-hand books.

Address: 78 Oxford Street, Paddington
Hours: Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am – 4pm
www.ampersandcafe.com.au

Green Spaces 

If you’d like to feel small in the world, The Royal Botanic Gardens will help you do that. It’s sprawling and overlooks a corner of the harbour along its northern path.

There are plenty of small nooks and crannies to hide away in, but it’s the open lawns, dotted with sculptures and towered over by Morton Bay Figs, that makes it so inviting. It’s like stepping into a new world, one that pushes you to stroll forward and discover whatever’s round the next bend.

Going during the week means fewer crowds. It’s a chance to roll out a picnic blanket with a snack or coffee and get into the book you’ve been meaning to read for three years.

Address: Mrs Macquarie’s Road, Sydney
Fee: Admission is free
Hours: Daily from 7am – Sunset
www.botanicgardens.org.au

For a more private greenspace, Wendy Whitely’s Secret Garden is the perfect place to hide. It’s narrow and steep, with dense greenery lining the winding paths spattered with a collection of artefacts, sculptures, and knick-knacks.

In the small patches of lawns, there are splintered picnic tables that add a charming atmosphere to the secluded space. It’s a perfect area to crack a book and enjoy the stunning views of Lavender Bay.

Address: Lavender St, Lavender Bay
Fee: Admission is free
Hours: Open 24-hours Daily
www.wendyssecretgarden.org.au