Hobbies can be a great experience for companionship, making new friends, alleviating your winter cabin fever and getting amongst your local community. They can also be a fun way to express yourself, learn new skills, improve your health and wellbeing and make the world a better place. We unpack a few of the latest trending hobbies around Sydney in 2019.
Learn a New Language
Attending a language class is a trending activity for many Sydneysiders. Living in such a proud multicultural community means there are many opportunities to show off a language you are learning such as Indonesian, Mandarin, German, Greek – all of which are classes available at Sydney Community College in Rozelle. Want to learn how to sign your name in AUSLAN? During the NSW public school terms The Deaf Society offers Australian sign language classes in various locations including Sydney CBD, Wollongong, Parramatta and Campbelltown. Visit deafsociety.org.au for more information.
Stargazing
Astro-tourism is a trending hobby for many people young and old in NSW. Without a doubt the best place in NSW to look up in wonder at the stars is at Coonabarabran and the Warrumbungle National Park. While it is a six-hour drive from Sydney, located in central western NSW, it has been listed as Australia’s first and only Dark Sky Park due to its crystal-clear night skies, low humidity and high altitude. For something a little closer to home, try a night tour of the Sydney Observatory or visit the Science Space Planetarium in Wollongong.
Strike a Pose at Retrosweat
With locations in Waterloo and Surry Hills in Sydney, Retrosweat is trending for combining a love of dress-up, physical exercise and a love of the 80s into one fabulous hobby. If you have an urge to wear fluro Lycra and get into an aerobics-style workout to the tunes of Madonna, Whitney Houston and George Michael then you should visit retrosweat.com.au for more information.
Grow Your Own Spray-Free Produce
Take the trend of organic, wholesome food to the next level and try your hand at gardening by growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs at home. Not only will it mean you’re spending more time outdoors in the garden (or balcony if in an apartment) soaking up the sunshine and fresh air, but it also means you have a beautiful looking garden, and saving money on tasty fresh produce! Mint, tomato, spring onion and parsley are all good plants for beginners to try.
Try Flower Arranging and DIY Flower Crowns
As anyone with an Instagram account will tell you, flower crowns are the trending must-have accessory for events such as festivals and weddings – leading to the flower arranging hobby to become increasingly popular. There are many venues that offer this, such as Sydney Flower School based at the Sydney Markets in Homebush, see sydneyflowerschool.com.au for more information.
Become a Volunteer
If you have time, energy and enthusiasm up your sleeve, why not put it to a good cause? Make your community a better place by volunteering with an established group, such as the Friends of Lane Cove National Park. This is a group of community volunteers who care for native plants by removing weeds, replenishing vegetation lost by bushfires and educating others.
Would you like a buddy for a new hobby you would like to try? If you live in New South Wales, Home Care Heroes can help. Home Care Heroes is on a mission to end social isolation and loneliness due to disability, illness or aging. Every Hero has been vetted by our staff, and are matched to our members based on interests, values and your local location. Home Care Heroes is fully flexible, simple and NDIS-approved – with a $40 per hour flat rate including weekends and public holidays. Sign up now and see for yourself why we have over fifty 5-star reviews on Google.