HOT SPOTS in St Ives, Sydney (north shore)

Pattisons Patisserie - Mona Vale Rd (next to Max Brenner) - great cakes, breads and coffee

Stanley Street Meat - Stanley St - South African food

The Old School Trattoria - 205 Mona Vale Rd - Italian Ph: 9144 6466

Rosedale Cottage Restaurant and Gallery - 175 Rosedale Rd - serene setting

Ziggy's Deli - Village Green - gourmet produce

Le Petit Lorraine – at St Ives Village Green for its French cakes

Arktik Designs - 198 Mona Vale Rd - Scandinavian gifts and homewares- Ph: 9988 3633

Ku-ring-gai Wild Flower Garden – Mona Vale Rd

Garigal National Park – Douglas St entrance – nearby on the Cascades Track are some good city views