I see winter

Sydney Winter Festival, Sydney CBD until 4 July

First, I'm cold. Second, this year's Sydney Winter Festival does not much resemble that of last year's. Same location and same general activity, but this year the focus is completely and utterly the ice skating. Bigger rink, loads more sessions - what's not to love?

Skating out in front of St Mary's Cathedral

Round and round they go

If you're not skating, unfortunately there is little else. Indeed, there's a plethora of Glühwein and lots of sausage and potatoes, but nothing like the winter foodie heaven it was last year. Perhaps it really is a zero sum game: more rink, fewer stalls.

Lots of German wurst (sausages)

Loopy, whirly potato thing

Fried potato sculptures - what the?

Or perhaps that's just the weekday set-up. If nothing else, grab a mug of mulled wine and head to the ski hut. Maybe the budget all went towards that rather than stalls. In any case, it's real nice in and out, and somewhat transporting - out of the cold at the very least.

Ski hall (left) at the Sydney Winter Festival

It's decked out traditionally - or at least what I can imagine a European ski hut to look like. There's also a reasonably priced buffet (reason for lack of stalls, perhaps) of presumably German and other wintery European fare.

Inside the ski hut

Fireplace in the ski hut

The Sydney Winter Festival is on until 4 July - and you can get tickets to day or night ice skating sessions. It then moves to Bondi Beach from 16-24 July for some mind-boggling ice skating by the beach. Winter brings out the crazy in some of us.

Sydney Winter Festival and St Mary's Cathedral