Somewhere different every Tuesday.

Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary at Calga on the Central Coast is a native bushland sanctuary where kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, birds and reptiles live in natural surroundings. Visitors can join ranger-led animal encounters, visit the petting area and learn about Aboriginal culture, including bush tucker. A sealed ramp leads to the visitor centre, where animals often gather near the veranda, and there’s an accessible toilet. Companion Card holders and pre-booked carers are well catered for, so it makes a memorable full-day trip.

The Parramatta River ferry (route F3) runs from Parramatta Wharf down the river to Circular Quay. Along the way it passes waterfront suburbs, mangroves, parklands and Sydney Olympic Park, then reaches the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. The trip runs on the new Parramatta River-class ferries and is paid with an Opal card. Parramatta Wharf is wheelchair accessible, and crew can help with boarding. It’s a relaxing way to see Sydney from the water.

Wentworth Falls Lake is a peaceful lake reserve just off the Great Western Highway in the upper Blue Mountains. The lake was first built to supply water for steam trains. A mostly flat walking loop of about 3.7 km runs around the water, past sandstone sculptures of native seed pods, with plenty of ducks and swamphens along the way. The reserve has a picnic area, free sheltered barbecues, public toilets and a playground, so it suits a relaxed lunch and a gentle walk by the water.

Puckeys Estate Nature Reserve is a coastal reserve in Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong, cared for as part of the Wollongong Botanic Garden. A network of boardwalks and bush paths about 1.5 km long winds through rainforest, sand dunes and marshland between Fairy Creek and Elliotts Road. More than 130 bird species have been recorded there. At the southern end you can see the remains of an early 1900s salt works and homestead. The walk is flat and easy, and it links up with Fairy Meadow Beach and the coastal cycleway.

The Kiama Blowhole is one of the South Coast’s best-known natural attractions. When the swell is up, seawater shoots through a gap in the rocks and can spray more than 30 metres into the air. An easy coastal loop of about 2.7 km connects the blowhole with Kiama Lighthouse (built in 1887), the harbour and the fish and chip shops along the waterfront. The area has viewing platforms, public toilets, picnic areas, a kiosk and a visitor centre. It’s best visited when there’s a south-east swell running.

The Pool of Siloam Track starts at Gordon Falls Reserve in Leura and drops into a cool, fern-filled rainforest gully in the Blue Mountains National Park. At the bottom is a small, clear pool fed by a little waterfall. The return walk is only about a kilometre, but it has many sandstone steps, stepping stones across the creek and a steady climb back up. It suits participants who are confident on stairs. The rainforest is lush and quiet, and there’s a picnic area at Gordon Falls Reserve.

DFO Homebush is one of Sydney’s biggest outlet shopping centres, at Homebush West, about 15 km from the city. Around 120 stores are spread over two levels, mostly fashion, footwear, homewares and sporting brands, all at discounted outlet prices. There’s also a food court and cafés. Entry is free and there’s a large car park. It’s a good outing for participants who enjoy shopping, choosing their own purchases and managing a budget.

The Wundrful World of Christmas is a walk-through Christmas show in the Sydney CBD, on Market Street opposite the Queen Victoria Building, run by the local company Wundr. The experience takes about 50 minutes. Visitors help sort magical mail, take a pretend lift ride to a snowy “Wundrland”, hear stories with Mrs Claus in her cottage, and finish by meeting Santa for a photo. Animation, live actors and sensory effects make it feel like stepping inside a Christmas storybook.

The Grounds of Alexandria is a well-known café, restaurant and garden venue in inner Sydney, housed in an old industrial site. It’s famous for its themed displays. At Christmas the laneways are filled with decorations, lights and photo spots, and there are Santa photo sessions. The venue has gardens, resident farm animals and lots of places to sit and take it all in. It has step-free paths and an accessible toilet, and participants can enjoy a meal or a treat while soaking up the atmosphere.

The Martin Place Christmas Markets are a free outdoor Christmas market on the Martin Place pedestrian boulevard in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, directly above the Martin Place Metro station. Stalls sell cherries, wreaths, candles, Christmas puddings, handmade jewellery, gifts and food, and there’s live music to add to the festive feel. The nearby Martin Place Christmas tree is lit up for the season. The plaza is flat and open, which makes it easy to browse at your own pace.

This outing visits some of the best-known lookouts in the Blue Mountains, including Echo Point in Katoomba, with its famous views of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley. A short sealed path leads from Echo Point to further viewing platforms along the cliff edge, with benches along the way. The lookouts at Wentworth Falls look out over the valley and the edge of the escarpment. Echo Point has accessible parking, toilets and picnic tables, so everyone can enjoy the views.