A vegan’s guide to cruelty-free travel in Sydney
While being vegan is a simple choice for many, it’s not always an easy lifestyle especially when traversing the globe. Our General Manager Katharina Enzinger shares the secrets to travelling as a vegan, highlighting the best cruelty-free experiences Sydney has to offer.
Katharina moved to Australia in 2014, and around the same time decided to become vegan. She’d been vegetarian for the previous decade, so it wasn’t a massive shift. She simply wanted to live a cleaner, simpler and more natural lifestyle, for the animals, for the planet, for our future.
“I’ve never watched any of those documentaries that turn people vegan after watching them,” she jokes. “It was literally an overnight decision that I have never questioned since. At the time, I lived in Melbourne, just around the corner from Brunswick Street which at the time was known as ‘The Most Vegan Street in Australia’. So you could say I was in the right place at the right time.”
Some may consider that being vegan is restrictive and has its challenges, but Kat has found it fairly easy to navigate, particularly while living in Australia.
“Nowadays, plant-based and cruelty-free products are so readily available, particularly here in Sydney, I don’t feel that I am missing out or have to renounce anything.”
Travelling can throw up more curve balls though. Kat says it pays to plan ahead and do your research before heading into unchartered territory.
“I personally tend to gravitate towards warmer destinations where there’s always an abundance of fresh tropical fruit – my absolute favourite! So I have definitely never been hungry while travelling. Bringing nuts and dates are lifesavers!”
“However there’s more to being vegan than just the diet. Living and eating plant-based is a lifestyle. And life is not always perfect!”
So what are her recommendations for vegan travellers looking to enjoy their time in Sydney?
Best places to eat
“A classic and everyone’s favourite is Yulli’s Surry Hills. I love their delicious vegan and gluten-free food, and they have a great range of vegan beer and local wine too. The leek and ginger dumplings are a must-try, and the stuffed zucchini flowers are nearly too pretty to eat!
“If Mexican is more up your alley, then I’d recommend Bad Hombres also in Surry Hills. They are open til late and have all your Mexican favourites, but vegan. Their nachos are so yummy! It’s made with house cheddar, blakc beans, Pico de Gallo, guacamole and cashew cream.”
Best places to drink
“I’m Austrian, I love wine and I have a Junior Sommelier certificate. So I’m always searching for delicious wines that are also vegan. Vegan-friendly wines are popping up on restaurant menus and in bottleshops more often, which is great to see! You can find a great selection at Bodhi Restaurant Bar in the city, along with an enviable list of vegan cocktails.
“If free-flowing wine is your thing, try the Vegan Bottomless Brunch at Untied Rooftop Bar in Barangaroo. A great way to spend a Sunday overlooking Darling Harbour, enjoying brunch, vegan cocktails and wines.
“For a great vegan coffee, you can’t go past our own Wayfarer’s blend here at Aiden Darling Harbour, made with your choice of plant-based milk from the masters at MilkLab.”
Best places to shop
“Australia is home to quite the collection of cruelty-free and vegan skincare and beauty brands – we’re very fortunate! My favourite is Aesop (check out their beautiful store in The Strand in the city). I also like Sukin and Nude by Nature. So good to see this trend gain momentum!
“Here at the hotel, you can also purchase bottles of our cruelty-free, vegan-friendly Rituals shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.
“For gifts and groceries, you can’t go past the Vegan Grocery Store in Glebe. They have more than 80 vegan cheeses! And you can also buy online. Plus you can also find vegan sections in major supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths.
“You can also find yourself a pair of vegan UGG boots these days too. About time!
“If you time your travel right, you can catch the Sydney Vegan Market held each month, offering live music, free yoga, art and dozens of stalls selling everything vegan from sweets to shoes.”
Best vegan destination
“Newtown in Sydney’s inner west is full of vegan and cruelty free businesses. Along the main strip of King Street, or the “Vegan Mile”, you can find a dozen plant-based eateries from vegan cheesemonger La Petite Fauxmagerie and vegetarian butcher Suzy Spoons, to Gigi Pizzeria and Vandal Taqueria.”
Other tips
“Not every vegan-friendly product is labelled as such! Browsing websites such as simplifyvegan.com.au or peta.org.au is definitely worthwhile. You’ll discover so many products which do not label themselves as vegan but actually are! We call them ‘accidentally vegan’! Everyone knows that Oreos are vegan, but did you know that CocoPops are too?”
To get to know Katharina better, you can check out our interview with her where she reveals a few more secrets and shares more on her incredible travels across the globe.
